Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to chief minister Nitish Kumar over the catastrophe and took stock of the emergent situation on Monday night.

PATNA: Though rainfalls have somewhat remained disciplined from Monday evening to Tuesday morning, the death toll touched 43 with three more deaths reported from other parts of state.

Seven deaths from Kaimur, six each from Gaya and Bhagalpur and four from Nalanda, besides other 9 affected districts have been reported.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to chief minister Nitish Kumar over the catastrophe and took stock of the emergent situation on Monday night.

An official said that the PM assured the CM of all helps to check the flood-related miseries.

Later, the PM in a tweet said that all agencies of administration have been working with full strength to assist the affected people.

The choppers of IAF, pressed into relief and rescue operations over Patna, dropped more than 40,000 packets and has taken four to five sorties since Monday.

Chief secretary Deepak Kumar and Principal secretary of disaster management department Pratyaya Amrit along with entire state bureaucracy and police administration are on their toes to tackle the menace that emerged due to rainfalls of over 350 ml.

“We are taking all-out efforts to tide over the problem and will overcome it soon”, said Prataya Amrit.

Official sources added that 14 districts have so far been badly affected with heavy to very heavy rainfalls in addition to Patna, wherein 20 colonies are submerged, Rajendranagar and Kankerbagh being the worst rain hit.

Meanwhile, breaches have been reported from different places including one in Jehanabad Daraundha river.

On Tuesday, disaster management department claimed to have made arrangements to provide 2 lakh drinking water across the waterlogged areas.

The number of community kitchens has also been increased from 219 to 226.

The 72-feet tall statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Patna Gandhi Maidan, made of bronze at cost of Rs 35 crores, is the world’s tallest statue of Mahatma Gandhi.

PATNA: Amid waterlogging crisis due to incessant rains, the state government has decided to celebrate Gandhi Jayanti at the world’s tallest statue of Bapu, installed at Patna Gandhi Maidan.

An official communique issued on Monday confirmed this and stated that Gandhi Jayanti ceremony stands as per its schedule without any alteration.

The 72-feet tall statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Patna Gandhi Maidan, made of bronze at cost of Rs 35 crores, is the world’s tallest statue of Gandhi.

Sculpted by famous artist Ram Sutar, the statue was unveiled by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on February 15 in 2013. 

On the 24-feet high pedestals of this statue, details on Gandhi’s’ Dandi March, Quit India Movement, Champaran Satyagraha and popularity of Charkha (spinning wheel) have been inscribed.

Gandhi maidan, where the statue is installed, has witnessed several political movements including the Jayaprakash Narayan movement.

Mahatma Gandhi had also addressed a huge gathering at this maidan during his Bihar visit at the time of Champaran satyagraha.

It was named by the Britishers as Patna Lawn but got renamed as Gandhi Maidan in 1948.

At least 953 wealthiest individuals have shed Rs 3,72,800 crore, a depletion of 7 per cent of the total wealth in 2019.

NEW DELHI: While a lot has been talked about the shrinking rural growth, the slowing economy has taken a toll on India’s richest men and women too. Interestingly, however, the combined wealth of top 25 richest people equalled 10 per cent of India’s GDP (gross domestic product).

Mukesh Ambani continues to be the richest Indian with a wealth of Rs 3,80,700 crore; that is, 2.6 times the revenue foregone by the Central government as it cut corporate income taxes to their lowest level weeks ago.

However, at least 953 wealthiest individuals in India have shed Rs 3,72,800 crore; this is a depletion of 7 per cent of the total wealth in 2019 as compared to that in the year-ago period. In fact, if we include the new wealth added this year, the average wealth shows a decline of 11 per cent during the same period.

According to the IIFL Wealth Hurun India Rich List 2019, at least 344 individuals, or more than a third of this year’s list, witnessed wealth reduction and another 112 failed to meet the cut-off of Rs 1,000 crore – that is almost half of last year’s list. 

For instance, billionaire Dilip Shanghvi has seen 20 per cent drop in his wealth to Rs 71,500 crore. Since 2016, Dilip Shanghvi has lost Rs 50,000 core in net-worth and slipped to the tenth place in 2019 from second in 2016.

