10 pilgrims from Bihar killed, 35 injured in Bengal accident; Bihar CM announces Rs 2 lakh ex gratia
BURDWAN/PATNA: Ten pilgrims from Bihar died and 35 others were injured as their bus rammed into a truck parked on the roadside in West Bengal's Burdwan town on Friday, officials said. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed grief over the accident and announced ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased. The pilgrims, who belonged to Motihari in Bihar's East Champaran district, were returning home after visiting Gangasagar in South 24 Parganas district when the accident happened on NH-19 near Phaguipur in Purba Bardhaman district, the officials said. Among the deceased were eight men and two women, they added. The injured persons, including six children, were admitted to the Burdwan Medical College and Hospital, officials said. There were 45 people on the luxury bus. Efforts are being made to contact their families, an official said. The pilgrims began their journey from Motihari on August 8. They first visited Deoghar and then went to Gangasagar, he said. A statement issued by the Bihar government said, The CM has expressed condolences over the casualties in the road accident that took place on the roadside in Burdwan. He is deeply saddened by the deaths of Bihar natives in the incident, and announced ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the immediate family members of the deceased. Besides, the CM also announced Rs 50,000 as compensation for each injured passenger. The CM has also directed the officials to remain in touch with their counterparts in West Bengal and ensure proper treatment for the injured persons. He also asked officials to ensure that bodies of deceased hailing from the state reach their native place in East Champaran, it said.
10 Pilgrims Dead, 35 injured As Bus Rams Truck Parked On Roadside In West Bengal
Ten pilgrims from Bihar died and 35 others were injured as their bus rammed into a truck parked on the roadside in West Bengal's Burdwan town on Friday, officials said.
Ten pilgrims from Bihar tragically died, and 35 others were injured when their bus collided with a parked truck in Burdwan, West Bengal. The pilgrims, returning from Gangasagar, were from Motihari in East Champaran district.
10 pilgrims from Bihar killed, 35 injured as bus rams into truck in West Bengal's Burdwan
The pilgrims, who belonged to Motihari in Bihar's East Champaran district, were returning home after visiting Gangasagar in South 24 Parganas district
Is arrested model-actress Shanta a Bangladeshi spy? Police investigates
KOLKATA: Activities of Bangladeshi model and actress Shanta Pal, who has been arrested in Kolkata, are reminiscent of the activities of Jyoti Malhotra, who was arrested on suspicion of being a Pakistani spy, police sources said. Shanta lived a luxurious life as Jyoti. She too travelled to many places in India, including the Nathula Pass, near the China border in Sikkim which raised suspicion about her, a Kolkata Police official said. Jyoti Malhotra is accused of spying for Pakistan. Is Shanta doing the same for Bangladesh? We have been trying to ascertain this in the investigation, the official added. According to police sources, Shanta Pal, a Bangladeshi citizen, came to India in 2023. Since then, she has been staying here. Both her visa and passport have expired. Bangladeshi model-actress held in Kolkata with Indian documents According to police sources, after questioning Shanta and searching her social media pages, it was found that she had become a consultant for others to obtain visas to India. After the upheaval in Bangladesh last year, when the situation between India and Bangladesh made it difficult for Bangladeshi citizens to get Indian tourist visas, Shanta had advised many of them to apply for medical visas. The investigators are checking how many people took her help to get Indian medical visas. Shanta, who has been residing in India, also used to live a colourful life. According to police sources, the Bangladeshi model-actress travelled from Digha in West Bengal to Gangtok in Sikkim and posted pictures and videos on social media. She even reached the Nathula Pass near the China border to create a travel vlog. According to police sources, Shanta was promoting her tourism business through a social media page called Asan Travels Kolkata and Bangladesh. Additionally, investigators are also investigating if she took a loan from an Indian state-owned bank to open a hotel, based on her Facebook post. On Wednesday, the Kolkata Police arrested Shanta in a fraud case from the Bikramgarh area in south Kolkata. She lived there in a rented flat with her parents and husband. The police recovered an Indian voter card, PAN card, and Aadhaar cards of two addresses, one in Kolkata and the other in Burdwan, issued in her name. The police have also recovered a Bangladeshi passport and Bangladesh Airways employee card from her possession. She used to work as a cabin crew for Bangladesh Airways. An admit card for Bangladesh's secondary examination has also been found.
