1. Fewer Crackers, but Smog-Like Cover Over Bengaluru
Lack of rain and the presence of humidity ensured a smog-like cover over parts of Bengaluru on Thursday evening as people across the city celebrated Deepavali. Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) officials said last year the thick layer of smoke in the air was absent as there was some amount of rainfall during Deepavali.
Smoke-filled air prevailed despite anecdotal evidence from residents who felt that the number of people bursting firecrackers had come down from past years. “Compared with the previous years, this year the quantity of firecrackers is far lesser. But maybe because of no rain, there was a smell of smoke in air emanating from firecrackers,” said Zibi Jamal, a resident of Whitefield.
Source: The Hindu
Also Read: Delhi Air Still ‘Very Poor’ Post Diwali, but Better Than 2016
2. Two Lose Partial Sight, 47 Suffer Firecracker-Related Injuries
At least 49 persons suffered fire cracker-related injuries ranging from minor to serious burns during Deepavali celebrations in the last couple of days in the city. The Minto Eye Hospital received nine cases on Friday of which four are serious. According to the doctors, among the four, two have partially lost their eyesight.
A 10-year-old boy lost sight in one of the eyes and is being treated for infection. When sparks from a cracker flew into his eye, 25-year-old Shahrukh lost sight in his left eye. Four among the five patients who received treatment on Thursday, suffered serious injuries.
Source: Deccan Herald
Also Read: Kiran Bedi’s Video of Modi’s Mother Celebrating Diwali? It’s Fake
3. Road Rage Claims One More Life In The City
A 25-year-old was hacked to death by a rowdy sheeter and six associates after his bike collided with the rowdy’s auto in KG Halli. The brother of the victim, Syed Yousuf, who was with him, begged the accused to spare his brother, but the assailants did not pay heed.
This is the second such case of road rage to occur in the city in 10 days.
Syed Yousuf, a resident of Bharath Matha Layout in KG Halli, and his brother Syed Hussain, were returning from the mosque to their home on the two-wheeler, when Yousuf lost control over his bike and ran into the auto belonging to one Chapdi Nadeem.
Source: Bangalore Mirror
Also Read: Bengaluru Road Rage: Driver Ate Man’s Ear Lobe Before Absconding
4. Biker Mows Down 7-Year-Old Girl While Performing Wheelie
A seven-year-old girl was killed after rider mowed her down with his bike while performing a wheelie on the road in Uttanahalli village near Chikkajala, Bengaluru North on Thursday evening.
The deceased has been identified as Sahana V, a resident of Maranayakanahalli Colony in Uttanahalli, said Chikkajala traffic police. The incident took place around 5pm when the girl was playing in front of her residence.
Police have arrested the accused, identified as Raju, 25, also from Uttanahalli, and seized his bike. He lost control over his Splendor while performing a wheelie and rammed into Sahana. She was injured critically and admitted to a private hospital in Yelahanka, where she succumbed to her injuries.
Source: The Times of India
Also Read: Parents Booked After Bengaluru Teen Driver Dies in Car Crash
5. BMTC to Monitor CCTV Cameras on 1,000 Buses in Real Time
BMTC will begin real-time monitoring of CCTV cameras in 1,000 buses to ensure the safety of women passengers.
At present, nearly 600 buses have CCTV cameras but there is no real-time monitoring feature, so the footage can be used as evidence only after untoward incidents occur.
BMTC officials said they have sought Rs 6.8 crore under the Nirbhaya fund to facilitate real-time monitoring as a preventive measure. The new feature will help BMTC communicate with bus crew from its central office in Shanthinagar based on live visuals, and accordingly take pro-active measures. It is expected to reduce instances of misbehaviour with women by bus staff or fellow passengers and curb pickpocketing.
Source: The Times of India
Also Read: B’luru Girl Locked in Bus by Conductor, Police Refused to File FIR
6. Did a B’luru College Hand Out Material Listing Benefits of Dowry?
Are there ‘advantages’ to dowry? The study material reportedly distributed to sociology students at one Bengaluru college definitely seems to suggest so.
On Wednesday night, a Facebook post put up by a young woman said that students of Bachelor of Arts in St Joseph's College of Arts and Commerce in Bengaluru were given study material which endorses the system of dowry.
It starts off innocuously enough. “Generally, though accepted as an evil practice, dowry has its supporters,” the page says, under the heading ‘Advantages of Dowry’. It then goes on to list these ‘advantages’, ‘according to them’.
Read the full story on The Quint.
Also Read: SC to Revisit Order Barring Immediate Arrests in Dowry Cases
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