Monday, March 4, 2002, Chandigarh, India
 Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Gujarat toll mounts to 450
Mayhem in Godhra a pre-meditated attack, says Advani
Ahmedabad, March 3
With the recovery of more bodies from different parts of the state, the death toll in the communal violence following Godhra incidents has risen to 450. Of these 77 persons have been killed in police firing.

Home Minister L.K.Advani speaks to a badly burnt riot victim in a hospital in Ahmedabad on Sunday. — Reuters photo

   Toll over 800: Cong
   Curfew in Aligarh after violence
   Editorial: For humanity’s sake

Residents of rural areas of violence- hit Ahmedabad begin migrating to safer areas. (28k, 56k)

Defence Minister George Fernandes expresses concern at the violence-hit city Surat, saying additional troops are being deployed. (28k, 56k)

VHP sticks to March 15 plan
New Delhi, March 3
The VHP today said it would go ahead with its plan to shift the carved stones to the Ram Janmabhoomi site at Ayodhya on March 15.
In video (28k, 56k)

Reliance Petro merges with RIL
Mumbai, March 3
Reliance today announced the merger of Reliance Petroleum Ltd with Reliance Industries Ltd to create a Rs 58,000-crore fully integrated energy company as part of efforts to leverage the combined strength for further growth and enhancing of shareholders’ value.

Tremors rock north-west region
Chandigarh, March 3
Tremors rocked the country’s north-west region, comprising Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir and the foothills of Himachal Pradesh, around 5:40 pm today. Reports of tremors were received here from Srinagar, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Bathinda, Phagwara, Mandi and Ambala, where people rushed out of their houses in panic.

Avalanche blocks Sutlej, flood alert sounded
Shimla, March 3
A flood alert has been sounded in over two dozen townships and villages along the 250 km stretch of Sutlej from Pooh to Bilaspur following blockage of the river due to a big avalanche near Tinku nallah in Kinnaur yesterday.

Commonwealth faces split
Zimbabwe draws flak over rigging charge
Coolum (Australia), March 3
Commonwealth nations split along black-white lines over whether to take action against Zimbabwe today, with African states opposing suspension calls by Britain fearing a return to neo-colonialism, Australia said.