The trouble started with a mass escape. Dozens of teens held in an overcrowded state-run shelter on the outskirts of Guatemala's capital flooded through the gates Tuesday evening, most only to be caught and locked down in their dorms.

Yesterday someone set fire to mattresses in the girls' section of the rural campus, authorities said. The blaze quickly spread through two dorms, killing at least 22 girls and injuring dozens more, most with second- and third-degree burns.

Distraught parents scribbled their children's names on pieces of paper to pass to shelter staff begging for information. They went to the two local hospitals and the morgue.

Authorities worked to identify victims, but said DNA tests might be necessary for some remains. At Roosevelt Hospital, Dr. Marco Antonio Barrientos asked parents waiting outside for information to come back with photographs, dental records and details about tattoos or other distinctive features.

Piedad Estrada, a street vendor, arrived at the hospital with a photograph of her 16-year-old daughter. She said the teen was pregnant and had been at the shelter for nine days because she ran away from home.

Estrada searched at the hospitals and the morgue, but got no information. She showed the photo to workers at one hospital, but they said they had five girls who were completely bandaged so they could not be sure.

"They only took her from me to burn her," Estrada said.

"I blame the state for what has happened." 

Late Wednesday at the morgue, Patricia Ramirez said her 15-year-old granddaughter Achly Gabriela Mendez Ramirez was one of the dead. She said her daughter, the girl's mother, had identified Achly's burned body at the shelter earlier in the day, but authorities said they would not release her body until there was a DNA test.

Ramirez said the family was from a region east of the capital in Jutiapa department and Achly had been at the home for one year.

Ambulances had hurried to the hospitals throughout the morning carrying the injured, some partially naked, burned bright pink with large flaps of skin hanging from their bodies.

A 15-year-old girl being treated for minor injuries at Roosevelt Hospital said she and other girls had sought refuge on the roof of their dorm after the disturbances began, fearful of being attacked by other youths. By morning she said she could see the fire in a nearby building.

"I saw the smoke in the place. It smelled like flesh," the girl said

Army's Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt Gen AK Bhatia on Thursday spoke to his Pakistani counterpart and conveyed India's concerns over movement of terrorists along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir.

The conversation came amid an ongoing encounter between security forces and militants holed up inside a house in Awantipora area of Kashmir's Pulwama district.

"The DGMO spoke to the Pakistan Army DGMO on Thursday morning. He expressed concern regarding the movement of terrorists noticed along the Line of Control (LoC)," Army sources said.

The Pakistani DGMO was also informed about the repatriation of two Pakistani nationals apprehended in Uri.

"The individuals will be repatriated through Wagah border on March 10," said the sources.

The NIA had handed over to the army two Pakistani youths on Wednesday whom it had arrested in connection with the 2016 terror attack on a military base in Uri that had killed 19 soldiers.

The NIA had handed over Faisal Hussain Awan and Ahsan Khursheed to the army's 16 Corps headquarters in Jammu.

Army's Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt Gen AK Bhatia on Thursday spoke to his Pakistani counterpart and conveyed India's concerns over movement of terrorists along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir.

The conversation came amid an ongoing encounter between security forces and militants holed up inside a house in Awantipora area of Kashmir's Pulwama district.

"The DGMO spoke to the Pakistan Army DGMO on Thursday morning. He expressed concern regarding the movement of terrorists noticed along the Line of Control (LoC)," Army sources said.

The Pakistani DGMO was also informed about the repatriation of two Pakistani nationals apprehended in Uri.

"The individuals will be repatriated through Wagah border on March 10," said the sources.

The NIA had handed over to the army two Pakistani youths on Wednesday whom it had arrested in connection with the 2016 terror attack on a military base in Uri that had killed 19 soldiers.

The NIA had handed over Faisal Hussain Awan and Ahsan Khursheed to the army's 16 Corps headquarters in Jammu.

The United States has rejected China's proposal for a halt to joint US-South Korean military exercises if North Korea suspends its nuclear and missile activities.

