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Heavy rains trigger landslides in Ramban, Jammu-Srinagar National Highway shut
Heavy rainfall on Sunday triggered landslides in Jammu and Kashmir's Ramban district, leading to the complete closure of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) and damage to several houses. Authorities have advised commuters to avoid the route until weather conditions improve and clearance operations are completed. Deputy Traffic Inspector Javed Kataria, speaking to ANI, said the highway was "completely blocked" in the Ramban sector and urged travellers to avoid the route. "The national highway (Jammu-Srinagar NH in Ramban district) is completely blocked (due to landslides). Avoid this highway till the weather improves. Clearance work is ongoing, but it does not seem that the highway will open before evening or tomorrow because it is raining continuously," he said. Several buildings and vehicles are damaged due to a landslide following heavy rains and a hailstorm in the Ramban district Meanwhile, in Sonmarg, Snow clearance is underway on the Amarnath trek in Baltal by Border Roads Organisation (BRO) 122 RCC. In Doda, Heavy rains lashed several parts of the Bhalessa in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir, with fog engulfing the mountains and surrounding villages in the area. Multiple parts of the Union territory, including Jammu and Udhampur, have been experiencing heavy rainfall in the past few days, causing damage to property and blocking National Highways. In Udhampur's Namban area, National Highway 44 was blocked due to the heavy rains the previous night. On April 17, multiple trees were uprooted due to heavy winds and rain, resulting in damaged property, power outages, and blocked roads. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday issued a warning for severe weather conditions in Jammu and Kashmir between April 18 and 20, citing the influence of an active western disturbance. The forecast included heavy rain, thunderstorms, hailstorms, and gusty winds, prompting authorities to implement precautionary measures to safeguard lives and livestock. In Rajouri, a severe windstorm accompanied by thundering hailstorms caused destruction across the Kalakote sub-district on April 19. The worst-affected areas include Tehsil Kalakote and Mogla Block, where strong winds tore through the region. Some houses with tin-sheet roofs were unable to withstand the storm's intensity. Almost 100 homes have reportedly been destroyed, and some school buildings have suffered roof damage, according to ADC Kalakote, Tanveer Ahmed. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 April,2025 02:49 PM IST | Ramban | ANI
Mid-Day Top News: Flash flood hits Ramban village after heavy rain and more
Welcome to Mid-Day's Top News at this hour! We bring you a curated selection of the most significant and compelling news from around the globe. Stay informed with the latest developments in the nation, Mumbai, entertainment, sports, and more. Let's dive into the headlines shaping our world today. Three killed, over 100 rescued as heavy rain wreaks havoc in J-K's Ramban Three people were killed and more than 100 rescued after heavy rain triggered flash floods at different places in Jammu and Kashmir's Ramban district early on Sunday, officials said. Scribe's question on Raj, Uddhav patch-up buzz irks Dy CM Shinde Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde got irked when a mediaperson sought his reaction on the speculation of reconciliation between estranged cousins Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, and asked the reporter to instead talk about government's work. India's foreign exchange reserves climb to USD 677.84 billion, sixth weekly gain India's foreign exchange reserves (Forex) rose USD USD 1.567 billion to USD 677.835 billion in the week that ended on April 4, extending gains for the sixth straight week, showed the official data released by Reserve Bank of India (RBI). According to the data released by RBI, for the week ended April 11, the foreign currency assets rose by USD 892 million to USD 574.98 billion. The foreign currency assets are the major constituesnts of forex reserves. IPL 2025: Josh Hazlewood expresses confidence ahead of the clash vs PBKS Once is commonplace, twice can be a coincidence, taking Rajat Patidar’s comments at face value. But to lose three games on the bounce at home is a trend, any which way one looks at it. Read More Anurag Kashyap faces legal trouble, FIR filed over controversial ‘Brahmin’ remark Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has been in hot water ever since he made a controversial remark against Brahmins and the CBFC while addressing the ongoing Phule controversy, a biopic of social reformer Jyotirao Phule, who fought against caste discrimination. While Anurag faced severe backlash over his offensive remark, a new complaint has been filed against the filmmaker. Read More
20 April,2025 02:15 PM IST | Mumbai
Three alleged narco smugglers held with heroin-like substance in J-K
Jammu and Kashmir Police on Saturday apprehended three alleged narco smugglers and seized 22 grams of a heroin-like substance during a routine vehicle checking operation at the Phalata naka point on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, officials said. According to police, the suspects were travelling in a vehicle en route from Jammu to Udhampur when they were intercepted by police, leading to the recovery of the suspected narcotics. The arrested individuals have been identified as Ishfaq Ahmed, a resident of Srinagar, and Farooq and Mohd Kamal Hussain, both residents of Delhi, they said. A case has been registered at Police Station Rehambal under sections 8, 21, 22, and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The police investigation is underway to trace the larger network behind the smuggling attempt, they added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 April,2025 01:48 PM IST | Udhampur | ANI
