Date:18/01/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/18/stories/2007011808320400.htm

Student ends life

TIRUPATI: Shravani Kumari (20) a first year B.Tech student of a private college near Chittoor allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself from a ceiling fan in the hostel on Wednesday. She is suspected to have resorted to the extreme step as her father, a farm worker from Chowdepalle, 65 km from here, was unable to pay the college fees. - Special Correspondent

Four of family commit suicide

Kakinada: Four persons of a family -- Terakam Lakshmi (38), her daughter Sridevi (15) and two sons, Venkata Ramana (12) and Saibaba (10) -- committed suicide by hanging themselves from the ceiling of their house in Geddanapalli village on Wednesday. Their extreme action has been attributed to extreme poverty and debt burden. Appala Raju (42) Lakshmi's husband had committed suicide nine months ago. - Correspondent

Two drowned

MAHABUBNAGAR: Two persons were drowned in an open well at Chandapur village of Maktal mandal on Wednesday. According to information a water supply tanker accidentally slipped into the well while filling its tank resulting in the spot death of Laxmaiah (32). Ramulu (40) died on the way to hospital. - Correspondent

New NTPC Director

HYDERABAD: K.B. Dubey has assumed charge as Director (Projects) of NTPC Limited. He joined the NTPC at its Singrauli project in 1981, according to a press release here. - Special Correspondent

Bandh in Utnoor

ADILABAD: The agency mandals of Kerameri, Wankidi, Tiryani, Narnoor, Jainoor, Sirpur (U), Indervelli and Utnoor in Utnoor revenue division observed total bandh on Wednesday as the All Party Porata Samiti pressed its demand to reopen the Utnoor RTC depot. - Staff Reporter

Kalam to visit Mantralayam

HYDERABAD: President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam will visit Sri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt at Mantralayam in Kurnool district on Jaunuary 20. According to tentative programme Dr. Kalam will address devotees to mark completion of 80 years of Peetadhipathi Sri Sushameendra Theertha Swamiji. He will inaugurate a facility for darshan by the physically disabled. - Special Correspondent

Application deadline

WARANGAL: The last date for sale and submission of application forms for Physical Common Entrance Test (PCET 2006) is January 29. The application forms can be had from the games department of Kakatiya University on payment of Rs. 350 through demand draft. Candidates who want the application by post have to pay additional amount. - Staff Reporter

Urdu awards

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh Urdu Academy has invited applications for Best Urdu Teachers Award-2006. Deadline for submitting applications has been extended to January 30 and applications can be collected from district and regional centres of Urdu Academy. - Special Correspondent

MPTCs' meet

HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh MPTCs' Association is holding a State-level convention here on January 19 to focus attention on demands for more powers and funds for welfare measures. - Special Correspondent

Mass hunger strike

HYDERABAD: Tirumala Tirupati Samrakshna Samiti has decided to organise a mass hunger strike in all district centres on January 27 in protest against the Government's `indifference' to its demands including declaration of all seven Tirumala hills as Lord Venkateswara's abode. - Special Correspondent

YSR to open third unit of RTPP KADAPA: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy will inaugurate the third unit of Rayalaseema Thermal Power Plant at Kalamalla in Kadapa district on January 24, Congress incharge of Kamalapuram constituency Putha Narasimha Reddy said on Wednesday. The unit would generate 500 MW, he told newsmen at Yerraguntla. - Staff Reporter

Railway worker run over by train KURNOOL: A railway worker G. Chinna Narsaiah was knocked down by Jayanti Express near Gavi Gattu near Adoni in Kurnool district on Wednesday. The workers did not notice the train in following the noise caused by a passing goods train. - Special Correspondent

Two persons killed as lorry overturns

KURNOOL: Two persons died and three injured when a lorry laden with stone slabs overturned near Aluru in Kurnool district on Wednesday.

The lorry was on the way to Kuruvalli. The deceased were identified as Erri Swamy, (30), and Obnanna, (40). - Special Correspondent

New journalist body

KURNOOL: APUWJ district unit elected the new body after an election at Nandyal on Wednesday. Michael Babuji was elected district president, K. Harinatha Reddy General Secretary, P. Janardhan Treasurer, Kasim, Veeranna, Satyanarayana Gupta, Vice-presidents, M. Srinivasulu, C. Ramanjaneyulu, Kripakar and G. Surendra, joint secretaries.

APUWJ state president Amarnath acted as poll observer. - Special Correspondent

Jaggery wash destroyed

KADAPA: Excise officials raided Mushtimekalapalle village in Rayachoti mandal and destroyed 690 litres of jaggery wash, according to Rayachoti Excise CI Konda Reddy.

They also destroyed 540 litres of jaggery wash at Vaddipalle and 690 litres at Bhakrapet in Chinnamandem mandal, he said.

State to deposit funds with Chittoor Dairy

CHITTOOR: Minister for Animal Husbandry Gollapalle Suryarao has said that the court has directed the Government to deposit Rs.7.98 crores towards helping the employees of defunct Chittoor Co-operative Dairy.

Deposit-free STD facility from BSNL

Tirupati: BSNL has announced that STD facility will be provided to all existing/new customers of `One India' scheme without any additional security deposit. Customers of both fixed and WLL services who want STD facility may send their requisition letters to the respective commercial officers. - Special Correspondent