It yesterday called North Korean leader Kim Jong Un irrational and demanded "positive action" before the US can take his regime seriously.

In Washington, US State Department acting spokesman Mark Toner said, "At this point we don't see it as a viable deal." 

A Pentagon spokesman, Cmdr Gary Ross, said US activities to defend South Korea "cannot be equated to North Korea's repeated violations of its obligations and agreements." 

The US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, told reporters after an emergency Security Council meeting on North Korea's latest ballistic missile launches that the United States must see "some sort of positive action" by Kim's regime before discussing ways to reduce tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

"They've given us enough reason to think how irresponsible that they are that we ever try and think that we're dealing with a rational person on this," she said.

Yesterday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi proposed the freeze-for-freeze, likening escalating tensions between the North and Washington and Seoul to "two accelerating trains, coming toward each other with neither side willing to give way." 

The idea was rejected by South Korea and Japan as well as the US.

Haley said the military drills are especially needed now after North Korea conducted two nuclear tests and 24 ballistic missile launches last year and two sets of missile launches and the assassination of Kim Jong Un's estranged brother using a chemical weapon this year.

She also defended the upcoming deployment of a US missile defense system in South Korea, a move that has been strongly opposed by China. She said America would not leave its ally facing the threat from North Korea without help.

"We have not seen any goodwill at all coming from North Korea," Haley said. "I appreciate all my counterparts wanting to talk about talks and negotiations, (but) we are not dealing with a rational person." 

With any other country, the United States would be seeking negotiations, she said.

"This is not a rational person, who has not had rational acts, who is not thinking clearly," Haley said of North Korea's leader. "This is someone who is trying to get attention. This is someone who is trying to get a reaction." 

Haley said the United States is re-evaluating how it is going to deal with North Korea going forward "and we are making those decisions now and will act accordingly." 

"We're not ruling anything out and we're considering every option that's on the table," she said.

The United States has rejected China's proposal for a halt to joint US-South Korean military exercises if North Korea suspends its nuclear and missile activities.

It yesterday called North Korean leader Kim Jong Un irrational and demanded "positive action" before the US can take his regime seriously.

In Washington, US State Department acting spokesman Mark Toner said, "At this point we don't see it as a viable deal." 

A Pentagon spokesman, Cmdr Gary Ross, said US activities to defend South Korea "cannot be equated to North Korea's repeated violations of its obligations and agreements." 

The US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, told reporters after an emergency Security Council meeting on North Korea's latest ballistic missile launches that the United States must see "some sort of positive action" by Kim's regime before discussing ways to reduce tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

"They've given us enough reason to think how irresponsible that they are that we ever try and think that we're dealing with a rational person on this," she said.

Yesterday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi proposed the freeze-for-freeze, likening escalating tensions between the North and Washington and Seoul to "two accelerating trains, coming toward each other with neither side willing to give way." 

The idea was rejected by South Korea and Japan as well as the US.

Haley said the military drills are especially needed now after North Korea conducted two nuclear tests and 24 ballistic missile launches last year and two sets of missile launches and the assassination of Kim Jong Un's estranged brother using a chemical weapon this year.

She also defended the upcoming deployment of a US missile defense system in South Korea, a move that has been strongly opposed by China. She said America would not leave its ally facing the threat from North Korea without help.

"We have not seen any goodwill at all coming from North Korea," Haley said. "I appreciate all my counterparts wanting to talk about talks and negotiations, (but) we are not dealing with a rational person." 

With any other country, the United States would be seeking negotiations, she said.

"This is not a rational person, who has not had rational acts, who is not thinking clearly," Haley said of North Korea's leader. "This is someone who is trying to get attention. This is someone who is trying to get a reaction." 

Haley said the United States is re-evaluating how it is going to deal with North Korea going forward "and we are making those decisions now and will act accordingly." 

"We're not ruling anything out and we're considering every option that's on the table," she said.

A 21-year-old man was killed and three others injured in the wee hours on Thursday after a fire broke out in a building in north Delhi's Burari area.

