India news: Delhi reels under heavy rains as Yamuna breaches danger mark

Evacuation of people living in low-lying areas of Yamuna floodplains began Monday evening with the river crossing the danger mark due to the release of water from the Hathnikund barrage in Haryana amid heavy rains in the northern belt of the country.     

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal chaired a high-level meeting to discuss the waterlogging situation and rising level of the Yamuna and asserted that there was no threat of flood as of now.  
 

Hyderabad Customs seized 1.93 kg of gold valued at Rs 1.17 crores from two passengers who arrived from Dubai and Jeddah at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. 62,400 cigarette sticks were also seized from two passengers who arrived from Bangkok and Dubai, according to Customs Department.

National Investigation Agency today arrested one more person in the June 2022 West Bengal case related to the seizure of a huge cache of electric detonators, Nonels (non-electric detonators) and explosives. This takes the total number of arrests in the case to seven.

Manoj Ghosh, a resident of district Birbhum district in West Bengal, was arrested from Bahadurpur on the basis of disclosures by three previously arrested accused, Rintu Sk, Merajuddin Ali Khan alias Meraj Khan alias Meraz Khan, and Mir Md Nuruzzaman alias Romeo alias Mir alias Jamai alias Prince.

Water level in Yamuna river breaches danger mark at Old Railway Bridge. The water of the river is flowing at 207.49 meters.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday congratulated Lakshya Sen on reaching the final of the Canada Open Super 500 badminton tournament, calling his success a testament to his tenacity and determination.

"Congratulations to the talented @lakshya_sen on his outstanding victory at the Canada Open 2023! His triumph is a testament to his tenacity and determination. It also fills our nation with immense pride. My best wishes to him for his upcoming endeavours," Modi tweeted.  

All MCD schools, MCD-aided and Recognised schools will remain closed for students on July 11 in Delhi, in view of heavy rainfall.

Net direct tax collection grows 16 per cent to Rs 4.75 lakh crore so far this fiscal, the Income Tax department said in a statement.

The counting of votes for the West Bengal Panchayat polls will start at 8 am tomorrow. All counting centres will have a deployment of Central forces and CCTV cameras installed.

"The darkest hour is just before dawn. There will be light at the end of the tunnel. The only message I could get today is -if winter comes can spring be far behind? Good will happen in the days to come," said West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose after his meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

"Around 24 trains running on the Delhi-Ambala route have been cancelled following inclement weather in North India...It is not possible to give an estimate of monetary loss right now," said Shobhan Chaudhari, General Manager, Northern Railway.

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose is presently meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah and is likely to submit a report on incidents of violence during the Panchayat elections.

Republic TV has accessed the affidavit filed by the Centre in Supreme Court on Article 370. The hearing will take place on Tuesday.

In the 20-page affidavit, the government has set the record straight. It has listed its zero tolerance to terrorism policy and measures taken for the people of the union territory.

PM Narendra Modi speaks with the chief ministers of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand about the situation related to rainfall in their states. The PM assured all help and support to the affected states from the government, sources said.

The NIA court in Delhi has convicted four Indian Mujahideen (IM) operatives -Danish Ansari, Aftab Alam, Imran Khan and Obaid-Ur-Rehman-under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for hatching a criminal conspiracy to wage war against India by conducting terrorist attacks across the country.

West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah shortly and brief him on the violence that took place during the panchayat elections in the state.

Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu heads a review meeting of the State Disaster Management Authority, (SDMA). 17 people have died in the state till now. The initial estimate of loss ranges between Rs 3000 crore to Rs 4000 crore, CM said.

"Efforts are underway to evacuate around 300 stranded tourists and residents in Lahaul-Spiti and Kullu districts by using helicopters once the weather permits," CM Sukhu said.

The Shrikhand Mahadev Yatra has been directed to halt for the rest of the season due to six deaths reported during the pilgrimage.

Punjab flood helpline numbers

• Amritsar - 01832229125
• Bathinda - 01642862100-01
• Fatehgarh Sahib -01763232838
• Fazilka - 01638262153
• Hoshiarpur - 01882220412
• Kapurthala - 018222365442
• Malerkotla -01675253772
• Moga - 01636235206
• Pathankot - 01862346944
• Ruphagar - 01881221157
• Sangrur - 01672234196
• Tar Taran - 01852224107
• SBS Nagar - 01823505824
• Patiala - 01752350550
• Sas Nagar - 01722219506.
• Sri Muktsar Sahib - 01633260341
• Mansa - 01652229082
• Ludhiana - 01612433100
• Jalandhar - 01812224417
• Gurdaspur - 01874266376
• Ferozepur - 01632244017
• Faridkot - 01639250338
• Barnala - 01679233031
• State Control Room, Chandigarh - 01722741803

The Himachal Pradesh government has released three numbers - 1100, 1070 and 1077 -- to help people in distress amid floods.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has formed a committee to probe the West Bengal Panchayat elections violence. The committee will be led by former Union Minister Ravishankar Prasad. 

