UN chief saddened by deaths of school children in flash floods in Jordan

UNITED NATIONS –UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was deeply saddened by the loss of life and extensive damage caused by a large-scale flash flooding in Jordan, his spokesman said Thursday. 

Guterres wished to convey his condolences and deepest sympathy to the families of the victims and the government of Jordan, said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman, in a statement. 

The United Nations stands ready to support ongoing rescue and relief efforts, said the statement. 
At least 17 people, most of them schoolchildren, were killed on Thursday when the bus they were traveling in was swept away in flooding near the Dead Sea, according to news reports. The bus was carrying 37 pupils and seven members of staff to the Zara Maeen hot springs area for sightseeing. Enditem 


Odisha: Farmer commits suicide due to crop damage, loan burden 

Bhawanipatna (Odisha), Oct 26 (ANI): A 26-year-old farmer from Gambhariguda village in Odisha’s Kalahandi district allegedly committed suicide by consuming poison due to crop loss and loan burden. 

According to other farmers, Paramanand Lahajal took the extreme step, as he suffered crop damage in his four acres land, which he used on a sharing basis with two other villagers. 

Besides this, he had also taken a loan of Rs. 35,000 by mortgaging his wife’s gold ornaments, which was to be repaid. 

Paramanand was rushed to Bhawanipatna district hospital on Thursday afternoon but was declared brought dead. (ANI) 
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