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Tue, 30 July 2024
Two from Odisha missing in Kerala landslides: CMO
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23:52 Two from Odisha missing in Kerala landslides: CMO
Two persons from Odisha are missing in the landslides in Kerala's Wayanad, the CMO said.
The Odisha government has contacted the Kerala government over the issue.
The chief minister's office, in a X post, said, "The state government is in regular communication with the Kerala government in view of the massive landslide where many lives were affected in Wayanad. As per the information received from the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority, two rescued Odia people are under treatment while two others are still missing."
The state government is in touch with the district administration concerned that has contacted the Odia families affected by the calamity, it added. -- PTI
23:38 Rahul, Priyanka put off visit to landslide-hit Wayanad due to adverse weather
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra put off their scheduled Wednesday morning visit to landslide-hit Wayanad after authorities informed them that they would not be able to land due to incessant rain and adverse weather conditions.
The Congress leaders said they would visit the district as soon as possible. In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi said, "Priyanka and I were scheduled to visit Wayanad tomorrow to meet with families affected by the landslide and take stock of the situation."
"However, due to incessant rains and adverse weather conditions, we have been informed by authorities that we will not be able to land," he added.
In one of the worst natural disasters in Kerala, at least 123 persons were killed and 128 injured in massive landslides triggered by torrential rain in Wayanad on Tuesday.
With hundreds trapped under the debris, sparking fears of mounting fatalities, rescue agencies were racing against time to pull out any survivors. -- PTI
23:18 BSE Sensex top gainers today
Benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty eked out gains in volatile trade to settle at record high levels on Tuesday, extending their gaining streak to the third day on the back of buying in Tata Motors and HDFC Bank.
The 30-share BSE Sensex closed higher by 99.56 points or 0.12 percent at 81,455.40 -- its all-time closing high -- with 16 of its components advancing and 14 ending lower.
From the Sensex pack, Tata Motors, NTPC, Bajaj Finserv, Power Grid Corp, Titan, Asian Paints, IndusInd Bank, Maruti Suzuki India and Tata Steel were among the biggest gainers.
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23:17 Court grants bail to civil contractor held in Mumbai hoarding collapse case
A court in Mumbai on Tuesday granted bail to a civil contractor arrested in connection with the May 13 Ghatkopar hoarding collapse incident in the city that claimed 17 lives.
Sagar Kumbhar had been arrested in June from Goa. Sessions judge V M Pathade allowed his bail application.
The detailed order was not available yet.
As per police, Kumbhar's firm hastily erected the hoarding in a faulty manner without taking due care and without maintaining standard.
At least 17 people were killed and 74 injured after the huge iron hoarding collapsed on a petrol pump amid a dust storm.
Bhavesh Bhinde, director of Ego Media Private Limited which owned the hoarding is a prime accused in the case.
He is currently in judicial custody.
The accused were booked under Sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.
Earlier, the court had granted bail to structural engineer Ramakrishna Sahu in the case. -- PTI
Representational image. Pic: Amir Cohen/Reuters
22:57 Israeli military hits Beirut, targets commander
Just In: Israeli military says it has struck Beirut, targeting commander allegedly behind deaths of 12 youths, PTI has posted on X, quoting AP.
However, there is no independent confirmation of the same.More details are awaited.
Representational image
22:53 Woman hit by bullet from 'firing range' in Hyderabad
A 34-year-old woman was injured in her leg after a bullet hit her in Gandipet near in Hyderabad on Tuesday, the police said.
She suspected that the bullet might have been fired from a firing range which is near to her house, the police said.
The woman in her complaint lodged with police stated that at about 11.30 am while she was washing clothes in her house, a bullet hit her left leg, resulting in bleeding.
The woman's family members told the media that they informed the police about the incident and a police team reached their house and inquired into the matter.
The woman was taken to a hospital following the incident and later discharged, they said.
Based on the complaint, a case was registered at Narsingi Police station. -- PTI
UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath/File image
22:38 Life term, Rs 1cr fine under UP's anti-cheating Bill
The Uttar Pradesh assembly on Tuesday passed a Bill to tackle malpractices in public examinations, with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and fines up to Rs 1 crore on those linked to organised cheating rackets.
The Uttar Pradesh Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024 has the provision of life sentence and a fine of not less than Rs 50 lakh, which may go up to Rs 1 crore, for a person, whether in connivance with a solver gang or otherwise, for using unfair means in a public examination.
The Bill seeks to tackle and identify the elements taking advantage of the vulnerability of the examination system.
The Bill says the crime will be investigated by a DSP or an ACP.
The Opposition demanded that the Bill be sent to a Select Committee, but the demand was rejected by the House and the Bill was passed by a voice vote.
The aims and objectives as stated by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath says, "The injustice done with the youngsters through the malpractice in the public examinations is not less than any national sin and the state government is committed to strongly act against those elements, who are attempting to play with the future of youngsters desirous of finding employment in Uttar Pradesh." -- PTI
File photo of Brangelina. Pic: Jean-Paul Pelissie/Reuters
22:02 Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt's son Pax in bike crash
Former Hollywood power couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's son Pax Jolie-Pitt was admitted to hospital after he suffered a head injury in an accident on Monday.
The 20-year-old is now said to be in a stable condition and is expected to be discharged on Tuesday, law enforcement sources told TMZ.
Pax was driving down Los Feliz Boulevard in Los Angeles, California, around 5 pm on Monday on his electric bike when he crashed into the back of a car. He reportedly was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, the insider added.
After he complained of a head injury and hip pain, Pax was taken to a nearby hospital. Doctors initially suspected a minor brain bleed, the publication reported, adding the full extent of his injuries was unclear at the time.
Sources told TMZ that Pax was nearing an intersection when he hit his bike into a car, which was stationary at a red light. The other driver reportedly got out of the vehicle to check on him before emergency services arrived.
Pax is one of the six children whom Jolie, 49, and Pitt, 60, share. The former couple are also parents to Maddox, 22, Zahara, 19, Shiloh, 18, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 16.
Jolie and Pitt, who were declared divorced in April 2019, adopted all their children except Shiloh and Knox and Vivienne.
In recent years, Jolie and the kids have had an estranged relationship with Pitt after she levelled allegations of physical abuse against him. She filed for divorce in 2016 after two years of marriage and 12 years of relationship.
Pitt has denied the claims, and the FBI declined to file any charges against him.
Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal/File image
21:50 Shiromani Akali Dal expels eight rebel leaders
Adopting a tough stand against rebels, the Shiromani Akali Dal on Tuesday expelled eight leaders, including former MP Prem Singh Chandumajra and ex-Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee chief Bibi Jagir Kaur, for revolting against party chief Sukhbir Singh Badal.
Taking serious note of "anti-party activities" by some senior leaders "under a conspiracy", the Shiromani Akali Dal's disciplinary committee expelled Chandumajra, Kaur and former MLA Gurpartap Singh Wadala, from primary membership of the party, it said.
The party also expelled Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Sikandar Singh Maluka, Surjit Singh Rakhra, Surinder Singh Thekedar and Charanjit Singh Brar.
The disciplinary committee is led by senior leader Balwinder Singh Bhundar and also includes Maheshinder Singh Grewal and Gulzar Singh Ranike.
Grewal attended the meeting while Ranike joined over the phone.
A section of senior leaders last month revolted against Badal, demanding that he step down as party chief following the Shiromani Akali Dal's performance in the Lok Sabha elections in Punjab.
Among the prominent faces who revolted against Badal were Chandumajra, Kaur and Wadala, former ministers Maluka, Dhindsa, Rakhra and Sarwan Singh Phillaur, and party leader Sucha Singh Chhotepur. -- PTI
Adani group chief Gautam Adani/File image
21:22 Adani raises $1 bn in 1st share sale post Hindenburg
Billionaire Gautam Adani-led group's power transmission unit has raised $1 billion through a share sale, the first public equity raise by the conglomerate since a damning Hindenburg report, which wiped away billions in shareholder value.
