'Centre unwilling to accept political nature of Kashmir issue'

Srinagar: The National Conference on Sunday expressed serious concern over the deteriorating situation in the Kashmir Valley, saying the Centre's "unwillingness" to recognise the political nature of the problem was "compounding the situation" in the state.

The opposition party stated this after a meeting of its core group - its highest decision-making body - which was chaired by NC president and Member of Parliament Farooq Abdullah.

Former chief minister and the party's working president Omar Abdullah also attended the meeting.

"The NC core group while expressing serious concern over the deteriorating situation also expressed disappointment at the complete failure of the state government both in terms of governance and to create a suitable peaceful environment, as evidenced by the cancellation of the Anantnag by-poll, as also (by) rising incidents of violence and turmoil in the state," a party spokesman said.

He said the core group also expressed disappointment over the "unwillingness of the Government of India" to recognise the political nature of the problem which has "compounded the situation in the Valley and added to the already serious level of alienation".

The NC core group expressed profound grief and sorrow over the loss of lives in the recent incidents of violence in the valley and expressed solidarity with bereaved families and extended the party's condolences to them, he said.

Gas leak may be due to improperly sealed containers: police

New Delhi, May 7 (PTI) The chemical gas leak from the Tughlakabad container depot that affected over 450 girl students might have happened due to the containers not being sealed properly.

Police, however, said they are yet to ascertain the point where the carelessness occurred that led to the incident.

It is suspected that yesterday's leakage might have happened due to the containers not being properly sealed after being checked.

Meanwhile, some students are still undergoing treatment at the hospitals. A few teachers and locals were also affected.

As many as 16 girls are still admitted in Humdard Institute, 11 are admitted in ESIC, two are in Batra Hospital while one is in Apollo Hospital. Three have been referred to Safdarjang Hospital, doctors said.

Police said a team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and other agencies reached Sonipat in Haryana today to check the container and the initial cause of the leakage.

Police are in the process of collecting documents from the various parties involved to identify the point at which the lapse occurred.

The NDRF had said a truck carrying 80 cans of chloromethyl pyridine had left the Tughlakabad Depot on its way to Sonepat at 3.30 am yesterday.

The Delhi government, which ordered a magisterial probe into the incident, has issued a show cause notice to the depot authorities.

Police had registered an FIR in the matter under various sections of IPC and the Environment (Protection) Act against unidentified persons.

The southeast district administration also issued a show cause notice to the Customs department and the Container Corporation Of India Ltd (CONCOR), the custodian of the depot.