CURRENT NEWS EVENTS

US Bridge Collapse:

President Bush who was criticized for his slow response to the Katrina hurricane, told media persons that he would visit the site of collapse. A day earlier, a bridge collapsed across the Mississippi river in Minneapolis town. Thanks to the slow rush of traffic, the death toll was lower. Based on the media reports, President Bush has said that he would stand with the people of Minneapolis. The President would take an aerial view of the site where the bridge collapsed and would survey the region. Subsequent to the visit, President Bush would be apprized on the recovery attempts. Bush would also meet the victims’ families of the disaster which took the lives of five people and left about 100 people wounded. Laura Bush, the first lady has already given a visit to the region on Friday. Rescue efforts are going on and the House of Representatives and the Senate channelized about 250 million dollars for the reconstruction of the bridge.

Indo-Bangladesh Floods:

Torrential rained continued for the second day resulting in inundation of vast regions in India and Bangladesh. It is estimated that about 19 million people are displaced from the floods. So far, about 186 people have already died and millions of civilians are left without proper food and shelter. Hungry villagers have perched themselves atop the rooftops of their houses and tree tops. Last year, about a thousand people died from flood related incidents. This year, it is estimated that death toll may rise to well over a thousand. In some parts, the water level rose quickly for the people to react resulting in few cases of drowning. Although, the governments of both countries have promised relief supplies, the villages are yet to receive any.

Congo (Zaire) goes to the Ballots: