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Tue, 29 August 2017
Mumbai records highest August day rain since 1997

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23:36   Mumbai records highest August day rain since 1997
The metropolis today recorded 298 mm of rainfall, the highest in a day in August since 1997, according to data from the India Meteorological Department.
The Santacruz weather station gauged a whopping 298 mm of precipitation. This was second only to 346.2 mm of rainfall registered on August 23, 1997, the data showed.
The IMD's Mumbai unit has data on rainfall since 1974.
The figures recorded at the Santacruz weather station in the suburbs represent the overall figure for Mumbai. The department also has a station in Colaba, which is representative of south Mumbai.
"Today's rainfall was extremely heavy. Rains are likely to be heavy tomorrow as well and may abate by late afternoon.
"We are closely watching the rainfall and its pattern. People are surprised as heavy rainfall in Mumbai is generally witnessed during June and July," Ajay Kumar, director, Regional Meteorological Centre, Mumbai, told PTI.
The IMD said the well-marked low pressure area over the Mumbai region is likely to be upgraded to "depression", which would mean more rains. 

Photograph: PTI Photo
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23:02   Navy provides shelter to Mumbaikars stranded after heavy rains
The Western Naval Command today said that it has made arrangements to provide shelter to Mumbaikars who were left stranded after heavy rains lashed the metropolis.
"WNC has made arrangements to provide shelter to stranded Mumbaikars at Colaba, Worli and Ghatkopar," a Navy spokesperson said.
"Shelters are being provided at Sagar Institute Colaba, INS Trata Worli, INS Hamla Marve and Material Organisation Ghatkopar," he added.
Naval helicopters have been kept on standby to meet any eventuality after heavy rains battered Mumbai and its adjoining areas, the Navy said. Flood rescue teams and divers are also ready for deployment.
"Seaking 42 C ready for day/night Search and Rescue. Medical teams and Divers ready for immediate deployment," the spokesperson tweeted.
Five flood rescue teams and two diving teams are also ready to render assistance at different locations across Mumbai, he added.
The metropolis received torrential rains the entire day today and the India Meteorological Department has warned of heavy showers tomorrow as well. 

Photograph: Shashank Parade/PTI Photo
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22:38   Govt staff can stay home tomorrow if heavy rains persist: Maha chief secy
Maharashtra government employees have been advised to stay home tomorrow if rains persist, state chief secretary Sumit Mallick said today.
Torrential rains wreaked havoc in the megapolis today, throwing normal life in utter chaos. The city recorded a massive 65 mm of precipitation in just three hours. 
Mallick issued an advisory in the evening after discussing the situation with the higher authorities.
The advisory stated that if heavy rains persisted tomorrow, the staff may stay home. However, emergency services will continue.
Those who have easy access to office may report for duty, it added.
Besides the metropolis, adjoining Navi Mumbai and Thane were lashed by incessant downpour since last night, delaying suburban train services and leaving vehicles crawling through waterlogged roads in the low-lying areas.