Steel magnate Lakshmi N Mittal, who runs ArcelorMittal, is the fourth richest with a wealth of Rs 1.07 lakh crore but saw his net worth erode by 6 per cent in sync with the stress in the metal sector. 

Among the players who crashed out of the richest list is Anil Ambani. The equity value of Ambani’s listed business empire has declined to Rs 2,000 crore. If one were to exclude the pledged shares, the equity value is at Rs 584 crore.

IMD Hyderabad issued heavy rain warning in isolated places of all coastal districts in State

VIJAYAWADA: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) Hyderabad issued a heavy rain warning in isolated places of all the coastal districts in the State for the next 24 hours.On Wednesday, moderate to heavy rain took place across Krishna district, with Avanigadda Mandal receiving maximum rainfall of 50.5 mm. With the influence of cyclonic circulation of winds in the Bay of Bengal region, moderate to heavy rain have been taking place across the coastal region.

Moderate rain-lashed Vijayawada city and many parts of the Krishna district on Wednesday, with an average of 30 mm rainfall. Vijayawada received continuous rainfall with over 35 mm recorded in the morning hours. The incessant rainfall resulted in the roads getting inundated and the drains getting overflowed.

Areas of Prakasam Road, Governorpet, Seetharampuram and Siddhartha Nagar were submerged with rainwater and drain water. This resulted in traffic snarls as well. On Wednesday, maximum rainfall of about four to five cm was recorded in many places across Krishna district.

The State Disaster Management Authority also issued warning for the fishermen to stay away from the coast as gusty winds, in the range of 45 to 50 mph, continued. The rain is most likely to continue in the next 24 to 48 hours, across the district.

SDMA issues warning for fishermen
Moderate rain lashed Vijayawada city and many parts of the Krishna district on Wednesday, with an average of 30 mm rainfall. Avanigadda mandal received maximum rainfall, at  50.5 mm. The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) also issued warning for the fishermen to stay away from the coast as gusty winds, in the range of 45 to 50 km h, continued. The rain is most likely to continue in the next 24 to 48 hours, across Krishna district

More than 500 people from various water-logged areas were also shifted to safer places following heavy rains in Pune on Wednesday night, a fire brigade official said

PUNE

At least 12 people were killed in various incidents of flooding and wall collapse after heavy rains battered Maharashtra’s Pune district, officials said on Thursday. Condoling the deaths, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today said that state government was closely monitoring the situation. 

Nearly 10,500 people from several water-logged areas were shifted to safer places so far following heavy showers in the district on  Wednesday, officials said.

Mr Fadnavis said he was pained to know about the loss of lives due to heavy rains in Pune. 

Pained to know about the loss of lives in and around Pune due to heavy rains.
My deepest condolences to the families. We are providing all possible assistance needed.

The chief minister said teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were deployed in the city and Baramati tehsil, and all necessary assistance was being provided in the affected areas. Schools and colleges in various tehsils of Pune declared a holiday on Thursday in view of the deluge.

Five people sleeping at a dargah in Khed-Shivapur village, located on the Mumbai-Bengaluru National Highway, were washed away after the heavy downpour, senior police official Sandip Patil said, adding that two persons from Purandar area were reported missing.

Besides, five people, including a nine-year-old boy, were killed in incidents of wall collapse in the flooded Arneshwar area, chief fire officer Prashant Ranpise said. 

Over 10,500 people from various water-logged areas were shifted to safer places in Pune

“Over 10,000 people from low-lying areas in Baramati were shifted to safer places after water was released from Nazare dam, built on the Karha river near Jejuri,” Mr Patil said.

Besides, more than 500 people stranded in low-lying areas of the city were also rescued, Mr Ranpise said. 

“Rain stopped on Thursday morning, but many houses and residential societies in low-lying areas were still inundated. There were several reports of wall collapse and uprooting of trees in those places,” another fire official said. 

Mr Fadnavis also said that 2 NDRF teams were deployed in Pune and 2 in Baramati. 

