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Massive fire breaks out at coaching centre in Surat, 23 killed

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7 years ago

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Massive fire breaks out at coaching centre in Surat, 20 killed

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]At least 23 students were killed and several injured after a major fire broke out at a coaching centre in Sarthana area of Surat on Friday (May 24).

Disturbing visuals showed some students jumping off the multi-storey building in an attempt to escape the inferno.

The students were attending tuition classes when the fire broke out at the Takshila building. Officials said at least 10 students on the third and fourth floors jumped to the ground to save themselves from the fire and smoke.

“The fire started near the staircase, so they could not get down,” Joint Commissioner of Police Harikrishna Patel said, adding that all the dead were aged below 20 years.

Nineteen fire tenders and two hydraulic platforms were pressed into service to douse the fire and rescue those stuck inside the building, said an official of Surat fire control room. The fire was doused within an hour. No safety equipment was reportedly installed in the building, added the official.

Amid chaos on the top floor, particularly in the room where children were confined, a class 10 girl student showed presence of mind and calmly followed her teacher to safety, while helping another student.

Urmi Harsukhbhai Vekari, one of the survivors, said, “I had joined this drawing class just three days ago. There were 20-30 boys and girls learning drawing from Bhargav Sir. Suddenly, there was a lot of smoke in the room… initially we thought that somebody had burnt papers. Thereafter we came to know that fire had erupted and everybody panicked and they started jumping off,” Urmi said.

Urmi said she and another girl kept their calm and didn’t panic. “But we saw our sir (teacher) safely lowering down to the railing underneath the window. Putting all my trust in him, I, too, lowered myself and he helped me get on the little space underneath and also helped the other girl. We reached the ground safely on the fire brigade’s ladder which came up to us. Bhargav Sir was the last to come down the ladder,” she said.

According to Urmi, the classes are run at the fine arts institute, where aspiring architects and fine arts students undergo coaching for competitive exams like NATA.

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Expressing anguish, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he has directed the state government and local authorities to provide all possible assistance to those affected.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]While Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said at least 19 students died in the fire, his deputy Nitin Patel put the figure at 20.

“As per the information received, 20 students have died in the fire. Many others were injured and shifted to a hospital,” Patel said.

Rupani said the injured are being treated in various hospitals near the incident site. Expressing anguish, he announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh for the kin of the deceased. The injured children will be given quick and proper treatment, he added.

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Rupani, who ordered an investigation into the incident by Mukesh Puri, principal secretary in the urban development department, later rushed to Surat. He also ordered a fire safety audit of schools, colleges and coaching centres across the state, and visited the injured children in hospitals.

“We have ordered a detailed inquiry into the incident. We will not spare those found guilty,” said Patel. Coaching classes at the centre were run in a shade built on the top floor of the building, he said, adding they “will check if the construction was illegal”.

The audit will find out if educational establishments in the state have proper equipment and facilities to deal with fire incidents. He said the fire audit would also cover hospitals, malls and other commercial buildings of major cities and towns in the state.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text](With Inputs from agencies)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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MK Stalin predicts frequent PM Modi visits to Tamil Nadu before assembly election

MK Stalin has said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Tamil Nadu more often ahead of the Assembly election, calling the tours politically motivated and questioning the Centre’s support to the state.

Published

5 hours ago

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February 25, 2026

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MK Stalin

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin has predicted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will increase his visits to the state as the Assembly election, expected in April or May, draws closer.

Speaking ahead of the polls, the DMK president said the Prime Minister has already begun touring Tamil Nadu and is likely to visit frequently in the coming months. He claimed that such visits could create discomfort within the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), as alliance partners may fear the political impact of repeated appearances.

Stalin calls visit politically motivated

The Chief Minister described the Prime Minister’s scheduled programmes in the state as “politically motivated”. PM Modi is set to attend various events in Madurai in southern Tamil Nadu, including the inauguration of the first phase of the AIIMS hospital project. He is also expected to visit the Thiruparankundram Temple amid the Karthigai Deepam-related controversy and participate in a public meeting organised by the NDA.