Adani Energy Solutions Ltd raised the funds through a qualified institutional placement issue, sources with direct knowledge of the matter said.
The QIP, which opened on Tuesday, was oversubscribed three times with demand of about Rs 26,000 crore -- making it the largest transaction in India's energy space.
The issue closed at Rs 1,135 per share, as against issue price of Rs 976 per share or a 14 percent listing discount. QIP is an instrument used by listed companies to raise funds from large institutions. Sources said marquee investors such as GQG, QIP, ADIA and few top names in the US participated in the QIP.
Domestic institutions including Bandhan MF, Nomura, 360 India Infoline also participated in the issue.
The fundraise is the first after the group's flagship firm scrapped a Rs 20,000 crore issue in February last year, following the Hindenburg report alleging accounting fraud and stock manipulation.
Though the group vehemently and repeatedly denied all allegations, listed companies of the conglomerate at one point saw over $150 billion of their market value being wiped out. -- PTI
Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari
21:07 Gadkari attends swearing-in ceremony of Iranian President
Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday attended the inauguration of Iran's new President Masoud Pezeshkian at a ceremony in Tehran.
On the occasion, Gadkari conveyed good wishes from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to President Pezeshkian on assuming the office, the ministry of external affairs said.
"During Minister Nitin Gadkari's interactions in Iran, both sides positively assessed the state of bilateral relations, including cooperation on the development of Chabahar Port," it said.
The MEA said both sides underscored that Chabahar Port would contribute to strengthening bilateral and regional trade.
"It would provide access to landlocked Afghanistan and Central Asian countries to regional and global markets," it said in a statement. -- PTI
A view of the landslide in Wayanad, Kerala/@INCKerala /X
20:45 Wayanad landslide: Kerala declares two-day state mourning
Following the devastating landslide in Wayanad that has already claimed the lives of about 100 people, the Kerala government on Tuesday declared state mourning for two days.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the state government is deeply saddened by the tragic incident that claimed numerous lives and resulted in the widespread destruction of homes and other property.
An official notification issued by chief secretary V Venu has declared official mourning on July 30 and 31.
As per protocol, the National Flag will be kept half-mast and all public functions and celebrations will be cancelled.
As rescue teams recover bodies and body parts from the rivers and the mud, it is difficult to ascertain the exact number of people killed in the tragedy, a source said. -- PTI
BJP MP Anurag Thakur speaks in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday/ANI Photo/Sansad TV
20:20 Must hear, says Modi of this ex-minister's LS speech
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday praised Bharatiya Janata Party leader Anurag Thakur's speech in the Lok Sabha, in which the former Union minister made a political counter to Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's address, saying it is a "must hear".
"This speech by my young and energetic colleague Shri Anurag Thakur is a must hear. A perfect mix of facts and humour, exposing the dirty politics of the INDI Alliance," Modi said on X.
Thakur had hit back at Gandhi over his speech in the Lok Sabha.
The BJP leader sought to turn the tables by using Gandhi's reference to Chakravyuh and its characters to slam the Congress.
He referred to the alleged scams during the Congress governments and its leaders' critical references to caste quotas in the past to question the Leader of Opposition.
His apparent questioning of Gandhi's caste over the issue of caste census created a row in the Lok Sabha.
The Congress leader described it as an insult, while insisting that it will not deter him from sticking to his demand for caste census. -- PTI
Read about Anurag Thakurs speech in LS here
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20:04 Signalling system snag at CSMT hits suburban services on Central Railway
A glitch in the signalling system at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus disrupted the suburban services on the Central Railway for around 45 minutes on Tuesday afternoon, officials said.
The technical snag in the signalling system of UP and DOWN slow lines on the Main Line of the Central Railway occurred around 2.30 pm, which resulted in bunching of locals on tracks.
As the CSMT-bound trains queued up on tracks, scores of passengers started jumping off the bogies and walking along the tracks.
Commuters said that services on both Slow and Fast routes on the Main Line were affected due to the issue and the trains were running 20 to 30 minutes late.
A spokesperson of Central Railway said the glitch in the signalling system developed around 2.30 pm, affecting the traffic and the traffic resumed.
The snag was rectified around 3.15 pm.
The Central Railway operates more than 1,800 suburban services on its four suburban corridors - Main, Harbour, Trans-Harbour and Belapur-Uran - and ferry around 40 lakh commuters. -- PTI
19:20 Accidental Hindu: Anurag Thakur's ugly spat with Rahul in LS
A remark by BJP MP Anurag Thakur in Lok Sabha on Tuesday led to an ugly spat between the opposition and treasury benches with Rahul Gandhi saying that he has been insulted and despite the attacks, the INDIA bloc would ensure that caste census is conducted.
Launching a scathing attack on Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi for his "chakravyuh" jibe at the BJP-led government a day earlier, Thakur cited purported portions from a book authored by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor to hit out at successive Congress governments since 1947 and alleged that Gandhi has misinterpreted his position of LoP as "leader of propaganda".
Using the 'chakravyuh' metaphor as a leitmotif, Rahul Gandhi on Monday claimed an atmosphere of fear prevails all around with a group of six trapping the entire country in a 'chakravyuh'.
He had said the 'chakravyuh' is also called a 'padmavyuh' for its resemblance to a lotus (BJP's poll symbol) formation. Hitting out at Gandhi for his remarks, Thakur said one of the synonyms for lotus is Rajiv (the name of Rahul Gandhi's father and former prime minister). "You linked lotus with violence, does that mean you also link Rajiv with violence?" Thakur asked.
While questioning the Congress' stand on caste census, the BJP MP from Himachal Pradesh's Hamirpur made certain remarks on caste, which led to an uproar with Congress members stooping into the Well of the Lok Sabha. Rahul Gandhi intervened, saying he has been insulted by the BJP member and asserted that despite all the abuses being hurled at him, the opposition will ensure passage of caste census in this very House.
In another intervention, the Congress leader said he does not want an apology from Thakur for his remarks as his only focus like the Mahabharat's Arjun is on the caste census. "Whoever raises issues of the Dalits and backwards, has to face abuses... I don't want any apology," he said.
In response, Thakur alleged that the definition of OBCs for Congress is "Only Brother-in-law commission" and not Other Backward Classes. He also referred to former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's opposition to reservation for OBCs.
Without taking any names, Thakur said a few people are "accidental Hindus" and their knowledge of the Mahabharat is also accidental.
Jagdambika Pal, who was chairing the proceedings, said Thakur's remarks on caste stand expunged. Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav also questioned Thakur for his statement and described it as inappropriate. "How can you ask anybody's caste?" he posed. The Chair said nobody in the House is allowed to ask the caste of any person.
During the course of his speech, Thakur alleged that Rahul Gandhi's speeches are written by "Uncle Sam", in an apparent reference to party leader Sam Pitroda.
The BJP MP claimed that Rahul Gandhi was using "borrowed wisdom" to make speeches in an attempt to be a "cool dude".
Thakur also said that reality and not "reels" make a "real" politician. Citing excerpts from Tharoor's book "The Great Indian Novel", the former Union minister attacked successive prime ministers from the Congress using abbreviations, including "N-Ji, IG and RG 1".
Tharoor intervened, saying his repeated references are from a satirical novel written years ago and the BJP leader did not understand the satire.
The Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram said he has written several other books which are not being quoted by Thakur because it is not convenient for the narrative he wanted to convey. Continuing with his attack, Thakur alleged that Rahul Gandhi does not understand the meaning of LoP and has misinterpreted it as "leader of propaganda".
19:18 Humbled!, says Manu Bhaker
Manu Bhaker shares this picture with her two bronze medals saying, "Extremely humbled by the support and wishes that have been pouring in. This is something that I've always dreamt of. Proud to perform at the biggest stage for my country."