2 NDRF teams are deployed in Pune & 2 in Baramati.
One more NDRF team is on way to Baramati.
State Government is also closely monitoring the dam discharge

“Rain stopped on Thursday morning, but many houses and residential societies in low-lying areas were still inundated. There were several reports of wall collapse and uprooting of trees in those places,” another fire brigade official said.

A number of low-lying areas in and around Pune were flooded after heavy showers lashed the city on Wednesday.

Water-logging was reported in Sinhgad Road, Dhanakwadi, Balajinagar, Ambegaon, Sahakar Nagar, Parvati, Kolhewadi and Kirkatwadi, Mr Ranpise said.

Pune district collector Naval Kishore Ram has declared a holiday in schools and colleges of Pune city, Purandar, Baramati, Bhor and Haveli Tehsils for Thursday.

Petrol, diesel prices today: Currently, domestic prices of petrol and diesel are reviewed by oil marketing companies on a daily basis

Petrol, diesel price today: Petrol and diesel rates were Rs. 74.19 per litre Rs. 67.14 per litre in Delhi

Petrol and diesel prices were hiked on Thursday after a pause the previous day. With effect from 6 am on September 26, the price of petrol was Rs. 74.19 per litre in Delhi and Rs. 79.85 per litre in Mumbai, according to notifications from Indian Oil Corporation. The rates of diesel were Rs. 67.14 per litre in Delhi and Rs. 70.44 per litre in Mumbai. Oil marketing companies, including state-run Indian Oil, had kept the domestic fuel prices unchanged on Wednesday Thursday’s prices of petrol in marked a hike of 6 paise per litre in each of the four metros. The rates of diesel were up by 7 paise per litre compared with Wednesday’s rates.

In Kolkata, the prices of petrol and diesel were Rs. 76.88 per litre and Rs. 69.56 per litre respectively. In Chennai, the rate of petrol was Rs. 77.12 per litre and that of diesel stood at Rs. 70.98 per litre.

Currently, domestic prices of petrol and diesel are reviewed by oil marketing companies on a daily basis. Any revisions to bring the domestic rates in line with crude oil prices overseas by taking into account factors such as the rupee-dollar foreign exchange rate are effected at the fuel stations at 6 am.

The rupee edged higher to move in a range of 70.85-71.01 against the dollar on Thursday, a after it settled at 71.04 against the greenback.

Crude oil prices fell more than 1 per cent on Wednesday, declining for a second consecutive day, after US stockpiles unexpectedly rose and as Saudi Arabia maintained a faster-than-expected recovery of its oil production.

Brent crude futures – the international benchmark for crude oil – settled at $62.39 a barrel, down 1.1 per cent compared with the previous close

The rupee has dropped 1.8 per cent against the dollar so far this year.

Mohammed Umar Turay was arrested after he arrived at the Indira Gandhi International Airport to catch a flight to Melbourne today morning.

NEW DELHI

The drugs seized from the man were handed over to customs officials at the airport.

An Australian national was arrested at the Delhi airport today for allegedly carrying drugs worth Rs. 21 crore, a senior official said.

Mohammed Umar Turay was arrested after he arrived at the Indira Gandhi International Airport to catch a flight to Melbourne today morning.

Airport officials said that the traveller looked suspicious. When he was searched, 7 kilograms of amphetamine was recovered from the false bottom of his bag, they said.

The seized drugs were handed over to customs officials at the airport for further probe, he said

The three men who were attacked by the mob were taken to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences in Ranchi where one of them -Kelem Barla – died of his injuries.

KHUNTI, JHARKHAND: 

Three men who were attacked by a mob in Jharkhand were taken to hospital where one of them died.

A 34-year-old man was beaten to death allegedly by villagers in Jharkhand on Sunday over suspicion of selling beef. The incident took place in Khunti district, 34 km from capital Ranchi. Two other men too were attacked and are injured.

Five people have been arrested, the police said.

“At around 10 am, the station in-charge of Karra police station was informed by some villagers that prohibited meat was being sold by some people whom the local villagers had caught and were thrashing them,” Deputy Inspector General of Police AV Homkar told reporters.

