40 years ago September 18, 1986: 177 killed in South African mine

On September 18, 1986, a tragic mining accident claimed the lives of 177 workers at a gold mine in Kinross, South Africa, with 235 others suffering injuries. The disaster occurred after a welding accident sparked a fire that released deadly chemical fumes through the mine. In response, rescue teams donning protective gear evacuated a total of 2,200 men from the Kinross Gold Mines, located 100 kilometers east of Johannesburg.

The Pentagon, according to recent reports, is ramping up its research into germ warfare, cloning some of the world's rarest and deadliest diseases to expand its arsenal for biological weapons. This move has drawn criticism, as experts warn of the potential for creating a new biological weapons system.

Meanwhile, in a separate matter, the Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi, urged the nation to maintain a clear distinction between religion and politics. Addressing a special Congress (I) convention in Cochin, Gandhi emphasized that the greatest threat to the country did not originate from external forces, but rather from within.

Additionally, the Tamil Nadu government has urged the central government to withdraw its recent circular on the use of Hindi in central government offices, in an effort to prevent potential unrest in the state.