The young Indian shooter won a historic second Olympic medal as she combined with Sarabjot Singh to win bronze in the 10m air pistol mixed team event on Monday.
The Indian duo defeated South Koreans Oh Ye Jin and Lee Wonho for the bronze medal on Tuesday.
The Bachchans. @amitabhbachchan on Instagram
19:00 Jaya objects to being called Jaya Amitabh Bachchan
Veteran actor and politician Jaya Bachchan's recent appearance in parliament has drawn significant attention. On Monday, Jaya Bachchan objected to Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh addressing her as "Shrimati Jaya Amitabh Bachchan."
A video from the Rajya Sabha has been doing the rounds on the internet in which the Samajwadi Party MP can be seen pointing out that instead of taking her actor-husband's name, she could have been called just "Jaya Bachchan".
"Sir, sirf Jaya Bachchan bolte toh kafi hojata (only Jaya Bachchan would have sufficed)," she responded. Jaya Bachchan looked irked after Deputy Chairman Harivansh addressed her using Amitabh as her middle name. She strongly reacted by saying, "Ye jo hain kuch naya tarika hain ki mahilaayin apni pati ke naam se jaani jaye. Unka koi astitva nahi. Unki koi upalabdhi nahi hain, apne mein aur astitva nahi hain. Ye jo naya shuru hua hain... (This is something new, that women will be recognised by the name of their husbands...they (women) have no identity; they have no achievements, no identity of their own. This new thing that has started...)"
18:53 Lok Sabha passes Union Budget 2024-25
The Lok Sabha approved the Rs 48.21-lakh crore Budget for 2024-25 of the Union Government. The lower House also approved the budget of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir with a voice vote.
The Union Budget and Budget for J&K was passed by a voice vote by the Lok Sabha. The relevant appropriation bills were also passed by the House. Replying to the debate, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the fiscal deficit of the central government is proposed to be brought down to 4.9 per cent of the GDP during 2024-25 and further to below 4.5 per cent by 2025-26. PTI
People being rescued in an IAF chopper
18:38 Kerala landslide: Man clinging to boulder rescued
After an hours-long mission, a man who was covered in mud and desperately clinging to a huge boulder to survive the flood waters gushing past him in landslide-hit Wayanad on Tuesday was rescued.
Visuals of the hapless man's attempt to survive amidst scattered boulders in the floodwater came from Mundakkai village in Wayanad, where hundreds of people are reportedly trapped following the deadly landslides triggered by heavy rainfall in the early hours of Tuesday. Helpless local residents could do nothing but watch the man's struggle and urged authorities to swiftly rescue him.
Having been washed away by flood water, he had got stuck between huge boulders but was unable to stand or swim to safety due to the thick marsh and strong currents.
The visuals of his ordeal, recorded by one of the villagers, were aired on television channels, in which authorities were urged to send rescue teams to the location as soon as possible.
The man was later rescued after an hours-long mission and shifted to a hospital, but no details of his identity or state of health are known.
The television visuals showed a group of rescuers who managed to reach the spot where the man was trapped. They used a rope to reach him. The man was seen being pulled out by them and rushed to a hospital.
18:15 Look who landed in Paris
India's star athlete Neeraj Chopra shares this image in Paris, writing, "Namaskar, Paris! Excited to finally reach the Olympic Games village. #Paris2024."
Chopra created history at the Tokyo Olympics when he won the gold medal in the men's javelin throw, thereby becoming the first Indian athlete to win a gold in track and field events.
An IAF chopper carries out a rescue operation in Wayanad
18:09 Those in deep sleep were washed away: Kerala CM
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Tuesday that 93 people died and around 128 were injured in the massive landslides in the northern Wayanad district, leaving behind a trail of destruction and despair.
Vijayan said that of the dead, 34 bodies were identified and 18 were handed over to families. The CM also said that 16 bodies were recovered from the Chaliyar river at Pothukal village in the district. Besides that, body parts were also recovered by those carrying out search and rescue operations, he said.
Vijayan said that the initial landslide occurred around 2 am and the next one hit around 4.30 am, leaving hundreds trapped beneath the debris and many more being swept away. The landslides occurred when the villagers were sleeping, catching them off-guard and resulting in the high number of casualties, he said.
17:51 Prez to preside over governors' conference, PM to attend
President Droupadi Murmu will preside over the Conference of Governors on August 2 and 3 at Rashtrapati Bhavan. This conference will be the first Conference of Governors to be presided over by President Murmu.
Governors of all states will attend the conference. The Vice President; the Prime Minister; Union Ministers of Home Affairs; Agriculture and Farmers Welfare; Education; Tribal Affairs; Information and Broadcasting; Environment, Forest and Climate Change; and Youth Affairs and Sports; Vice Chairman and CEO of NITI Aayog and other senior officials from PMO, Cabinet Secretariat, MHA and other Ministries will also participate.
The agenda of the conference includes implementation of three criminal laws; reforms in higher education and accreditation of universities; development of focus areas like tribal areas, aspirational districts and blocks and border areas; role of Governors in campaigns like 'MYBharat', 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' and 'Ek Vriksha Maa ke Naam', and natural farming; enhancing public connect; and role of Governors in better coordination between various central agencies in the state.
17:48 Cong sheds crocodile tears for farmers: FM in LS
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman replies to budget discussion in Lok Sabha, she says "We have provided substantial financial support of Rs 17,000 crore in the Union Budget of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir this year. It includes Rs 12,000 crore towards financing the cost of Jammu and Kashmir Police. That's a burden we want to take on our shoulders so that J&K has more flexibility to spend money on development activities. An additional central assistance of Rs 5,000 crores has also been provided.
"The National Commission on Farmers had recommended in 2006, Minimum Support Price should be at 50% more than the weighted average cost of production. This was not accepted by the UPA government. The cabinet note, which was drafted in July 2007, said MSP is recommended by the CACP on objective criteria considering the variety of factors involved. Therefore, setting an increase of at least 50% on the cost may cause distortion in the market. In some cases, there may be a mechanical linkage between MSP and the cost of production per producer. After saying this, the UPA govt rejected the MS Swaminathan report in 2007.
"Congress Party can go on shedding crocodile tears about farmers, but no implementation was done in the last 10 years..."
17:26 In UPA's 2006 Budget 26 states not named: FM in LS
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman replies to budget discussion in Lok Sabha, she says: "I would like to thank every member of the House who has spoken and taken interest in the Budget which has been presented here. I would like to thank the people of the country for giving this Govt headed by PM Modi, a historic third consecutive term in office. It reaffirms the faith the people have and the commitment with which the Prime Minister is leading the country and therefore building stability and coming up with people-centric policies. We shall all work together to build a Viksit Bharat by 2047...
"We are complying with fiscal deficit trajectory; will bring it down to below 4.5% by 2025-26.
" In UPA's 2006 Budget, 26 states weren't named, did money not go to them?"
16:59 'Warming of Arabian Sea led to Wayanad landslide'
Warming of the Arabian Sea is allowing the formation of deep cloud systems, leading to extremely heavy rainfall in Kerala in a shorter period and increasing the possibility of landslides, a senior climate scientist said on Tuesday.
Extremely heavy rain triggered a series of landslides in the hilly areas of Kerala's Wayanad district early on Tuesday, leaving at least 45 people dead. Many were feared trapped under the debris. S Abhilash, the director of the Advanced Centre for Atmospheric Radar Research at Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) said Kasargod, Kannur, Wayanad, Calicut, and Malappuram districts have been receiving copious rainfall due to the active monsoon offshore trough affecting the entire Konkan region for the last two weeks.
The soil was saturated after two weeks of rainfall. A deep mesoscale cloud system formed off the coast in the Arabian Sea on Monday and led to extremely heavy rain in Wayanad, Calicut, Malappuram, and Kannur, resulting in localised landslides, he told PTI.
