Page 65 - Bihar

53 drown in Bihar during Chhath, CM announces ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh

As many as 53 people drowned in rivers and other water bodies in various parts of Bihar during the four-day Chhath festivities, said a disaster management official here on Tuesday. Expressing grief, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each for the next of the kin of each deceased, the official said. The CM directed all district magistrates to ensure expeditious payment to the victims' families. According to the official, five people drowned in Purnea district on October 30, while three deaths each were reported from Patna, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur and Saharsa. One person each died in Gaya, Begusarai, Katihar, Buxar, Kaimur, Sitamarhi and Banka among other districts. "At least 18 people died in the state on October 31, the last day of the festival. The state disaster management is trying to establish the identity of all deceased at the earliest," added the official.

Chirag enraged over Nitish's reference to his father's second marriage

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's reference to Ram Vilas Paswan's "second marriage in Delhi" evoked an angry outbust from the late leader's son and political heir Chirag Paswan on Tuesday. Kumar had muttered "biyahwa to dusra Dilli mein jaakar kiye the na" (married for the second time in Delhi) on the previous day in a sort of reflection on the Bihari roots of the father-son duo. He had also called Chirag a "bachcha" (kid). "It ill behoves the chief minister to make personal remarks about my father after his death," the young Jamui MP, born to his late father's second wife, said. "I have never stooped to this level. I have never spoken anything of the kind about Nitish Kumar who has not been transparent about his own personal life. My deceased father was like an open book," said Chirag who has been reaching out to his step-mother and step-sisters after being cornered by his uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras. Chirag, who is in Bihar to campaign for BJP candidates in the upcoming by-poll

Chirag Paswan to campaign for BJP candidates in Bihar by-polls on Nov 3

Bihar BJP president Sanjay Jaiswal on Friday asserted that Chirag Paswan is an "NDA ally" and he will be campaigning for saffron party candidates for the November 3 by-polls to Mokama and Gopalganj assembly seats in the state. Jaiswal made the averment at a press conference he addressed here and claimed that Paswan, who is a Lok Sabha member from Jamui, will canvass for BJP candidates next week. "We treat all parties that have fought elections in alliance with us and supported us in the Presidential polls as NDA partners. Chirag Paswan very much fits the bill and he will be campaigning on October 31 and November 1," the BJP leader said. The son of Dalit stalwart Ram Vilas Paswan, Chirag Paswan headed the Lok Janshakti Party founded by his father till it came apart last year following a rebellion by uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras who rallied along all other LJP MPs. Chirag Paswan had caused a flutter in the 2020 assembly polls when he rebelled against Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who w

Nitish may not canvass for Bihar bypolls, Tejashwi to hit campaign trail

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday said he might not campaign for the by-elections to a couple of assembly segments in the state where his current ally RJD is locked in a straight contest with former alliance partner BJP. Kumar, who is nursing injuries he sustained recently when his motorboat crashed into the pillar of a bridge on Ganga, said this in reply to questions from journalists who asked him about his schedule for Mokama and Gopalganj where by-polls are scheduled on November 3. "All my party colleagues are campaigning. I need to take precautions till I recover fully," said the JD(U) leader, who had disclosed his injury on Wednesday. The mishap had taken place on October 15 and the administration had said that all the occupants of the motorboat were safe. Speculations are rife that the RJD which seeks to retain Mokama and wrest Gopalganj from the BJP, is keen on Kumar lending his weight to its campaign for the two seats. Meanwhile, the BJP claimed that Kumar was

Centre asks Bihar to complete construction of wheat, rice silos by Dec

Food Secretary Sudhanshu Pandey has directed Bihar government to complete the construction of wheat and rice silo in Buxar by the end of December. Pandey, who was on a visit to Bhojpur and Buxar districts of Bihar on Wednesday, reviewed the progress of implementation of lifting and distribution of foodgrains under the National Food Security Act and Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), an official statement said. He also reviewed the preparedness of paddy procurement for the upcoming 2022-23 kharif marketing season.

Tata Power Solar Systems launches off-grid solar solutions in Bengal, Bihar

Tata Power Solar Systems on Wednesday announced the launch of cost-efficient solar off-grid solutions in West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand. Tata Power Solar Systems Ltd (TPSSL) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd (TPREL). The off-grid solutions provide a combination of high-efficient solar modules, inverters and batteries and are available in 11 variants ranging from 1 - 10 Kw with 5-year warranty, a company statement said. The solutions offered by the company are engineered to provide an efficient integrated power system to consumers for their power backup requirements in times of grid supply shortages. The solution was unveiled in the presence of S Suresh Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary, West Bengal; Partha Pratim Mukherjee, Director (Distribution), West Bengal Power Development Corporation Ltd and Nayak, Director (EV), West Bengal Power Development Corporation Ltd in Kolkata. These solar off-grid solutions are charged during the day time and enable