The fire was reported in a building at Santnagar Burrari around 4 am, a Delhi Fire Service official said.

Fire tenders rushed to the spot and rescued people living on the ground and the upper floor. They were taken to a hospital where Sandeep was declared dead by the doctors while three others are being treated, police said.

The fire broke out in the garage on the ground floor which was rented out as a room by the owner of the building, a police official said, adding it has been doused by fire tenders.

The victim and the injured were residing on the ground floor, the official said.

Investigation is underway to ascertain the cause of the fire and whether there were any lapses in fire safety measures in the building.

A 21-year-old man was killed and three others injured in the wee hours on Thursday after a fire broke out in a building in north Delhi's Burari area.

The fire was reported in a building at Santnagar Burrari around 4 am, a Delhi Fire Service official said.

Fire tenders rushed to the spot and rescued people living on the ground and the upper floor. They were taken to a hospital where Sandeep was declared dead by the doctors while three others are being treated, police said.

The fire broke out in the garage on the ground floor which was rented out as a room by the owner of the building, a police official said, adding it has been doused by fire tenders.

The victim and the injured were residing on the ground floor, the official said.

Investigation is underway to ascertain the cause of the fire and whether there were any lapses in fire safety measures in the building.

The first official photo from "Jurassic World 2" has been unveiled by director JA Bayona on Twitter.

It takes fans inside what looks like a museum where a little girl with a ponytail and red jacket standing in front of a massive dinosaur skull.

Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard are both back reprise their respective roles for the upcoming "Jurassic World" sequel. They are joined by the likes of BD Wong, Toby Jones, Ted Levine, James Cromwell, Rafe Spall and Justice Smith.

The storyline is still kept under tight wraps, but Colin Trevorrow who helmed the first film once teased that the second movie would be darker and scarier.

The next installment of the rebooted franchise is scheduled to hit theaters across the country on June 22, 2018.

The first official photo from "Jurassic World 2" has been unveiled by director JA Bayona on Twitter.

It takes fans inside what looks like a museum where a little girl with a ponytail and red jacket standing in front of a massive dinosaur skull.

Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard are both back reprise their respective roles for the upcoming "Jurassic World" sequel. They are joined by the likes of BD Wong, Toby Jones, Ted Levine, James Cromwell, Rafe Spall and Justice Smith.

The storyline is still kept under tight wraps, but Colin Trevorrow who helmed the first film once teased that the second movie would be darker and scarier.

The next installment of the rebooted franchise is scheduled to hit theaters across the country on June 22, 2018.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday briefed the Lok Sabha on Lucknow encounter and said the government and the Parliament is proud of slain terrorist Saifullah’s father.

"Saifullah’s father has refused to take his body as he was a traitor. The government and the Parliament is proud of him," the home minister said.

"The government is expressing sympathy to slain terrorist Saifullah’s father," he added.

One terror suspect was neutralised as anti-terror operation in Thakurganj area of Lucknow ended after almost 12 hours in the wee hours ofWednesday.

According to police, eight pistols, 650 rounds of ammunition, 50 fired rounds, explosives materials, gold, some cash, passports and SIM cards were recovered from the terrorist.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday briefed the Lok Sabha on Lucknow encounter and said the government and the Parliament is proud of slain terrorist Saifullah’s father.

"Saifullah’s father has refused to take his body as he was a traitor. The government and the Parliament is proud of him," the home minister said.

"The government is expressing sympathy to slain terrorist Saifullah’s father," he added.

One terror suspect was neutralised as anti-terror operation in Thakurganj area of Lucknow ended after almost 12 hours in the wee hours ofWednesday.

According to police, eight pistols, 650 rounds of ammunition, 50 fired rounds, explosives materials, gold, some cash, passports and SIM cards were recovered from the terrorist.

In a major development to the Uphaar fire tragedy case, the Supreme Court has on Thursday dismissed Gopal Ansal’s plea seeking withdrawal of the February 9 order sentencing him to one-year in jail and asked him to surrender on March 20.

He has to surrender in Patiala House Court after which he will be lodged in Tihar jail to serve one-year in the prison.

"The appeal filed by Gopal Ansal is dismissed," a three- judge bench headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi said.

Justice Gogoi, in a 2:1 majority verdict on February 9, had granted relief to 76-year-old Sushil Ansal considering age-related complications by awarding him jail term already undergone and had asked Gopal to surrender in four weeks to serve the remaining jail term.

Gopal had thereafter filed a plea in the apex court seeking modification of its order on the grounds of parity, saying he was 69 years old and would suffer irreparable damage to his health if sent to prison.

After the bench, also comprising Justices Kurian Joseph and Adarsh Kumar Goel, dismissed the plea, senior advocate Ram Jethmalani representing Gopal Ansal told the court that as per the February 9 order, Gopal was to surrender to serve the remaining jail term within four weeks, which is expiring on Wednesday.

Jethmalani told the bench that Gopal Ansal be given some time to surrender.

"Gopal Ansal will surrender to serve the rest of the sentence as imposed on him on March 20," the bench said.

59 persons had died in the Uphaar cinema during the screening of Hindi movie 'Border' on June 13, 1997.

In a major development to the Uphaar fire tragedy case, the Supreme Court has on Thursday dismissed Gopal Ansal’s plea seeking withdrawal of the February 9 order sentencing him to one-year in jail and asked him to surrender on March 20.

He has to surrender in Patiala House Court after which he will be lodged in Tihar jail to serve one-year in the prison.

"The appeal filed by Gopal Ansal is dismissed," a three- judge bench headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi said.

Justice Gogoi, in a 2:1 majority verdict on February 9, had granted relief to 76-year-old Sushil Ansal considering age-related complications by awarding him jail term already undergone and had asked Gopal to surrender in four weeks to serve the remaining jail term.

Gopal had thereafter filed a plea in the apex court seeking modification of its order on the grounds of parity, saying he was 69 years old and would suffer irreparable damage to his health if sent to prison.

After the bench, also comprising Justices Kurian Joseph and Adarsh Kumar Goel, dismissed the plea, senior advocate Ram Jethmalani representing Gopal Ansal told the court that as per the February 9 order, Gopal was to surrender to serve the remaining jail term within four weeks, which is expiring on Wednesday.

Jethmalani told the bench that Gopal Ansal be given some time to surrender.

"Gopal Ansal will surrender to serve the rest of the sentence as imposed on him on March 20," the bench said.

59 persons had died in the Uphaar cinema during the screening of Hindi movie 'Border' on June 13, 1997.

Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan has discussed with new Energy Secretary Rick Perry the possibility of importing LNG from the US and Indian investment in the energy sector there.

Pradhan met Perry during an unscheduled trip to the US Capitol and discussed energy cooperation between India and the US, Indian investment in Liquefied natural gas (LNG) and Shale sectors, and the possibility of the US exporting LNG to India from early next year.

Perry said co-operation between India and the US in the energy sector is in mutual interest as India's energy need is set to see a rapid increase as the economy expands.

Pradhan arrived in Washington DC from Houston, a city located near the Gulf of Mexico, where he attended the influential CERAWeek energy conference and launched the new Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP).

On the sidelines of the conference, Pradhan had bilateral meetings with counterparts from Russia, Sri Lanka, Canada and Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih is expected to visit India soon.

Pradhan also met the CEO of state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company; Bob Dudley, CEO of British Petroleum; and International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol.

In Washington, Perry, who took over the department last week, strongly pushed for a Houston visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi later this year. He said Modi's meeting with the strong energy community in Houston could add a new dimension to bilateral ties.

Dates of Modi's US visit is still being worked out.

Pradhan, who invited Perry to India for the next round of India-US Energy Dialogue later this year, said he would convey his message to the prime minister.

Pradhan said the US energy secretary believes energy is the next frontier for India-US relationship.

On Tuesday, the Union minister met Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who appreciated the Indian-American community and said that he is planning to lead a trade delegation to India soon.