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22:38   No proposal to re-introduce 1,000 rupee notes: Finance ministry
Within days of introducing new 200 rupee notes, the finance ministry today ruled out re-introduction of Rs 1,000 currency bills that were scrapped as part of the demonetisation move last November.
"There is no proposal to reintroduce 1,000 rupee note" said Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg in a tweet.
The statement comes amid reports that the government may re-introduce Rs 1,000 notes.
The government had announced the withdrawal of old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes on November 8, 2016, with an aim to check black money, counterfeit notes and terror financing.
The Reserve Bank on August 25 had launched a bright yellow Rs 200 notes to ease pressure on lower-denomination currency bills and also fill the "missing link" between Rs 100 and Rs 500 currency.
Post demonetisation on November 9 last year, the Reserve Bank had introduced Rs 2,000 notes and also issued new Rs 500 bills with additional security features.
Besides 200 rupee notes, Rs 50 currency bills with new look was also introduced earlier this month.
The RBI has already announced that it would be ramping the supply of Rs 200 notes.
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21:37   No proposal to re-introduce 1,000 rupee notes: Finance ministry
Within days of introducing new 200 rupee notes, the finance ministry today ruled out re-introduction of Rs 1,000 currency bills that were scrapped as part of the demonetisation move last November.
"There is no proposal to reintroduce 1,000 rupee note" said Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg in a tweet.
The statement comes amid reports that the government may re-introduce Rs 1,000 notes.
The government had announced the withdrawal of old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes on November 8, 2016, with an aim to check black money, counterfeit notes and terror financing.
The Reserve Bank on August 25 had launched a bright yellow Rs 200 notes to ease pressure on lower-denomination currency bills and also fill the "missing link" between Rs 100 and Rs 500 currency.
Post demonetisation on November 9 last year, the Reserve Bank had introduced Rs 2,000 notes and also issued new Rs 500 bills with additional security features.
Besides 200 rupee notes, Rs 50 currency bills with new look was also introduced earlier this month.
The RBI has already announced that it would be ramping the supply of Rs 200 notes.
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21:28  
Traffic towards South Mumbai on Western Express Highway totally clogged from Andheri onwards
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21:17   Vehicles coming from Pune, Goa asked not to enter Mumbai
Vehicles coming from Goa and Pune have been advised not to enter the rain-battered Mumbai today as a precautionary measure to avoid a grid-locked situation in the megapolis, the police said.
The Navi Mumbai Police has issued directives to its traffic wing to send back cars, buses, trucks and other heavy vehicles and not allow them until the traffic situation in Mumbai normalises.
As torrential rains pounded the financial capital and adjoining districts of Thane, Navi Mumbai and Raigad, police is taking precautionary measures to avoid any untoward incident and ease traffic on the roads, official said.
"As vehicular traffic condition in Mumbai is worsening, vehicles travelling towards Mumbai from Goa-Mumbai highway and Pune-Mumbai highway are advised not to enter Mumbai as they will get stuck after the Vashi toll plaza (in Navi Mumbai)," Commissioner of Police, Navi Mumbai, Hemant Nagrale said.
Traffic personnel deployed on the two highways, are directed to send back cars, buses and other vehicles and also request the passengers to cooperate with police and obey instructions, Nagrale said.
Meanwhile, movement of traffic in the city was snail- paced due to heavy waterlogging at many junctions, like Kurla traffic division, Lal Bahadur Shastri Road, Surve Junction, Kurla Depo, Shital Talkies, Kamani Junction, Halav bridge on Santacruz-Chambur Link Road, a senior Mumbai Police official said.
Roads towards Bandra Kalanagar, MMRDA, MTNL, BKC were blocked due to waterlogging and traffic snarls were witnessed on the route between Chembur and BKC, the official said.
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20:34  
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stops toll collection at Mumbai entry points, Bandra-Worli sealink till situation eases in rain-hit city
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20:29  
BMC has cancelled leaves of all employees and has asked them to join back: BMC PRO
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20:13   Schools, colleges in Mumbai to remain shut tomorrow
Schools and colleges in Mumbai will remain closed tomorrow in view of the MeT department forecasting heavy rains in the metropolis.

The city received torrential rains the entire day today and the India Meteorological Department has warned of heavy showers tomorrow as well.

After taking stock of the situation, Maharashtra Education Minister Vinod Tawde instructed the colleges and schools to remain shut tomorrow.

"With today's heavy downpour and predictions for heavier rainfall; schools, college authorities instructed to remained closed tomorrow," Tawde tweeted late this evening.

According to a senior official, it is a precautionary measure taken by the state government and once the IMD issued its forecast, the government declared half day working for its employees today.  -- PTI
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19:35   Mumbai rains: Helicopters, divers on standby, says Navy
Naval helicopters have been kept on standby to meet any eventuality after heavy rains battered Mumbai and its adjoining areas, the Navy said today.
Flood rescue teams and divers are also ready for deployment, a Navy spokesperson said.
"Seaking 42 C ready for day/night Search and Rescue. Medical teams and Divers ready for immediate deployment," the spokesperson tweeted.
Five flood rescue teams and two diving teams are also ready to render assistance at different locations across Mumbai, the spokesperson said.
The metropolis received torrential rains the entire day today and the India Meteorological Department has warned of heavy showers tomorrow as well. 