Bangladeshi model-actress held in Kolkata with Indian documents
KOLKATA: A Bangladeshi model-actress, Shanta Pal, was arrested in Kolkata after Indian voter ID, PAN card, and Aadhaar card were recovered from her rented flat in Bikramgarh. Following a written complaint filed in the Park Street police station, sleuths searched the flat and recovered the documents. This arrest assumes significance, especially when various states have launched a drive to identify and detain the Bangladeshi people, who have been living in India illegally. Following detention, many of them have also been pushed back to Bangladesh by the BSF. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, however, blamed the Centre for their illegal entry into India and alleged that Bengali migrant workers have been harassed and tortured in various BJP-ruled states for speaking in Bengali. According to Kolkata Police officials, an Aadhaar card was issued in Shanta Pals name in 2020 using an address in Burdwan. During the search, police also recovered a Bangladeshi passport, a Bangladesh Airways employee ID card and an admit card for Bangladeshs secondary school examination. She is being interrogated to find out how, being a Bangladeshi citizen she managed to get Aadhaar, PAN and voter cards and from where. Who helped her to get all these documents. Her various social media posts are also being investigated, a police official said on Thursday. She won the Miss Asia Global Bangladesh beauty pageant title, organised by an organisation in Bangladesh. A few days ago, the model-actress also filed a complaint of fraud at the Thakurpukur police station. It is learnt that Shanta was born in 1998. Her parents lived with her in the Bikramgarh flat. They are also being investigated by the police. Shantas husband is a resident of Andhra Pradesh. The investigators have been trying to ascertain how Shanta came in contact with him before marriage.
PM Modi to visit West Bengal on July 19, inaugurate development projects
KOLKATA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit West Bengal on Friday, where he will address a BJP rally in Durgapur, besides laying the foundation stone and inauguration of multiple development projects worth over Rs 5000 crore. With the Assembly elections in West Bengal due in April-May next year, Modis visit assumes political significance, especially because it coincides with Trinamool Congress Chief Mamata Banerjees Martyrs Day rally at Kolkata on July 21. According to political observers, since it is the last Martyrs Day rally of the Trinamool Congress before the Assembly polls, Banerjee is all set to use this platform to give a clear political message to her main political rival, the BJP and is also expected to announce some new schemes to lure voters. In this context, Modis speech in the public meeting at Durgapur will catch everyones attention. On Wednesday, Banerjee held a protest march in Kolkata against the alleged harassment and torture of Bengali-speaking people in several BJP-ruled states. Daring the BJP-led Centre to send her to the detention camp, she had said, The people of Bengal have elected me to serve them. Let me work here. If you create disturbance here, I will tour the entire country. You wont be able to stop me. I will see how many detention camps you can lodge me in. Even there I will speak in Bengali. If Bengalis are sent to detention camps, the people of Bengal through their votes will send BJP to the political detention camp. Bengal is under our control and will remain so. In the coming days, we will also take over Delhi, taking everyone along, she had claimed on Wednesday. On the same day, Leader of Opposition at the West Bengal Legislative Assembly Suvendu Adhikari, went to the office of the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal on the infiltration issue. Meanwhile, for the occasion of Modi's meeting on Friday afternoon, two stages have been set up at Nehru Stadium in Durgapur. The Prime Minister will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of several projects before addressing a public meeting on another stage nearby. After the meeting, the Prime Minister will leave for Delhi. The Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd (BPCL) City Gas Distribution (CGD) project in Bankura and Purulia districts of West Bengal, worth around Rs 1,950 crore. It will provide PNG connections to households, commercial establishments and industrial customers, and provide CNG at the retail outlets and also create employment opportunities in the region. Prime Minister will also dedicate to the nation the Durgapur to Kolkata section (132 Km) of Durgapur-Haldia Natural Gas Pipeline, which has been laid as a part of Jagdishpur-Haldia and Bokaro-Dhamra Pipeline also known as Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga (PMUG) Project. The Durgapur to Kolkata section, worth over Rs 1,190 crore, is passing through the districts of East Burdwan, Hooghly and Nadia in West Bengal. The pipeline provided direct and indirect employment during its implementation phase and will now facilitate the supply of natural gas to lakhs of households in the region. Boosting rail infrastructure in the region, the Prime Minister will also dedicate to the nation the doubling of the Purulia Kotshila Rail Line (36 KM) in Purulia, worth over Rs 390 crore. It will improve rail connectivity between industries from Jamshedpur, Bokaro and Dhanbad with Ranchi and Kolkata and efficient movement of goods trains, reducing travel time and improving logistics for industries and businesses.
