Three killed in Bengaluru building collapse
Bengaluru: Three construction workers were killed, and at least ten others were feared trapped under the debris after a four-storied under-construction building collapsed here on Thursday, officials said.
"Three men were killed and 11 others injured after the building in Kasavanahalli (suburb) crashed down at around 4 p.m.," Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy told media here.
"The number of those still trapped under the debris is unclear. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel will continue to carry out rescue operations," he said.
State fire services personnel estimate at least ten others to be still caught under the debris.
Out of the 11 injured, four suffered minor injuries, while seven were hospitalized.
"The building seems to have been constructed using poor quality material due to which we suspect the crash occurred. Police are on the lookout for the building owner, Rafiq," the Minister said.
The building was at least six years old and was under renovation, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Whitefield division, Abdul Ahad told the media here.
The exact reason for the collapse and the details of the workers are yet to be ascertained, he said.
Bengaluru Development Minister K.J. George, Karnataka Director General of Fire and Emergency Services M.N. Reddi and senior police and civic body officials inspected the premises of the collapsed building.
"The government will give Rs 5 lakh compensation to each of the families of the deceased," George said.
In October last year, five men and two women were killed as a building collapsed in the city's southern suburb of Ejipura after a cooking gas cylinder exploded.
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KSRTC introduces gender ticketing in buses across Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): The KSRCTC on Saturday began implementing gender ticketing in buses operating across the state.
According to a Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) circular issued on Friday, the gender ticketing system is intended to record whether a passenger is a woman, a man or a child in tickets issued on KSRTC buses from Saturday.
To facilitate the system, Electronic Ticketing Machines (ETMs) have been updated.
The circular stated that conductors in all KSRTC depots should record the gender category of passengers while issuing tickets through the ETMs.
Options for women, men, and children have been included in the ETMs to identify passenger categories when issuing tickets.
The printed tickets generated by the ETMs will also indicate the passenger's category, officials said.
The UDF had promised free KSRTC travel for women across the state during the Assembly election campaign.
UDF, which won 102 of 140 seats, would soon form the government after the Congress party finalises the discussion on the next Chief Minister.
The introduction of gender ticketing is being viewed as an effort to estimate the number of women travelling daily on KSRTC buses before implementing the poll promise.
Some conductors have reportedly raised concerns over the additional time required to record passenger details, especially during rush hours.