During the visit, Oil India signed a MoU with Houston University to work on CO2 injection technology to enhance production in Assam.

Pradhan started his US tour from Boston, where he interacted with students and faculty members of MIT, Harvard Kennedy School and Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy at Tufts University. At MIT, he also met former US Energy Secretary Prof Ernest Muniz.

Both in Boston and Houston, Pradhan met members from the Indian community, including scientists of Indian origin. 

Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan has discussed with new Energy Secretary Rick Perry the possibility of importing LNG from the US and Indian investment in the energy sector there.

Pradhan met Perry during an unscheduled trip to the US Capitol and discussed energy cooperation between India and the US, Indian investment in Liquefied natural gas (LNG) and Shale sectors, and the possibility of the US exporting LNG to India from early next year.

Perry said co-operation between India and the US in the energy sector is in mutual interest as India's energy need is set to see a rapid increase as the economy expands.

Pradhan arrived in Washington DC from Houston, a city located near the Gulf of Mexico, where he attended the influential CERAWeek energy conference and launched the new Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP).

On the sidelines of the conference, Pradhan had bilateral meetings with counterparts from Russia, Sri Lanka, Canada and Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih is expected to visit India soon.

Pradhan also met the CEO of state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company; Bob Dudley, CEO of British Petroleum; and International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol.

In Washington, Perry, who took over the department last week, strongly pushed for a Houston visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi later this year. He said Modi's meeting with the strong energy community in Houston could add a new dimension to bilateral ties.

Dates of Modi's US visit is still being worked out.

Pradhan, who invited Perry to India for the next round of India-US Energy Dialogue later this year, said he would convey his message to the prime minister.

Pradhan said the US energy secretary believes energy is the next frontier for India-US relationship.

On Tuesday, the Union minister met Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who appreciated the Indian-American community and said that he is planning to lead a trade delegation to India soon.

During the visit, Oil India signed a MoU with Houston University to work on CO2 injection technology to enhance production in Assam.

Pradhan started his US tour from Boston, where he interacted with students and faculty members of MIT, Harvard Kennedy School and Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy at Tufts University. At MIT, he also met former US Energy Secretary Prof Ernest Muniz.

Both in Boston and Houston, Pradhan met members from the Indian community, including scientists of Indian origin. 

A mass marriage of 104 differently abled couples solemnised in Ujjain city in Madhya Pradesh has found a place in the Golden Book of World Records, a government official said on Wednesday.

The mass marriage event was held on Tuesday.

"This was for the first time in the world when 104 physically-challenged couples tied the knot at one place. This record got entry into the Golden Book of World Records," a public relations department officer said.

Officials of the Golden Book of World Records presented a certificate to the Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thawar Chand Gehlot and District Collector Sanket Bhondve.

Leaders of different religions solemnised the marriages of 77 Hindu, 26 Muslim and one Sikh couple.

The programme had been organised by the district administration with the help of social organisations.

The official said during the event, one more record was set.

"Another record was set during this mass marriage ceremony. A large gift pack was prepared with the public participation. This also got entry into Golden Book of World Records for being the largest gift pack," the official added.

Actor Sanjay Dutt, who is busy shooting for his upcoming film 'Bhoomi' in Agra, is eager to visit the heart of drug abuse — Punjab.

The actor, who was once addicted to drugs, has been very active in taking up cudgels against drugs and is very keen to spread awareness about narcotics, as he has experienced its repercussions himself.

Once the elections in Punjab are over, Sanjay will take out time from his busy schedule and will start the journey of his cause from there.

As the majority of the cases have been identified in Punjab, the actor himself wants to pay a visit and study the circumstances.

Moreover, Sanjay also wants to share his personnel journey and experiences on how the actor has come out as a winner and a survivor.

The 'Rocky' actor even plans to seek governmental help to shed light on the subject and implement a pivotal step that would fight the drug menace.

The actor who has been in news for his biopic film starring Ranbir Kapoor  has overcome several adversaries in life emerged as a complete winner.

Sanjay Dutt's upcoming film 'Bhoomi' is slated for release later in 2017.