Page 3 - West Bengal

Online filling up of SIR forms starts in Bengal, response good: Official

The online filling up of the enumeration forms (EFs) for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) has been enabled on the website of the Election Commission of India voters' service portal, a senior official at the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) said on Saturday. The service has been enabled on Friday night and is available for the voters to fill up the EFs, he said. Several operational issues, including website malfunctions, have marred the online form-filling process for the SIR in West Bengal. "The portal has been enabled, and people will be able to 'Fill Enumeration Form' on the portal. They can also look for their names in the 'Search Your Name in Last SIR' option," he told PTI. The service aims to assist voters who are away from their homes or working outside the state during the revision period. "Those whose EPIC cards are not linked with their mobile numbers must first complete the linking process on the same portal before filling the form. Voters unable to

Over 7 mn forms distributed on 1st day of West Bengal voter enumeration

As part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, more than 70 lakh enumeration forms were distributed by over 80,000 booth-level officers (BLOs) on the first day of their house-to-house visits across the state, an official said on Wednesday. The month-long exercise began in the state on Tuesday and will continue till December 4. "On Tuesday, over 70 lakh enumeration forms were distributed by the BLOs," an official of the Election Commission told PTI. BLOs continued visiting the residences of voters across West Bengal on Wednesday to distribute the enumeration forms, he said. "Adequate security personnel are accompanying the BLOs for their safety. Yesterday, there were no untoward incidents reported from anywhere in the state. If any resistance is reported against a BLO, we immediately instruct the district electoral officers (DEOs) to investigate," the official said. As part of the process, 80,681 BLOs have been deployed across the 294 assembly ..

SIR exercise to begin in Bengal, UP today amid charged political climate

The Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls will begin in West Bengal on Tuesday, amid soaring political temperatures over the routine administrative exercise in the state. The exercise turned into a political battleground, pitting the BJP's clout and the poll body's push for "transparency" against the TMC's grassroots resistance ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls. While the BJP has welcomed the SIR as a step towards ensuring greater transparency in the electoral rolls, the ruling TMC has questioned its timing and intent, alleging that the Election Commission (EC) is acting under pressure from the saffron party to manipulate the voter list ahead of the state elections next year. With both parties treating the SIR as a prelude to the 2026 Assembly elections, the contest has morphed into what many in political circles describe as "the battle of two forces, the administrative and the organisational". The BJP, buoyed by the Election Commission's "proacti

Bengal's Swasthya Sathi scheme crosses 10 mn hospitalisations: CM Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said the state's flagship health assurance scheme, 'Swasthya Sathi', has crossed a significant milestone of one crore hospitalisations as of October 31. She said under the scheme, residents have received cashless medical treatment worth Rs 13,156 crore, fully funded from the state budget, she said. "Swasthya Sathi' -- the all-inclusive, unique health assurance scheme of Government of West Bengal has achieved one crore hospitalisations mark on 31st October 2025, where cashless health care benefit of Rs. 13,156 crore has been provided to the citizens of WEST BENGAL entirely from the State Budget," Banerjee posted on X. Highlighting the inclusivity of the initiative, the chief minister said that any resident of the state who is not covered under another state-sponsored health scheme is eligible for Swasthya Sathi benefits. "Any resident of West Bengal is eligible to avail the benefits of 'Swasthya Sathi', if not covered by any other

Election Commission begins training booth-level officers for SIR in Bengal

The Election Commission on Saturday began a training programme for booth-level officers (BLOs) in West Bengal for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The training programme, being held in various districts, would be completed by November 3, with the SIR process scheduled to begin the following day, officials said. In south Kolkata's Nazrul Mancha, training was underway for BLOs of Bhabanipur, Rashbehari, Ballygunge, Tollygunge, Kasba, Jadavpur, Metiabruz, Behala Purba and Behala Paschim assembly constituencies, they said. The sessions are being held in batches, they added. The EC has issued a 16-point guideline for BLOs as part of the SIR exercise, and introduced a new mobile app to streamline field operations, officials said. During the training, BLOs are being provided with special kits and detailed instructions on the SIR process, they added. From November 4 to December 4, BLOs will visit households to carry out voter verification and form-filling work. A

