The employees held demonstrations inside the Secretariat campus and gheraoed Chief Secretary P K Bora twice yesterday, demanding payment of October month's salary, official sources said here today. Bora said the Government was facing a severe financial crisis because of the increasing gap between earning and expenditure.

55 killed in Jammu bus accident
JAMMU: AT least 55 people were killed and 59 others seriously injured when an overloaded bus skidded and toppled into a steep gorge at Jandrali, about 80 km from here, police said today.

While 12 passengers, including two policemen, died instantly, 43 people succumbed to their injuries since yesterday when the accident occurred. The bus, which was on its way from Bani in Kathua district to Jammu, skidded off the road near a blind curve.

57drug-related deaths in Mizoram
AIZAWL: AT least 57 people, including six women, have died in Mizoram of drug-related problems this year, State Excise officials quoting department records said here today. Except one, all the drug-related deaths were reported after taking Spasmo Proxyvon, a strong painkiller, the officials said. Proxyvon capsules, designed to be taken orally, are widely used by the youth intravenously.

Major Purushottam cremated
JABALPUR: THE mortal remains of Major P Purushottam, who was killed in an ambush by militants at the Army's 15 Corps Headquarters in Srinagar, were consigned to flames here last evening with full military honours. Top Army and civil officials and a large number of people were present at the Gwarighat crematorium when his body was taken for the last rites.

Purushottam, the Public Relations Officer of the 15 Corps, was among the seven killed on November 3 when three Lashkar-e-Toiba ultras ambushed the headquarters.

No bonus for Rajasthan Govtstaff
JAIPUR: THE Rajasthan Government has failed to give Diwali bonus to its staff for the first time since 1986, even as the apex body of the State Government employees decided to step up its agitation on the issue.