Boy dead, houses gutted in fire

Begusarai/Araria (PTI): A boy was charred to death and 210 houses gutted in fire-related incidents in Begusarai and Araria districts on Wednesday.

A fire broke out in Rajour village in Begusarai district razing 150 houses even as a five-year-old boy, was charred to death after he got trapped in the inferno, deputy superintendent of police Virendra Kumar said. The fire started from a thatched house and spread to adjoining areas covering four wards within no time, fatally trapping a dozen cattleheads, while foodgrain and other household goods worth lakhs of rupees were destroyed.

Fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the flames. An assessment was being made about the loss of properties to provide compensation to the affected families. In a related incident in Araria district, 60 houses were gutted in fire-related incidents in Purandaha and Ramai villages.

Summons to secretaries

Patna: Patna High Court on Wednesday summoned principal secretary education, law secretary and principal secretary general administration on May 16 in a case related to non appointment of biology and mathematics teachers at 10+2 level in different government schools across the state. The aspirants had earlier approached the Supreme Court and had got reprieve from there. The state government did not appoint them on which a contempt petition was filed by the aspirants concerned. The case is related to the appointment of 83 biology teachers and 143 mathematics teachers.

Panchayat meet

Patna: A delegation of Bihar Pradesh Panch Sarpanch Mahasangh called on panchayati raj minister Bhim Singh on Wednesday and appraised him of its various demands. Mahasangh president Amod Kumar Nirala issued a statement on Wednesday stating that the meeting was held in a congenial environment and assured the delegation of looking into the points.

CM tributes

Patna: Chief minister Nitish Kumar paid floral tributes to his wife Manju Sinha on the occasion of her death anniversary on Wednesday. His family members, including his son Nishant Kumar, were present on the occasion.

Complaint

Patna: A complaint was lodged in the court of Aurangabad chief judicial magistrate against Narendra Modi for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. The complaint filed by the Youth Congress leader Sallu Khan would be taken up for hearing on Thursday.

Court warrant

Patna: A single bench of the Patna High Court of Justice A.K. Tripathi on Wednesday issued bailable warrant against principal secretary of rural works department in a case related to not re-instating an executive engineer who was suspended earlier from his post. Despite several reminders, the engineer concerned was not re-instated to his post.

Loan camp

Patna: Punjab National Bank on Wednesday organised a camp in which loan settlements worth Rs 88.19 lakh was done. Sources in the bank said a total of Rs 8.46 lakh was realised from loanees in the form of cash and cheque.

Awareness

Patna: Reserve Bank of India, Patna, on Wednesday organised a financial awareness programme at Delhi Public School, Danapur. The bank’s regional director M.K. Verma, while addressing the school students, dwelt on several aspects of banking.