"The clouds were very deep, similar to those seen during the 2019 Kerala floods," Abhilash said. He said scientists have noticed a trend of very deep cloud systems developing over the southeast Arabian Sea, he said, adding that sometimes, these systems intrude into the land, like that in 2019.
"Our research found that the southeast Arabian Sea is becoming warmer, causing the atmosphere above this region, including Kerala, to become thermodynamically unstable," Abhilash said. "This atmospheric instability, allowing the formation of deep clouds, is linked to climate change. Earlier, this kind of rainfall was more common in the northern Konkan belt, north of Mangalore."
With climate change, that rain-bearing belt with deep clouds is extending southward and this is the main reason behind such extremely heavy rainfall, he said. Research by Abhilash and other scientists published in npj Climate and Atmospheric Science journal in 2022 found that rainfall over the west coast of India is becoming more convective.
Another study by Abhilash and scientists from IITM and IMD, published in Elsevier in 2021, found that one of the hotspots of heavy rainfall in the Konkan region (between 14 degrees north and 16 degrees north) seems to have shifted southward with likely fatal consequences.
"An increase in rainfall intensity may suggest a rising probability of landslides in the high to mid-land slopes of the Western Ghats in eastern Kerala during the monsoon seasons," the study said. According to the India Meteorological Department, several automatic weather stations in Thrissur, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, Malappuram, and Ernakulam districts recorded rainfall between 19 cm and 35 cm.
"Most automatic weather stations of the IMD in the region recorded rainfall above 24 cm in 24 hours. Some stations installed by farmers recorded more than 30 cm of rain," Abhilash said. The Met Office said very heavy rainfall could occur in some places in the state over the next two days. PTI
16:35 Rahul, Priyanka to visit Wayanad tomorrow
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will visit landslide-hit Wayanad on Wednesday morning, party sources said. Landslides hit the hilly Wayanad district on Tuesday, leaving 57 people dead.
The landslides triggered by heavy rainfall, which occurred early on Tuesday, have left a trail of destruction in its wake, with several houses destroyed, water bodies swollen and trees uprooted.
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi condoled the loss of lives in the landslides and urged United Democratic Front (UDF) workers to provide all help to those affected. Rahul Gandhi, who represented Wayanad in the 17th Lok Sabha, said he has spoken to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the Wayanad district collector, who have assured him that rescue operations are underway.
The former Congress chief expressed deep anguish over the loss of lives in the massive landslides near Meppadi in Wayanad. "My heartfelt condolences go out to the bereaved families who have lost their loved ones. I hope those still trapped are brought to safety soon," he said in a post on X.
"I have spoken to the Kerala chief minister and the Wayanad district collector who assured me that rescue operations are underway. I have requested them to ensure coordination with all agencies, set up a control room and inform us of any assistance needed for the relief efforts," Rahul Gandhi said.
The Congress leader said, "I will speak to the Union ministers and request them to provide all assistance possible to Wayanad."
16:23 Basement deaths: Delhi court reserves order on bail plea of SUV driver
A court in Delhi today reserved its order on the bail plea of an SUV driver who was arrested in connection with the flooding of a coaching centre's basement in the Old Rajinder Nagar area which led to the death of three civil services aspirants. Judicial Magistrate Vinod Kumar reserved the order on the bail plea of Manuj Kathuria.
Kathuria has been accused of driving his Force Gurkha car through the street that was flooded by rainwater, causing the water to swell and breach the gates of the three-storey building and inundate the basement.
Kathuria's counsel sought his bail, saying he did not have the knowledge what's going to happen, or intention to cause the incident. Additional Public Prosecutor Atul Srivastava opposed the bail plea, saying Kathuria was not guilty of "contributory negligence," but he aggravated the incident.
The APP played in court a few videos taken from Kathuria's social media accounts, showing him driving the same SUV, and said, "I am sorry to use this term. But he is mastikhor aur masti mein inhone ye sab kar diya... In having fun he caused the incident."
The public prosecutor said the police investigation is still in a nascent stage and the accused, if let out on bail, may influence witnesses. Srivastava argued, "The Delhi Police is arresting people not related to the case; how can I be blamed for the incident?" PTI
Rescue personnel at the landslide
16:18 No trace of many families, say Wayanad survivors
As intense rescue efforts continue to save those trapped by the devastating landslide that hit the hilly Wayanad district of Kerala, survivors recount the harrowing experiences of their narrow escape just moments before the tragedy.
An elderly couple in Wayanad's landslide-hit area recounted their desperate bid for safety as the disaster struck in the dead of night. The couple, whose house was destroyed in the landslide, fled their home at 11 pm after noticing muddy water flowing through their area. They sought refuge on a nearby hill, but not before trying to save their neighbour, who, according to them, tragically refused to join them.
"We begged him to come with us, but he said he would join us by 1 am. He never came," the elderly man said, his voice cracking with emotion. He added that they were waiting at the hilltop until morning and when they came back, the whole area was washed away. Another woman was seen sobbing in front of the media, saying her relative called her and said they were running from their home carrying their toddler.
"She called me in the night and said they were trying to escape from the region. They had a toddler with them. After that, they were unreachable on the phone," she said. That family is yet to be traced.
The toll in the landslides that struck on Tuesday has risen to 57, with rescue teams comprising the Army, Navy and NDRF racing against time to rescue hundreds of people feared trapped under the debris. The Meppadi hospital near Mundakkai, overwhelmed with the injured, the deceased, and those searching for missing friends and relatives, presented a heartbreaking scene. PTI
15:36 The huge taskforce working at Wayanad landslide
Kerala State Disaster Management Authority Secretary Sekar Kuriakose says, "The rescue is coordinated and we have sufficient forces. NDRF was prepositioned... 10 teams of fire and rescue, 200 civil defence volunteers... 3 teams of NDRF will operate and we have requested the 4th team, two teams of Defence security cops, and one Navy river crossing team. We have also requested for engineering task force from the army. We have aircraft ready to move these troops..."
A total of three camps have been setup in Wayanad, given the situation. 12 are undergoing treatment in Kalpetta Government Hospital and 77 are in WIMS Wayanad. 8 deaths were reported in WIMS and one each in Meppadi Community Health Centre and Vythiri Taluk Hospital. 27 injured people are undergoing treatment at Meppadi CHC. 35 were reported dead and 27 are undergoing treatment at Bathery Taluk Hospital.
15:21 Contaminated cough syrup caused children's deaths, RS told
Isolated cases of allegedly contaminated cough syrup leading to death in children have been reported in the past, Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel told the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.
The World Health Organization, which from time to time issues medical product alerts, had issued one such alert mentioning that laboratory analysis of samples of certain Indian drug products confirmed that they contained unacceptable amounts of diethylene glycol and/or ethylene glycol as contaminants, she said in a written reply. Cough syrups are manufactured in India by several entities and sold and distributed as per their composition and active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) under different brand names, Patel said.
"There are no such deaths because of cough syrups. However, isolated cases of allegedly contaminated cough syrup leading to death in children have been reported in the past," she stated. PTI
A team of Army personnel on the way to Wayanad
15:19 Wayanad landslide: 80 bodies recovered
Kerala Chief Secretary V Venu said that over 80 bodies were recovered as rescue operations continued in the landslide-hit regions in Kerala's Wayanad on Tuesday.
According to the State Revenue Minister's office, around 116 people were injured and undergoing treatment at various hospitals in the district.
Union Minister of State George Kurian is heading to Wayanad to lead relief and rescue operations. On the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the minister will coordinate with National Disaster Relief Force personnel, paramilitary forces, Kerala Government officials and other agencies in the operation.
Kerala Forest Minister Saseendran reached the affected area to assess the damage and coordinate immediate response measures. State Minister Ramachandran Kadannappalli is expected to join the efforts on the ground.
