Page 30 - Bihar

Bihar Floods: CM Nitish Kumar inspects flood-affected areas, relief works

In terms of material aid, Sen confirmed that over 20,000 polythene sheets have been dispatched to calamity-affected blocks, with plans for further distribution

Prashant Kishor launches new party: Jan Suraaj – here’s what you need to know

Poll strategist-turned-activist Prashant Kishor, launched his own political party, Jan Suraaj Party (JSP), in Bihar on October 2. Watch the video to know all about the new party and its agenda.

Prashant Kishor announces launch of political outfit 'Jan Suraaj Party'

Political strategist-turned-activist Prashant Kishor on Wednesday announced the launch of his political outfit Jan Suraaj Party, a much-anticipated move by which he hopes to take the political landscape in Bihar by storm. The party was launched at Veterinary College Ground in the state capital in presence of many renowned figures, including former Union minister Devendra Prasad Yadav, diplomat-turned-politician Pavan Varma and ex-MP Monazir Hassan. The party was floated exactly two years after Kishor had embarked on a more than 3,000-km-long 'padayatra' of the state, from Champaran where Mahatma Gandhi had launched the first Satyagraha in the country, in a bid to mobilise the people for a "new political alternative" that could cure Bihar of its chronic backwardness.

IAF helicopter makes emergency landing in Muzaffarpur, one injured

An Indian Air Force helicopter made an emergency landing in a waterlogged area in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district on Wednesday after it developed a snag, officials said. Senior Superintendent of Police Rakesh Kumar said the helicopter was coming from adjoining Darbhanga after air-dropping relief material to flood-hit people. "The helicopter made an emergency landing in a waterlogged area in Aurai block. All the occupants were IAF personnel and they were pulled out by locals by the time officials reached the spot," said the SSP. District Magistrate Subrat Kumar Sen said, "All four occupants appear safe and unharmed. However, as a precaution, they are being taken to a local hospital for check-up and treatment, if required.

Wealth of whole nation diverted to Gujarat: Prashant Kishor targets PM Modi

Political strategist-turned-activist Prashant Kishor on Wednesday alleged that after being voted to power by people impressed with his track record in Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has "diverted wealth of the entire country to his home state". The I-PAC founder, whose first claim to fame was his handling of Modi's spectacular Lok Sabha polls campaign of 2014, made the scathing attack on the PM at a public meeting to mark the launch of his own political outfit Jan Suraaj Party. "People like you and me voted for Modi, listening to his speeches, taken in by the impression that he has done a lot for the development of Gujarat. Indeed, Gujarat is progressing. The wealth of the entire country seems to have been diverted to Gujarat where factories are being set up in every village. People from Bihar are flocking to that state in search of employment," Kishor alleged. The 47-year-old leader was underscoring the point that people got from governments what they had voted for in ...

Centre has made available all possible help: Nityanand Rai on Bihar floods

Earlier on September 30, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha said that the state government is working in coordination with the central government to mitigate the flooding situation

Bihar govt announces reduction in value-added tax on CNG, PNG by 7.5%

The Bihar government on Tuesday announced a reduction in VAT on compressed natural gas (CNG) and piped natural gas (PNG), used for domestic purposes and motor vehicles, by 7.5 per cent - from 20 to 12.5 per cent - in the state. The government also announced the reduction of VAT on PNG, used by industrial units manufacturing goods, from 20 per cent to 5 per cent. The decision to this effect was taken in a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar here. Talking to reporters, soon after the cabinet meeting, S Siddharth, Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Cabinet Secretariat, said, The state Cabinet approved reduction in VAT on CNG and PNG, used for domestic purposes and motor vehicles, from 20 per cent to 12.5 per cent in the state. Industrial and business organizations requested the state government to slash the VAT as it is higher than that in neighbouring states, he said. After consideration, the government decided to reduce it on natural gas sold through the city gas

