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Rajasthan to probe trampling of guide by elephant
From Indo-Asian News Service

Jaipur, Sep 19 (IANS) In the wake of a tour guide being trampled to death by an elephant last week, Rajasthan has set up a committee to probe the causes of "unusual" behaviour of elephants that ferry tourists to the Amber Fort here.

Thursday's incident - reportedly due to the animal's irritation at a camera flashlight and in which two Belgian tourists were also injured - sparked off safety fears at one of the three mightiest forts in and around Jaipur city. 

"We decided to constitute a committee to go into the reasons behind the death of (tour guide) Vinod Bhambha at Amber Fort," a tourism department official told IANS. 

Elephant specialist from Mayanmar Cain U-Mar, forest officials and veterinary doctors of NGO Help in Suffering are members of the committee, which has been asked to submit its report in a week's time. 

The committee will study the behaviour and health conditions of the elephants used to ferry tourists in the fort. It will also probe the handling of elephants by mahouts.

Each elephant's daily routine along with the basic facilities provided by its owner will also be scrutinised. 

Five years ago two Japanese women on an elephant ride escaped death by a whisker when the animal carrying them fell into a 50-foot-deep ditch.

It was learnt later that the elephant was blind, leading to concerns about the animals' health conditions.

The Tourist Guide Association (TGA) has claimed that 20 of the 117 elephants used to ferry tourists to the famous fort were blind.

However, animal rage is also a potent factor in fatalities. 

A youth was trampled to death by a mishandled pachyderm three years ago. The furious elephant threw the youth over with its trunk and crushed him under its foot.

About eight years ago, an elephant killed a mahout when denied a dip in a lake near the fort. 

Amber Fort is among the more popular tourist destinations in Rajasthan, which is famous for its palaces and deserts. 

Blast at Kuwaiti office in Beirut kills one

Beirut, Sep 19 (DPA) One person was killed and two injured in a bomb blast at the Kuwaiti embassy information office here early Monday, reports said.

The blast rocked the sixth floor of the Kuwait Media centre building, located in the Hamra shopping area, Kuwaiti news agency KUNA said.

Police sources said a hand grenade caused the blast. The injured have been admitted to hospital.

The area was cordoned off by Lebanese troops who prevented journalists from entering the building. An investigation has been launched.

The blast, coming in broad daylight and during rush hour, caused panic in Beirut streets.

On Friday, an explosion rocked the Christian district of Ashriafiyeh shortly after midnight killing at least one person and wounding 28 others.

Lebanon has been rocked by 12 bomb blasts since former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was assassinated in an explosion Feb 14

From Indo-Asian News Service