10,000 stranded as rains lash Raj, IMD sounds red alert
JAIPUR: Monsoon continues to wreak havoc in Rajasthan, with relentless rainfall severely impacting eastern and southeastern parts of the state. Widespread flooding has submerged colonies, disrupted rail services, and forced closure of multiple national highways. Nearly 10,000 people are reportedly confined to their homes due to waterlogging and blocked roads. The meteorological department has issued a red alert for heavy rainfall in three districts on Tuesday, along with an orange alert in ten other districts and yellow alert in 20. In view of the worsening situation, government and private schools in Kota and Pali districts will remain closed on July 15. At least 16 people have died in various rain-related incidents across the state in the past 24 hours. According to official reports, four deaths were reported in Chittorgarh, three in Pratapgarh, two in Churu, four in Kota, and one each in Bharatpur and Pali. The fatalities were caused by drowning, lightning strikes, building collapses, and electrocution. In a tragic incident on Monday, seven friends who had gone for a picnic in Kota were swept away in the overflowing Chambal River. While one person was rescued, and two friends were found dead, four remain missing. Search and rescue operations are ongoing. This year, the southwest monsoon has been particularly active in Rajasthan. Over 33 districts have already recorded 60% or more of their average seasonal rainfall in the first spell. Due to the continuous water inflow, six major dams are nearing capacity. On Monday, both the Kota Barrage and Jawahar Sagar Dam overflowed following heavy rains in the Hadauti and Marwar regions. Authorities have opened the gates to release excess water. In the past 24 hours, highest rainfall was recorded at Bhainsrorgarh in Chittorgarh district with 174 mm, while Bijaulia in Bhilwara, and Duni in Tonk received 172 mm, 146 mm of rainfall, respectively. Authorities have urged residents to stay indoors and remain alert amid heavy rain forecast. Water release triggers flooding in 3 Bengal dists Meanwhile, incessant rain in Jharkhand has prompted release of water from DVCs Panchet and Maithan reservoirs, creating a flood-like situation in at least three districts in West Bengal Howrah, Hooghly and East Burdwan. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has ordered the administration of ten districts to keep a close eye on the situation. Flood-relief protocols have been activated in affected areas and the process of evacuating residents of low-lying areas has begun.