Floods in Bihar worsens as embankments of Kosi, Bagmati rivers breached

Flood situation in several parts of Bihar worsened on Monday as embankments of Kosi river in Darbhanga district and Bagmati river in Sitamarhi were breached, officials said. The Kosi river was in spate and breached its embankment near Kartarpur block, inundating Kirtarpur and Ghanshyampur villages in Darbhanga late on Sunday, while seepage was reported in the embankment of Bagmati river in Runni Saidpur block in Sitamarhi district, they said. "The flood situation has worsened with fresh embankment breaches but it is under control. There is nothing to panic," an official said. The state water resources and disaster management departments have been working on a war footing, he said. "Altogether six incidents of embankment breach have so far been reported from various parts of the state. Some of them have already been repaired and work is going on for others," Bihar Water Resources Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary told PTI on Monday. The embankment of the Bagmati River at Madhkaul vill

Bihar faces severe flooding: Over 1.6 mn affected, six barrages breached

Bihar has issued heavy rain and flood alerts, deploying six NDRF teams from other states, with a total of 12 NDRF and 22 SDRF teams conducting relief operations

Flood alert in Bihar following heavy discharge of water from Birpur barrage

The Bihar government has sounded an alert for flood in northern and central parts of the state following heavy discharge of water from Birpur barrage on Sunday, officials said. A total of 6.61 lakh cusecs of water was released from Birpur barrage on Kosi river till 5 am, the highest in 56 years. According to the latest bulletin by the state Water Resources department, the last time the maximum water discharged from this barrage was 7.88 lakh cusecs of water in 1968. The development may aggravate the condition of over 16.28 lakh people in 13 districts, who were already affected by inundation following heavy rain. Similarly, 5.38 lakh cusecs of water was released from Valmikinagar barrage on Gandak till 7 pm on Saturday. This is the highest water discharged from this barrage after 6.39 lakh cusecs released in 2003. Traffic movement has been stopped near the Kosi barrage as a preventive measure. "The teams of the Water Resources Department are monitoring the embankments on a 24/7 basi

Several Bihar districts on alert as IMD warns of heavy rain, flash flood

An alert has been sounded in several districts of Bihar as the IMD predicted heavy rain and warned of low to moderate flash flood risk in parts of the state, officials said on Saturday. Heavy rain is likely in West and East Champaran, Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Muzaffarpur, Gopalganj, Siwan, Saran, Vaishali, Patna, Jehanabad, Madhubani and Bhojpur districts, an India Meteorological Department (IMD) bulletin issued on Friday said. "These districts are at risk of low to moderate flash floods over the next 24 hours," it said. The state disaster management department asked the administration of the districts to remain on alert and take preventive measures in the wake of the forecast. Around 12 districts situated along the Ganga, including Buxar, Bhojpur, Saran, Patna, Samastipur, Begusarai, Munger and Bhagalpur, are already experiencing a flood-like situation, and nearly 13.5 lakh people living in low-lying areas have been affected by rising water levels of rivers, following torrential rainfa

46 people, including 37 children, drown in Bihar during Jitiya festival

Under the instructions of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, an ex-gratia amount has been paid to the families of 8 deceased

Aiims Darbhanga to be built by NBCC arm; Centre awards Rs 1,261 cr contract

Aiims Darbhanga, approved by the Union Cabinet in 2020, will be built over 182 acres of land at a cost of Rs 1,261 crore, which will be fully funded by the Centre

What is rationale behind holding meeting when DGP, CS not present: Tejashwi

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday questioned the rationale behind holding the Home department review meeting by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, in which the Director General of Police and Chief Secretary "were not present". Yadav, former deputy chief minister, who is currently the Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly, also said the "absence of aforesaid officials showed how serious" the CM was with regard to law and order. He also alleged that the NDA government was patronising criminals in the state. Yadav in a post on X on Sunday wrote, "What is the rationale behind holding such a review meeting in which DGP, CS and ADG were not present? The absence of top officials shows how serious the CM is about the law and order situation in the state. The NDA government is playing with the lives of Biharis by patronising criminals." "Holding of a high-level review meeting by the CM was mere a formality. It's a fact that after every review meeting of Nitish ji, crime increases further

Bihar CM makes aerial survey to assess rising water level in Ganga

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday conducted an aerial survey to assess the rising Ganga river water level in Patna and surrounding areas. The CM was accompanied by senior officials of the state administration. The water level in the Ganga river crossed the danger mark at several places in the state capital on Friday. "At Gandhi Ghat in Patna, the Ganga river is flowing above the danger mark of 48.60 metre (till 6 am on Friday). Similarly at Hathidah and Digha Ghat, the Ganga is flowing above the danger mark of 41.76 metre and 50.45 metre respectively", according to a statement issued by the district administration here on Friday. Several low-lying areas in Patna rural and Nalanda districts have also been flooded as portions of certain small dams were damaged at four places due to sudden increase in water levels in Falgu and Sakri rivers following heavy rainfall in Jharkhand over the past few days, officials said. The low-lying areas which witnessed flood-like situation .