Agartala: Three Bangladeshi nationals held for illegal entry
In a joint operation, the Government Railway Police (GRP), Railway Protection Force (RPF), Border Security Force (BSF), and the intelligence department apprehended three Bangladeshi nationals, including a woman, at Agartala Railway Station on Saturday, the Agartala GRP said in a statement. According to police, preliminary investigations suggest that all three had entered India illegally and were planning to travel further into southern states via train through Kolkata. Authorities suspect their movement was part of a broader human trafficking or illegal immigration network. The arrested individuals have been identified as Kamrun Nessa (23), a resident of Dhaka, and two men--Md. Ismail Hossain (22) and Md. Noor Hossain (25), both from Chittagong, Bangladesh. The trio is currently being interrogated at the Agartala GRP Police Station. Officials believe further arrests may follow as the investigation progresses. Police sources indicate that more crucial information is expected to be extracted during extended questioning. A case has been officially registered at the Agartala GRP Police Station, and the accused will be presented before the Hon'ble Court tomorrow. Authorities are treating this as a serious breach of national security and are continuing efforts to uncover the full extent of the illegal network. Earlier, in a major crackdown on illegal immigration, the staff of Police Station South Campus, South West District, Delhi, detained eight Bangladeshi nationals found residing unlawfully in various areas of the city. The operation was executed on April 15, 2025, following a tip-off regarding the presence of illegal migrants near Satya Niketan Market. Following their detention, the deportation process was promptly initiated with the assistance of the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), Delhi, and all eight individuals were transferred to the designated deportation centre on April 16. Investigations revealed that most of them had entered India illegally between 2007 and 2023 through various border crossings, including Tripura, Ghoja Donga, and Benapole, with some using the assistance of brokers. Several were found working in Delhi as domestic helpers or enrolled in vocational training programs. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 April,2025 01:47 PM IST | Tripura | ANI
Congress to launch nationwide 'Save Constitution' campaign on April 25
The Congress party on Saturday announced the launch of a nationwide 'Save Constitution' campaign across the country from April 25, which will continue till May 30, the party said in a statement. The party will also counter the BJP's disinformation campaign about the National Herald issue, with senior leaders holding press conferences in different cities across the country. This decision was made at a meeting of the Congress general secretaries, state in-charges, and heads of various frontal organisations, presided over by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, in the national capital. Briefing reporters after the meeting, party general secretary-communications, Jairam Ramesh, disclosed that in follow-up to the resolution passed at the Ahmedabad AICC session, the 'Samvidhan Bachao' rallies will be organised at the PCC level from April 25 to April 30. This will be followed by similar rallies at the district level from May 3 to May 10. From May 11 to May 17, the Samvidhan Bachao rallies will be held across 4,500 assembly segments nationwide. From May 20 to May 30, a door-to-door campaign will be held to save the constitution. Jairam Ramesh accused the BJP government of misusing the Enforcement Directorate against the Congress leaders. Referring to the National Herald issue, he said, there was no legal issue involved, as it was just a case of political vendetta orchestrated by two individuals with a criminal mentality. He announced that to counter the BJP's disinformation about National Herald, Congress leaders will hold press conferences in different cities across the country from April 21 to April 24. "This is not a legal issue, but a political issue smacking of political vendetta, politics of persecution, intimidation and fear mongering", he observed. Referring to the resolution passed at the Ahmedabad session, he said, the party's focus will be on social, economic and political justice. He said today's meeting reiterated the party's demand for a caste census across the country. Additionally, it will pursue the issue of reservation for SC, ST, and OBC students in private educational institutions. The party also reaffirmed the demand for removing the 50 per cent ceiling on the reservations. On economic justice, it reiterated its commitment to legal guarantees for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and fixing the MSP based on the Swaminathan formula, as well as debt waiver for farmers. The meeting emphasised the need for the revival of the MSMEs, most of which have been closed down due to massive Chinese imports. The Congress general secretary also referred to the strengthening and empowerment of DCC presidents. Additionally, a special process for appointing DCC presidents has been formulated. There will be five observers involved in the appointment of the DCC presidents, he said, adding, four of them will be from the PCC and one will be from the AICC. The process of appointing DCC presidents in Gujarat is expected to be completed by May 31, the party added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 April,2025 01:46 PM IST | New Delhi | ANI
