Latest news with #Ganga
The Hindu
5 minutes ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Tripartite river management project between West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand in the works: West Bengal Minister
The Minister of Irrigation and Waterways in West Bengal, Manas Ranjan Bhunia, on Thursday (July 31, 2025), announced that West Bengal is planning a 'mega river management project' with Bihar and Jharkhand, for the Gangetic plains of Malda and Murshidabad districts. 'A coordination meeting was held between Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal and the Ganga Flood Control Commission (GFCC) in Patna on July 24 this year. GFCC estimated that the brunt of the river lies 80% on West Bengal, 15% on Jharkhand and the rest on Bihar. They asked the three States to submit Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for erosion abatement. West Bengal is ready,' Mr Bhunia said on Thursday. He added that West Bengal has planned a project worth ₹610 crores, particularly in the Malda and Murshidabad districts, through which the Ganga enters West Bengal and takes a southward turn to the Bay of Bengal as the Bhagirathi-Hooghly River. 'The Ganga flows down from north India, passes through Bihar and Jharkhand, and slams against the Ratua 1 block of Katahadiara in Malda district with heavy flow and momentum. The land here is getting increasingly engulfed by the river. The lives and livelihoods of people are threatened,' Mr Bhunia said. The Minister explained that the proposed project would include measures for erosion abatement, flood management, dredging, and strengthening of the embankment, and aims to start with bank protection work and building five spurs in a 5 km stretch in Ratua from December this year. 'The idea is to control the velocity and momentum of the Ganga by draining out some portion of the river from the more vulnerable left bank in Bihar and West Bengal, to the more stable right bank towards Jharkhand, and reduce its impact particularly on Ratua block,' Mr Bhunia said. He added that the GFCC advised Jharkhand and Bihar to accord West Bengal 'no objection' to carry out dredging in a 15 km area in Jharkhand's Sakrigali. West Bengal losing land According to the Irrigation Minister, the problem of extreme river erosion and flooding in this State has existed since India's independence, with around 3,394.8 hectares of land in West Bengal being engulfed by the Ganga between 2005 and 2024. 'The entire stretch of river spanning 163.5 km through Malda, Murshidabad, and Nadia districts is very prone to erosion. The abatement of river erosion cannot be handled by West Bengal alone. It is a national problem,' Mr Bhunia said. The West Bengal government carried out anti-erosion work in Malda and Murshidabad earlier, with six different activities ongoing for a total length of 6.83 km for ₹58.77 crores. The Chief Minister had earlier written to the Prime Minister in 2022 about the severe extent of erosion, particularly in Malda's Manikchak block.
Time of India
19 minutes ago
- Climate
- Time of India
17 wards affected by floods, 22 people shifted to relief camp
1 2 3 4 Prayagraj: The rising Ganga and Yamuna have hit 17 wards of the Sangam city with 22 people from five families shifting to a flood relief camp on Thursday. The areas affected include Kachar Mau, Sariya, Rajapur, Beli Kachar, Beli Uparhar, Baghara, Newada, Myorabad, Bakhtiyara, Dhokri Uparhar, Sonauti, Badra and Delhi Bagesar. Officials admitted that road connectivity to three villages, including Sonauti and Badra of Phulpur and Delhi Bhagesar of Karchana, was hit. The local administration also deployed as many as six boats and distributed food packets to those affected. "District authorities are monitoring the situation on hourly basis. An alert has been sounded in low-lying areas, and teams of SDMs and other officials are conducting surveys of affected areas. All necessary arrangements have been made and govt machinery is ready to deal with any situation," said district magistrate Manish Kumar Verma. Officials of the flood control department attributed the rise to the release of additional water by dams or tributaries of major rivers in neighbouring states. The authorities have already sounded an alert on riverbank areas and activated as many as 98 flood outposts. By 12 noon, the water level of both rivers at all three recording sites was rising alarmingly. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo The water level of Ganga at Phaphamau was 82.50m, and at Chhatnag it was 82m. Yamuna was flowing at 82.54m at Naini, 2m below the danger mark of 84.73 m. At 4 pm, the water level of Ganga at Phaphamau and Chhatnag was reported at 82.60m and 82.14m respectively while the level of Yamuna was 82.61m at Naini. Officials said the water level of Ganga rose 10cm and 14cm in the past four hours at Phaphamau and Chhatnag respectively by 4 pm. "With the water level rising at a brisk pace for the past 48 hours, it would surely be entering houses and colonies in low-lying areas, and then we would be moving to safer places," said Guddi of Rajapur. Majority of ghats on both rivers have already been inundated.