Cyclone Montha weakens, IMD warns of heavy rain in parts of Bengal

Cyclone Montha', which has gradually weakened into a well-marked low-pressure area, will bring heavy rain in some districts of West Bengal till Saturday, the IMD said. The weather system, which is situated over south Chhattisgarh, is likely to move northwards towards east Madhya Pradesh and weaken further, the India Meteorological Department said in a bulletin. It is likely to bring heavy to very heavy rain (7-20 cm) at one or two places in the north Bengal districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Cooch Behar and 7-11 cm precipitation in Malda, Uttar and Dakshin Dinajpur on Friday, it said. Heavy rainfall is also likely in Alipurduar and Coochbehar on Saturday. The IMD warned that landslides may occur in the hilly areas of Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts, owing to the downpour. The south Bengal districts of Birbhum, Murshidabad, Paschim Bardhaman and Purulia are also expected to receive heavy rainfall till Friday. Light to moderate rain is likely over man

Bengal MGNREGA row: SC nixes Centre's plea against HC order to resume works

The Supreme Court upholds the Calcutta High Court's directive to restart MGNREGA works in West Bengal, ending a prolonged standoff over halted rural job funds

Cyclone Montha: Severe storm expected; red alerts in Andhra, Odisha, Bengal

Cyclone Montha, brewing over the Bay of Bengal, is expected to make landfall near Andhra Pradesh’s Kakinada coast as a severe cyclonic storm on October 28.

Rashmi Group to invest ₹10,000 cr in steel, power plant in West Bengal

The Kolkata-based group to set up a 2.8 MTPA steel plant and 400 MW captive power facility in Purulia, with state-backed fast-track clearances under ultra mega status

EC may appoint volunteers to assist in SIR of West Bengal electoral rolls

The Election Commission of India (ECI) may appoint volunteers to assist booth-level officers (BLOs) during the probable special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, a senior official said on Sunday. The volunteers are likely to be drawn from among government employees in each block for the exercise that may be launched soon, he said. "This is at the planning stage... These assistants will help the BLOs fill out enumeration forms and may also be deployed as substitutes, if required," the official told PTI. The volunteers will primarily be assigned to polling stations having more than 1,200 voters, he added. "As a result of this cap on the number of voters per booth, the number of polling booths in the state is likely to increase by around 14,000, from the existing 80,000 to around 94,000," the official said. For the exercise, the block development officers (BDOs) in several districts have written to school inspectors seeking lists of permanent teachers, clerk

Cyclonic storm to bring heavy rain to West Bengal districts from Oct 28

A deep depression over the Bay of Bengal, which is in the process of intensifying into a cyclonic storm, will bring heavy rain in some districts of West Bengal from October 28-31, the IMD said on Sunday. It advised fishermen not to venture into the sea along and off the West Bengal coast from October 28-30, and asked all those already in the waters to return by October 27. The weather system, which is likely to cross Andhra Pradesh coast as a severe cyclone on October 28 night, will start bringing light to moderate rain in some south Bengal districts, including Kolkata, South 24 Parganas, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, Howrah, Jhargram, Purulia, Bankura and Hooghly, from October 27, the IMD said in a bulletin. Heavy rain will occur at one or two places in the south Bengal districts of North and South 24 Parganas, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Howrah, Purulia, Purba and Paschim Bardhaman, Birbhum and Murshidabad between October 28 and October 31, it said. The IMD said heavy .

West Bengal CM orders hospitals to tighten security after molestation cases

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday directed officials to ensure the safety and security of patients, visitors and doctors in all medical establishments across the state following incidents of alleged molestation of a minor and a medic at state-run hospitals in Kolkata and Uluberia, a top official said. Banerjee, who addressed a high-level meeting over the phone, directed officials to take all possible measures to prevent any recurrence of such incidents, he said. "She emphasised that harassment of anyone coming for treatment will not be tolerated under any circumstances. She also directed the administration to adopt a zero-tolerance approach towards such offences," the bureaucrat told PTI. Banerjee, who is also the state health minister, directed the department to review the existing security arrangements in the hospitals and to strengthen them wherever necessary. "This includes measures such as enhanced training for security personnel, installation and monitori

TMC 'helping' Rohingya infiltrators to settle in WB: Suvendu Adhikari

Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday accused the Trinamool Congress of "helping" Rohingya infiltrators to settle in the state by providing them fake documents. Speaking at the 'Bijoy Sankalp' rally at Gangarampur in Dakshin Dinajpur district, Adhikari said that if the TMC government is not dislodged in the next assembly elections, then the day is not far when the demography of the state will change. He claimed that the BJP was not against Indian Muslims, but "We are against Rohingya infiltrators who will be detected, their names deleted and finally deported once the BJP comes to power." About the oft-repeated claims by TMC, Congress and Left parties that BJP is anti-Muslim, Adhikari said, "I had never said we don't need Muslim votes... Instead, I had wondered why we are not getting their (Muslim) votes. I think they are being used by TMC for the votebank politics." "Didn't they get the benefits of Modiji's (PM Narendra Modi) social welfare ...

