CALCUTTA: One person died and seven others were injured in a devastating fire that gutted part of the third and fourth floors of the Ananda Bazar Patrika office here early this morning.

A grade four employee of the daily who was trapped in one of the worst affected rooms on the fourth floor died in the inferno, which was brought partially under control after eight hours, Joint Commissioner of Police Gautam Chakraborty said.

Sachin doubtful

SINGAPORE: Sachin Tendulkar may finally skip the limited overs tournament featuring West Indies, Pakistan and India to be staged in Toronto next weekend. Though the Indian skipper didn't exactly say it in so many words, he did express his doubts about taking part in the event on Friday.

Lankan ex-minister

COLOMBO: Former foreign minister of Sri Lanka A C S Hameed died of heart attack here tonight. He was 72. Hameed was the longest serving foreign minister of Sri Lanka for almost 16 years from 1977 to 1993 in theUnited National Party (UNP) government. The crucial India-Sri Lanka accord was signed when he was foreign minister.

Balcony collapse

MUMBAI: The balcony collapse in a building at Dadar which took place at around 4.30 pm today, has claimed one more victim in Saili, a third standard student of King George High School. Saili (10), succumbed to her injuries at KEM Hospital, Parel at 9.30 pm, where she had been admitted with a serious head injury. The toll in the collapse has now gone up to five.