An Indian Navy team from the Ezhimala Naval Base in Kannur is being sent to the district in Kerala to assist in the rescue operations at Chooralmala, which was hit by landslides on Tuesday morning, following torrential rains.
14:39 Will give all possible help to Kerala, says Siddaramaiah
Expressing grief over the loss of lives in landslides in Kerala's Wayanad district, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said Karnataka is committed to providing all possible help to the neighbouring state.
"Deeply saddened by the catastrophic floods in Wayanad. My heart goes out to the affected families. Karnataka is committed to providing all possible help to Kerala in this challenging time. Let's stand united and strong," Siddaramaiah said in a post on 'X'. The landslides in the hilly district, triggered by heavy rains, claimed at least 57 lives on Tuesday. PTI
14:26 Wayanad landslide: Body parts recovered, toll 57
The toll rose to 57 in the landslides that hit Kerala's hilly Wayanad district on Tuesday, according to state government sources. As rescue operators recover body parts from the rivers and mud, it is difficult to ascertain the exact number of people killed in the tragedy, the source said.
It is unclear whether the remains belong to a single person or multiple individuals, the source said. There are several women and children among the dead. Additionally, hundreds are feared to be trapped, but the authorities have not confirmed the same.
The landslides triggered by heavy rainfall, which occurred early on Tuesday, has left a trail of destruction in its wake, with several houses destroyed, water bodies swollen and trees uprooted.
Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha villages were among the areas affected and cut off by the landslides, authorities said. Rescue teams were working tirelessly to evacuate those stranded, with the Indian Army joining the efforts.
Besides the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the state government has also deployed disaster response teams from the police and the fire force to affected areas. PTI
13:47 Wayanad landslide: Toll rises to 54
Kerala Minister AK Saseendran confirmed that 54 people have died so far in the landslides that hit the Meppadi area in Wayanad in the early hours of Tuesday.
Union Minister of State George Kurian is heading to Wayanad to lead relief and rescue operations.
The minister, on the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will coordinate with National Disaster Relief Force personnel, paramilitary forces, Kerala Government officials and other agencies in the operation
13:41 Wayanad: 43 army personnel, 2 choppers mobilised
Following widespread destruction in the wake of massive landslides in Kerala's hilly Wayanad district, rescue efforts are currently underway, with NDRF and other emergency services as well as the Army racing against time to reach trapped and injured survivors.
Rescue teams are working tirelessly to evacuate those stranded or trapped under debris and search for those missing in the landslides, with the Indian Army joining the efforts.
A Defence PRO said on Tuesday that a team of 43 personnel, led by the Second-in-Command from the 122 Infantry Battalion (TA) MADRAS, has been mobilised to aid in the ongoing rescue efforts.
The team, comprising a Medical Officer, two Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs), and 40 soldiers, is equipped to provide critical assistance in the affected area. Besides that, the Army's engineering group will also reach Wayanad immediately for rescue and related operations in the landslide-hit areas, the district administration said.
Two Air Force helicopters departed for Wayand from Sulur in Tamil Nadu in the morning. Additionally, 67 Defence Security Corps (DSC) personnel, led by six officers, left for Wayanad from Kannur in two KSRTC buses with an ambulance and two truck loads of equipment, authorities said.
Also, a naval team from the Ezhimala Naval Academy will also reach Wayanad to join the rescue efforts as per the request of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the CMO said.
It further said that the CM suggested the use of drones and police dogs for rescue operations. From Kozhikode, a Territorial Army battalion and their medical team also left for Wayanad, it added. State Forest Minister A K Saseendran reached the district and met with the injured admitted in various hospitals.
13:24 Shooters Manu Bhaker, Sarabjot Singh win Bronze
Shooters Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh win Bronze medal in 10m Air Pistol Mixed team event.
Rescuers carry a dead body in Wayanad
13:20 Wayanad tragedy: CPI puts forth 3 demands in RS
In view of terrible landslide in Wayanad, CPI Rajya Sabha floor leader P Sandosh Kumar demanded that: (1) the calamity be declared a national disaster and all relief from centre must be rushed, (2) Kerala, with its unique geography, be included in the list of ecologically fragile state, and (3) Generous compensation must be ensured to the victims kin, those injured and those whose houses and properties were destroyed.
13:17 Navy team heads to Wayanad for rescue ops
An Indian Navy team from the Ezhimala Naval Base in Kannur is being sent to the district in Kerala to assist in the rescue operations at Chooralmala that was hit by landslides on Tuesday morning, following torrential rains.
The Navy team is being despatched, at the request of Chief Minister Pinrayi Vijayan who sought the help of the Navy's River Crossing team, according to the Chief Minister's Office.
Army and Air Force have also been mobilised for the rescue operations in the area, which have been hampered as a main bridge has collapsed in the town of Chooralmala.
"The Malayangadu Bridge has been swept away by a landslide in the Vilaangadu Malayangad side. Four houses have been damaged, and 12 families are stranded with the bridge gone. One person is missing," Congress MP from Vadakara, Shafi Parambil said.
The Kerala Chief Minister's Office said that police drones and a dog squad will be deployed for search and rescue efforts as instructed by the Chief Minister.District Collector DR Meghashree said that a platoon of the Army has reached Churamala for rescue operations.
An Army Engineering Group will be urgently deployed to Wayanad for rescue operations and related activities in the landslide-affected area. The Madras Engineering Group (MEG) from Bengaluru will arrive to implement alternative arrangements after the bridge collapse, the CMO stated.
Kerala Minister MB Rajesh said that an estimated 45 people had died in the landslides and the state government is coordinating with various agencies to carry out rescue efforts on a "war footing." -- ANI
13:01 6-year-old girl's beheaded body found near railway station in UP
A beheaded body of a six-year-old girl was found near Pitambarpur Railway Station in Bareilly, police said on Tuesday.
Assistant Superintendent of Police, South, Manush Pareekh ruled out murder angle in the incident.
It appears the girl was either hit by a train or attacked by some wild animal, which dragged the body due to which the victim's head got separated from her body, he said.
The body appears to be seven to eight days old and is yet to be identified, ASP Pareek said. The cause of death would be ascertained in the postmortem and meanwhile, the police is probing the matter from all possible angles, he added. PTI
12:55 1 NDRF team in Wayanad, 3 more on the way
At least 45 people have died and 250 people have been rescued and shifted to temporary relief camps on Tuesday following a series of massive landslides that struck the hilly areas of Meppadi, Wayanad district, in the early hours of July 30.
Meanwhile, NDRF DG Piyush Anand informed that one team of the National Disaster Response Force arrived at the Wayanad landslide site on Tuesday following a series of massive landslides that struck the hilly areas of Meppadi, Wayanad district, in the early hours of July 30.
Three more teams are on the way.
Kerala Minister MB Rajesh said that rescue operations have been undertaken on a war footing."So far 44 people have died. We fear the gravity of this tragedy is much more. Rescue operations are being carried out by various agencies on a war footing.
"We have sought help from the Army which will reach the affected area soon. The CM is closely monitoring the operation. He has sent a team of ministers to Wayanad. An IAS officer will be camping in Wayand to coordinate the rescue ops. 250 people were rescued and shifted to temporary shelter camps. We are airlifting stranded persons. All efforts are being taken by the govt for rescue ops," the Minister stated.
Health Minister Veena George said that teams of the NDRF and Civil Defence are present in Wayanad and a team of the Navy is also en route to the affected site.
"We are trying every possible thing to rescue our people. We have received 24 bodies in different hospitals. Around 70 people are also injured. We have ensured proper treatment of the injured. Teams of NDRF and Civil Defence are present there; a team of Navy will also be reaching there soon. A bridge in the area has also washed away," she said.
File pic of a swollen Beas River in 2023
12:49 Himachal: Footbridge, makeshift sheds washed away in flash flood
A footbridge and three makeshift sheds, including a liquor shop, were washed away following a flash flood triggered by a cloudburst in Tosh Nallah in Himachal Pradesh's Kullu district, officials said on Tuesday.