The three men who were attacked were taken to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences in Ranchi where one of them – Kelem Barla – died of his injuries.

The police are carrying out raids on the basis of a list of suspects, the top police officer said.

“We are questioning them and have formed teams to catch the others too,” Mr Homkar said.

In June 17 this year, a 24-year-old man in Jharkhand’s Seraikela Kharsawan was beaten up with rods while tied to a pole for hours and forced to chant “Jai Shri Ram”. Tabrez Ansar died from his injuries four days later on June 22 in a hospital.

Earlier this month, charges against the men accused in Tabrez Ansari’s mob attack were dropped because the post-mortem report said he died of a cardiac arrest. Days later filing a supplementary chargesheet, based on a fresh medical report.

An official, justifying the murder charge in the supplementary chargesheet, told news agency PTI that the police took a second opinion of specialist doctors as the previous medical report stating the death was caused due to cardiac arrest was not clear.

Last week, Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ahmed Patel had met the former Finance Minister P Chidambaram

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi visited Delhi’s Tihar jail on Monday to meet former union minister P Chidambaram, who has been in prison since September 5 in connection with a corruption investigation.

The gesture by two of the Congress’s top leaders signaled the party’s stand that it would back its leaders all the way against what it calls politically-driven targeting.

Mr Chidambaram appreciated the visit in his tweets. “I am honoured that Sonia Gandhi and Dr. Manmohan Singh called on me today. As long as the party is strong and brave, I will also be strong and brave,” his family tweeted on his behalf.

Mr Chidambaram’s son Karti Chidambaram, who also went with the Congress leaders, said Sonia Gandhi had given “immense support” to his father and he and Dr Singh had a “long discussion about the state of the economy”. Last week, Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ahmed Patel had met Mr Chidambaram.

Mr Chidambaram is accused of facilitating in 2007, as the country’s finance minister, a huge infusion of foreign funds into the company INX Media. Karti Chidambaram is accused of receiving kickbacks for facilitating the process.

The Chidambarams were named by INX co-founders Peter and Indrani Mukerjea, who are in jail in Mumbai in connection with the murder of Indrani’s daughter Sheena Bora.

Mr Chidambaram, who celebrated his 74th birthday on Monday, “is in good health”, said PTI. The former union minister has kept his Twitter timeline active from jail, targeting the government on various subjects including the economy.

This morning, he also tweeted on the grand “Howdy, Modi” event on Sunday at Houston, Texas, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump addressed a giant crowd of Indian Americans.

Mr Chidambaram picked on PM Modi’s comment, “If you ask me ‘Howdy, Modi’, I’ll say – Bharat mein sab achha hai (everything is great in India)”.”

The former Union Minister responded: “Bharat mai sab achha hai. Except for unemployment, loss of existing jobs, lower wages, mob violence, lockdown in Kashmir and throwing Opposition leaders in prison.”

Earlier Sunday, Mr Chidambaram had also directed a jibe at the CBI for arguing in court that he was a flight risk. “I am thrilled to discover that according to some people, I will grow golden wings and fly away to the moon. I hope I will have a safe landing,” his family posted on his behalf.

On Thursday a Delhi court was told Mr Chidambaram had neither a pillow nor a chair in his cell, because of which he had “developed back pain”. The court refused to be swayed by the claim, which the government dismissed as a “small issue” and extended his custody to October 3. The senior Congress leader will have spent nearly a month in jail by then.

NEW DELHI

The bypolls in 63 assembly seats in 18 states and one Lok Sabha seat in Bihar will be held along with the state elections in Haryana and Maharashtra on October 21, the Election Commission said today. The results will be announced on October 24.

The by-elections will be held in Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Odisha, Puducherry, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora told the reporters.

In Karnataka, where disqualification of 17 rebel MLAs led to collapse of HD Kumaraswamy government in July, bypolls will be held in 15 seats, he added.

In Assam, where the citizens’ list was published last month, by-elections will be held in four assembly constituencies. 

These are the first state polls after the national election this year that the BJP swept, clearing the way for a second term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.