10 hurt in blast

SRINAGAR:

Ten people were injured in a grenade attack by suspected Islamic militants near the town of Shopian, 50 km south of Srinagar on Monday, a police spokesman said. “There were no army casualties,” the spokesman said, adding reinforcements reached the area to launch a search operation. — AFP

Encephalitis toll 468

LUCKNOW:

The death toll from a Japanese encephalitis outbreak in northern India rose to 468 on Monday as more children died overnight, with officials blaming lack of cash for vaccines and overcrowded hospitals putting two patients in a bed. “Twelve children died overnight, eight of them in Gorakhpur alone,” said Uttar Pradesh state health chief OP Singh, referring to the worst-hit eastern district. — AFP