Delhi government is on high alert. As soon as the Yamuna River crosses 206 meters of water level, we will begin evacuations along the bank of the river, Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said.

IMD has issued an 'Orange' alert for heavy rain in Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Tehri Garhwal, Dehradun, Paru Garhwal, Bageshwar, Almora, Champawat, Nainital, Udham Singh Nahar and Haridwar districts for July 11 and 12.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Jag Mohan Garg, CMD of Tirupati Infraprojects Pvt. Ltd in an on-going investigation of a case related to fraud of Rs 289.15 crore (approx) to a consortium of banks comprising Bank of India, Union Bank of India, Canara Bank, Bank of Baroda and UCO Bank.

Supertech chairman RK Arora sent to judicial custody till July 24 in connection with a money laundering case. He was arrested by Enforcement Directorate (ED) on June 27. 

BJP leader and former Himachal Pradesh CM Jairam Thakur visits Mandi to review the situation as the district is ravaged by flash floods and landslides following incessant rainfall in the state.

PK Ashok Babu (IFS: 2007), presently Consul General, Consulate General of India, Cape Town has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. He is expected to take up the assignment shortly.

Even after the voting has ended for West Bengal Panchayat elections, the violence continued in Islampur, North Dinajpur. According to sources, five people were injured in the clashes between workers of TMC and independent candidate. 

Supreme Court issues notice to Centre on a plea of Delhi government challenging the constitutional validity of Ordinance issued by the Centre relating to control over bureaucrats

The Indian Coast Guard on Monday recovered the body of a 27-year-old woman who drowned in the sea in the western suburb of Bandra here, a civic official said.

A search and rescue operation was undertaken for Jyoti Sonar after she drowned in the sea at Bandra fort on Sunday afternoon, the official said.
 

"The situation will not be so serious, need not panic, take precautions. The next 24 hours are crucial for Himachal Pradesh," says Mahesh Palawat, Skymet VP to Republic as incessant monsoon batters North India. 

"I spoke with Home Minister Amit Shah yesterday. He enquired about the flood situation and we explained that the situation is currently under control and that we will reach out to him if there is a need. We have information from Patiala where the river has reached danger levels...If need be, the NDRF teams are ready and the army also has its camps at a number of places," said CM Bhagwant Mann on the rain situation in the state. 

Enforcement Directorate officials brought Supertech chairman RK Arora to Delhi's Patiala House Court at the end of his remand custody. He was arrested by Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money laundering case. 

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal holds news briefing on the situation arising out of heavy rains in Northern India.

Supreme Court refuses to interfere with the Calcutta High Court order which allowed Central agencies to question TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee in the matter relating to teachers' recruitment irregularities in West Bengal.

Amid the rain fury in Himachal Pradesh, 20 people stranded in Manali were rescued on Monday, officials said. Heavy rains pounded the state, triggering landslides, damaging houses and leaving several people deal, on Sunday. The meteorological department issued a red alert for extremely heavy rain in the state on Monday.

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah today evening at North Block in Delh.

The brutal murder of Jain monk Kamakumara Nandi Maharaj has sparked outrage in Belagavi, Karnataka. Protesters are calling for the arrested accused to be given capital punishment, while the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) has also demanded a CBI investigation into the case.

Torrential rain has caused extensive flooding in various regions of Punjab. Notably, the northern parts of India are experiencing heavy rainfall, leading to a flood-like situation in several states.

Speaking to reporters, former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray said, "Earlier, it wasn't new to break the parties. Now, parties are being stolen. Election Commission has no right to give our party's name to someone else... It wasn't my aspiration to be the Chief Minister. I want a CM from Shiv Sena in future too. I had promised Balasaheb Thackeray that there will be a CM from Shiv Sena."

Speaking on the incidents of building collapse Delhi Fire Service Director Atul Garg said, "Total 13 incidents of house collapse had come...this is very unprecedented, we have never received so many calls over house collapse...2 people have died in house collapse cases so far and 3 children have been injured."

Supreme Court said that it will list for hearing on July 31 a plea of the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction, challenging an order of the Election Commission of India allotting the party name and symbol ‘bow and arrow’ to the faction led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. 

EAM  S Jaishankar has arrived in Ahmedabad to file his nomination papers on Monday for the Rajya Sabha elections from Gujarat, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) official said. Gujarat BJP general secretary Pradeepsinh Vaghela on Sunday said Jaishankar, whose term ends on August 18 along with two other Rajya Sabha members from the state, is scheduled to file his nomination form at around noon on Monday.