The incident took place in the Tosh area of Manikaran early in the morning and no loss of life was reported, Deputy Commissioner Kullu Torul S Raveesh said, adding that a team has been sent to the spot to assess the situation.
"Our appeal to the people is to stay away from rivers and rivulets and do not make temporary structures near nallahs," she said.
The deputy commissioner said that construction activity is prohibited during the monsoon and strict action would be taken against anyone defying the norms. The local meteorological office has issued an 'orange' alert for heavy to very heavy rain accompanied with thunderstorms and lightning in seven districts of the state on Wednesday and Thursday.
The Met has also sounded a 'yellow' alert for heavy rain at isolated places on August 2 and 3 . Monsoon activity is likely to intensify with widespread precipitation in the next four to five days, it said.
Spells of heavy to very heavy rainfall are likely to occur at one or two places in the districts of Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi, Shimla and Sirmaur on Wednesday and Thursday, the weather office said. It also cautioned of possibility of landslides and flash floods in vulnerable areas of Kullu, Solan, Sirmaur, Shimla, and Kinnaur districts, and damage to plantations and standing crops, vulnerable structures and 'kutcha' houses due to strong winds and waterlogging in low-lying areas.
Meanwhile, light rainfall was witnessed in a few parts of the state. According to Meteorological Centre, Shimla, Sarahan and Rohru recorded 12 mm of rainfall since Monday evening followed by Sangrah (10 mm), Jogindernagar (8 mm), Sainj (6.5 mm), Manali (6 mm), Rampur (5.8 mm), Dharamshala (5.4 mm) and Gohar (5 mm).
Official data recorded until Monday evening showed rain-related incidents have claimed 62 lives in the past one month since the onset of monsoon on June 27. The state has suffered losses to the tune of Rs 425 crore in the ongoing monsoon, according to the state emergency operation centre. PTI
12:47 Wayanad: Man clings to boulder amid rushing floodwaters
A man, covered in mud, was seen desperately trying to stand by clinging to a huge boulder in gushing flood water, in one of the harrowing scenes from a landslide-hit hamlet in Kerala's Wayanad district on Tuesday.
The man, suspected to have been washed away by the flood water, somehow got stuck between huge boulders but was unable to stand or swim to safety due to the thick marsh and strong currents.
The harrowing visuals of the hapless man's attempt to survive amidst scattered boulders in the floodwater came from Mundakkai village, where hundreds of people were reportedly trapped following the deadly landslides in the early hours of Tuesday triggered by heavy rainfall.
The visuals, taken by one of the villagers, were aired by television channels, urging authorities to send rescue teams to the location.
"He is trapped in the area near the local school in Mundakkai. He caught our attention for the first time by 7.30 am. He is still continuing his attempt not to get carried away by the flood waters and trying to stand in the thick marsh," Raghavan, a block panchayat member who took the visuals on his mobile phone, said.
Villagers said though they were seeing the man's survival attempts, they could not reach the place or rescue him due to strong currents and marsh.
As the rescue mission continues in various hamlets, people could be seen hugging each other tight so as to not getting carried away in flood waters in many places. People, especially elderly men and women, could also be seen being rescued by placing temporary metal bridges in areas cut off due to massive landslides. PTI
12:21 SC grants bail to Nawab Malik on medical grounds
The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted bail on medical grounds to former Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik in a money laundering case.
A bench of justices Bela M Trivedi and Satish Chandra Sharma took note of the submissions of a counsel, appearing for Malik, that he was suffering from various ailments.
The top court said medical bail to Mailk will be valid till disposal of the regular bail plea before the Bombay high court.
Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the ED, did not oppose grant of bail, and said the interim medical bail may be made permanent.
The ED had arrested Malik in February 2022 in the case allegedly linked to the activities of fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim and his associates.
Malik had sought relief from the high court, claiming he was suffering from a chronic kidney disease apart from various other ailments. He also sought bail on merit.
The ED's case against Malik is based on an FIR filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) against Ibrahim, a designated global terrorist and a key accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts, and his associates under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. -- PTI
12:08 Red alert issued for Wayanad amid landslide tragedy
The India Meteorological Department on Tuesday issued a red alert for the high-range Wayanad district rocked by landslides triggered by incessant rains and neighbouring Malappuram, Kozhikode and Kannur districts indicating extremely heavy rainfall.
While the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for four districts including Wayand, an Orange alert has been issued for Tuesday for all other districts of the state except Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam.
A red alert indicates heavy to extremely heavy rain of over 20 cm in 24 hours. An orange alert means very heavy rain of 11 cm to 20 cm, and a yellow alert means heavy rainfall between 6 cm and 11 cm.
An Orange alert has been issued for Tuesday to Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad and Kasaragod districts.
The Met office has also issued an Orange alert for Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kannur districts on Wednesday also.
Amidst the heavy rain, multiple NDRF teams, two helicopters and other rescue teams are on their way to Mundakkai, which has been totally cut off by a devastating landslides that rocked Wayanad district, the state government said on Tuesday.
As of now, the official death toll in Wayanad landslides which occurred in the wee hours of Tuesday has gone up to 45 including children and women. Authorities expect the toll to increase.
Over 70 are admitted to various hospitals and several people are stranded in many places of Wayanad which is receiving heavy rainfall. -- PTI
11:57 Landslide in Wayanad: Rajnath speaks to Army chief
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday spoke to Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi to take stock of rescue and relief works being undertaken by Army units in Kerala's landslide-hit Wayanad.
According to local authorities in Wayanad, 36 people were killed in the landslide.
The defence minister spoke to the Army chief on the overall situation, officials said.
The Army received a requisition for providing aid to civil authority this morning, an Army official said.
In response the Army has mobilised its units.
The total strength of the Army deployed so far for the rescue operation is approximately 225, including medical personnel, the official said. -- PTI
11:47 17 trains diverted due to train derailment
Due to derailment of the Howrah-CSMT Mumbai mail train in Chakradharour division in Jharkhand, 17 trains have been diverted, South Eastern Railway said in a statement.
11:41 Search op launched after suspicious movement in J-K's Poonch
Security forces have launched a cordon and search operation following information about movement of two suspected terrorists in a remote village in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Tuesday.
The two armed suspects, dressed in black, were seen moving in Salampura village near Dehra Ki Gali late Monday night, they said.
Police assisted by the Rashtriya Rifles and CRPF launched a joint operation immediately after getting the information.
The suspected terrorists were seen moving towards lower Pangai, they said, adding the search operation is underway but there was no contact with the suspected terrorists so far.
The officials said security forces also launched a search operation at Sanai, Jangal, Pattan and adjoining villages in Surankote area of Poonch and Bangar-Saroor forest in Drabshalla area of Kishtwar district this morning. -- PTI
11:27 UP govt introduces stricter anti-conversion law in assembly
The Uttar Pradesh assembly on Tuesday introduced a bill that seeks to amend the Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act to increase the maximum punishment to life imprisonment and fine of Rs 5 lakh for violators.
Under the amended provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill, 2024, if a person threatens, attacks, marries or promises to marry or conspires for it, or traffics a woman, minor or anyone with the intention of conversion, then his crime will be placed in the most serious category.
The amended bill provides for 20-year imprisonment or life imprisonment in such cases.
Earlier, a maximum punishment of 10 years and a fine of Rs 50,000 was provided under it.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Khanna introduced the bill in the House on Monday.
Under the amended provision, now any person can register an FIR in conversion cases. Earlier, to give information or complaint in the case, the presence of the victim, parents, siblings was necessary, but now the scope has been increased. Now anyone can give information about it to the police in writing.
It has been proposed that such cases will not be heard by any court below sessions court and along with this, the bail plea will not be considered without giving an opportunity to the public prosecutor. Also, all the crimes in this have been made non-bailable.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had taken this initiative with the intention of curbing 'love jihad', a term confined by Hindu outfit for alleged forcible conversion.