Stalin said he has been working for all sections of the population, including those who did not vote for his party. In contrast, he remarked that some leaders are visible in the state only during election time and increase their visits as polls approach.

Criticism over Union Budget allocations

The DMK leader also criticised the BJP-led central government, accusing it of neglecting Tamil Nadu. He pointed out that while approval was recently granted for the Gujarat Metro project, there were no major announcements or allocations for Tamil Nadu in the Union Budget.

Stalin asserted that voters would remember the lack of significant measures for the state. He framed the upcoming election as a contest between Tamil Nadu and the NDA, stating that the state should be governed from Fort St George in Chennai rather than from Delhi.

The ruling DMK is currently allied with several smaller parties and, at present, the Congress, as it seeks a third consecutive term in office. Its principal rival, the AIADMK, is aligned with the BJP as part of the NDA.

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Shashi Tharoor questions Centre over Kerala name change to Keralam

Shashi Tharoor has criticised the Centre’s decision to approve renaming Kerala as Keralam, questioning its impact and pointing to the lack of major projects for the state.

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shashi tharoor

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Reacting to the Union Cabinet’s approval, Tharoor said that the state’s name has always been ‘Keralam’ in Malayalam and questioned the practical impact of introducing the Malayalam term into English usage.

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In a separate post on X, Tharoor raised what he described as a “small linguistic question” about what residents of the state would be called if the name change is implemented. Referring to existing terms such as “Keralite” and “Keralan”, he remarked that alternatives like “Keralamite” sounded like a microbe and “Keralamian” like a rare earth mineral.

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He had stated that the demand for a united Kerala for Malayalam-speaking people dates back to the national freedom movement.

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Tamil Nadu potboiler: Now, Sasikala to launch new party ahead of election

Sasikala has announced the launch of a new political party ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, positioning herself against AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami.

Published

1 day ago

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By

In a significant political development ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, expelled AIADMK leader V. K. Sasikala has announced that she will float a new political party and contest the polls by fielding her own candidates.

Speaking in Madurai before heading to Pasumpon for a public event, Sasikala said she would unveil her party’s flag later in the evening. She indicated that more details regarding the party’s structure and plans would be shared at the gathering.

The event venue carries political symbolism. Pasumpon is the birthplace of Thevar leader Muthuramalinga Thevar, and Sasikala herself belongs to the influential Thevar community in southern Tamil Nadu. The programme was held as part of birth anniversary events of former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa.

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Sasikala’s move is being viewed as a direct political challenge to AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS). After Jayalalithaa’s death in 2016, Sasikala briefly took control of the party and had appointed Palaniswami as Chief Minister. However, following her conviction in the disproportionate assets case, she served a four-year prison term, and during that period, she was expelled from the party.

Palaniswami later aligned with O. Panneerselvam, whom Sasikala had earlier removed from the Chief Minister’s post. The two leaders subsequently adopted a dual leadership arrangement within the party and government.

Sasikala remains disqualified from contesting elections until 2027 due to her conviction. Nevertheless, she has stated that she intends to field candidates under her new party banner.

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Over the years, expulsions within the AIADMK — including Sasikala, her nephew TTV Dhinakaran and O Panneerselvam — have led to divisions within the Thevar support base. Political observers have linked this fragmentation to the party’s weakened electoral performance in the elections following Jayalalithaa’s passing.

While Dhinakaran has returned to the NDA fold, reports suggest Palaniswami is opposed to any arrangement that includes Sasikala or Panneerselvam. OPS, meanwhile, has exited the NDA.

Sasikala has repeatedly criticised Palaniswami, describing him as a betrayer, while he maintains that his leadership stems from the support of AIADMK legislators rather than her backing.

The AIADMK has not issued an official statement on Sasikala’s announcement. However, a senior party leader questioned her political standing, pointing out her disqualification from contesting elections and referring to legal issues linked to Jayalalithaa’s death.

With the Assembly polls approaching, Sasikala’s re-entry into active politics could further complicate the opposition space in Tamil Nadu and influence electoral calculations, particularly in the southern districts.

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