Image: Seaking 42 C is ready for day and night search and rescue.
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19:12  
@Central_Railway We are trying our best. Remain where you are. Please do not panic. #MumbaiRains @RailMinIndia

In short, trains are still not running on central line.  
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19:01   Mumbai cops reach out to stranded people
The Mumbai police have asked people who have got stranded due to heavy rainfall to dial police emergency no 100 or send message on their twitter handle to seek any kind of assistance.
Thousands of Mumbaikars were stranded on railway stations and other places due to disruption in train services, water-logging on streets and slow movement of road traffic.
Police personnel have fanned out on streets and lending a helping hand to the Mumbaikars who are in distress, an official said.
"We are sending our constables to help the Mumbaikars who are in distress. We are trying to provide whatever help they want," said DCP and Mumbai Police spokesperson Rashmi Karandikar.
In one such incident, police officials from main control room directed the inspector of Sion Police Station to check three school buses which were stuck near Sion hospital in Central Mumbai, she said.
People in need of help can dial 100 or send message on the city police's twitter handle for assistance, another official said.
Meanwhile, Police Commissioner Datta Padsalgikar and Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Deven Bharti were monitoring the situation in Mumbai from the main police control room, the official said. 
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18:55  
Assured Maharashtra CM of all possible help from Centre.NDRF teams have already reached Mumbai for rescue&relief ops, tweets Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
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18:40  
Maharashtra Education Minister Vinod Tawde says schools and colleges in Mumbai to remain shut tomorrow in view of forecast of heavy rain.
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18:16   Mumbai rain: PM Modi speaks to Maha CM, assures support
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and assured all possible support.

"Urge the people of Mumbai and surrounding areas to stay safe and take all essential precautions in the wake of the heavy rain." Modi tweeted.

"Centre assures all possible support to the Government of Maharashtra in mitigating the situation due to heavy rains in parts of the state," he siad in another tweet,
 
"Spoke to Maharashtra CM @Dev_Fadnavis on the situation arising due to incessant rain in Mumbai & surrounding areas," he said.

Photograph: Sahil Salvi
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18:05  
BMC emergency helpline number 1916. People advised to call on it, in emergency.
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18:00   Bandra Sea Link opened again
Water logging has been cleared and traffic has started moving on Bandra Worli sea link both north and south bound, Mumbai Police said.


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17:47   Flights resume in Mumbai
Mumbai rains: Due to Duronto Express derailment, suburban services to Kasara and Asangaon running upto Titwala only. At least 31 trains diverted, 15 cancelled and 6 re-scheduled.

Operations at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport resume.
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17:47   What the skies fortell
The India Meteorological Department released this satellite image at 3 pm.
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17:00  
Mumbai Police: 100
Traffic Helpline Number: +91-8454999999
MCGM Helpline: +91-22-22694725
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16:58  
Harjinder S Kukreja @SinghLions Gurudwaras in Mumbai are open to serve FREE food/shelter to ANYONE stuck in #MumbaiRains #Dadar #Andheri #Mumbaikars #Matunga #Sikhs #Sikh.
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16:56  
Waterlogging near Sion station. Sion, Matunga, Dadar, Parel, Wadala, Kurla are all waterlogged. Pic: Sahil Salvi.
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16:50   Mumbai marooned: No trains or flights, roads waterlogged
Mumbai rain updates: Western Railway suspends local train services due to heavy rain and water logging between Churchgate and Andheri. Central railway has suspended services on the Mail Line between Parel and Kurla from 12:30 pm and on Harbour Line between Wadala road and Kurla.

Operations at Mumbai airport have been suspended for some time due to low visibility. 

If you've just joined us, it has been raining incessantly since morning and with high tide just setting in and the rain showing no signs of abating, Mumbai could be in for another horror of flooding, traffic jams and long hours on the roads.

As per the Regional meteorological centre, Mumbai, the city will experience intermittent rain with heavy to very heavy rain fall in a few places in the city and suburbs over the next 24 hours.


As the financial capital stopped in its tracks, no respite was in sight as the MeT department forecast "extremely heavy rainfall" in the next 24 to 48 hours in the western coast of Maharashtra, including Mumbai, and parts of Gujarat
and Goa. Traffic jams were reported on all major arterial roads, including the Eastern and Western Express Highway, Sion-Panvel highway and LBS Marg as the rains continued since last night.

