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Time of India
4 days ago
- Climate
- Time of India
Himachal Pradesh monsoon toll at 78; flash floods hit Mandi; 4 Chamba panchayats cut off
SHIMLA: Flash floods triggered by two cloudbursts struck several areas of Himachal Pradesh's Chamba and Mandi districts on Sunday, even as the death toll since the onset of monsoon on June 20 reached 78. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Cloudbursts and flash floods have caused a maximum of 22 deaths --- 14 from Mandi district alone, according to the State Emergency Operation Centre. As many as 28 people have died in road accidents. The state has suffered an estimated loss of Rs 572.69 crore. In the early hours of Sunday, a flash flood struck Kathwad rivulet in Chamba's Churah, washing away a bridge on Chamba-Chanju road, a water mill, and several structures. 4 Chamba panchayats cut off; IAF drops ration Four panchayats of Churah sub-division — Bagheigarh, Charra, Chanju, and Dehra — were cut off from the district headquarters. In the remote Chohar Valley of Padhar sub-division in Mandi, a cloudburst occurred in the village of Kotrang under Silhbudhani gram panchayat on the intervening night of July 5 and 6. Padhar sub-divisional magistrate Surjit Singh, along with other officials, reached the village and assessed the damage. Singh said there was no loss of life or injuries reported due to the cloudburst. However, three footbridges and one motorable bridge over the Kugdi and Kotrang streams were washed away. Additionally, around 50 bighas of private land belonging to the residents of Kotrang village, located near the rivulet, were swept away. Meanwhile, search and relief operations continued in the disaster-hit areas of Mandi on Sunday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now An Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter dropped 90 ration kits, 75 blankets, 3 boxes of clothing for men and women, two boxes of essential medicines, and other necessary supplies in the Seraj Valley. Additional director of the panchayati raj department, Surender Mohan, said a search team from NDRF and SDRF was using drones to locate people missing in the flood between Pandoh Dam and Patikri village. Mohan said two separate 18member teams have launched a search operation from Patikri Dam to Bakhli Khad towards Janjehli and Thunag. Additionally, ITBP teams, along with porters and patwaris, have delivered ration kits, tarpaulins, hygiene kits, and medicines to the affected villages in the remote Pakhrar panchayat, said Mohan. He said around 300 people have been accommodated at Government Primary School, Thunag, and the PWD rest house in Thunag. Mohan added that the Thunag to Janjehli road has now been cleared up to Lambathach, and restoration work was in full swing to open all roads leading to Janjehli. So far, nine pregnant women from the affected areas have been transported through various means to the regional hospital in Mandi and Nerchowk Medical College. Also, one pregnant woman has been referred from Janjehli via Karsog to IGMC, Shimla. According to officials, roadblocks in the affected areas were a major hurdle in reaching out to the affected people, especially in the Seraj region. As many as 243 roads remained closed in the state on Sunday, with the highest 183 in Mandi district, followed by 36 in Kullu, 12 in Kangra, 6 in Una, four in Chamba, and two in Sirmaur district. Power and water supply also remained disrupted in the flood-affected areas. According to the SEOC, 241 transfers were non-functional on Sunday, with the highest 182 in Mandi, and 278 water supply schemes remained disrupted in Mandi district. Ranaut finally in Mandi Mandi parliamentary constituency MP Kangana Ranaut visited the flood-affected Thunag area of Seraj Valley on Sunday. Ranaut met the victims in Thunag and assured them of all possible help. Ranaut said that even though the Prime Minister is on a foreign visit, he is aware of what is happening here, and the central govt has acted swiftly. She added that as an MP, her role is to secure funds. 'My role is to bring relief funds from the Centre. I don't have any personal fund, nor do I have any officials or a cabinet of my own. Still, I manage to reach the affected areas. The central funds are sent to the state govt. It won't come to me or to Jai Ram ji. Still, I manage to reach as I am also a Himachali and a Pahari,' she said. It may be mentioned that Ranaut faced a lot of criticism for not visiting the flood-affected areas of her constituency.
