Rain relief from heat   

Bhubaneswar:  Evening showers brought much-needed relief to city residents from the intense heat on Tuesday. The rain started around 8.30pm and was accompanied by thunder and lightning and gusty winds. Rain was also reported in parts of Cuttack.   

Fire averted

Bhubaneswar: Paradip Port Trust authorities on Tuesday averted a major fire after a 12-hour-long fire-fighting operation. Fire broke out early morning when MV Tamil Nadu carrying about 42,000 tonnes of coal for transhipment to Nellore port in Tamil Nadu.

Tube wells 

Bhubaneswar: Co-operation and drinking water minister Pradeep Maharathy announced that all the defective tube wells in the state would be repaired within a fortnight. His announcement also maintained that the areas, which were yet to receive piped water supply, would get the same on priority basis. 

E-bazaar

Koraput:  Indian Farmers’ Fertiliser Co-operative Limited will open an e-bazaar in the district to bring farmers under digital platform and ensure that they get fertilisers. Through the e-bazaar, to be opened at Kunduli haat (weekly market) under Pottangi block, the firm will sell various types of fertilisers. It has signed an agreement with the Regional Market Committee of Koraput for the purpose.

Rape

Bhubaneswar:  A 27-year-old woman has been allegedly gang-raped by two youths in Keonjhar. Though the incident occurred on May 6, the matter came to light after the victim lodged a complaint on Tuesday. According to sources, two youths of Chakundlapal village had allegedly abducted the woman when she was returning from the village.

Dharna

Talcher:  The woman, claiming to be local BJD MLA Braja Kishore Pradhan’s ditched wife, on Tuesday resorted to a sit-in protest before the MLA’s home here in ward No. 19. The fracas surfaced when the bypoll of this ward is slated on Wednesday. Cops rushed to the spot and convinced her end the dharna.

ASI killed

Bhubaneswar: An assistant sub-inspector (ASI) was killed when a truck hit him from behind while he was on duty at the Haladipada bypass here on Monday night. The deceased has been identified as Kuanra Majhi. Sources said when officials of Basta police station were removing a truck stranded on the NH following an accident, a potato-laden bus from Bengal hit Majhi from behind. Two others were hurt in the incident and admitted to district headquarters hospital.

Shot dead

Bhadrak: A man shot his elder brother dead over a trivial issue at Odhanga in Agarpada police limits in the district on Tuesday. Police arrested the accused. The police said the incident took place following an altercation between the two over family dispute.