Waterlogging was reported in low-lying areas of Parel and Sion. A tree fell on the busy Saat Rasta road, affecting road traffic.
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15:53   Mumbai rain: They are willing to put you up
Stuck in the pouring rain in waterlogged Mumbai and can't get home? Mumbaikars have opened their hearts and homes for you. Here is a list of places you can safely stay at. Read
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15:48   Maharashtra govt issues orders to allow employees to leave office early
The Met Department today warned of more "heavy intermittent spells" in the next few hours in Mumbai and its satellite cities where incessant downpour has threw normal life out of gear. India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General K J Ramesh told PTI that the Santacruz weather station, which is in the suburban part of the city, has recorded 8-9 cm (80-90 mm)of rainfall from 8.30 am to nearly 11.30 am.  Maharashtra Government has also issued orders to allow employees to leave office early due to the rain.


The Colaba weather station has recorded 15 cm to 20 cm (150-200 mm) of rainfall during the same time period, Ramesh added. He, however, declined to draw any parallel of the situation with that on July 26, 2005, when the city was inundated after being battered by rains and hundreds were killed. From July 26-27, 2005, Mumbai recorded 94 cm (944 mm) of rainfall in a day.


"10-15 cm of rainfall in a day is normal for Mumbai. The one the city received on July 26, 2005 was unprecedented," Ramesh said. He also said the IMD office in Mumbai was giving updates to the BMC and the state government at regular intervals. The IMD has already given heavy to very heavy rainfall warning to Maharashtra and Gujarat governments, he said.


Due to heavy winds and downpour since morning, six to seven flights had to do go-arounds while landing, and four to five flights were diverted to nearby airports, including an Indigo Guwahati-Mumbai flight to Ahmadabad, airport officials said. The single runway of the airport was, however, functional. A Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport spokesperson said there is an average delay of 35 minutes.


"Heavy rains and the strong winds have drastically reduced visibility to very low levels leading to diversions and go-arounds even though the main runway is open," a Mumbai airport source told PTI. Heavy rains lashed the city and adjoining Navi Mumbai and Thane regions, throwing life out of gear.


Image: The Dadar TT flyover this afternoon.
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15:19  
Maharashtra government issues orders for all offices to allow employees to leave in wake of heavy rains and IMD warning. 
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15:09  
Suraj Ojha @surajojhaa tweets this picture: Water inside Ghansoli station. 
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14:53   Godman Rampal acquitted in 11-year-old rioting case
In other news, a Haryana court has acquitted self-styled god-man Sant Rampal in an 11-year-old conspiracy case. Rampal's lawyer said that there were two cases registered against the god-man -- one on November 17, 2014 and another on November 18, 2014.

Rampal, 67, was dodging the arrest in connection with a case involving his followers, who opened fired at villagers in Rohtak, killing one person and injuring several others.

After Rampal failed to appear in court 43 times, the police were ordered to arrest him.

When the police marched to his Stalok Ashram, they were met with resistance as Rampal's supporters barricaded themselves inside the 12-acre premises.

A few of them had alleged that they were used as human shields and held against their will inside the ashram.

With no sign of Rampal surrendering peacefully, authorities cut water and power supply to the ashram.

At the end of the two-week stand-off, police launched a final assault on the ashram and flushed out Rampal and his supporters.

Five women and a baby were killed in the violence.

Two cases were registered against Rampal and 11 others in connection with the violence.

A special court set up inside the Hisar Central Jail, to hear the case against Rampal, pronounced its verdict today.

Authorities had earlier requested the court to postpone its judgement in light of the Central Bureau of Investigation court verdict in a rape case involving another self-styled godman, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.

Also read: Who is godman Rampal?
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14:43   When the wind blows...
Harish Kotian/Rediff.com sends this picture a few hours ago at Marol Military Road in Andheri (East) due to heavy rain and wind. The driver, we are happy to inform you, was not injured.
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14:36   Rain water enters Mumbai's KEM Hospital, patients safe
#Mumbairain: Rubber dinghies are out in waterlogged and low-lying Parel. @ParmarYash24 tweets this picture of Parel a few hours ago.

Water has also entered the corridors of the King Edward Memorial civic hospital in Parel, but patients were moved to higher floors. The Meteorological department has warned of extreme weather with more rains all through the day. This is the longest duration of rain the city has experienced since the July 2005 floods. On 26 July 2005, around 2 pm Mumbai was struck by a severe storm and subsequent deluge. The IMD station in Santacruz recorded 944 mm of rain for 24 hours ending 8:30 am on 27 July.

