LEAD

The Varanasi District Court today allowed a "scientific survey" of the entire Gyanvapi mosque premises by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), except the barricaded 'wazukhana' where a structure claimed by Hindu litigants to be a 'shivling' exists, allowing a petition by four women worshippers who want to find out as to whether the Mosque had been constructed over a pre-existing structure of the Hindu temple. The court asked the ASI to submit its scientific report by August 4.

The order is likely to be challenged in higher courts. The Supreme Court last year directed the sealing of the 'wazukhana' area.

At least 16 people were killed as 50 families got trapped under rubble after a landslide in Khalapur’s Irsalvadi village on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday amid incessant rainfall in Maharashtra.

The search and rescue operation has been halted due to continuous and heavy rainfall and the threat of further landslide in the area, the NDRF said in a statement. The rescue operations will resume at 5:00 am on Friday.

An army officer was killed and three soldiers were injured in a fire accident in the Siachen glacier on Wednesday, Indian Army officials said.

The incident took place around 3.30am.

The army officials said the injured soldiers have been safely evacuated to a hospital.

Leaders of 38 parties joined a meeting of the BJP-led NDA here, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserting that the bloc is a time-tested alliance that seeks to further national progress and fulfil regional aspirations.

Prime Minister Modi was welcomed by BJP president JP Nadda, Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, former Tamil Nadu chief minister and AIADMK leader K Palaniswami and Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio.

In a major development on the Delhi Ordinance Row, the Central government has issued a statement during the Supreme Court hearing on Monday. The Centre stated that the Ordinance Bill will be tabled in the next session of the Parliament. SC was hearing a plea today of the Delhi government challenging the Centre's recent ordinance on control of services in the national capital.

Supreme Court suggested the Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) and Chief Minister to sit together and decide on the name of the Chairperson of DERC (Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission). They are constitutional functionaries, they have to rise above bickering, said Supreme Court on stressing to resolve the issue. LG and Chief Minister must sit together and give us a name for the Chairperson of DERC, asserted the apex court.