TMC has announced the candidature of Derek O'Brien, Dola Sen, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, Samirul Islam, Prakash Chik Baraik and Saket Gokhale for the forthcoming Rajya Sabha elections.

Speaking over the rising water level in Yamuna due to heavy downpours, Delhi PWD Minister Atishi said, "As per our calculations, it seems that by tomorrow morning, the water level of river Yamuna will cross the danger mark. We are monitoring the flow of water in case the rainfall continues...It is expected that the river will cross the danger mark tomorrow, at Old Yamuna Railway Bridge. Announcements have been made, & people living in flood plains are being evacuated. Boats have been stationed & they have proper rescue equipment. Arrangements are being made for people who have been evacuated... CM has called a review meeting today."

Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said, "We're expecting the water level in Yamuna River to cross 204 m by tomorrow... Govt will take all the necessary preparations if the water level of Yamuna crosses 205m, we will evacuate the people in nearby areas. CM has called an emergency meeting today of all departments & will review the preparedness...leaves of all officials have been cancelled and all have been instructed to be on the field."

Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar has cancelled all his pre-scheduled programmes and called an emergency meeting at the Civil Secretariat to review the situation in the state due to rainfall across the state. Revenue and Disaster Management, Home Department, Urban Local bodies, and Rural Development Department are present at the meeting. The CM will also hold a meeting with all Deputy Commissioners, via video conferencing.

The agencies in Srinagar have successfully foiled Pakistan's attempt to regroup the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) and the Hurriyat. "A Search was conducted on the basis of credible info about a meeting of some ex-militants of JKLF & erstwhile separatists in a hotel in Srinagar. They were brought to Kothibagh PS for verification. An inquiry has started, prima facie it came out that they were planning to revive JKLF & Hurriyat", Srinagar Police said in a statement.

Heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh has tragically claimed the lives of approximately 14 individuals. To assist stranded individuals, the government has released three helpline numbers for emergency services. The heavy downpour has also impacted state highways and National Highways, while the administration remains vigilant and continues to raise awareness among the public.

On Monday, BJP national president JP Nadda embarked on a visit to Gujarat. As part of his itinerary, he is scheduled to address a public rally in Godhra in the morning. In the afternoon, Nadda will visit a temple to offer prayers, followed by an interaction with distinguished individuals from various segments of society in Vadodara later in the day.

Due to heavy rainfall in the region, the water level in the Yamuna River in Delhi has risen, CM Kejriwal has called a meeting at the Secretariat o Monday afternoon, in the wake of the situation in the city due to incessant heavy rainfall.

After an improvement in the weather conditions in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the annual Amarnath Yatra recommenced from the Baltal base camp on Monday morning. The authorities have also resumed chopper services to facilitate the journey of the pilgrims, according to an official statement.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has scheduled an emergency meeting at the Delhi Secretariat, with the primary focus of the meeting will be to discuss and address the current rain and flood situation in Delhi. The meeting will be attended by various officers, including senior officials from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

Speaking on the security deployment in the South Paraganas district, SDPO Canning Dibakar Das said, "There are proper arrangements. Punjab Police gave us 10 Constables and an officer, and so did West Bengal Police. I too have a reserve of 52 Constables and two officers with me...We have enough deployment today and voters are already lining up. Polling has already started."

Persistent rainfall in Uttarakhand's Kumaon has resulted in blockages along the Tanakpur-Pithoragarh route at certain locations. The administration is actively working to clear the road on NH 9 All Weather Road, while passengers are also assisting in removing boulders to restore the route. Additionally, heavy rains have caused waterlogging on the roads of Lohaghat.

"Moderate to heavy rainfall accompanied with thunderstorms is very likely to continue in the districts of Bilaspur, Solan, Shimla, Sirmaur, Una, Hamirpur, Mandi and Kullu at most places and very heavy rainfall is likely to occur at isolated places. Light to moderate rainfall is likely to occur at a few places in the rest of the districts," India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in a statement. Himachal Pradesh has seen heavy rainfall for the last few days.

On Sunday, the NDRF team rescued 6 people who were stranded in the Beas River near Nagwain village in Mandi district due to the rise in the water level of the river following incessant rainfall in the state.

Following the violence that occurred during the panchayat polls in West Bengal on July 8, re-polling is currently taking place in 697 booths across 19 districts. The districts where the re-polling is being conducted include Murshidabad, Purulia, Birbhum, Jalpaiguri, Nadia, and South 24 Parganas. The initial three-tier panchayat elections held on Saturday in Bengal were marred by widespread violence, including incidents of looting ballot papers and rigging. Several districts, such as Murshidabad, Cooch Behar, Malda, South 24 Parganas, North Dinajpur, and Nadia, reported incidents of booth capturing, ballot box damage, and assault on presiding officers.