Over 50 wagons of goods train derail near Gaya; rail traffic disrupted

At least 53 wagons of a coal-laden goods train derailed near Gurpa railway station in Bihar in the early hours of Wednesday, disrupting rail traffic, officials said. The incident took place around 6.24 am between Koderma and Manpur railway stations of the Dhanbad division, East Central Railway (ECR) said in a statement. The exact cause of this is yet to be known. Railway teams have started work to restore the lines, a senior official of the ECR Zone said. Nobody was injured due to the derailment, he said. Ten trains were diverted to other routes and four were partially terminated following the incident, the statement said.

Tejashwi rubbishes speculations about another volte face by Nitish

Speculations about Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's return to the BJP-led NDA have received a thumbs down from his deputy Tejashwi Yadav, who asserted that the 'Mahagathbandhan' is going strong. Yadav, who is the heir apparent of the RJD, the largest constituent of the ruling coalition, also said that his party enjoyed the full support of alliance partners and looked forward to winning by-elections to two assembly seats Mokama and Gopalganj -- scheduled to be held next week. "It was decided by all coalition partners that we contest both seats. Mokama is our sitting seat while Gopalganj is my native district. We are confident of a Mahagathbandhan victory at both places," Yadav told reporters on Monday at Jehanabad, where he had gone to attend the death anniversary of a deceased party colleague. The by-poll at Mokama has been necessitated by disqualification of Anant Kumar Singh, who has been convicted in cases relating to arms and explosives recovered from his residences. His wif

Lack of cooperation by authorities affecting Bihar heritage sites: ASI

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has not been able to bring under its "complete care" at least 20 heritage sites in Bihar as authorities concerned are yet to clear encroachments and unauthorized constructions in and around these places, an official said. Goutami Bhattacharya, the superintending archaeologist of ASI (Patna circle), said that district authorities, despite reminders, "have not taken requisite measures" to facilitate the upkeep and maintenance of these centrally protected sites, including the ancestral home of the country's first president, Dr Rajendra Prasad. "We have filed several police complaints pertaining to illegal constructions in the restricted areas surrounding the protected monuments, but no action was taken. "This apathy on the part of the district administrations in removing encroachments and unauthorized constructions has come in the way of bringing these sites under the complete care of the ASI," she told PTI. Bhattacharya also said that she ...

He talks 'rubbish': Nitish on PK's claim that he may ditch Mahagathbandhan

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday refused to comment on the claim made by political strategist Prashant Kishor that the former was still in touch with the BJP and said he keeps talking rubbish. The political strategist on Thursday claimed that Kumar is in touch with the BJP and he might once against tie up with the party if the situation demands. What should I say on this.he (Prashant) keeps talking rubbish. He makes such statements just for his publicity. Everybody knows that he is working for which party, Kumar remarked in reply to questions from journalists who sought his views on Kishor's claims that the CM is still in touch with the saffron party. Kishor had also told PTI on Wednesday that Kumar has kept a line of communication open with the BJP through JD (U) MP and Rajya Sabha deputy chairman, Harivansh. "After having snapped ties with the BJP, Nitish Kumar should have asked Harivansh to step down. If he insisted on occupying the post, he could have been expelled f

60 yrs after Bhoodan, Bihar finds 160,000 acres land fit for distribution

Almost 60 years after Bhoodan Andolan, a campaign to donate land initiated by Gandhian Vinoba Bhave, the Bihar government has found around 1.60 lakh acres of land, donated during the movement, is fit for distribution among landless people. Sources in the Revenue and Land Reforms department in the Bihar government confirmed that the process of distribution of these 1.60 lakh acres of confirmed' (authenticated by the revenue officers) land will start anytime after December this year. Many plots of land were donated by people during the 1950s and early 60s. But while they were being checked by the State Bhoodan Committee for authentication, it had been found that a number of them lack details of documentation. So, though donated, legally they are still owned by the donors. Besides, the Bhoodan Committee found that certain plots were actually on river beds, hills and forests. The entire process got delayed for so long due to these problems, a senior official of the revenue department .