The Met and the BMC has cautioned people against stepping of their homes and offices. Most people could make it to their offices since the rain intensified only after 10 am. Flights have been delayed by over three hours, some have been cancelled, while others have been diverted. Nine coaches and the engine of Nagpur-Mumbai Duronto Express derailed near Asangaon in Maharashtra's Thane district around 6:40 am today. No casualties or injuries were reported. The derailment occurred due to a landslide.

The Met predicts heavy rain will continue for the next 48 hours with heavy to very heavy rain predicted for at least the next 24 hours in Mumbai and its suburbs. 


Image: The flooded corridors of the KEM civic hospital in Parel. Patients were moved to safety.
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13:29   Mumbai under waist-deep water, more rain expected
Large swathes of Mumbai is submerged in waist-deep water with the weather bureau saying it is possibly the heaviest and longest bout of rain since July 26, 2005.

It has been raining incessantly for over 24 hours and with a high tide expected at 4.30 pm, Mumbai is bracing for a tough night ahead.

Services on the Western Railway were suspended, but have now resumed with services running late. Central Railway services have been suspended.

There are traffic jams across the city, with roads closed, traffic diverted due to water logging.

Skymet Weather said that in three hours from 8:30 am to 11:30 am, Dadar recorded 115 mm of rain and Mahalaxmi 105 mm with more and continuous showers predicted.

Anand Mahindra tweeted, "Typhoon-like weather. Cancelling my flight to Delhi for an Indo Australian meeting.Telling my Aussie friends I'm 'Down Under' water in Mumbai."

Three teams of NDRF stationed in Mumbai put on alert and two additional teams have been moved from Pune to Mumbai.


Image: @Laxmantweetsss tweets this picture of water logging at Sion station. However, Sion station usually gets waterlogged with very little rain.

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13:29   Mumbai under waist-deep water, more rain expected
Large swathes of Mumbai is submerged in waist-deep water with the weather bureau saying it is possibly the heaviest and longest bout of rain since July 26, 2005.

It has been raining incessantly for over 24 hours and with a high tide expected at 4.30 pm, Mumbai is bracing for a tough night ahead.

Services on the Western Railway were suspended, but have now resumed with services running late. Central Railway services have been suspended.

There are traffic jams across the city, with roads closed, traffic diverted due to water logging.

Skymet Weather said that in three hours from 8:30 am to 11:30 am, Dadar recorded 115 mm of rain and Mahalaxmi 105 mm with more and continuous showers predicted.

Anand Mahindra tweeted, "Typhoon-like weather. Cancelling my flight to Delhi for an Indo Australian meeting.Telling my Aussie friends I'm 'Down Under' water in Mumbai."

Three teams of NDRF stationed in Mumbai put on alert and two additional teams have been moved from Pune to Mumbai.


Image: @Laxmantweetsss tweets this picture of water logging at Sion station. However, Sion station usually gets waterlogged with very little rain.

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12:55   Mumbai braces for torrential rain, high tide at 4:35 pm
Mumbai rain updates:

Mumbai has been experiencing continuous and heavy downpour since Saturday morning, with the regional Meteorological Centre, Colaba predicting the situation to remain the same for next 24 hours. 

-- Waterlogging on Elphinstone Bridge. The bridge has been closed.
-- High tide at 4:35 pm; 3.32 metre-high waves expected.
-- Waterlogging at Hindmata, Worli, Dadar, Parel, Matunga. Traffic has been diverted in these areas which are low-lying.
-- Traffic affected at the Churchgate junction due to a tree fall.
-- Traffic affected at Dadar TT due to water logging.
-- Traffic jams on Eastern and Western Express Highways.
-- Heavy rains across Konkan, Marathwada, Vidarbha.

Image: An indicator at Churchgate station. The picture was tweeted by   @pratyaksh_a 30 minutes ago.
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12:41   WR, CR local train services in Mumbai suspended after torrential rain
Twenty-four hours of heavy rainfall across Mumbai and Pune has caused massive disruption in road and rail traffic. Both Western and Central Railway services have been cancelled. Western Railway's Twitter handle, put out an alert saying services have been cancelled due to water logging on the tracks. There has also been a signal failure at Bandra following the very heavy rains. As of 20 minutes ago, only the Bandra-Churchgate line was operational. Efforts are on to start traffic on three lines at Bandra as soon as possible by attending to the points, Western Railway tweeted. Rail services will resume with speed restrictions at points and trains will be delayed by 10-15 minutes.


