3 days ago
August 14, 1985, Forty Years Ago: Assam Solution
Efforts to solve the Assam problem gathered momentum with indications that an agreement was near with respect to the long-pending issue. Official sources told ENS that the situation was still 'fluid' and discussions were 'continuing', but that an agreement was likely to be reached. The agitation leaders held extensive talks with the Home Minister, S B Chavan, in the morning, and later in the afternoon, Assam Chief Minister Hiteswar Saikia had a 30-minute meeting with him.
Building Collapse
Fifty-two people were killed and many injured, 24 of them seriously, in the worst-ever house collapse in Bombay when a part of Mombatiwala chawl building number 47 situated at Nagpada came down. An unidentified number of persons are feared trapped in the debris, according to the fire brigade and local residents. Among those trapped are some persons who were sleeping in taxis on which debris fell.
Train Explosion
Four people, including two Army personnel, were killed and 35 injured when an explosion occurred in the military coach of the 52-Dn Sealdah Express between Gagwal and Hiranagar stations of the Jammu-Pathankot section of Northern Railway. The cause of the explosion is not known. Fire brigade personnel from Sambha, Katwa and Hiranagar rushed to the spot and put out the fire. The spokesman said passengers travelling in other coaches were safe.
Bank Workers' Strike
The strike by the All-India Confederation of Bank Officers Organisations (AICOBOO) paralysed work in nationalised banks in the country. While the strike was total in most cities, in the capital it affected the working of the banks only partially. Some banks even claimed that their branches functioned 'normally'. The AICOBOO is demanding pay revision with retrospective effect from July 1, 1983, a 16.7 per cent increase in salary against 15 per cent announced by the government, and withdrawal of the decision regarding recategorisation of posts.