Houses set on fire in Bihar’s Nawada; Congress slams NDA for ‘jungle raj’

A day after 21 houses were set on fire in Bihar’s Nawada district, a top state government official said on September 19 that 15 people have been arrested in connection with the incident.

Congress slams NDA govt in Bihar after houses set ablaze in Nawada

The Congress on Thursday slammed the NDA government in Bihar over the incident of setting ablaze of houses in Nawada, saying it is another proof of the "jungle raj" prevailing in the state and shows the dispensation's "utter indifference" towards Dalits and the deprived. While Congress leaders pegged the number of houses set ablaze at over 80, police said 21 houses were set on fire in Nawada district. Preliminary investigation suggested that a land dispute could be the cause behind the incident that happened in Manjhi Tola in Mufassil police station area on Wednesday evening, they said. No one was injured in the incident, they added. Ten people were detained, and a search is on to nab the other accused, police said. "The terror of goons on Mahadalit Tola in Bihar's Nawada is another proof of the jungle raj of NDA's double engine government," Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said in a post in Hindi on X. "It is highly condemnable that about 100 Dalit houses were set on fire, .

15 held for torching 21 houses in Bihar's Nawada, more arrests likely

Twenty-one houses were set on fire in Bihar's Nawada district on Wednesday evening, police said. Preliminary investigation suggested that a land dispute could be the cause behind the incident that happened in Manjhi Tola in Mufassil police station area, they said. No one was injured in the incident, they added. Ten people were detained, and a search was on to nab the other accused persons, police said. "A call was received around 7.30 pm that some houses were set on fire in Manjhi Tola. Police immediately reached the spot along with fire engines. It took some time to douse the blaze. According to villagers, a group of people started setting the houses on fire around 7 pm," said SP Abhinav Dhiman who also visited the area. "Preliminary investigation suggests that land dispute is the reason for the incident. A case has been registered and an investigation is underway," he said. Another police officer said shots were also fired in the air when the houses were being torched. Dhiman

NIA searches former MLC Manorma Devi's premises in Gaya over Maoist links

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday carried out searches at the premises of two persons in Gaya, including former member of Bihar Legislative Council, as part of its probe into their alleged links with the banned CPI(Maoist), sources said. NIA sleuths conducted searches at the premises of former MLC Manorma Devi in Rampur area and businessman Dwarika Yadav in Gointha village, they added. Sources said the searches are part of NIA's probe into alleged conspiracy by the Maoists to revive and strengthen the organisation in the state's Magadh area. The case relates to the recovery and seizure of two booklets pertaining to CPI (Maoist) Magadh Zonal Sangathnic Committee, along with arms and ammunition from the possession of two persons, Rohit Rai and Pramod Yadav, in 2023. The duo, along with their associates, were extorting contactors and brick kiln owners to promote Maoist activities. Officials remain tightlipped about the specifics of the NIA operation. Family members

Bihar a 'hidden gem' not discovered by the world, says Piyush Goyal

Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday termed Bihar a "hidden gem", which has not been discovered by the world. Exuding confidence that the state will do well in the future, Goyal said the image related to law and order issues, loot, and arson held back its progress in the past. The issue of corruption for which the former Chief Minister had gone to jail is history, and transparency is the buzzword now, Goyal said, speaking at an event organised by industry chamber CII ahead of an investor summit in December. He credited Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for having "changed the face of Bihar" by completely transforming the reality on the ground and also the image of the state. "Bihar is one of those hidden gems which has not been discovered by the world," the minister said, asking the industry to go to Bihar soon and not miss the bus. He said the Kumar-led administration backed by the BJP has demonstrated the huge potential of Bihar to the industry and exuded confidence that ...