Image: Rail tracks between Matunga and Sion, a low-lying area, are submerged in water. The picture was tweeted by @mayankbhagwat 
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12:16   Morning after: Peace prevails in Punjab & Haryana after Dera sentencing
Peace prevailed in Haryana and Punjab today with life gradually returning to normal in violence-hit areas, a day after Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was sentenced to 20 years in jail for raping two of his followers.


No untoward incident was reported from anywhere in the two states, officials said. Authorities in Sirsa gave a 12-hour curfew relaxation from 7 am after no violent incident was reported from anywhere in the district.


Curfew had earlier been lifted from other towns of Haryana where it was imposed including Panchkula and Kaithal. Sirsa town is home to the sprawling Dera headquarters where the sect's followers had gathered in large numbers ahead of Ram Rahim's conviction.


However, most of the followers, who had come from different parts of Punjab, Haryana and elsewhere had left after the administration helped them come out of the premises. Life in sensitive districts of Punjab including Bathinda, Patiala and Moga where there is sizeable presence of Dera followers, was gradually limping back to normal.


However, the two states were still on high alert to prevent any incidence of violence or arson as was witnessed in Panchkula on Friday last after conviction of the Dera chief by the CBI court. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has appealed to the people, especially Dera Sacha Sauda followers, to respect the sentence pronounced by the CBI court in the case and help in maintaining peace in the state.


Khattar had said effective arrangements have been made to maintain peace in the state following the decision of the court. Strict action would be taken against any person who attempts to disturb the law and order situation which was reviewed at a high-level meeting held here yesterday, he added.


Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh yesterday met Governor V P Singh Badnore to apprise him of the law and order situation and the steps taken by his government to prevent any breakdown of law and order in the wake of the sentencing of the Dera Sacha Sauda chief. On the continuation of curfew in some sensitive ares of Punjab, the chief minister said the state government would review the situation again today before taking any decision on lifting the curfew imposed in some areas as a precautionary measure.


Curfew has already been lifted from five of the 10 districts where prohibitory orders were imposed. Ban on mobile Internet services in Punjab and Haryana would be lifted today. A decision on opening schools and colleges in the sensitive districts of Punjab, where these were shut for past few days, has been left to district authorities concerned, Amarinder had said yesterday.


IMAGE: Policewomen and a paramilitary soldier stand guard on a closed road leading to Sunariya Jail in Rohtak, yesterday, ahead of the sentencing. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters
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11:55   Mumbai commuters hit by rains, derailment
It's been a double whammy for Mumbai's commuters today.   

While the derailment of the Mumbai-Nagpur Doronto Express's derailment early today had a domino effect on Mumbai's local trains plying on the Central Railway route, with services reporting a 20-30 minute delay, the incessant rains have played havoc with the road traffic as well.   

With no sign of the downpour ceasing, the city's roads have reported massive water-logging, with vehicular traffic hit badly.   

The arterial LJ Road in Mahim, central Mumbai, which connects the suburbs to the island city, has been made one-way following water-logging, with south-bound traffic barred for vehicles. This has had a cascading effect on other key roads that connect the city to the suburbs.
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11:49   SC relieves Guj govt from reconstructing shrines damaged in 2002 riots
The Supreme Court today set aside the Gujarat high court order asking the state government to pay for the reconstruction and repair work of religious structures damaged during the 2002 post-Godhra riots.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice P C Pant allowed the Gujarat government's appeal challenging the high court verdict that it should pay for reconstruction and repair works of religious structures damaged during riots.

Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who had represented the state government, said that 'our plea has been allowed' and moreover the state government had told the court that it was willing to pay from ex gratia amount for repair and reconstruction works of various structures, shops and houses which were damaged.

"This scheme (of the government) has been accepted," Mehta said.

The court was hearing an appeal filed by the Gujarat government against an order of the high court directing it to pay compensation to over 500 shrines damaged during the 2002 riots, triggered after the Godhra incident.  -- PTI  
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10:49  
Breaking: Kerala HC rejects bail plea of Malayalam film actor Dileep in the actress sexual assault case.
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10:42   Day 1 in jail: Ram Rahim drank milk, remained silent in special cell
Gurmeet Ram Rahim has not stopped weeping since a special court sent him to jail for 20 years on Monday evening. The 50-year-old chief of the Dera Sacha Sauda, convicted for raping two women 15 years ago, had broken down in court. "I am innocent... please forgive me," he wailed after Special Judge Jagdeep Singh pronounced the sentence.

