Nearly eight people were killed when a bus fell off a bridge amid heavy rain in Punjab’s Bathinda on Friday. Reportedly, the bridge had no railings, which could have averted the bus from falling into the drain below. 

The accident took place near Jiwan Singh Wala village in Bathinda when a bus fell into a drain after crashing a bridge. A rescue operation is underway with the help of NDRF, police and locals.

The officials stated that the bus was carrying more than 20 passengers, and was headed to Bathinda from Talwandi Sabo. Reports said that local residents rushed to the spot to help rescue people and were joined by teams from police and local administration. 

The officials added that eight people were killed and the injured have been taken to a hospital. They said that it is being investigated whether heavy rain played a role in the driver losing control of the bus. 

Bathinda Urban MLA Jagroop Singh Gill also said that at least eight people were killed in a bus accident in Punjab’s Bathinda on Friday, adding that five died on the spot while three succumbed to serious injuries during treatment.

The MLA was briefed by the Bathinda civil surgeon Dr Ramandeep Singla when he visited Shaheed Bhai Mani Singh Civil Hospital in Bathinda city where 18 injured passengers are currently being treated.

Reportedly, identities of the deceased are yet to be confirmed by the district authorities. The district officials said it was raining in Bathinda when the accident occurred and the cause of the mishap will be probed.

Furthermore, Bathinda deputy commissioner Showkat Ahmad Parray said soon after the accident, villagers rushed to rescue and they managed to save lives. A detailed investigation is underway to confirm how many people were onboard, he continued.

Reportedly, soon after the accident, district officials, including DC Parray and senior superintendent of police (SSP) Amneet Kondal, rushed to the spot.

French President Emmanuel Macron and Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim paid tribute to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who passed away on Thursday. Manmohan Singh was India’s 14th Prime Minister. 

French President Emmanuel Macron said that India has lost a great man and France a true friend, in the person of Dr. Manmohan Singh. The President added that  Manmohan Singh devoted his life to his country. 

Remembering the former Prime Minister, Malaysia PM Anwar Ibrahim said that the weight of grief bears down on him at the news of the passing of his cherished friend Manmohan Singh. He added that obituaries, essays and books, a plenty there will surely be about this great man, celebrating him as the architect of India’s economic reforms. As Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh was the midwife of India’s emergence as one of the world’s economic giant, he continued.

The Malaysia Prime Minister further recalled that not many people know this, and it is time that he share it with Malaysians that during the years of his incarceration, Manmohan Singh extended a kindness that he didn’t have to, one that was neither politically expedient nor, as one can imagine, appreciated by the Malaysian government at that time. Yet, true to his character, he did it anyway, he continued.

PM Anwar Ibrahim said that the former Prime Minister offered scholarships for his children, particularly his son, Ihsan. Although he had declined the gracious offer, such a gesture undoubtedly showed Manmohan Singh’s extraordinary humanity and generosity, demonstrative, as the Bard would have it, of a man so full of the milk of human kindness.

Speaking to the media, former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that he has known Manmohan Singh since 1992, and had discussions with him. He remembered him as a good friend, a good leader, and one of those who made modern India.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh died due to age-related medical complications. He had been in poor health for the past few months. The funeral will be held at 9:30 am on Saturday with full state honours. Also, a seven-day state mourning will be observed throughout the country as a mark of respect to Dr Manmohan Singh. 

Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai whipped himself six times, as promised at a press conference held on Thursday. Notably, this self-flogging was first of his atonement for the inefficiency of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in ruling the state.

In the presence of mediapersons and BJP members, shirtless K Annamalai, wearing a green mundu, flogged himself with a long, white whip. Meanwhile, the BJP supporters were carrying placards with slogans such as Don’t you have any shame Stalin?, Hang accused Gnanasekharan and ShameOnYouStalin. 

Reportedly, the BJP Chief flogged himself about eight times before supporters rushed to make him stop. After the self-flogging, he addressed the media present there. K Annamalai said that anyone who understood Tamil culture would know that these practices were the ways of the land.

He added that flogging themselves, punishing themselves, putting themselves through very tough rituals etc. are all part of this culture. He continued that these practices are not against any person or not against anything. It is against the continuous injustice that’s happening in the state, he mentioned. 

He claimed that what has happened in Anna University is only a tipping point. He added that a lot of his forefathers walked this path and he has also chosen it. This is a process of surrendering to the higher power, surrendering to God, the BJP state chief added. He said that the common man was getting affected every day due to the administrative inefficiency of the DMK.

He further clarified why he decided to forego any footwear saying it was important to surrender yourself to a larger power. He said that he has taken this decision after a lot of consideration, and believes after all the hard work the party and cadres put in, it is also important that they surrender themselves to a larger power and leave it to the larger power to take care of the things that are happening.

K Annamalai, during a media address yesterday, vowed not to wear slippers until the DMK government was overthrown in the state.