Friday, May 2, 2003, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

RSS cautions govt on talks with Pak
New Delhi, May 1
In an effort to bridge the differences among the various constituents of the Sangh Parivar and the BJP, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and his deputy L.K. Advani today held a meeting with leaders of the RSS, VHP and Swadeshi Jagran Manch and discussed ways for sharpening the electoral reach of the ruling party.

  India does not work under pressure: MEA

India declared SARS-free: Sushma
New Delhi, May 1
In a complete reversal of its previous stand of enumerating confirmed cases of the much-dreaded SARS, the Health Ministry today claimed that India was SARS-free. The Union Health Minister, Mrs Sushma Swaraj, told mediapersons here today that the World Health Organisation had given India a clean chit by declaring it SARS-free.

World page: SARS claims 11 more lives Union Minister for Health Sushma Swaraj with officials coming out from the SARS ward of Maharishi Balmiki Infectious Diseases Hospital in the Capital on Thursday.  — Tribune photo  Mukesh Aggarwal

150 die in Turkey quake
Bingol (Turkey), May 1
A powerful earthquake killed up to 150 persons in a mountainous region of southeastern Turkey early today, demolishing a boarding school and trapping 150 small children under the rubble.

Chautala clips Governor’s powers
Chandigarh, May 1
The Haryana Government today took another step on the collision path with the Governor. The Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister here today, decided to withdraw the powers of the Governor to take a decision on memorials submitted to him by state government employees, who may feel aggrieved by any decision of the government in the matter of employment.

Patiala boy tops IAS exam
Patiala, May 1
A Patiala boy and former IIT, Delhi, student, Ankur Garg, whose “guru” had prophesised that he would top the IAS six years ago, topped the exam today in his maiden attempt.

  3 Amritsar docs make it to IAS
  Chandigarh page: 12 city students clear Civil Services exam

11 killed, 40 hurt in bus mishap
Jammu, May 1
At least 11 persons were killed (15 according to UNI) and 40 injured when a passenger bus rolled down a hill at Kot-Dara, near the border district town of Rajouri today.
In video (28k, 56k)

Minor damage to Iraq gurdwara
New Delhi, May 1
The historical gurdwara in Iraq suffered only minor damage in the US-led bombing, says the Indian Embassy in its report to the External Affairs Minister, Mr Yashwant Sinha.

  US Sikhs ready to render help

Villagers kill leopard near Moga
Ludhiana, May 1 After a fierce two-hour hide-and-seek battle Khukrana villagers and the police managed to kill a leopard which had strayed into the hamlet near Moga town. A policeman and three villagers were among those injured in the duel with the big cat.
Officials of the Wildlife Department make arrangements for the cremation of a leopard at Khukrana village in Moga district on Thursday. — Photo Surinder Mann