New Delhi [India], March 20 (ANI): Fire broke out in the generator and luggage compartment of the Lucknow-bound Shatabdi Express on Saturday, said a railway official.
As per the railways, the incident happened at around 6:45 am at the Ghaziabad Junction railway station.
The New Delhi-Lucknow Shatabdi Express arrived at the station at 6:41 am and smoke was reported in the generator and luggage compartment, it said.
The fire brigade was called to the spot after fire extinguishers failed to control the smoke, the official informed. Four fire tenders doused the fire, he added.
According to the railways, the train departed for its destination at 8:20 am after the affected coach was detached.
No casualties have been reported and the cause of the fire is being ascertained, said the railway official.
“About 7 am today, the generator and luggage compartment of Shatabdi Express caught fire. It was immediately separated from the train. 4 fire tenders doused the fire after breaking the window. No casualty, reason unknown on what caused the fire, probe underway,” said Chief Fire Officer Sushil Kumar speaking to ANI. (ANI)

New Delhi [India], March 20 (ANI): Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has called a review meeting on Saturday on the ‘Mukhya Mantri Ghar Ghar Ration Yojana’ (MMGGRY) scheme at 11:00 am.
This comes after the Central Government on Friday stopped the doorstep delivery of ration under MMGGRY scheme of the Delhi Government, scheduled to be launched on March 25.
Apart from Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Imran Hussain and other officials will also participate in the meeting.
According to a notification issued by the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, the subsidised foodgrains being allocated by the department for distribution under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) cannot be used for running any state-specific or other schemes under a different name other than NFSA. The same is not permissible under the Act. The said notification has been issued to the Food and Civil Supplies department of the Delhi Government.
“The use of new nomenclature or scheme name for distribution of NFSA foodgrains by the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi is not permissible,” the notification said.
The notification further said, “The department will have no objection if a separate scheme is made by the UT government without mixing the elements of the NFSA foodgrains.”
Under the MMGGRY scheme, the Delhi government was planning to provide packaged wheat flour, packaged rice, and packaged sugar under the Targeted Public Distribution System. (ANI)

Udhampur (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], March 20 (ANI): Udhampur Police on Friday arrested two alleged drug peddlers along Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Tikri and seized 300 kgs of poppy straw and Rs 5 lakhs of cash from their possession.
Rajinder Katoch Additional Superintendent of Police said,” We got information that a tanker is coming from Srinagar to Jammu with drugs. Acting on that information, we have seized 300 kilograms of poppy straws in 15 bags concealed in a chamber. We have also seized Rs 5 lakhs of cash from the accused.”
“This is a big achievement. To address the menace of drugs, which is supporting terrorism we have set up a special Nakka,” he added.
An FIR has been registered on the case and further investigation is underway. (ANI)

By Pragya Kaushika
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], March 20 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to make promises to develop West Bengal as an international trading and commerce hub ahead of the state Assembly elections.
With the state sharing a border with Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan, the party is likely to assure the citizens, in its manifesto for the forthcoming assembly polls, that new road networks and rail connections will be improved with its international neighbours, sources stated.
The poll manifesto, set to be unveiled by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on March 21, also likely to promise other logistical support to industry to develop the state.
A senior BJP leader stated that West Bengal has a huge potential for development as an international Commerce hub.
“Under the left and later under TMC, this potential was not realised. We will change this and ensure that West Bengal becomes one of the fastest-growing states in the country. The state shares borders with Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal and has potential that has not been exploited to make the state prosper,” the leader added.
Sources stated that there are many infrastructure plans in the offing if BJP is voted to power.
“There were discussions on the construction of a 6 km long viaduct from Islampur to Jalpaiguri over Tentulia salient of Bangladesh. Also, there is a need for rail and bus connections between Kolkata and Guwahati and Silchar and Kolkata through Bangladesh,” stated the source.
The senior leaders also stated that if voted to power, BJP will make attempts regarding equitable distribution of water between India and Bangladesh.
Elections to the 294-member West Bengal Assembly will be held in eight phases starting from March 27 with the final round of voting taking place on April 29. The counting of votes will take place on May 2. (ANI)

New Delhi [India], March 20 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to address mega rallies in West Bengal’s Kharagpur and Assam’s Chabua on Saturday.
Earlier in a tweet, the Prime Minister had said that he will elaborate on BJP’s development agenda in his speeches.
“Will be in Assam and West Bengal tomorrow and the day after. Tomorrow, March 20, I would be speaking at rallies in Kharagpur (WB) and Chabua (Assam). Will elaborate on BJP’s development agenda during my speeches. It is clear both states want to elect NDA in the upcoming polls,” he said.
Earlier in the week, the Prime Minister had addressed a rally in West Bengal’s Purulia where he accused the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government of crime, violence and corruption. The Prime Minister assured the people of the poll-bound state that the rule of law will be re-established in the state as soon as the BJP government is elected to power.
The Bharatiya Janata Party is set to unveil its manifesto for West Bengal polls on Sunday.
PM Modi also addressed a rally in Assam’s Karimganj earlier, where he said that Congress Party neglected the north-east for decades but the NDA Government has been focussing on connectivity and social empowerment.
Polling for the 126-member Assam assembly will be held on March 27, April 1 and April 6. The counting of votes will take place on May 2.
Elections to the 294-member West Bengal state Assembly will be held in eight phases starting from March 27 with the final round of voting taking place on April 29. The counting of votes will take place on May 2. (ANI).

New Delhi [India], March 20 (ANI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to interact with employees at the IOC Refinery in Assam’s Tinsukia on Saturday.
The leader will also address two public meetings — one in Jorhat at 1 pm and the other in Gohpur at 2.30 pm.
Rahul Gandhi, who is on his two-day visit to Assam will also release the party’s manifesto for the poll-bound Assam today at 4.45 pm at Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) office.
Speaking to ANI Congress Spokesperson AICC in-charge of Media for Assam Polls Gourav Vallabh has said, “We are giving ‘five guarantees’ to the people of Assam which are the key points of our manifesto and is agreed by the alliance partners too as a part of Common Minimum Program.
He also mentioned that the manifesto will promise no implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in Assam.
Other than this, the manifesto of Congress will also mention Rs 365 for tea workers, 200 units of free electricity and Rs 2000 for housewives a month.
Assembly elections in Assam for 126 seats will be held in three phases starting on March 27. The counting of votes will take place on May 2. (ANI)