Manchar Lake swamps with flood water

Staff Report

DADU: Water level in Manchar Lake, the largest sweet water lake located north of the province, has reached a dangerous level posing threat to thousands of residents in the adjoining towns of Sehwan, Johi, Bubak, Bhan Syedaba and Talti.

Situated near Dadu on the Right Bank Canal, Manchar Lake has submerged as the water level reached an alarming level. It threatens to overflow and inundate vast areas, including some historic towns lying in the path of the water.

People said that the 1976 Manchar Lake overflow resulted in floods that created a breach in the embankment which inundated the Indus Highway.

On the other hand, 80 percent of the 352 villages situated near safety embankments are completely inundated in Thatta. Almost 80,000 people have been evacuated from the affected areas.

According to the control room, water flow of

Lashing rains kill 19 in various areas

LAHORE: At least 19 people lost their lives in rain-related accidents, as driving rains are in progress in various parts of the country, Geo News reported Wednesday.

The stormy downpours intermittently continued since last night in Dera Ismail Khan and the adjoining areas.

At least three children and a woman were killed as their house caved in in Aba Shaheed. The rainwater is still present in low-lying areas, rendering the life virtually suspended.

The rainwater after it rained overnight, accumulated in low-lying and interior areas of Sargodha, injuring at least six people, as the walls of houses crumbled down in katchi abadis.

Also, a man died of electrocution in Sargodha area of Phalarwan.

The spell of heavy showers are intermittently in progress in Gujranwala and its suburbs.

Cyclone Phet floods 40 villages in Gwadar

GWADAR: Cyclone Phet inundated 40 villages of Gwadar, Minister for Fishery Balochistan told Geo News. Affected people have been shifted to the safer places, he added.

A total of 370-millimeter rain was recorded in Gwadar, Pasni and other adjoining areas, he said.

Gwadar and Pasni’s road link to other areas has been disconnected as the coastal highway has been submerged under water, he told media.

Gwadar has been partially flooded due to incessant torrential rains being caused by Cyclone Phet, he maintained.

Mumbai attacks hotel set to reopen

MUMBAI: One of the three luxury hotels in Mumbai that were stormed by militants nearly 18 months ago will finally welcome back guests this weekend, its owners said on Wednesday.

The Oberoi has been shut since the three-day siege in November 2008 that killed 166 and injured over 300, unlike the adjoining Trident and nearby Taj Mahal Palace and Tower, which both partially reopened soon afterwards.

“Every room was destroyed in the hotel. There were many explosions and many bullets,” president of Oberoi Hotels and Resorts Liam Lambert said. “All the rooms were affected either by fire, water or smoke.”

The five-star, seafront hotel reopens on Saturday after renovations costing 35 million to 40 million dollars, he added.

Lambert told a news conference that the hotel has 37 bookings for next week and said he expected demand to pick up slowly, as the annual monsoon rains approach in June.

Before the attacks, the hotel pulled in revenue of about 36 million dollars in revenue a year, he said.

The cost of the repairs has mainly come from “Mr Oberoi”s pocket”, Lambert said, referring to the chairman of the Oberoi Group parent company, P.R.S Oberoi.

An interim insurance payment of 14 million dollars for loss of profit and reconstruction has also gone towards the revamp, he added. The total losses are still being assessed, he said.

8 extremists killed in Orakzai operation

PESHAWAR: At least eight extremists were killed and various others injured in a security forces’ action in Lower Orakzai, Geo News reported Thursday.

According to sources, the security forces are advancing in various Lower Orakzai areas including Goween, Shareen Darra and other adjoining areas.

The hideouts of the extremists are being shelled from he gunship helicopters.

In a similar fresh action by the security men, at least eight militants were killed and various others injured.

It should be mentioned that the forces operation in progress for past three weeks in Orakzai Agency. Over 300 extremists have been killed in the operation with most of their hideouts under forces’ control now.

Raymond Luc Levasseur

Raymond Luc Levasseur: While a date and time have not been announced, the University of Massachusetts released a statement Tuesday expressing its frustration that convicted bomber Raymond Luc Levasseur apparently will be speaking in Amherst after the university had canceled his appearance.

Raymond Luc Levasseur:While a date and time have not been announced, the University of Massachusetts released a statement Tuesday expressing its frustration that convicted bomber Raymond Luc Levasseur apparently will be speaking in Amherst after the university had canceled his appearance.

The university administration does not in any way support the presentation by Ray Luc Levasseur, and was very clear in supporting the library’s recent decision to cancel its talk,” the university said in a prepared statement. “The university administration did not invite this speaker and would not invite him.

A group of faculty members has decided to invite him.

“Although the university administration questions the wisdom and common sense of this judgment, the institution must respect academic freedom,” the statement continues. “As repugnant as we find this invitation, the administration’s commitment to academic freedom must be honored. While the university administration does not approve, endorse or support the decision to invite this individual to campus, academic freedom must be paramount for the university community.”

Levasseur’s appearance has generated protests from those opposed to his appearance including Gov. Deval L. Patrick and UMass president Jack M. Wilson, and from those irate that the talk was canceled by UMass.

A letter was set to the administration and signed my alumni who were “disgusted with the university for caving to right-wing pressure.”

Robert S. Cox head of special collections and university archives had invited Levasseur to campus as part of the 5th annual Colloquium on Social Change Thursday night but canceled the talk after police groups and others vehemently opposed Levasseur’s appearance.

Levasseur was released in 2004 after serving 20 years in prison.

He was part of the United Freedom Front, a group that was charged with eight Boston-area bombings between 1976 and 1979, the murder of a New Jersey state trooper, the attempted murder of a Massachusetts state trooper, several other assaults on law enforcement officers and several armed bank robberies.

Levasseur was not at the scene of the trooper’s shooting nor was he charged.

Jefferson City Hostage,Jefferson City News

Jefferson City Hostage,Jefferson City News: There is a possible hostage situation in a downtown office building, city block in Jefferson City . Jefferson City Police said they received an alarm message about a possible hostage situation, but they said that they have not been able to confirm it as yet. There have been unconfirmed reports that the hostage situation is in the Governor Office Building in Jefferson City , which is a government building near the Governor’s Mansion , but fortunately it does not house the Governor.

Jefferson City Hostage,Jefferson City News:There is a possible hostage situation in a downtown office building, city block in Jefferson City. Jefferson City Police said they received an alarm message about a possible hostage situation, but they said that they have not been able to confirm it as yet.

There have been unconfirmed reports that the hostage situation is in the Governor Office Building in Jefferson City, which is a government building near the Governor’s Mansion, but fortunately it does not house the Governor. If it were housing the Governor then the hostage situation would have had been more critical.

Jefferson City Police have taken the help of Capitol Police, Highway Patrol, and the Sheriff’s Department in the possible hostage situation and all has surrounded the Governor Office Building at 200 Madison St.

The possible hostage situation might have been on the 5th floor, of the Governor Office Building, where a person said that there might be some hostages there. Helicopters are flying above the building, in a bid to nab the culprit. Sharp shooters are on the adjoining buildings as the police tries their best to nab the culprit.

KRCG’s crew at the scene reported that nearby businesses and shops have been closed down as a precautionary measure, as police try to assess the situation.