NEW DELHI: The various Committees appointed by the Partition Council to deal with the division of assets and liabilities, communications, defence, etc. are reported to have practically come to the end of their labours and their reports should be before the Partition Council next week. ... It is understood that the committees concerned have not been able to arrive at any agreement in regard to the future controls which must form part of the standstill agreement between India and Pakistan. It is believed that the Congress is seeking freedom to amend the numerous controls, especially in regard to textiles, coal, cement... . The Muslim League ... insists that any modification ... must not be carried out without its consent... .

[Meanwhile, according to news agencies in Bombay,] The greatest shipping disaster in recent memory in Bombay harbour occurred on the fringe of the Bombay harbour limits ... when 700 passengers and crew of the deep-sea going boat “Ramdas” of the B.S.N. Company perished in a storm, leaving only 15 survivors. ...

“Visibility was very poor because of heavy downpour. ‘Ramdas’ was weathering the heavy swell of the sea and fought the breakers which lashed her sides,” said a member of the crew... .

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2022