Prisoner number 1997 - the number was assigned to him since he was taken to Rohtak's Sonaria jail after a guilty verdict on Friday - has been unable to pull himself together, a jail inmate told NDTV.  

After the sentence was delivered, Ram Rahim was taken for a medical examination. Then he was given simple prison clothes - a far cry from the glittering outfits he favours - and was lodged in a small cell, alone.

The inmate said jail authorities told him that Ram Rahim was kept secluded for his own safety. Ram Rahim's lawyer had asked that a couple of attendants be allowed to stay with him in view of his health. The 50-year-old reportedly suffers from migraine and backache.

Two senior officers have been assigned for the protection of the VIP prisoner, who had been accorded Z-Plus security by the Haryana government. Two more security staff are keeping guard near his cell.

Ram Rahim has been lodged in an approval cell, which is easily accessible and closest to the administration. The other two kinds of barracks are called special cell and high-security cell.

The inmate said since Friday, Ram Rahim had eaten no solid food. "He drank only some water and milk in between. He did not speak to anyone in jail," said the inmate, who had been out on bail since.  The high-profile prisoner, he said, had arrived in a car.  

The self-styled spiritual leader claimed he had film stars, cricketers and politicians among millions of supporters spread across several countries. His sprawling, 700-acre headquarters in Sirsa housed hundreds of followers. On Friday, his 200-car cavalcade to Panchkula court contained more than 25 luxury vehicles.

After the verdict, Ram Rahim had been flown in a special chopper from the court in Panchkula to the high security prison in Rohtak as his followers unleashed a spate of violence across the city, stoning the police and burning cars. The violence spread to the neighbouring states and reached the borders of Delhi and left 38 people dead.

For Monday's sentencing, the Haryana government -- which had been accused of underestimating the scale of violence that could follow - had arranged for multi-tier security. More than 4,000 police and paramilitary forces had been stationed across the town. The army had been put on stand-by.
-- NDTV
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10:23  
Duronto update: Initial reports were of derailment of seven coaches, but latest update says engine and nine coaches derailed, says Anil Saxena, Railways. 
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10:17   Nitish Katara case: SC to hear review petition filed by convict Vikas Yadav
The Supreme Court will, on Tuesday, hear the review petition filed by Vikas Yadav, convicted for the abduction and murder of 25-year-old Nitish Katara in 2002.


Last year in October, the Supreme Court modified the sentences of Nitish Katara murder case convicts Vikas Yadav and his cousin Vishal Yadav and reduced their jail terms to 25 years.


The apex court sentenced another accused Sukhdev Yadav alias Pehelwan to 20 years in prison.An apex court division bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra passed the order after hearing a detailed argument from both sides - the prosecution as well as the defence.


The apex court had on August 17, 2015, upheld the conviction of Vikas, Vishal and Sukhdev, saying 'only criminals are crying for justice' in this country.


The three convicts were serving a life-term awarded by the lower court in May 2008 for abducting and killing Katara, a business executive and the son of a railway officer, on the night of February 16-17, 2002, as they opposed the victim's relationship with Bharti, Vikas' sister and the daughter of Uttar Pradesh politician DP Yadav.


The Delhi High Court had on April 2, 2014, upheld the verdict of the lower court in the case and described the offence as "honour killing" stemming from a "deeply-entrenched belief" in the caste system.
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09:37   Zuckerbergs welcome 2nd daughter with personal note
Mark Zuckerberg, the Facebook co-founder, and his wife Priscilla Chan have a second child, also a daughter, who they have named August.   

As with their first daughter Maxima, who was born in late 2015, the couple welcomed the latest addition to their family with a personal post on, well, Facebook. This is what they said:   

Dear August,   

Welcome to the world! Your mom and I are so excited to see who you will become. When your sister was born, we wrote a letter about the world we hoped she and now you will grow up in -- a world with better education, fewer diseases, stronger communities, and greater equality. 

