Quake hits Sichuan

BEIJING: The US Geological Survey says a 6.0 earthquake has hit China’s Sichuan province that was devastated by a more powerful quake in May. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries from Tuesday’s temblor, the latest of scores of aftershocks from the 7.9 quake that struck Sichuan on May 12 and killed almost 70,000 people and left 5 million homeless. The US seismic service said the epicenter of Tuesday’s quake was 48 km northwest of Guangyuan town at a depth of 10 km shortly before 6:00 pm local time. — AP

27 killed in Lanka

COLOMBO: At least 26 Tamil rebels and a government soldier were killed in fresh fighting in Sri Lanka’s north, the defence ministry said on Tuesday. The clashes were in the Vavuniya, Mullaitivu and Weli Oya districts on Monday, the ministry said. There was no comment from the Tamil Tigers. — AFP

10 dead in landslide

BEIJING: At least 10 people have died in a landslide in a mining area in north China’s Shanxi province, state media reported on Tuesday, citing emergency officials. The landslide occurred in the suburbs of the province’s capital Taiyuan in an iron ore mining area operated by Taiyuan Iron and Steel Group, Xinhua news agency reported. Rescuers were looking for an 11th person who was missing, and authorities were investigating the cause of the landslide, it reported. — Xinhua

Incessant rain in Delhi

New Delhi: People here woke up to a wet morning on Tuesday as incessant rains, that started Monday afternoon, continued to lash the capital. The pleasant weather, however, turned ugly for many as traffic came to a standstill and office goers were stuck at many places. Traffic snarls were reported from almost all parts of the capital. Commuters were stuck in massive jams near Dhaula Kuan flyover, ITO, Punjabi Bagh, Ashram Chowk and on Ring Road. — IANS

Monsoon toll up

HYDERABAD: Heavy rains continued to lash parts of Andhra Pradesh for the third consecutive day on Tuesday as the death toll in rain-related incidents went up to 12. — IANS