Chief Minister Narayan Rane today assured the representatives of junior college teachers that he would discuss the issue of their revised pay hike with Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray. About 40,000 teachers affiliated to the Maharashtra Federation of Junior College Teachers Organisation had staged a 41-day agitation in December '98-January '99 to press for their demand for a revised pay hike. The union withdrew its stir after Thackeray's assurance that their demands would be favourably considered. Rane told teachers since they had called off their stir following Thackeray's appeal, he would meet Thackeray before taking a final decision. The decision will be taken by Friday, he said.

1 killed, 3 hurt in wall collapse

One person was killed and three others injured when a wall separating two rooms in a chawl in Bhandup collapsed early this morning. The incident took place at around 4.30 am in room numbers nine and ten of Kedar Chawl, Bhandup (west). Subhash Dalvidied on the spot, while Prakash Bhosale and two children, Pooja and Kamal Shinde, were injured. They were admitted to Mulund General Hospital. Bhosale and Pooja have been discharged.