We wrote that with all the advances in science and technology, your generation should live dramatically better lives than ours, and we have a responsibility to do our part to make that happen. Even though headlines often focus on what's wrong, we still believe these positive trends will win out. We're optimists about your generation and the future.   

But rather than write about growing up, we want to talk about childhood. The world can be a serious place. That's why it's important to make time to go outside and play. You will be busy when you're older, so I hope you take time to smell all the flowers and put all the leaves you want in your bucket now. 

I hope you read your favorite Dr Seuss books so many times you start inventing your own stories about the Vipper of Vipp. I hope you ride the carousel with Max until you've tamed every color horse. I hope you run as many laps around our living room and yard as you want. And then I hope you take a lot of naps. I hope you're a great sleeper. And I hope even in your dreams you can feel how much we love you.  

Childhood is magical. You only get to be a child once, so don't spend it worrying too much about the future. You've got us for that, and we'll do everything we possibly can to make sure the world is a better place for you and all children in your generation.  

August, we love you so much and we're so excited to go on this adventure with you.   

We wish you a life of joy, love and the same hope you give us.   

Love,   

Mom and Dad

Photograph: Courtesy, Mark Zuckerberg on Facebook
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09:25   Curfew relaxed in Sirsa for 12 hours
Authorities in Sirsa today relaxed the curfew from 7 am to 7 pm in after the sentencing of Dera Sach Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in two rape cases.

The decision was taken after no violent incident was reported in the area.

This is the second time since Sunday the curfew has been relaxed, officials said.

Sirsa town is home to the sprawling Dera headquarters where the sect's followers had gathered in large numbers ahead of Ram Rahim's conviction.

"Authorities should lift the curfew permanently in the area as the law and order situation is under control," Bobby Soni, a localite, said.

"During the relaxation of curfew people can buy their household items. Also, schools colleges and other educations institutions will also remain open during the period," Special Commissioner (Civil), V Umashankar said.

Inspector General (Hisar range) A S Dhillon yesterday said there has been no report of violence by Dera followers in the district.  -- PTI

IMAGE: Security forces personnel and police men patrolling the main market in Sirsa after the pronouncement of quantum of sentence for Gurmeet Ram Rahim. Photograph: Vijay Verma/PTI Photo
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08:59  
Duronto derailment update: Kasara and Asangaon suburban trains are running up to Titwala only.

CSTM-Howrah Gitanjali Express diverted.

MOre details awaited.
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08:42   Duronto derailed: Railway sends buses to rescue stranded passengers
Duronto derailment update:

Central Railway says Nagpur Mumbai Duronto Express derailed between Vasind and Asangaon.

There are no injuries to passengers.

"We are arranging buses to bring passengers to destination. Doctors and senior officers are already at site," it said. -- ANI

Photograph: ANI
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08:09   5 coaches of Nagpur-Mumbai Duranto derail near Kalyan
Adding to the list of train derailments in the recent past, five coaches and engine of Nagpur Mumbai Duronto Express derailed on Tuesday near the Titwala station, a small town in Maharashtra's Kalyan.

Some passengers are injured and a rescue team has already rushed from Kalyan.

Further details are awaited.

On August 25, a local train running on Mumbai's Harbour line derailed, while it was returning to the Mahim platform.

Saving the first four coaches, a technical fault caused the derailment of coaches six, seven, eight, and nine.

Five-six persons sustained minor injuries, but no case of casualties or major injuries were recorded so far.  -- ANI
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00:19   US President Trump to tour hurricane-battered Texas
US President Donald Trump will visit Texas to view the federal government's response to Harvey's devastating flooding as his administration vowed to help the millions of residents dealing with the catastrophic storm.

Trump's travel to Texas comes as the state continues to deal with the aftermath of the hurricane, including continued flooding that is forcing additional evacuations in the state.

Trump made clear via Twitter over the weekend that he was monitoring the storm, tweeting about the "wonderful coordination between Federal, State and Local Governments" in the face of "record setting rainfall."

"Continuing rains and flash floods are being dealt with. Thousands rescued," Trump tweeted on Sunday. 'Many people are now saying that this is the worst storm/hurricane they have ever seen. Good news is that we have great talent on the ground."

Trump also tweeted Sunday evening that the "spirit of the people is incredible."

The hurricane and the ongoing relief efforts have proven to be a first major test for Trump's administration, marking the most significant natural disaster since Trump took office in January.

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