Hindustan Times
20 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Families of Meerut traders killed in crash given wrong bodies
Gurugram: In a case of negligence, health department officials in Palwal civil hospital allegedly handed over wrong bodies to families of two Meerut-based traders after autopsy. Both had died in a road accident on the Kundli-Ghaziabad-Palwal Expressway on Monday. Health department officials in Palwal civil hospital allegedly handed over wrong bodies to families of two Meerut-based traders after autopsy. (HT PHOTO) The mix-up came to light on Tuesday morning when it was time to take the body to the cremation ground from the residence in Swami Pada locality, and a friend of one of the deceased, Abhinav Agarwal, 42, opened the shroud to pour 'Ganga jal' in his mouth, said police. The deceased's friend Saurav Agarwal raised suspicion and asked close relatives to reverify the body identity, said police. The shocked family noticed that the authorities had blundered, and alerted the other grieving family to also re-check. Police officers said when the family of the second deceased, Amit Agarwal, 45, unsealed the shroud, they too found it did not belong to them. Following this, both families shared photos of the bodies to find out that they had actually got swapped before being handed over at the government mortuary in Palwal on Monday. Tarun Gupta, brother-in-law of Abhinav, said both the families soon took the bodies in ambulances and exchanged them. He alleged that there were no marks or tags on the packed bodies while being handed over to them by the authorities. 'The staff at the mortuary had insisted not to open the bodies, as they were in bad shape due to the accident. Had Saurav not opened it, we would have cremated the wrong body. The additional trauma amid the grief would have been immense,' he added. Gupta said that the other family had not even opened their body until alerted. 'None from both families would have come to know that we didn't even get the bodies of our actual loved ones,' he added. Amarnath Agarwal, father of Amit Agarwal (the other deceased), said nobody at their home realised what had taken place. 'Abhinav's family alerted us after which we checked while we were taking it for cremation. The body was not of my son. I was not in a situation to deal with anything. Other relatives handled the situation,' he said. An inquiry was ordered on Wednesday, said a senior health department official at the Palwal civil hospital, privy to the matter. 'We have taken suo-motu cognizance even though none of the two families filed any complaint. The mortuary staff have said that they had shown the bodies to the families before being handed over. In such a case, this negligence should not have taken place,' he said, adding action will be taken against the erring employees. On Monday morning, the two traders, one resident of Swami Pada and the other Shubhkamna apartment, Laxmi Vihar, were heading in a Maruti Wagon-R to Vrindavan (Mathura) from Meerut to buy some items for their business, just when they rear-ended a trailer truck that suddenly applied breaks on the expressway and died on the spot, said police. Such was the impact that the half of the car had got crushed beneath the truck chassis leaving it mangled beyond recognition, it added. A case of causing death by negligence and rash driving was registered against the unidentified trailer driver at Chandhut police station in Palwal and the suspect was yet to be arrested.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Fraganta by Leena Jain unveils debut perfume pair Ganga and Jogi
Fraganta by Leena Jain marked a significant milestone in Indian luxury with the launch of its debut perfume pair – Ganga and Jogi – a revolutionary ode to heritage, elegance, and sensory storytelling. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The glamorous launch event was attended by an eclectic mix of celebrities and industry personalities, including Vindu Dara Singh, Navin Prabhakar, Mreenal Deshraj, Dr Aneel Murarka, Ramji Gulati, Dharti Gulati, Ankita Maithy, Priyanka Bajaj, Prashant Virendra Sharma, Siddharth Bajaj, Shweta Pandit, Arshi Khan, Rohit Verma, Madhuri Pandey, Rehan Shah, Kavitta Verma, Aarti Nagpal, Navpreet Kaur, Deepak Singh, Gurpreet Kaur Chadha, Aditi Shetty, Rakesh Paul, Vikas Verma, Mitaali Nag, Rajiv Roda, Vipin Aneja, Gulfam Khan, Nivedita Basu, Nasir Khan, Divyank Patidhar, and many more, making it a truly star-studded affair. Fraganta is an evocative new name in the world of perfumery, and its debut fragrance duo, Ganga and Jogi are a pair of perfumes that mark the beginning of a sensory revolution in India's affordable luxury segment. Redefining