New Delhi, April 12: In a heartbreaking incident near Devprayag, Uttarakhand, a car carrying a family from Haridwar plunged into a 300-metre-deep gorge and sank into the Alaknanda River near the Badshah Hotel area on Saturday.

The vehicle, a Thar SUV, was en route to the revered Dhari Devi temple when the tragedy occurred. One woman was rescued from the scene, while five other occupants of the car, including two children, are feared dead.

According to initial reports, the victims belonged to a family from Roorkee in Haridwar district. The lone survivor, 55-year-old Anita, wife of Shri Madan Singh, was rescued by local police and emergency responders.

She was rushed to the Base Hospital in Srinagar for urgent medical care. Anita is originally from Chamoli district but currently resides in Roorkee.

As per her account, the SUV had six occupants at the time of the accident, two women, two children, and one man in addition to herself.

The driver of the vehicle reportedly lost control of the SUV near the Badshah Hotel area in the Devprayag police jurisdiction and tumbled into a steep gorge, eventually landing in the fast-flowing waters of the Alaknanda River.

Rescue teams, including personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the local police, quickly reached the site and launched a search operation.

Station incharge Mahipal Rawat confirmed that intensive efforts are underway to retrieve the vehicle and the presumed deceased individuals from the river. The challenging terrain and strong water currents are complicating the rescue and recovery operations.

The incident has cast a pall of grief over the area, and authorities are urging drivers to exercise extreme caution while navigating the mountainous and often treacherous roads in Uttarakhand, especially during the pilgrimage season.

Surat, April 11: At least 50 people were rescued after a massive fire broke out early Friday morning at the Happy Excellencia residential tower located in the upscale Vesu area in Gujarat’s Surat.

The intensity of the fire triggered panic and a large-scale emergency response.

The blaze reportedly began around 8.00 a.m. on the eighth floor of the high-rise and quickly spread to the floors above, affecting at least three levels of the multi-storey building.

Videos from the scene showed thick plumes of smoke billowing from the upper floors of the building as emergency teams worked tirelessly to contain the fire and bring residents to safety

The incident prompted an immediate response from the Surat Fire and Emergency Services, which deployed multiple fire tenders to the scene.

Firefighters carried out a swift and coordinated rescue operation, safely evacuating over 50 residents, including 18 people who were trapped in a flat adjacent to the one where the fire had started. Several others who had taken shelter on the terrace were also rescued using ladders and other safety equipment.

The building is located near the house of Gujarat Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi. Upon receiving the news, Minister Sanghavi rushed to the site and supervised the emergency efforts in person.

Speaking to the media, he confirmed that there were no casualties and praised the fire brigade for their bravery, comparing their actions to those of “Hanuman in a battle”.

He added that the fire had engulfed the eighth floor and spread upward, but a timely response helped prevent a larger tragedy.

“The fire brigade fought like warriors. Their quick action ensured that all residents were evacuated safely,” Sanghavi said. “Cooling operations are ongoing to prevent any flare-ups.”

Surat Mayor Daxesh Mavani also confirmed that the fire had affected the top three floors of the tower but was now under control.

Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire, which remains unknown at this point.

Yangon, April 10: As of Thursday, Myanmar has experienced 112 aftershocks ranging from magnitudes of 2.8 to 7.5, according to the country’s Department of Meteorology and Hydrology.

The aftershocks followed a devastating 7.9-magnitude earthquake that struck the country on March 28.

The death toll from Myanmar’s earthquake reached 3,649 as of 6 pm local time on Wednesday, the Information Team of Myanmar’s State Administration Council reported.

In addition, 5,018 people were injured and 145 remained missing due to the earthquake, the report said.

The massive earthquake has also damaged 6,730 mobile communication stations, the state-run daily The Mirror reported on Wednesday.

As of April 6, 5,999 stations have been restored, while 731 stations are under repair, it said.

Additionally, 15 Myanmar post offices temporarily suspended operations due to the earthquake but resumed services on March 31, it added.

Meanwhile, the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar reported on Thursday that the 2025 Myanmar New Year’s Ata Thingyan Festival will be celebrated peacefully without music or dance.

This year marks the first celebration of Thingyan since its inclusion in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Xinhua news agency reported quoting the report.

According to the Yangon City Development Committee’s Engineering Department, construction of the water festival pavilion and the Thingyan Walk being built in front of Yangon City Hall has been suspended and cancelled, it said.

The cancellations follow the powerful earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28, resulting in numerous casualties and injuries, as well as significant damage to buildings, it added.

This year, the Ata Thingyan Festival will run from April 13 to 16. The traditional Myanmar New Year’s Day will fall on April 17.