Respiratory issues, pregnancy complications surge in Kolkata post Diwali

Hospitals across Kolkata have reported a significant rise in respiratory illnesses among people and complications among pregnant women and IVF patients after Diwali and Kali Puja celebrations, with doctors attributing the surge to heightened air and noise pollution caused by bursting of firecrackers. Pulmonologists and gynaecologists observed an uptick in both outpatient and inpatient visits between October 20 and 22, with pollution levels soaring well beyond safe limits. Several medical professionals warned of serious health risks for vulnerable groups, including those with pre-existing respiratory conditions and expecting mothers. Dr Mrinmoy Mitra, senior consultant pulmonologist at ILS Hospital, Dumdum, reported a 10-15 per cent increase in hospital admissions for respiratory illnesses and a 20 per cent rise in OPD visits during the festive period. "Most patients came in with aggravated asthma, AECOPD, chest tightness, wheezing, and nasal blockage. Diwali smoke and firecracker .

Court denies bail to six accused in Durgapur MBBS student rape case

Asansol-Durgapur Commissioner of Police (CP) Sunil Kumar Choudhary earlier said that police have arrested six people in connection with the Durgapur rape case

Doctor assaulted, threatened with rape at Bengal medical college, 2 held

A junior female doctor was allegedly assaulted and threatened with rape by a traffic home guard and his neighbour at the Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay Medical College and Hospital in West Bengal's Howrah district, following which police arrested the duo, a senior officer said on Tuesday. The alleged incident took place in the medical establishment in Uluberia on Monday, following which the victim doctor filed her complaint with the police, he said. "The incident took place after a pregnant woman from Kharia Maynapur was admitted to the hospital on Monday afternoon. During a routine check-up in the evening, the junior doctor was unable to perform a full physical examination due to the patient's medical complications," the officer said. Initial probe revealed that following the check-up, the patient's home guard relative and two others questioned the doctor about the patient's condition, he said. "An argument ensued, during which the doctor was allegedly slapped, her arm twisted, and .

Infiltration stopped in Assam, illegal immigrants welcomed in Bengal: Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday claimed that while infiltration has stopped in BJP-ruled Assam, it was continuing in adjoining West Bengal because the government there was giving a "red carpet welcome" to illegal immigrants. Addressing a media conclave in Patna, he also mocked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for having given up the diatribe on "vote theft", reiterating that Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls would weed out "infiltrators". "It is baffling that the opposition has been getting a bellyache over an exercise launched by the Election Commission, which would weed out infiltrators. I am fully in support of the SIR exercise, which would eventually take place in the entire country," he said at the conclave organised by ABP News and Hindustan. Shah, however, bristled when reminded of the opposition charge that if there were infiltrators in the country, the blame ought to be on the Narendra Modi government at the Centre, which has been in power at the ...

Durgapur rape survivor discharged from hospital under police protection

A second-year student of a private medical college in West Bengal's Durgapur, who was allegedly gang-raped on October 10, was discharged from the hospital on Saturday after improvement in her health condition, officials said. According to a health bulletin issued by the hospital, the decision to discharge the 23-year-old woman was taken after a comprehensive medical evaluation by a team of doctors. "Our multi-specialty medical board has taken meticulous care of her physical and mental well-being. Following a comprehensive review by our team of expert doctors, she was deemed fit for discharge. This assessment was duly discussed with her parents, and she was safely discharged from the hospital today," the statement said. The survivor was shifted to the college guest house, where local police were providing security, a senior police officer said. The officer, speaking to PTI, said the police would seek test identification (TI) parade of the accused on October 22, the next date of hear

All 5 accused arrested in Durgapur gangrape case: Here's everything we know

The 23-year-old student, hailing from Jaleswar in Odisha's Balasore district, was allegedly raped by a group of men on Friday night outside the campus when she went out with a friend for dinner

CM Mamata seeks compensation from Bhutan for floods in north Bengal

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday claimed that water flowing down from adjoining Bhutan caused floods in north Bengal and sought compensation from the Himalayan kingdom. The chief minister, who is visiting the natural disaster-hit region to oversee relief and rehabilitation work, said at Nagrakata in Jalpaiguri district that the losses occurred owing to rainwater flowing down from Bhutan through various rivers. "We have faced losses due to water coming down from Bhutan... We want them to give us compensation," Banerjee said in a short address during a government programme. Maintaining that the state government has to arrange all relief and rehabilitation, she claimed that the Centre does not pay for it. Maintaining that her government has long been demanding formation of an Indo-Bhutan River Commission in which West Bengal should be made a member, Banerjee said a meeting is likely to be held on October 16 on the issue where the state will send an officer as the representativ