the very notion of luxury, this movement breaks away from Western clichés to spotlight India's rich cultural heritage as the ultimate expression of opulence. Born from the fusion of fragrance and tradition, it champions homely regality and world-class formulations that resonate on an emotional level—deeply rooted in Indian ethos yet tailored for the modern, discerning consumer. Uniquely positioned in the affordable luxury space, this perfume house promises globally benchmarked quality infused with nostalgia, belonging, and emotional storytelling. Its innovative approach to perfumery lies in launching products as pairs – each inspired by distinctly Indian bonds: human, emotional, and spiritual. Together, they narrate individual yet interwoven stories, each enhancing the meaning and depth of the other. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now With Ganga and Jogi, the brand unveils its inaugural olfactory memoirs – two distinct yet deeply intertwined fragrances conceived as a perfect duality. Together, they capture the pulse of modern India while honouring its timeless spirit. Ganga is a delicate, floral whisper of love and memory – reminiscent of pressed jasmine tucked between old letters or the freshness of a lover's bouquet. Evoking intimacy and timeless elegance, it lingers softly, a fragrant tribute to romance and rooted femininity. Jogi, its wild-hearted counterpart, is an earthy, free-spirited scent that captures the soul of an explorer. Like a breeze weaving through forest meadows, it is bold, curious, and resolutely individualistic – crafted for those who wear their inner wilderness with pride. Both fragrances are powered by high-performance essential oils, ensuring not only superior longevity and projection, but also a sensorial experience that lingers in memory. Leena Jain, founder of the brand, says, 'Fraganta was born from a simple yet powerful idea—that luxury doesn't have to come from abroad to be aspirational. India's scents, stories, and soul are rich enough to inspire the world. With Ganga and Jogi, we're not just launching perfumes; we're offering emotional experiences that evoke nostalgia, pride, and identity. Fraganta is my ode to India's sensory heritage, reimagined for the modern, mindful consumer. ' Together, Ganga and Jogi embody Fraganta's philosophy: to craft emotional perfumes for emotional people, and to present Indian luxury as a lived experience rather than a distant aspiration. Fraganta seeks to challenge imported notions of prestige—and instead, offer India a luxury that feels like home.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
The Music Academy's Mid-Year Dance Festival showcases another promising artiste
As part of The Music Academy's Mid-Year Dance Festival, Bharatanatyam dancer Aswathi K. and disciple of Shijith Nambiar and Parvathy Menon, presented a solo performance, seamlessly weaving bhakti and storytelling. The evening opened with an alarippu followed by 'Sri jalandhara', a keerthanam in Gambhira Nattai set to Adi tala, composed by Jayachamaraja Wodeyar. The hymn praised Shiva as the Supreme Yogi, adorned with the Ganga, the crescent moon, and the serpent. Aswathi brought alive the majesty of the deity through clear lines and expressive abhinaya, capturing his cosmic energy and the fierce destruction of Tripura and Taraka. The references to sacred spaces such as Arunachala, Sri Kalahasti and Chidambaram were presented with reverence, anchoring the piece in devotional imagery. The central piece of the evening was the varnam 'Vanajaksha' in Behag, composed by T.R. Subramaniam, which gave the dancer ample scope to display her technical agility and narrative sensitivity. Centered on Krishna, the piece unfolded through intricate jathis, interwoven with expressive storytelling. Her portrayal of the serpent Kaliya, subdued by Krishna, was particularly striking, the swift-coiling movements contrasting with Krishna's calm, commanding grace. In the final piece, the tone shifted to that of quiet anguish. Set in raga Husseni, 'Eppadi manam thunindatho', a Ramanataka kriti by Arunachala Kavi, voiced Sita's heartache as she questioned Rama's decision to leave her behind. Aswathi's abhinaya was moving, allowing the audience to feel Sita's disbelief and sorrow. Her portrayal conveyed emotional maturity, closing the performance on a note of poignant reflection. The orchestra included Janani Hamsini Narasimhan on vocals, K.P. Nandini on the violin, Chardutt V.V. on the mridangam and Shijith Nambiar on the nattuvangam. Aswathi's performance stood out for her sincere engagement with the themes she chose. It was a fine addition to the Music Academy's mid-year celebration of classical dance.
