Articles by News18,Shuddhanta Patra

Technology

Actor Vijay To Meet Families Of Karur Stampede Victims At Mamallapuram Tomorrow

Actor-politician Vijay is set to meet the families of the victims of the Karur stampede on Monday, a month after the tragic incident, according to a source in his party. The meeting is scheduled to take place on Monday, October 27 at a resort in Mamallapuram, near Chennai. Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has reportedly booked 50 rooms at the resort to ensure the actor can meet the bereaved families personally. The initiative aims to provide an opportunity for the families to convey their grievances and receive condolences directly from the party chief. A family member in Karur said, “They have arranged a bus for us,” adding that the media and party members are barred. Karur stampede The Karur stampede occurred on September 27 during a TVK meeting addressed by Vijay, resulting in 41 deaths and leaving over 60 people injured. The tragedy sparked widespread grief and calls for accountability across the state. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken over the probe into the incident. Families and the public are closely following the investigation, seeking clarity on the causes of the stampede and accountability for the loss of lives.

Technology

Shivakumar Meets Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Mohandas Pai Amid Bengaluru Potholes Row

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday hosted a dinner meeting in Bengaluru with industry leaders Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and TV Mohandas Pai. The meeting came days after both had publicly criticised the city’s crumbling infrastructure. Former Infosys Chief Financial Officer TV Mohandas Pai has heaped praise on Shivakumar after a meeting with him. Pai commended Shivakumar for what he described as a transformative step in urban governance, the creation of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), an initiative aimed at revamping the administrative framework of India’s tech capital. “The Deputy Chief Minister’s approach to meeting citizens, understanding their issues, and finding solutions reflects true political leadership,” Pai wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “You have completed the largest urban reform for any Indian city in decades by creating GBA! We look to the future with hope,” he added, tagging fellow leaders Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and R.K. Misra among others. After the meeting Biocon chief Kiran Majumdar Shaw took to X. She said, “We had a very constructive meeting with Deputy CM ⁦DK Shivakumar to agree to an action plan to fix key infra bottlenecks in roads, ORR, PRR drainage traffic n garbage,” reads her post. The GBA, introduced by Shivakumar, seeks to decentralise city management and streamline civic services across the growing Bengaluru metropolitan area. The reform aims to strengthen coordination among various civic agencies, enhance accountability, and accelerate infrastructure projects that have long suffered from bureaucratic delays. Thank you DCM @DKShivakumar for this wonderful initiative.meeting citizens,understanding their issues,giving succour to them,solving their problems is the tasks of great political leaders. you interactions are bridging the gap between voters and their representatives. You have… https://t.co/FiAkwaLefp— Mohandas Pai (@TVMohandasPai) October 26, 2025 " rel="nofollow">http://Thank you DCM @DKShivakumar for this wonderful initiative.meeting citizens,understanding their issues,giving succour to them,solving their problems is the tasks of great political leaders. you interactions are bridging the gap between voters and their representatives. You have… https://t.co/FiAkwaLefp— Mohandas Pai (@TVMohandasPai) October 26, 2025 For Bengaluru, a city often criticised for its traffic chaos, crumbling roads, and civic neglect, the new governance model promises a much-needed structural shift. The meeting between Shivakumar, Pai, and Biocon Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw came amid rising public concern over Bengaluru’s deteriorating infrastructure. Both corporate leaders had earlier voiced frustration about poor civic conditions and urged the government to take corrective measures. According to officials, the government assured the technocrats that steps are being taken to address key challenges such as potholes, delayed development works, and inefficient coordination among municipal agencies. This dialogue marks a possible thaw after weeks of tension between the corporate community and the administration. As per reports, business leaders expressed willingness to support the government’s initiatives, provided visible improvements are made on the ground.

Technology

Kurnool Tragedy: How Did The Bengaluru-Hyderabad Bus Catch Fire After Colliding With A Bike

In yet another tragic incident, at least 12 people confirmed lost their lives when a private Volvo bus was engulfed in flames in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, on the night between Thursday and Friday. The bus, carrying 41 passengers, was travelling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru at the time of the accident. Preliminary police investigations suggest that the Bengaluru-Hyderabad bus caught fire after colliding with a motorcycle on National Highway 44 in Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh, in the early hours of Friday, October 24. The collision caused the motorcycle’s fuel tank to rupture and leak fuel. The resulting friction and spark from the two-wheeler trapped under the bus are believed to have ignited the fire. Nearly 40 passengers were trapped inside the vehicle as the blaze spread rapidly. Authorities continue to investigate the exact cause of the fire and are examining all aspects of the tragic incident. *]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id="request-WEB:8638fd4a-76d7-47f6-ba18-a57856dc1271-17" data-testid="conversation-turn-36" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn="assistant"> Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep condolences over the Kurnool tragedy. He extended his thoughts to the affected families and prayed for the recovery of the injured. An ex gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh will go to each deceased’s family, and Rs 50,000 to the injured. What we know about the incident – 7 points 1. The tragedy occurred early morning near Chinna Tekuru village in Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh, when a private Kaveri Travels Volvo bus traveling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru collided with a two-wheeler around 3:30 am, which caused the two-wheeler to get stuck under the bus and sparked a fire that rapidly engulfed the vehicle.​ 2. At least 20 people are feared dead with several others injured. Around 12 to 15 passengers managed to escape by breaking windows or emergency exits, many with burn injuries.​ 3. The bus fire spread quickly, and the bus doors got jammed, trapping most passengers inside. The fire was intensified by combustible materials inside the bus, but the bus’s fuel tank remained intact.​ Firefighters and police reached the scene shortly after, extinguished the flames, and began recovery operations at dawn. Cooling operations and victim identification are ongoing. 4. Rescue operations were hindered by heavy rain in the area, and the bus crew, including the driver, reportedly fled the scene immediately after the accident. The injured were rushed to Kurnool Government Hospital for treatment.​ 5. According to eyewitness, most people were asleep when the bus hit the bike. The flames quickly spread due to synthetic materials inside the bus, and the doors were jammed shut. Survivors said smoke filled the bus within moments, causing people to suffocate or lose consciousness before escape was possible. 6. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu expressed deep condolences, ordered immediate relief and medical assistance for the injured, and a formal investigation into the cause is underway. This incident follows a recent similar deadly bus fire in Rajasthan, raising concerns about safety protocols for private long-distance buses. 7. The injured have been shifted to nearby hospitals, with 11 and 15 passengers admitted to Kurnool Government General Hospital suffering from burns and smoke inhalation. At least three victims were transferred to nearby private hospitals, including Colonel Sarkar Hospital, for specialised burn care due to the severity of their injuries and limited ICU capacity at the government facility. Officials stated that all patients have been stabilised, with special medical teams closely monitoring those with over 50% burn injuries. Efforts to identify severely injured victims and coordinate with their families are ongoing.