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Kosovo Accuses Serbia After Explosion Disrupts Key Water and Power Supplies
PRISTINA: Kosovo has heightened security measures and begun emergency repairs after an explosion on Friday damaged a crucial water canal that supplies its two main power plants. The government has labeled the incident a “terrorist act” and accused neighboring Serbia of involvement, further escalating tensions between the two Balkan nations.
The explosion occurred around 7 p.m. near Zubin Potok in northern Kosovo, a region where the Serb minority, aligned with Belgrade, resists recognizing Kosovo’s independence. While the exact cause of the blast remains unclear, the disruption has threatened water supplies and power generation in the area.
Emergency Measures Enacted
Kosovo’s Security Council convened early Saturday for emergency discussions, activating armed forces to safeguard critical infrastructure and prevent further attacks. Security has been tightened at strategic sites, including bridges, transformer stations, antennas, and canals, following recent grenade attacks targeting a police station and municipal building in the Serb-dominated north.
“The Security Council has approved additional measures to strengthen security around critical facilities and services,” it said in a statement.
Workers at the site of the blast have installed temporary tubes to bypass the damaged section of the canal. While power supplies have remained mostly stable, some areas have experienced disruptions in drinking water, officials said.
Accusations and Denials
Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti accused “criminal elements in Serbia” of orchestrating the attack, which he claimed was carried out by an organized group intent on destabilizing essential services. Arben Gjukaj, former CEO of Kosovo’s power utility KEK, said the attackers targeted a location crucial to both water and electricity supplies, warning that the situation was “very critical.”
Serbia’s foreign minister, Marko Djuric, dismissed the allegations as “baseless” in a statement on social media platform X. He suggested, without evidence, that Kosovo’s government could have been involved in the incident.
Tensions Running High
Relations between Kosovo and Serbia have remained strained since Kosovo declared independence in 2008, following a guerrilla war against Serbian rule. Serbia has refused to recognize Kosovo’s statehood, and tensions are especially volatile in the north, where the explosion occurred.
Kosovo Energy Minister Artane Rizvanolli announced that the government was coordinating with Albania’s power company to secure additional electricity, while water trucks were being deployed to affected areas.
As workers raced to repair the damage, Kosovo vowed to protect its infrastructure from further attacks. “We are taking all necessary steps to ensure the safety of our citizens and critical services,” the government said.
The incident underscores the fragile relationship between Kosovo and Serbia and the risks of escalating violence in the region.
News
Investigation Underway After Goa Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 25
Authorities in the Indian state of Goa have opened an investigation into a nightclub fire that killed at least 25 people, including several tourists, in one of the region’s most popular party districts. Six others were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in Arpora, a nightlife hub about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll in a statement posted on X, saying the victims included many of the club’s kitchen staff and a small number of visiting tourists. He added that all the injured were in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams recovered all bodies from the site.
Early reports from local police, cited by the Press Trust of India, indicated that a gas cylinder explosion triggered the fire. Witnesses, however, told the agency that the blaze appeared to start on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were dancing at the time. As smoke and flames swept through the building, many people ran toward the lower floor, where they became trapped along with staff members.
Sawant said a formal inquiry would determine the exact cause and whether the club complied with fire safety regulations. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible, writing on X that any negligence uncovered by investigators would be “dealt with firmly”.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as patrons attempted to flee the burning building. “We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” said Fatima Shaikh, who was inside when the fire began.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Local media reported that the club’s location along the Arpora River backwaters posed challenges for emergency crews. A narrow approach road forced fire engines to park about 400 metres from the entrance, slowing their response. Reports also revealed that the building had previously received a demolition notice after officials found it lacked a construction permit. That order was later withdrawn by senior state authorities, according to Arpora councillor Roshan Redkar.
Incidents involving gas cylinders and electrical faults are not unusual in India and often lead to heavy casualties, prompting renewed calls for stronger enforcement of safety standards. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the tragedy as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability and prevent future disasters.
The probe into the fire is expected to assess structural safety, emergency exits and compliance with existing regulations as authorities work to piece together how the late-night gathering turned into one of the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years.
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