Murshidabad violence: One more arrested in connection with murder of father-son
West Bengal Police on Sunday arrested another accused in connection with the murder of the father and son duo in Jafrabad, who were allegedly killed in the violent protests of Murshidabad. The accused, identified as Ziaul SK, was arrested in Chopra by the Special Task Force, as per officials. Earlier in the day, BJP leader Dilip Ghosh expressed his gratitude to the West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose for visiting the violence-affected Murshidabad area. However, he sharply criticised Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's handling of the situation, accusing her government of negligence and inaction. Ghosh said that if the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led government fails to control the law and order situation in the state, then the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act can be imposed in certain parts of the state. "She (Mamata Banerjee) has the administration and the government; she should take action. We saw in a viral video that her own people were instigating the riots before they occurred. They should be caught. Otherwise, the NIA will come, investigate and arrest everyone. And then the rest of the life would be spent there (jail) and AFSPA Act would be imposed," Ghosh told ANI. Praising the West Bengal Governor for visiting the violence-affected Murshidabad area, Ghosh said that while CV Ananda Bose is standing with the victims, on the other hand, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is calling the culprits involved in the violence "Shantidoots" (messenger of peace). "I thank the Governor for stepping in during this terrible situation when no one else was helping the homeless and victims of Murshidabad violence. The Governor personally visited, listened to their problems, and comforted them. He took responsibility and stood by the victims. While Mamata Banerjee, at whose direction this has happened, is attending weddings... She gives speeches in which she calls the culprits 'Shantidoot' (messenger of peace). No government representative has gone to assist the victims," he said. The unrest began on April 11 in the Muslim-majority Murshidabad district during a protest against the Waqf (Amendment) Act. The protest turned violent, leading to the killing of two people, injuries to several others, and property damage, forcing thousands to leave their homes for safer places. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 April,2025 01:26 PM IST | West Bengal | ANI
Cong leader Sapkal claims farmer couple committed suicide; targets govt policies
Maharashtra Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal has claimed that a young farmer couple in Parbhani committed suicide and blamed the government's "anti-farmer" policies for their death. Due to the falling prices of agricultural products, the debt burden on farmers is increasing. In addition, the "false promise" of farm loan waiver has made the indebted farmers even more disappointed, Sapkal further claimed in a post on X on Saturday night. This is a terrible "deception" committed by the Devendra Fadnavis government on farmers, the Congress leader charged. The suicide of Sachin Balaji Jadhav and his seven months pregnant wife Jyotsna Sachin Jadhav, a young farmer couple from Malsonna (Parbhani), is a "murder", Sapkal alleged and blamed the government's "anti-farmer" policies for their death. "I condemn the government for taking the lives of farmers," he said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 April,2025 12:37 PM IST | Mumbai | PTI
‘Waqf by user’ raked up to create dispute: Cong
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday said the Supreme Court has given importance to the points raised by the Congress and other Opposition parties on the Waqf (Amendment) Act and alleged that the government had raked the “Waqf by user” issue deliberately to create a dispute over such properties. Addressing a meeting of general secretary and in-charges here, Kharge said former party chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were named in the Enforcement Directorate chargesheet and National Herald properties in Delhi, Lucknow and Mumbai were attached with a “spirit of vendetta”. Referring to the Waqf (Amendment) Act that is being heard in the Supreme Court, he said, “I am happy that the Supreme Court has given importance to the points raised by the Congress and other Opposition parties.”He accused the BJP and the central government of misleading people on the issue of Waqf. “Especially the issue of ‘Waqf by user’ has been deliberately brought up by the government to put Waqf properties into dispute,” he alleged. Kharge said the Congress would not be cowed down by the Enforcement Directorate’s action in the National Herald case. “You must have noticed how, as part of a big conspiracy, the names of CPP Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi have been put in the chargesheet in the National Herald case. But no matter whose name they put, we are not going to be afraid, “ Kharge said. “Just two or three days before that, the properties of National Herald in Delhi, Lucknow and Mumbai were attached. There is no doubt that all this is being done out of a spirit of vendetta, “ he said. Asserting that ‘Young Indian’ is a ‘not for profit’ company, Kharge said this means that no one can take or transfer the shares, properties or profit of AJL.