Water release, Jharkhand rain trigger flood-like situation in West Bengal, Mamata blames DVC
KOLKATA: The release of water from Damodar Valley Corporations (DVC) Panchet and Maithan reservoirs, along with incessant rain in Jharkhand, has created a flood-like situation in several districts in West Bengal. After an administrative meeting at Nabanna, the state administrative headquarters, on Tuesday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee once again blamed the Central Government and the DVC for this situation. She said, It is not a flood. Several areas have been inundated with water. People are facing hardship due to the release of water. The West Bengal CM held a virtual meeting with all the district magistrates, superintendents of police, and police commissioners of the state to deal with the flood situation. Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, state DGP Rajeev Kumar, and senior government officials were also present in the meeting. The Chief Minister also expressed regret over not getting results after a long struggle. For the water released by the DVC a vast area has been submerged. Despite repeated requests, they are not listening. Our delegation went to Delhi and discussed the problem. I have also written a letter to the Prime Minister myself. I have been fighting for 14 years but there is no result, she said. She claimed that from June 18 to Tuesday, the DVC has released 27 thousand lakh cubic meters of water. As a result, a flood situation has arisen in some districts like West Midnapore, Hooghly, Howrah, East Midnapore. In this situation, the CM has ordered the administration to be active in relief work. According to sources, from Tuesday morning, DVC has started releasing 45,000 cusecs of water. Out of this, about 36,000 cusecs of water is being released from Panchet, and about 9,000 cusecs of water is being released from Maithan. Continuous heavy rain in Jharkhand has made the DVC reservoirs full. With no other option being left, DVC has started release of water from its two reservoirs in West Bengal, and that water is flowing through Damodar River towards Howrah, Hooghly, and East Burdwan districts. As a result, the areas in the lower catchment of Damodar in West Bengal are under threat of flooding. Areas like Khanakul, Arambagh in Hooghly, and Amta, Udaynarayanpur in Howrah are already being flooded. The West Bengal Irrigation Department has asked the residents of the areas concerned to be alert. Executive engineers of the Irrigation Department said that if the water pressure in Durgapur Barrage increases, the amount of water released from there may also increase. As a result, the situation is feared to become more complicated. On the other hand, according to DVC sources, the water level in Panchet and Maithan reservoirs has increased due to continuous rains in Hazaribagh, Dhanbad, Bokaro, and the upper Damodar catchment areas in Jharkhand. The decision to release water has been taken to control the excess water in the reservoirs. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister has ordered the administration of ten districts to keep a close eye on the situation. The administration has already been activated to carry out relief and rescue operations in the flooded areas. The process of evacuating the residents of low-lying areas of Howrah, Hooghly, and East Burdwan to safer places has begun. However, there has been a debate over the release of water by DVC for several days. It has been alleged that the water was released without prior consultation with the state government. Earlier, the Chief Minister had criticised the unilateral release of water by DVC. She called the flood caused by the release of water from the DVC a man-made flood. In response, the DVC authorities said that they release as much water as they receive orders to release from a designated committee. The committee includes representatives of the West Bengal government, Jharkhand government, and the DVC authorities, along with the Central Water Commission. The committee decides how much water should be released after looking at the amount of water in the reservoirs and rainfall. Therefore, the accusation is unreasonable, DVC sources said.
Water from DVC reservoirs released; three West Bengal districts along Damodar river flooded
KOLKATA: The release of water from DVCs Panchet and Maithan reservoirs has created flood-like situation in at least three districts in West Bengal - Howrah, Hooghly and East Burdwan. The process of evacuating the residents of low-lying areas of Howrah, Hooghly and East Burdwan to safer places has begun. The DVC reservoirs have reached full capacity due to continuous heavy rain in Jharkhand's Hazaribagh, Dhanbad, Bokaro and the upper Damodar catchment areas. With no other options left, DVC has started releasing water from its two reservoirs in West Bengal through the Damodar River towards Howrah, Hooghly and East Burdwan districts. As a result, the areas in the lower catchment of Damodar in West Bengal are under threat of flooding. According to sources, DVC started releasing 45,000 cusecs of water from Tuesday morning. Of this, about 36,000 cusecs of water is being released from Panchet and about 9,000 cusecs of water from Maithan. Areas like Khanakul, Arambagh in Hooghly and Amta, Udaynarayanpur in Howrah are already being flooded. The West Bengal irrigation department has asked the residents of the concerned areas to be alert. Executive engineers of the Irrigation Department said that if the water pressure in Durgapur Barrage increases, the amount of water released from there may also increase. As a result, the situation is feared to become more complicated. Villagers look at the inundated fields in Aushgram in East Burdwan district. Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has ordered the administration of ten districts to keep a close eye on the situation. The administration has already activated to carry out relief and rescue operations in the flooded areas. However, there has been a debate over the release of water by DVC for several days. It has been alleged that the water was released without prior consultation with the state government. Earlier, the Chief Minister had criticised the unilateral release of water by DVC. She called the flood caused by the release of water from the DVC a 'man-made flood'. In response, the DVC authorities said that they release as much water as they receive orders to release from a designated committee. The committee includes representatives of the West Bengal government, Jharkhand government and the DVC authorities along with the Central Water Commission. The committee decides how much water should be released after looking at the amount of water in the reservoirs and rainfall. Therefore, the accusation is unreasonable, DVC sources said.
