NASHIK: Four persons, including three children, were roasted alive and one person sustained burns, when a chemical tanker in which they were travelling burst into flames on the Mumbai-Agra national highway in the early hours today. According to police, a tanker belonging to the Golden Chemical Company, was proceeding from Cuttack to Mumbai, when it overturned and burst into flames around 3.00 a.m. today near Ghatandevi temple, about 40 km from Nashik. The children -- Jitendra (12), Nitesh (9), Chandravati (4) and the driver, whose identity is yet to be established, were roasted alive.

Ramdular Janawel (father of the children) sustained burns and has been admitted to the Nashik civil hospital. One Ramdular is said to be the owner of the tanker.

Pune entrepreneurs bag Parkhe awards

PUNE: Three city-based entrepreneurs bagged the prestigious G S Parkhe industrial merit awards of the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce and Industries (MCCI) for the year 1997. J S Pawar of J P Fine Chemicals won the award for his product -- Isosorbide 5 Mononitrate (a drug for heart attack) while P B Mate of Shop Aid Manufacturers Pvt Ltd bagged the award for his innovation in rotary disc type pre-coat pressure filter for fine filtration of cutting oils. U S Cherekar of Shree Systems was selected for the award for introducing the transparent hydraulic trainer/circuit simulator (educational aid for engineering students). A Miraj-based entrepreneur Dhananjay Navangul of Dhanprakash Industrial Corporation won the award for his automated instant laddle preheater for use in foundry.

Lady job racketeer arrested

NASHIK: Meera Shivram Borate, 35, and her three accomplices were arrested by the police on Sunday, on charges of cheating 117 youths of Rs 18 lakh by promising them government employment. According to complaints filed with the Bhadrakali police station, Borate and her agents had collected between Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000 each from the jobless youths over the past one year, promising them government jobs, at the Class IV level.

Tree drive to benefit Pandharpur pilgrims

PUNE: A major tree plantation drive along the Dehu-Alandi-Pandharpur route will be initiated this year. The tree plantation will benefit thousands of devotees who go by this route to Pandharpur every year. The decision was taken at a meeting attended by senior district officials including additional divisional commissioner Hanmanthrao Pawar and district collector Vijay Mathankar. The tree plantation drive will be completed this year itself.

Three youths drown in Goa beach

PANAJI: Three youths, including a girl, drowned off Coco beach at Nerul in north Goa, yesterday. The three, who had gone to the beach on a picnic along with their families, ventured into the sea and were caught in the strong current, police said. The bodies have been fished out, police added.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.