A fire incident unfolded at the bustling Rabindra Sadan Metro station in Kolkata on Wednesday, causing a surge of panic among the commuting populace.

The fire was swiftly contained, with no reported casualties or injuries.

The blaze originated from an air-conditioning unit at the cooling tower situated near the ticketing counter of the station. Kaushik Mitra, Chief Public Relations Officer of Kolkata Metro Railways, assured that all passengers present during the outbreak of the fire remained unharmed. He stated, “Passengers who were at the station when the fire broke out are safe.” Despite the occurrence, train services remained uninterrupted.

The fire primarily affected the cooling tower within the station, causing the generation of smoke within the station premises, as explained by Mitra.

In response to the emergency, three fire tenders were promptly dispatched to the scene, successfully quelling the flames.

An on-site official shared, “Fire service personnel had to shatter windowpanes to facilitate the rapid dispersal of accumulated smoke.

The observant vigilance of a Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel played a crucial role in mitigating the situation. He promptly activated the alarm bell, leading to the swift containment of the fire in its initial stages, added the fire services official.

Exactly 81 years after Mahatma Gandhi was apprehended by British Police on Quit India Day (August 9, 1942), a parallel incident occurred involving his great-grandson, Tushar A. Gandhi, on Wednesday.

In the early hours of the day, as Tushar was preparing to visit the historic August Kranti Maidan in south Mumbai to pay homage to the Martyrs of the Quit India Movement, his plans were abruptly interrupted by the Santacruz Police stationed just outside his residence. “While I was departing to observe August Kranti Day, the Santacruz Police Station intercepted and detained me, citing reasons of ‘law and order’…

Presently, I find myself at the Santacruz Police Station,” Tushar Gandhi conveyed to IANS. This incident marks the first instance in Tushar Gandhi’s life where he has encountered such police action.

महात्मा गांधी के प्रपौत्र #tushargandhi को मुंबई में हिरासत में लिया गया है, वे भारत छोड़ो की वर्षगांठ पर कार्यक्रम में हिस्सा लेने आजाद मैदान जा रहे थे…https://t.co/vQGs3Zom1i via @YouTube pic.twitter.com/zN7yK0dLX2

— Aman Namra (@amannamra) August 9, 2023

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The police had been stationed outside his house since late last night. “It brings me a sense of satisfaction, as both Mahatma Gandhi and Kasturba (Bapu and Ba) were similarly held in detention on this momentous date by the colonial British Police… It fills me with pride,” Tushar Gandhi further remarked.

He clarified that he had not received any prior notification, unlike some other Gandhian followers and organizations intending to participate in the Quit India Day commemorations at August Kranti Maidan on the same day.

No charges have been pressed against him either. “I am currently being kept here… The treatment is courteous and respectful… Evidently, this is being carried out under the orders of the Commissioner of Police… Once I am granted permission to depart, I will unquestionably proceed to observe August Kranti Day and honor its Martyrs,” declared Tushar Gandhi.

In the early hours of the morning, the renovated August Kranti Maidan hosted the launch of a new campaign titled ‘Meri Maati, Mera Desh’ (My Soil, My Nation). Present at the event were Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, along with other dignitaries, accompanied by stringent security measures and traffic controls in the surrounding areas.

A significant fire erupted on Wednesday morning at a plywood factory situated in the Gandhi Nagar area of east Delhi, as confirmed by officials.

According to fire department officials, they received information regarding the blaze at 4:07 am, prompting an immediate dispatch of 21 fire tenders to the scene.

As of now, the fire has been successfully brought under control, and the ongoing process of cooling down the affected area is underway, as stated by the authorities. “At 4:07 am, we received an emergency call concerning a fire incident in a plywood warehouse.

Subsequently, we dispatched 3-4 fire tenders. By 5:29 am, the fire was classified as a Make-6 category fire, leading to the deployment of 21 fire tenders to combat the blaze.

Thankfully, no injuries have been reported thus far,” stated Rajendra Atwal, the Divisional Officer of the Central Division.

A witness present at the scene expressed the opinion that prompt action by the authorities could have curtailed the spread of the fire.

The fire initially broke out at Jagmohan Plywood. Regrettably, it took over an hour for the fire tenders to arrive. We resorted to using our own fire extinguishers in an attempt to contain the flames.

While the fire was initially confined to a specific section of the premises, it eventually expanded. With quicker intervention from the fire tenders, the situation could have been better managed,” claimed an individual named Karandeep Singh.

Visuals captured in the morning depicted individuals salvaging materials from the affected shop.

#WATCH | Fire broke out in a plyboard shop in Delhi's Gandhi Nagar market. Dousing operation underway. 21 fire tenders are at the spot currently. pic.twitter.com/MlJzAfyQOM

— ANI (@ANI) August 9, 2023

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Like a simmering pot, the tomato inflation has added a fiery twist to the recipe of costs, fueling a notable 34% surge in the price of the beloved vegetarian thali.

Mumbai: The cost of preparing a ‘vegetarian thali’ experienced a notable 34% escalation in July compared to June due to the surging tomato prices, as highlighted in a report released by a division of a prominent rating agency on Monday.

In contrast, the impact on the cost of a non-vegetarian thali was relatively modest, with a mere 13% increase, according to Crisil’s ‘Roti Rice Rate’ report for August.

The substantial inflation observed in thali costs can be predominantly attributed to the staggering 233% surge in tomato prices, soaring from Rs 33 per kilogram in June to Rs 110 per kilogram in July, as detailed in the report.

Crisil further elaborated that the calculation of the average cost of preparing a thali at home takes into account prevailing input prices across different regions in India, encompassing the north, south, east, and west.

This marks the third consecutive month of inflation in thali costs. The report also highlights that this is the first instance in the fiscal year 2023-24 when prices have escalated on a year-on-year basis.

Contributing to the overall cost hike, onion prices increased by 16% and potato prices rose by 9% on a month-on-month basis, as outlined in the report.

Although chilli prices experienced a 69% upsurge in July compared to June, Crisil noted that the relatively lower quantity required in food preparation limits the impact on thali costs.

For non-vegetarian consumers, the increase in thali costs was partially offset by a 3-5% decrease in the cost of broiler chicken, which constitutes half of the expenses involved, the report emphasized.

Furthermore, a 2% month-on-month decline in the price of vegetable oil provided some relief from the elevated costs of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian thalis, the report concluded.