Here are the big stories from Karnataka today

1. Bengaluru LPG cylinder explosion: 10 migrant workers from West Bengal injured at Bommasandra PG

Ten migrant workers sustained serious burn injuries after a suspected LPG cylinder explosion ripped through Jai Sai Comforts, a PG accommodation in Bommasandra on the outskirts of Bengaluru, when the occupants were preparing breakfast at around 6.30 a.m. on July 23. The building is owned by Nagaraj Reddy and had reportedly been leased to another person.

According to police, nine workers employed at M Engineering Company were staying in a room on the second floor of the PG. Initial probe revealed that the explosion was caused by leaked gas from a cylinder which had accumulated in a room without ventilation. The workers had likely shut all windows overnight to keep mosquitoes out, which trapped the gas inside.

2. FIR against Bengaluru Instagram user for allegedly abusing PM Narendra Modi over student protest in Delhi

Banaswadi police in Bengaluru have registered an FIR against an Instagram user, identified as Hudson, for allegedly posting abusive remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media. The FIR was registered on July 22 based on a complaint by Abhilash Reddy M (38), president of the BJP unit in Sarvagnanagar constituency.

According to the complaint, Hudson, who allegedly runs Pandyan’s Biryani on a footpath at Kammanahalli, shared an Instagram post through the account ‘madonly’ containing abusive words directed at the Prime Minister over the recent protests by students in New Delhi. The complainant sought strict legal action against the accused, but no arrest has been reported so far.

3. Six government health facilities in rural Karnataka equipped with solar power systems to ensure uninterrupted service

Six government health facilities in rural Karnataka have been equipped with solar power systems and energy-efficient medical equipment, enabling uninterrupted delivery of healthcare services to more than two lakh persons in areas where electricity supply has often been unreliable, affecting the functioning of medical equipment, vaccine storage and diagnostic services.

The initiative has been implemented by SELCO Foundation, a Bengaluru-based non-profit organisation, under Beyond2020, a global programme launched by the UAE’s Zayed Sustainability Prize. According to the SELCO Foundation, each facility has been fitted with solar photovoltaic systems capable of generating between two and 15 kilowatts of electricity.

4. Bengaluru Tech Summit ropes in European partners to create global growth opportunities for startups

Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS), Karnataka’s annual technology exposition, has expanded its engagement with Europe through partnerships with Italy’s We Make Future (WMF), France’s VivaTech and Poland’s technology ecosystem to create global growth opportunities for startups in Karnataka.

The collaborations are aimed at providing start-ups in Karnataka access to international markets, investors, innovation networks and cross-border partnerships, while positioning BTS as a year-round platform rather than an annual event, according to Priyank Kharge, Minister for Information Technology and Biotechnology.