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10 killed in Brazil football club fire (Second Lead)
Rio de Janeiro, Feb 8 (IANS) At least 10 people died after a fire broke out at the youth training centre of Flamengo, one of Brazil’s biggest football clubs here on Friday, officials said.
The flames took hold in the early hours of the morning in the club’s Ninho do Urubu facility, the training centre that was expanded and opened only two months ago. The blaze engulfed a dormitory where the players were sleeping, the BBC reported.
Six of the victims were young players and four were employees at Ninho de Urubu. Three teenagers were also injured, one of them seriously. The cause of the fire was not yet known.
The club was due to play their rivals Fluminense on Saturday. The game has now been postponed.
Former player and Brazil football legend, Ronaldinho, offered his condolences for the “terrible tragedy” in a tweet. He published the club’s crest in black-and-white alongside the message.
Apart from Ronaldinho, some of Flamengo’s most prominent former players included World Cup winners Bebeto and Romario.
Rio Governor Wilson Witzel announced three days of mourning to remember the victims of the tragedy, Agencia Brazil reported.
General Hamilton Mourao, Brazil’s Vice-President and one of the club’s most high-profile fans, said: “As a fan and sportsman I stand in solidarity with the families, the club and the Red-and-Black nation. May God comfort all.”
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior, who joined the club from Flamengo last year, said: “Just remembering the nights and days I spent at the training centre, it gives me goosebumps.”
Flamengo said the club “was in mourning”.
Pele, Brazil’s three-time World Cup winner, tweeted: “My day began with the news about the fire at Flamengo’s training ground — a place where young people pursue their dreams. It’s a very sad day for Brazilian football.”
Ninho do Urubu boasts two soccer pitches, a specific goalkeeper training centre as well as boarding options for the youth team.
Rio is currently recovering from a spate of stormy weather and torrential rain that on Wednesday killed six people and flooded several areas of the city. The adverse weather triggered landslides and washed away parked cars.
The western portion of the city, where Flamengo’s youth facilities are located, was particularly badly hit.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.