An ordinance was issued for this in November 2020 and later, after the bill was passed by both the houses of the Uttar Pradesh Legislature, the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act-2021 came into force. -- PTI
11:24 NDRF, Army choppers rush to landslide-hit Wayanad
Multiple NDRF teams, two helicopters and other rescue efforts are on their way to Mundakkai, which has been totally cut off by devastating landslides that hit Kerala's hilly Wayanad district, the state government said on Tuesday.
State Revenue Minister K Rajan said one team of NDRF is working to clear the debris and create access as they progress towards Mundakkai.
Three more NDRF teams from Kollam, Arakkonam, and Bengaluru are also on their way, Rajan said.
"Mundakkai is in the foothills of a nearby mountain. The issue is that the area was totally cut off due to the destruction of a bridge. Now efforts are on to make a temporary bridge to facilitate the crossing of the rescue team," Rajan said.
He also said the extent of the damage has not yet been determined.
"One team of NDRF is clearing the way as they progress towards Mundakkai. Three more teams will arrive by afternoon. Two choppers of the Army will also reach soon," Rajan said.
He further said bodies were recovered downstream of the Chaliyar river.
"Nearly 70 people have been admitted to various hospitals in Kozhikode; at least 12 bodies are there in the hospitals," Rajan added.
Ministers Rajan, P A Mohammed Riyas and O Kelu are expected to reach Wayanad soon. Minister A K Saseendran has already reached the place and is visiting the injured. Another state Minister, Ramachandran Kadannappally has also reached the place. -- PTI
Representative image
10:42 Wayanad landslide: Kerala govt seeks military help
The Kerala government on Tuesday sought the assistance of the Indian Army for rescue operations in the wake of the devastating landslides in Wayanad district.
A Defence PRO said on Tuesday that a team of 43 personnel, led by the Second-in-Command from the 122 Infantry Battalion (TA) MADRAS, has been mobilised to aid in the ongoing rescue efforts.
The team, comprising a Medical Officer, two Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs), and 40 soldiers, is equipped to provide critical assistance in the affected area.
Their deployment aims to augment existing rescue operations and provide relief to those affected by the landslides.
The landslides, which occurred early on Tuesday, has left a trail of destruction in its wake, with several houses destroyed, water bodies swollen, and trees uprooted.
The picturesque villages of Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha have been cut off from other areas, leaving many stranded. -- PTI
10:28 Ex-Wayanad MP Rahul reacts to Wayanad landslides
Former Wayanad MP and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed condolences after massive landslides hit Kerala's Wayanad on Tuesday.
Eight people, including three children, died in the landslides that hit Kerala's hilly Wayanad district on Tuesday, according to officials.
In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi said, "I am deeply anguished by the massive landslides near Meppadi in Wayanad. My heartfelt condolences go out to the bereaved families who have lost their loved ones. I hope those still trapped are brought to safety soon."
Gandhi said that he spoke to the Kerala Chief Minister and the Wayanad District Collector, who assured him that rescue operations are underway.
"I have requested them to ensure coordination with all agencies, set up a control room, and inform us of any assistance needed for the relief efforts. I will speak to Union Ministers and request them to provide all assistance possible to Wayanad," the post mentioned.
He also urged all UDF workers to assist the administration in the rescue and relief operations.
Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha villages were among the areas affected and cut off by the landslides, authorities said.
Representative image
09:51 Mumbai: Western line train services hit due to technical snag
Local train services on the Mumbai's Western Railway network were disrupted on Tuesday morning due to the "points failures" at Santacruz and Bhayandar stations, officials said.
A points failure means a fault with the movable pieces of track or their operating equipment that enable trains to change tracks.
The officials said that the failed track changing points at both these locations were restored in less than an hour.
Commuters complained that the suburban trains were running 25 to 30 minutes late, resulting in overcrowding on trains and railway stations. Due to this, the office-goers and other commuters faced a tough time in the rush hour.
"As suburban services were hit, the crowd at Virar station has swelled," a commuter, who travels daily to Churchgate, where his office is located.
A Western Railway spokesperson said the points failure at the Bhayandar station occurred at 5 am and it was restored at 5.45 am, while the fault at the Santacruz station took place at 5.20 am and was rectified at 5.50 am.
The Western Railway operates more than 1,300 suburban services and nearly 35 lakh commuters travel on its network spread between Churchgate in South Mumbai and Dahanu in Palghar district on a daily basis. -- PTI
09:49 Eerie silence in Wayanad hamlets after landslides
Destroyed houses, swollen water bodies and broken branches of uprooted trees dot the high-range villages of Kerala's Wayanad, rocked by massive landslides on Tuesday.
Picturesque hamlets known for their beauty until Monday -- Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha -- are now a picture of gloom after landslides hit the areas, cutting them off from other places.
Vehicles washed away in floodwaters could be seen stuck in tree trunks and submerged here and there in many places.
Swollen water bodies changed their course and flowed through inhabited areas, resulting in more destruction.
Huge boulders, rolled down the hills and hindered the path of rescue workers.
Those engaged in rescue work could be seen shifting the dead and the injured into ambulances braving heavy rains.
As the landslides caused mass uprooting of trees and floodwaters washed away the green patches, the affected villages got a desert-like appearance in many places.
Eight people, including three children, were confirmed to have died in the landslides that hit the hilly Wayanad district on Tuesday, authorities said. -- PTI
09:16 Modi speaks to Kerala CM over Wayanad landslides
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed anguish over the loss of lives in landslides in Kerala's Wayanad district and assured Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of all possible help from the Centre to deal with the crisis.
The prime minister announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased. The injured would be given Rs 50,000.
Eight people, including three children, died in the landslides that hit Kerala's hilly Wayanad district on Tuesday, according to officials.
In a post on X, Modi said, "Distressed by the landslides in parts of Wayanad. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones and prayers with those injured. Rescue ops are currently underway to assist all those affected."
"Spoke to Kerala CM Shri @pinarayivijayan and also assured all possible help from the Centre in the wake of the prevailing situation there," he said.
Official sources said the prime minister also spoke to the two Union ministers from the state, Suresh Gopi and George Kurien, over the prevailing situation.
Modi has asked BJP president J P Nadda to mobilise party workers in the region to assist in the ongoing relief work, they said. -- PTI
08:58 Olympics opening ceremony a 'disgrace': Trump
Former United States president Donald Trump has criticised the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics in Paris, calling it a "disgrace", amidst outrage over a scene which critics say parodied Leonardo da Vinci's acclaimed painting "The Last Supper."
"I thought that the opening ceremony was a disgrace, actually. I thought it was a disgrace," Trump, the Republican Party's presidential candidate for the November 5 general elections, told 'The Ingraham Angle' on Fox News on Monday night.
"I am very open-minded. But I think, what they did was a disgrace," he said in response to a question.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has also condemned the opening ceremony.
"Last night's mockery of the Last Supper was shocking and insulting to Christian people around the world who watched the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games," he said in a post on X.
"The war on our faith and traditional values knows no bounds today. But we know that truth and virtue will always prevail. "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it," he wrote. -- PTI
08:32 2 killed, 20 hurt as coaches of Mumbai-Howrah mail derail
UPDATE: Two persons were killed and 20 injured after 18 coaches of the Mumbai-Howrah Mail derailed in Jharkhand's Seraikela-Kharsawan district, officials said.
The rescue operation is on, senior South Eastern Railway official said.
08:21 5 dead in landslides in Wayanad
Five people, including two children, were confirmed to have died in landslides that hit Kerala's hilly Wayanad district on Tuesday, authorities said.
Of those killed, four people, including a child, died in the Chooralmala town of the district, while a one-year-old child of a Nepali family died in the Thondernad village, according to the Wayanad district authorities.
The Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha villages were among the areas affected and cut off by the landslides, authorities said.
In a video message, UDF MLA T Siddique said district authorities were drawing up plans to airlift people from the Mundakkai area.
"Currently, we have no complete information about those missing and dead in the landslides. Many areas have been cut off. NDRF personnel are trying to reach those places." he said.
Meanwhile, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said in a Facebook post that two Air Force helicopters will depart for Wayanad from Sulur shortly to take part in the search and rescue operations.
According to district authorities, several families have been moved to the various camps or homes of their relatives in the wake of the landslides. -- PTI
07:55 18 coaches of Mumbai-Howrah Mail derail, 6 injured
Six people were injured as at least 18 coaches of the Mumbai-Howrah Mail derailed in Jharkhand's Seraikela-Kharsawan district early on Tuesday, officials said.
The accident occurred at 3.45 AM near Barabamboo, around 80 km from Jamshedpur, under the Chakradharpur Division of South Eastern Railway, they said.
SER spokesperson Om Prakash Charan said that there was another derailment of a goods train nearby, but it was not yet clear whether the two accidents occurred concurrently.
"At least 18 coaches of the 22-coach 12810 Howrah-Mumbai Mail via Nagpur derailed near Barabamboo station in SER's Chakradharpur division at 3.45 AM," he said.
Of these, 16 were passenger coaches, one power car and one pantry car, he said.
Charan said that injuries to some passengers were reported.
"Six passengers were injured in the accident and provided medical aid in Barabamboo. They are now being taken to Chakradharpur for better treatment," another senior SER official said.
The rescue operation is on, he said.
The train accident was reported from Potobeda in the Kharsawan block of Seraikela-Kharsawan district, a local administration official said.
"The Mumbai-Howrah Mail and a freight train were involved in the accident. The assessment of injured people is underway," he added. -- PTI
01:38 Penguin to publish English translation of Kamban's Ramayana
Penguin Random House India on Monday announced the publication of the first complete multi-volume English translation of Kamba Ramayanam, a Tamil version of the epic Ramayana by 12th-century poet Kamban.
The monumental project, undertaken by six scholars and translators of the Tamil language, is expected to be released between 2028-30.
Widely considered as the Tamil literary tradition's greatest poem, Kamban's Ramayana is celebrated for its innovative use of language, the psychological depth of its characters, and its profound engagement with themes of power, truth, and divinity.
The six books of Kamban's Ramayana, consisting of 42,000 lines of verse, will be divided into seven volumes along with an introductory volume -- Volume 1: Bala, Volume 2: Ayodhya, Volume 3: Aranya, Volume 4: Kiskindha, Volume 5: Sundara, and Volume 6 and 7: Yuddha Part 1 and 2.
The team of noted scholars and translators include Shiv Subramaniam from Emory University, professor David Shulman from Hebrew University, professor Whitney Cox from University of Chicago, independent scholar Jennifer Clare, professor Archana Venkatesan from UC Davis and Aniruddhan Vasudevan from Princeton University.
"The 12th-century poet, Kamban, created a Tamil Ramayana in 10,000 verses, each of them a miracle. His work encompasses and gives voice to an entire civilisation, its landscapes, its people, its primary values, profound emotions, and visions of the world."
"We are thrilled that Penguin will be publishing an English translation of the entire text in individual volumes by a close-knit team of six translator-scholars. This will be the first complete, fully annotated, literary translation of Kamban into a Western language," professors Venkatesan and Shulman, who also serve as the volume editors and the authors of the introductory volume, said in a statement. -- PTI
01:00 President Murmu to undertake 6-day visit to Fiji, New Zealand, Timor-Leste
President Droupadi Murmu will undertake a six-day visit of Fiji, New Zealand and Timor-Leste beginning August 5, the ministry of external affairs announced on Monday.
Murmu's first destination will be Fiji where she will hold meetings with President Katonivere and Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka.
"This will be the first-ever visit by a Head of State from India to Fiji," the MEA said on Murmu's August 5 to 6 trip to the island nation.
It said she is scheduled to address the Fijian Parliament and interact with the Indian diaspora in the country.
"The visit reflects India's continued commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations with Fiji," the MEA said.
"On the second leg of her visit, President Murmu will visit New Zealand on August 7 to 9 at the invitation of Dame Cindy Kiro, Governor General of New Zealand," it said.
During the State visit, she will hold a bilateral meeting with Governor General Kiro and meet Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
President Murmu will address an education conference and interact with the Indian community and friends of India, the MEA said in a statement. -- PTI
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00:37 Man who sought action against Andaman ex-chief secretary found dead
Markande Tiwari, who had been advocating action against arrested former Andaman and Nicobar Island chief secretary Jitendra Narain amid allegations of his involvement in a rape case, was found dead inside his car in Port Blair.
Eyewitnesses claimed around 2:30 pm on Sunday, Tiwari was reversing his car near his residence in the Chakkar Gaon area under Aberdeen police station area when the vehicle veered off the road and collided with an electric pole.
Upon reaching the scene, bystanders discovered Tiwari unconscious inside the car.
He was taken to GB Pant Hospital where doctors pronounced him dead, police said.
"A post mortem examination was conducted on Monday, and we are awaiting the report to determine the exact cause of death. No external injuries were found," a senior police officer said.
Narain was arrested in connection with a gang rape case filed by a 21-year-old woman in 2022 after his anticipatory bail plea was denied by a local court. -- PTI
Iqbal Kaskar/File image
00:25 No bail to Dawood's brother Iqbal Kaskar in money laundering case
Noting the delay in trial cannot be the criterion to grant bail as a probe agency is supposed to undertake a 'lot of minute exercise' to ensure innocent persons are not booked, a special court denied relief to Underworld don Dawood Ibrahim's brother Iqbal Kaskar in a money laundering case.
Kaskar was arrested in 2017 in an extortion and Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act case registered by Thane Police. Subsequently, the Enforcement Directorate, probing a money laundering case based on the police FIR, took Kaskar's custody in February 2022.
He is currently in judicial custody. Special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court judge B D Shelke rejected Kaskar's bail plea on July 26. "A lot of minute exercise is expected to be undertaken by the investigating agency to see that no innocent is wrongly booked and that no culprit escaped from the clutches of law. Hence, mere delay in a trial is also not a ground to grant bail," the court noted in its order, made available recently. Kaskar's two alleged associates, also co-accused in the case, collected protection money of Rs 30 lakh and also transferred (ownership of) a flat from a Thane-based person on his behalf, according to the ED. Kaskar's plea cited delay in the trial and contended that the amount involved in the case is less than Rs 1 crore, which makes it a bailable offence in view of section 45 of the PMLA.
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00:21 Kolkata film industry dispute delays shoot for 3 days
The impasse in the Kolkata film industry continued on Monday, amid trading of charges between directors and technicians while no shooting was held for the last three days.
The directors said their cease work will continue on Tuesday while the technicians maintained they will not work under a filmmaker who was debarred from working by the federation of industry associations earlier this month for allegedly violating norms.
Lashing out at a section of producers-directors for ceasing work at the Tollygunge film industry in Kolkata "without notice' which brought all scheduled shoots to a halt on Monday, the federation called the move a "conspiracy'.
The federation declared that it would finalise its next move on the ongoing impasse based on feedback from its members through a signature campaign.
The announcement followed the call for an urgent need for review and arbitration of existing "rules' in the Bengali film industry which senior fraternity members deemed as a "stranglehold' of imposed norms leading to a "significant decline in investment' in the regional showbiz sector over the past decade.
"The directors decided that they will not go to the floor tomorrow also. Altogether 120 to 130 directors were present at the meeting. Everyone supported the decision since they want to work with respect. To solve this whole issue, we need the help of one or more persons who are well-versed in law and filmmaking," director Raj Chakraborty said. -- PTI
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