Odisha

Bhawanipatna, June 1 (PTI) A pack of stray dogs Saturday attacked and killed a woman when she was on her way to attend nature's call in Odisha's Kalahandi district, police said.

The incident took place at Banjibahal village under Golamunda block in Kalahandi district when 57-year-old Bhumisuta Majhi had gone near the pond.

A pack of 8 to 10 stray dogs attacked and pounced on the woman and left her bleeding in different parts of her body, the police said adding that she died on the spot.

By the time, local people reached the spot hearing her scream, she was dead.

Koraput, Jun 1 (PTI) A 17-year-old girl was set ablaze allegedly by a man after she rejected his advances at Semiliguda in Odisha's Koraput district, police said Saturday.

The girl, a second-year engineering (diploma) student, suffered critical burn injuries, they said.

The accused Gopi Khemundu, of Ganjana village, was obsessed with the girl and angry after she turned down his proposal, said Sunabeda Sub-Divisional Police Officer Niranjan Behera.

Bhubaneswar, May 29 (PTI) Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will not attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on Thursday, officials said.

The newly elected members of the 16th Vidhan Sabha (Assembly) will take oath tomorrow. As leader of the House, the chief minister will be present during the occasion. So, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will not be able to visit Delhi tomorrow to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the prime minister and his council of ministers, an official communication issued by the Chief Minister's Office said Wednesday.

Bhubaneswar, May 29 (PTI) The Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government Wednesday started disbursement of funds to farmers under the 'KALIA' scheme.

"As part of our commitment to farmers, today in our first cabinet meeting, the fund release under KALIA scheme starts with immediate effect, and about 25 lakh additional families will be assisted in a weeks' time," Patnaik told reporters here.

Bhubaneswar, May 29 (PTI) Naveen Patnaik, who led his Biju Janata Dal to a landslide victory in the Assembly elections, took oath as the chief minister of Odisha for a record fifth consecutive term on Wednesday.

Patnaik was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor Ganeshi Lal at the Idco Exhibition Ground here.

Twenty newly elected BJD MLAs also took oath as ministers, including 11 of Cabinet rank, at the swearing-in ceremony attended by a host of dignitaries.

Bhubaneswar, May 19 (PTI) Repolling was held in 34 booths under several constituencies of Odisha on Sunday amid tight security arrangements, election officials said.

The Election Commission had ordered repolling in these constituencies in view of alleged irregularities and incidents of violence during the third and fourth phase of elections held on April 23 and 29.

Voting from 7 am to 6 pm on Sunday was held in a smooth and peaceful manner, a poll official said.

Bhubaneswar, May 12 (PTI) The toll in Odisha due to cyclone 'Fani' sharply rose to 64, with 21 fresh casualties confirmed by the state government on Sunday.

The 'extremely severe' cyclonic storm, which made landfall in Puri with wind speed of up to 240 kmph on May 3, has left at least 241 people injured, an official said.

The toll, which was 43 till Saturday, rose to 64, as 18 more casualties were reported from the worst-hit Puri district and four more from Khurda district.

Bhubaneswar, May 11; PTI: A fire broke out on Saturday in Bhubaneswar-bound Rajdhani Express between Balasore and Soro railway stations of Odisha, official sources said.

The fire broke out between 12.50 pm to 1 pm and severely damaged the power car in the rear of the train, but did not spread to any other coach, an official said.

All passengers of the train are safe, he said.

Bhubaneswar, May 10 (PTI) Over one million trees that once stood tall and provided green cover to the Odisha capital have been felled by the raging winds of Cyclone Fani, the uprooted trunks and bare branches testimony to the intensity of the storm that barrelled through the state last week.

The extremely severe cyclonic storm on May 3 did not result in major casualties but the environmental damage in the city is immense and it will take more than a decade to recover, officials said.

NEW DELHI, May 5 (Xinhua): Death toll of Cyclone Fani has risen to 33 in Indian eastern state of Odisha, local media reported Sunday.

The extremely severe cyclone wreaked havoc in the coastal part of the state, causing widespread destruction and leaving hundreds grappling with water shortage and power cuts due to uprooting of trees and electricity poles.

"The death toll in the Cyclone Fani has risen to 33," local television channel India Today said on Sunday.