QBengaluru: IISc Lab Explosion Kills Researcher, Injures 3 & More
Latest news updates from Karnataka.
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1. Explosion at IISc Lab Kills One Researcher, Injures 3
A researcher was killed and three others sustained burns in an explosion in a laboratory at Indian Institute of Science (IISc) here on Wednesday, 5 December. The blast occurred around 2.30pm when 32-year-old Manoj Kumar, who died in the blast, and his colleagues were working on an experiment at the Laboratory for Hypersonic and Shock Wave Research in IISc.
Police said the injured researchers – Atulya Kumar, Naresh Kumar and Karthik – have been hospitalised. “Their condition is critical,” a police officer said.
The four were employees of Super-Wave Technology, an IISc-incubated startup headed by senior scientists at the department of aerospace engineering, IISc.
Preliminary investigation by police and forensic experts ruled out sabotage. Investigators, who suspect a leak in a hydrogen cylinder caused the explosion, described the impact as “strong”. “It completely damaged equipment in the laboratory,” the officer said.
(Source: The Times of India)
2. Bhadregowda of JD(S) Elected as Bengaluru Deputy Mayor
Nagapura ward corporator B Bhadregowda from the JD(S) is the deputy mayor of Bengaluru.
He was elected unopposed in the polls conducted on Wednesday, 5 December. After the demise of former deputy mayor Ramila Umashankar, a JD(S) corporator from Kaveripura ward, the post was vacant since September this year.
Following this, the regional commissioner had ordered the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to conduct the polls to the post and also to the standing committees in the council on 5 December. The polls to the post of deputy mayor began on 11:30 am at the BBMP head office.
As B Bhadregowda of the JD(S) was the only person to submit the nomination for the post, Regional Commissioner Shivayogi Kalasad declared him elected unopposed.
(Source: Deccan Herald)
3. CM to get Full Cabinet a Day After Belagavi Session Ends
Ending months of uncertainty, coalition partners the Congress and the JD(S) decided to expand the six-month-old HD Kumaraswamy cabinet on 22 December, a day after the winter session in Belagavi ends. Of the eight vacant berths, Congress has six to fill.
The coordination committee, headed by former chief minister Siddaramaiah, met on Wednesday and fixed the date for the long-pending exercise. “After much deliberation, we decided to expand the cabinet on 22 December,” Siddaramaiah said. Explaining why the date had been moved from 9 December, he said, “Since the Belagavi session starts from 10 December, expanding the cabinet a day before the session would have put a huge burden on new ministers. So we decided to have it after the session. All eight berths will be filled in one go.”
(Source: The Times of India)
4. 'Cannot Wait for SC Order to Build Ram Mandir'
We cannot wait for Supreme Court’s verdict to construct a Ram Mandir at Ayodhya, said Pejawar Mutt seer Vishwesha Teertha Swami. He was speaking to reporters during his visit to Gopalakrishna temple at Seethooru on Wednesday, 5 December.
“Hindus have been demanding the construction of Ram Mandir at Ayodhya. We will also urge the prime minister in this regard,” he added. He urged the Central government to promulgate an ordinance for the construction of Ram Mandir.
“If it is not possible to bring in an ordinance, then the government should go for out of court settlement by convening a meeting of leaders of both the communities and solve the issue amicably.”
(Source: Deccan Herald)
5. State to Amend RTE Act to Give Priority to Govt Schools
The Karnataka cabinet on Wednesday, 5 December, gave its approval to amend the Right to Education (RTE) Act to ensure primacy of enrolment in government schools in the state.
Emulating models of neighbouring states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the state government plans to amend the Act allowing parents to enrol children in private schools only if there are no government schools in the vicinity. The Act defines vicinity as a radius of 1km.
Briefing reporters after the cabinet meeting, law minister Krishna Byregowda said: “The primary intention of RTE is to provide education to all students. For students from BPL families it is free of cost. Till date, Karnataka had allowed parents to admit children in private schools despite having government schools in the same neighbourhood. This has resulted in the enrolment ratio dropping drastically. We have decided to amend the RTE Act to ensure children are admitted to private schools only if there are no government schools in the vicinity.”
(Source: The Times of India)
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