Heavy rain and DVC water release cause widespread disruption across southern Bengal
KOLKATA : Incessant heavy rain since early Tuesday, combined with continuous water release from DVC reservoirs, has lashed several districts in southern West Bengal, including Kolkata. Many low-lying areas in parts of Kolkata, Salt Lake, and Howrah were waterlogged, severely disrupting daily life in the city and its suburbs. The downpour was triggered by a low-pressure area over Gangetic West Bengal. In the past 24 hours, Alipore recorded 81.6 millimetres of rain, Dum Dum 99.3 millimetres, and Salt Lake 88.3 millimetres. Several locations in Kolkata, including Lalbazar, Fierce Lane, BB Ganguly Street, Central Avenue, and the North Port Police Station area, were submerged, making it extremely difficult for commuters to reach their workplaces on Tuesday morning. The Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) began releasing water from its Panchet and Maithan reservoirs on Monday night, discharging a total of 40,000 cusecs due to the heavy rainfall. An alert has been issued for residents living near riverside areas in the West Burdwan district as a precaution. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast thunderstorms with gusty winds across the region until Wednesday morning. Heavy rainfall is expected to continue in the western districts of Purulia and Jhargram, while light to moderate rain is likely in several parts of southern West Bengal over the coming days.
TMC leader arrested in connection with death of girl in bomb blast after in West Bengal's Kaliganj
KOLKATA: A Trinamool Congress leader was arrested in connection to a post-poll incident at Kaliganj in Nadia district in West Bengal where a Class IV student Tamanna Khatun was killed in a bomb explosion allegedly hurled by Trinamool Congress-backed miscreants on June 23. The incident did happen just before Trinamool Congress candidate Alifa Ahmed secured her victory in the Kaliganj Assembly bypoll. The main accused, Gawal Sheikh, and his son Bimal Sheikh were arrested by police from Katwa in East Burdwan district in West Bengal on Friday night. With this, the total number of arrests in the Kaliganj incident has reached nine. Gawal is the Trinamool booth president in Kaliganj. The FIR filed by the family after Tamanna's death had mentioned both Gawal and his son. Krishnanagar Police District Superintendent Amarnath Ke said, Gawal Sheikh is the main accused in the Kaliganj bombing. He has been arrested. Along with him, one more person has been arrested. The search operation is going on continuously. All the accused will be arrested soon. Class IV girl killed in bomb blast in West Bengal's Kaliganj; Another accused arrested Regarding the arrest of the booth president, Trinamool's Krishnanagar organisational district chairman Rukbanur Rahman said, There is no party for miscreants. There is no need to see who is a supporter of which party. The police should take appropriate steps to ensure exemplary punishment for whoever involved in the gruesome incident. We are making that demand as a party. However, the BJP has retaliated against the ruling party. Krishnanagar Nadia North BJP President Arjun Biswas said, The police do not have the power to reach the roots of the Mastan Bahini (gang of goons) who have terrorized the entire area for so long and who are used by the Trinamool for votes. Local CPM leader SM Sadi said, The police knew everything in advance. They were the ones who gave the miscreants safe passage. The police are arresting a few people out of fear. These dramas will not continue. Every Trinamool-affiliated miscreant in the area must be arrested.
3 Indians, Pushed Back By BSF To Bangladesh, Returns
The three Indians are Minarul Sheikh, Nizamuddin Sheikh and Mostafa Kamal Sheikh. While Minarul and Nizamuddin are from Murshidabad, Mostafa is from Burdwan East.: Reports
Op Sindoor A Game, Drama By BJP: TMC MLA
Narendra Nath Chakraborty, who made the high voltage charges, won from Pandabeswar in Burdwan West in 2021 and is the TMC district president. BJP has sought NIA to grill him.