Time of India
22-06-2025
- Time of India
Woman caught for keeping leopard paws
Panchkula: A woman accused of illegal possession of wildlife body parts was arrested Saturday, following a months-long probe into protected species trafficking. On May 10, the forest department was tipped-off about the possible presence of the body parts of protected wildlife species in a slum of Rambagh at Bhairon colony in the Kalka region. A team led by wildlife inspector Surjit Singh conducted a raid at the residence of Angoori Devi. Four boiled animal paws, suspected to belong to a leopard, were found in her house. However, the woman managed to flee the scene at the time. Due to uncertainty about the species, the seized items were sent to the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, for forensic identification. The WII confirmed that the paws were indeed those of a panther (leopard), a Schedule-I protected species under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Following the forensic confirmation, legal proceedings were initiated, and the divisional wildlife officer informed Pinjore PS, leading to the registration of a case under sections 9, 39, and 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act on May 5. TNN
Hindustan Times
12-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: Fake bail racket busted in Khanna, key players held
Khanna police have busted an organised gang involved in securing court bails using forged documents. Two key members of the gang, including the mastermind, have been arrested in a well-coordinated raid led by the local police. According to senior superintendent of police (SSP) Jyoti Yadav, the arrested accused have been identified as Surjit Singh, a resident of village Durgapur in Patiala district, and Mahima Singh of Rajpura. Both were apprehended red-handed at the tehsil complex in Khanna while allegedly attempting to process another fraudulent bail application. The police recovered nine fake Aadhaar cards, a counterfeit official seal of a naib-tehsildar, a fraudulent property valuation certificate, and other bogus paperwork. 'The gang had been misleading courts using these documents and had successfully managed to get bail in more than 25 cases', said the SSP. 'The gang's modus operandi was both cunning and systematic. They would first obtain the Aadhaar card of a real individual and alter minor details like the date of birth or a single alphabet in the name. A new photo would be affixed to create a false identity. Fake land ownership records were also generated and stamped with forged government seals. Using these papers, the gang members would present themselves as sureties in court and help secure bails for the accused', she added. Police investigations revealed that the gang had been charging hefty sums ranging from ₹50,000 to ₹70,000 per fake bail. In cases involving more serious criminal charges, the price would increase.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Time of India
Khanna police arrest two in fake documents scam.
Ludhiana: The Khanna police have arrested two accused involved in fake documents scam. The accused have been identified as Surjit Singh of Durgapur village in Nabha of Patiala, now in Azad Nagar, Khanna, and Mahima Singh of Khandoli village in Patiala district. According to the police, recoveries from the accused included nine forged Aadhar cards, one forged official stamp of naib tehsildar Bhado, a fake stamp of BDPO, one fake property valuation certificate, and one forged land deed. The SSP Khanna, Dr Jyoti Yadav, stated that on Tuesday, during patrolling near the main gate of police station city Khanna, police received a tip off that a group of individuals, including Surjit Singh, Mahima Singh, Harvinder Singh of Moga, Shamsher Khan, Rajvir Singh, and Harmit Singh (all residents of Bhado), were engaged in preparing and using forged documents to register land transactions fraudulently in various tehsils. She added that it was also revealed that Surjit Singh fabricated an official stamp of the naib tehsildar of Bhado. Police said acting swiftly on the information received, they apprehended Surjit Singh, who had come to Khanna Tehsil to "carry out" a fake registry. They added that a case was registered under the relevant sections of the IPC at police station city, Khanna, and a preliminary investigation was initiated. Meanwhile, the SSP Khanna suggested that during preliminary questioning of accused Surjit, he revealed that in a minimum of 20-22 cases, such fake documents were used to fill bail bonds for bail. The police said that efforts were ongoing to nab the other accused in the case.
Hindustan Times
30-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: In-laws booked after 23-yr-old dies by suicide in Jagraon
A tragic incident unfolded in Rasoolpur village, where a 23-year-old man from Kothe Pona village, near Jagraon, reportedly died by suicide after consuming poison at his in-laws' residence. The victim left behind a video implicating his father-in-law and mother-in-law for allegedly coercing him into taking this drastic step. The Jagraon Sadar police have since registered a case of abetment to suicide against the accused individuals. According to police, the victim had married a woman of Rasoolpur on July 12, 2024, in a love marriage that was initially opposed by the woman's family. Shortly after the marriage, the victim moved to England. Upon returning, he reportedly had a domestic dispute with his wife, following which she returned to her parental home. On Wednesday, the man went to Rasoolpur to reconcile with his estranged wife, but the situation escalated into a heated argument with her and her family. Distraught, he consumed poisonous pills at his in-laws' home. Before taking the step, he recorded a video message on his mobile phone, blaming his in-laws for mentally harassing him and sent it to his father. His in-laws rushed him to a private hospital in Jagraon after noticing his deteriorating condition. Despite efforts to save him, he succumbed to the poison. Sub-inspector Surjit Singh, who is investigating the case, stated that a FIR under Section 108 of BNS has been lodged in the matter and a hunt is on for the arrest of the accused.