Nitish Kumar in touch with BJP, may join hands again: Prashant Kishor

Political strategist Prashant Kishor claimed on Wednesday that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is in touch with the BJP and that he may go for a tie-up with the party again if situation demands so, a suggestion dismissed by the JD(U) as misleading and aimed at spreading confusion. Kishor, who is on a padyatra in Bihar in what is widely seen as a precursor to his fresh entry into active politics, told PTI that Kumar has kept a line of communication open with the BJP through JD(U) MP and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson Harivansh. Query sent to Harivansh for his reaction did not elicit any response but his party rejected the claim and asserted that Kumar will never join hands with the BJP again. Kishor said, "People who are thinking that Nitish Kumar is actively building a national alliance against the BJP will be surprised to know that he has kept a line open with the BJP. He is in touch with the BJP through his party MP and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson Harivansh ji." He suggested

Bihar BBOSE 2022 Class 10, 12 first exam June results out; check details

Candidates can check results by logging in to the website by using their roll number, date of birth, accreditation code, exam centre code, mobile number, and e-mail id to check Bihar BBOSE result

Kashmir a 'separate country' in Class 7 exam in Bihar govt school

A question paper in a Bihar government school termed Kashmir as a "separate country" triggering a political war in the state

IRCTC scam case: Delhi court refuses to cancel bail of Tejashwi Yadav

A Delhi court on Tuesday refused to cancel the bail granted to Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav on a plea by the CBI in the IRCTC scam, saying it did not find any specific ground to order cancellation of the relief. Special Judge Geetanjali Goel, while declining the CBI's petition, asked the young RJD leader to be careful with words and use them appropriately. In its petition, the CBI had claimed Yadav, at a recent press conference, attempted to subvert the process of law and thwart the entire investigation as well as the consequent trial, and blatantly abused the liberty granted to him. It alleged Yadav issued "direct threat" to CBI officers and their families and "indirect threat" to witnesses. The central probe agency accused Yadav of having attempted to "portray the CBI in bad light and under the influence of political parties" by using innuendoes such as "Jamai" (son-in- law) of a political party. "You are on very responsible post. It is not right to use such words

Bihar to review measures to check human-animal conflict near tiger Reserve

The Bihar government is in a quandary on how to avoid frequent human-animal conflict around the Valmiki Tiger Reserve, where 40 of the state's 50 big cats live. The tiger population of the state jumped by over 50 per cent between 2014 and 2018, from 32 to 50. The 2022 census is yet to be completed but experts believe the numbers will go up significantly. An official said the forest department has taken adequate and effective measures to check human-animal conflicts in and around the VTR, where a tiger was shot dead days ago after allegedly mauling nine people. Arvind Kumar Chaudhary, principal secretary of the department, said the tiger had spread terror in the area in West Champaran district and the loss of people's lives was "extremely unfortunate". "At the same time, there's no point in glorifying the killing of a tiger," he told PTI. The tiger was shot dead in Bagaha on October 8 by a team of forest personnel who were brought in from Hyderabad and Patna. The order for the kill

Poverty in India fell by 415 million in 15 yrs; still has maximum poor: UN

Global Multidimensional Poverty Index has revealed that COVID-19 pandemic had set progress in reducing poverty back by 3-10 years

Suspension of senior doctor by Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav evokes outcry

The Bihar government appeared to be on a collision course with the medical fraternity on Sunday over the recent suspension of a doctor upon the order of Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, who holds the health portfolio. Yadav had, on Friday night, carried out surprise inspections of a number of government hospitals to take stock of preparedness for the outbreak of dengue. He seemed displeased at the state of affairs at NMCH, the second largest public health care facility in the city and issued the order for suspension of its superintendent Dr Vinod Kumar Singh, who cried foul. "I will have to rethink whether to continue working with the state's health department which does not treat a senior professor like me with respect. I have discharged my duties with dedication during the COVID surge. Even now, NMCH has the highest number of patients admitted to various wards, for any government hospital in Bihar, Singh told reporters. He also alleged that Yadav was holding him ...

Will work with 'samajwadis': Nitish Kumar vows never to ally with BJP again

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar vowed that he would never ally with the Bharatiya Janata Party again, and said that he will work for the progress of the country along with Bihar

Bihar by-polls 2022: Eighteen candidates file nomination papers

Altogether 18 candidates filed their nominations till Friday, the last date of filing nomination papers for by-elections to Mokama and Gopalganj assembly segments in Bihar, an official said. While 11 candidates filed their nomination papers in Gopalganj, seven did the same in Mokama, Deputy Election Officer, Bihar, Ashok Priyadarshi told PTI-Bhasha. By-elections to the two seats have been necessitated by the death of sitting BJP MLA from Gopalganj Subhash Singh and disqualification of RJD's Anant Singh who represented Mokama. In Gopalganj, the deceased MLA's wife Kusum Devi's bid to retain the seat for the party is being challenged by Mohan Prakash Gupta of the RJD though the pitch has been queered by the entry of BSP candidate Indira Yadav. Yadav is married to Sadhu Yadav, an estranged brother-in-law of RJD president Lalu Prasad. Sadhu Yadav had won the seat in 2000. The seat falls in the district of the same name to which both Prasad and his wife Rabri Devi, Sadhu Yadav's elde