20 April,2025 07:45 AM IST | New Delhi | Agencies
Nitish institutionalised corruption in Bihar, says Tejashwi Yadav
Opposition RJD on Saturday accused Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of “institutionalising” corruption in the state, and using government funds for electoral campaign ahead of the assembly polls due later this year. It also alleged that the NDA government in Bihar was responsible for “financial anarchy” in the state. The ruling JD(U), however, termed the allegations “baseless”. “Nitish Kumar is responsible for institutionalising corruption in Bihar... The CM is using state government funds for his party's poll campaign,” RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said at a press conference here. He also alleged that the recently launched “Mahila Samvad” initiative to connect with and inform women about welfare measures was a part of the JD(U)'s electoral campaign “by using government funds”. “The cabinet approved Rs 225 crore for it. The state government is using public money for its campaign... There is nothing concrete on the ground for women of the state, but crores are being spent for propaganda,” Yadav asserted. The former deputy CM also hit out at the state government over “global tenders” for construction work. “The cabinet has cleared proposals for Rs 76,622-crore funds for construction activities in the state from December 2024. Surprisingly, for the first time, the government has floated global tenders for such work... What was the reason for floating global tenders?” the young RJD leader said. Reacting to Yadav’s allegations, JD(U) national working president Sanjay Kumar Jha said people of the state are well aware of the development work undertaken by Nitish Kumar. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 April,2025 07:45 AM IST | Patna | Agencies
Kerala govt to publish diary entries of first grade students as a book
“I saw a yellow bird sitting atop a tamarind tree in the courtyard of the neighbouring house...” wrote Arshik PM, a lower primary student, in his diary some time ago. A native of Kozhikode, he also drew a tree and a bird with crayons below his diary entry. Like Arshik, first grade students in government schools across Kerala have been maintaining diaries as instructed by their teachers, recollecting their fond memories. These diary entries are now set to be published as a book. The General Education Department has compiled select diary entries from students as part of its “collective diary writing” initiative included in the academic syllabus. CM Pinarayi Vijayan is scheduled to release the book, which will feature children’s hand-written diary entries, on April 23 here, General Education Department sources said. Titled “Kurunnezhuthukal”, the unique book is edited by General Education Minister V Sivankutty who has already posted some of the diary entries of children on his social media handle. It may be for the first in the country that an Education Minister himself is set to don the editor’s hat to publish a book featuring diary notes of children. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 April,2025 07:45 AM IST | Thiruvananthapuram | Agencies
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta orders probe into Mustafabad building collapse
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday ordered a probe into the building collapse in northeast Delhi's Mustafabad in which at least four people were killed and several others remain trapped under debris. Gupta said the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Delhi Fire Service (DFS), and other agencies are engaged in relief and rescue efforts. "Arrangements have been made for proper treatment of all the injured," she said. A four-storey building collapsed in Shakti Vihar, Mustafabad around 3 am. Police said around 22 people were trapped when the building came down but 14 people were later brought out and taken to GTB Hospital, where doctors declared four of them brought dead. Around 8-10 people are believed to be still under the debris, police said. In a post on X, Chief Minister Gupta said, "Deeply saddened by the tragic building collapse in Mustafabad. Orders have been given to investigate the incident and strict action will be taken against the culprits." "My deepest condolences to those who died in the unfortunate accident. May God grant peace to the departed souls and give strength to the bereaved families to bear this irreparable loss," the chief minister said. AAP supremo and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal also extended his condolences to the bereaved families. "I appeal to all the party workers to fully cooperate with the administration in relief and rescue operations," he said in a post on X. Leader of Opposition Atishi expressed grief over the incident and urged AAP workers in Mustafabad to support the authorities in the ongoing operations. Police teams, along with rescue agencies, remain at the site, and an investigation is underway to ascertain the cause of the collapse. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
19 April,2025 10:08 PM IST | New Delhi | PTI