Train signal melts, fire alarm goes off in theatre as heatwave roasts UK
Train services faced major disruption across Britain on Wednesday as wildfire triggered by extreme temperature melted signalling equipment and damaged the tracks. Photos posted online by Network Rail and other operators show a level crossing damaged between King's Cross and Peterborough.
Videos from across the country surfaced all over social media showing what damage the record temperature has caused. One of these videos shows houses in a village outside East of London damaged by a massive fire, while another one shows forest burning on the side of a highway.
A woman using a portable fan while commuting in London. (Reuters)
The record breaking temperature also caused the fire alarm in one of the theatres going off because of the heat. A video from the Globe Theatre shows staff members scrambling for cover as the sprinkler system discharges water in the building.
"When global warming sets off your thatched roof's anti-Puritan/cannonfire sprinklers," actor George Fouracres said on Twitter while posting the video from the theatre.
When global warming sets off your thatched roof’s anti-Puritan/cannonfire sprinklers pic.twitter.com/cEKerw0w6N
— George Fouracres (@GeorgeFouracres) July 19, 2022
The record-breaking heat has also led to a surge in fire case, with London's firefighting authority declaring a major incident in the British capital on Tuesday.
The London Fire Brigade said it had deployed dozens of fire engines to several fires in and around the city, including thirty to a grass fire in east London. Television footage showed one blaze engulfing several homes.
Meanwhile, train cancellations across the country created a harrowing situation for commuters who were seen sleeping on suitcases and benches at London's Kings Cross on Wednesday morning.
The authorities running train operations have been issuing warning commuters to "not come to the station". People have also been advised to avoid unnecessary travel.
Courtesy: www.ndtv.com
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Integrity of electoral process severely compromised, Cong to soon launch movement: CWC
New Delhi (PTI): The Congress Working Committee met here on Friday and adopted a resolution alleging the integrity of the entire electoral process was being severely compromised against which the party would soon launch a movement.
In the resolution of the top body of the Congress, the party said free and fair elections is a Constitutional mandate that was being called into "serious question by the partisan functioning of the Election Commission".
The CWC, which met amid the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament, said the session has been a washout so far because of the Narendra Modi government's "stubborn refusal" to have an immediate discussion on three pressing national issues -- "the recent revelations regarding corruption by a business group, and the violence in Manipur and Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal".
Asked why the Congress Working Committee (CWC) resolution does not name the business group, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, "The answer is the Adani group".
"The CWC believes the integrity of the entire electoral process is being severely compromised. Free and fair elections is a Constitutional mandate that is being called into serious question by the partisan functioning of the Election Commission.
"Increasing sections of society are becoming frustrated and deeply apprehensive. The Congress will take these up these public concerns as a national movement," the resolution stated.
Addressing a joint press conference along with Ramesh and Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera, party general secretary, organisation, K C Venugopal said the party discussed the political situation in the country for four-and-half hours and adopted the resolution.
He said the CWC has decided to constitute internal committees to look into electoral performance and organisational matters.
About the Assembly polls results in Maharashtra, Venugopal said the electoral outcome in the state was "beyond normal understanding and it appears to be a clear case of targeted manipulation".
