Jammu, Sep 7: A drugs case accused has managed to escape from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) headquarters here, and police formed a team to nab the fugitive, officials said on Monday.

Officials said the accused, Aqib Bashir of Kakapora town in Pulwama district, escaped from NCB custody on Sunday night.

“He (Bashir) was arrested with 522g heroin in Samba. He is linked to a narco module,” an official said, adding that the NCB Jammu Zonal Unit has intensified its crackdown on heroin trafficking into Jammu & Kashmir, with recent operations indicating two distinct supply routes — heroin entering directly from Pakistan through the Uri sector and heroin being routed indirectly through Punjab into J&K.

In the latest operation on last Thursday, NCB Jammu intercepted a passenger bus near New Bus Stand, Samba and recovered 522 grams of heroin from Bashir.

“Investigation swiftly traced the backward linkage to Punjab. Acting on the lead, NCB mounted a separate operation at Ludhiana, resulting in a further seizure of 197 grams of heroin. The linked Samba–Ludhiana operation has thus resulted in the recovery of 719 grams of heroin, while further investigation into the network is continuing,” the official said.

Officials said this seizure was the fourth heroin interception by NCB in the Jammu Division within about a month, forming part of a sustained intelligence-led offensive against the supply and distribution of heroin in the region.

“The recent operations include seizures of 438 grams and 603 grams of heroin in two operations conducted inside drug-affected bastis in Jammu/Samba, taking enforcement action directly into vulnerable pockets being used for drug trafficking,” an official said.

In another major operation, NCB has earlier seized 5.160 kg of heroin at Jammu. Investigation in that case indicated that the consignment had originated from Pakistan and entered J&K through the Uri sector.

The trail was pursued beyond the point of seizure up to Leh, where the alleged supplier was apprehended. The latest Samba case has now exposed the other supply channel, with the backward linkage leading to Ludhiana.

The operations indicate that heroin is being pushed into the region through multiple routes — directly across the Pakistan border as well as indirectly through the Punjab–J&K corridor.

The NCB’s strategy is therefore focused not merely on seizures at the point of interception, but on following every consignment both backwards to its source and forwards to its intended recipients, with the objective of dismantling the entire trafficking chain.

Further investigation into the suppliers, receivers, financial trail, and other members of these networks is underway.

Bengaluru, Sep 7: Seven people were killed in two separate road accidents in Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts of Karnataka, including four members of a family who were returning to Bengaluru after visiting the Tirupati temple on Monday.

In the first incident, four pilgrims from Bengaluru were killed after their car reportedly lost control and overturned near Dodda Kari village in KGF taluk of Kolar district on the Chennai-Bengaluru Expressway.

The deceased have been identified as Sharadamma, 70, Deekshita, 25, Devendra Kumar, 41, and Jishnu, 13. They were residents of Vidyaranyapura in Bengaluru.

The family members had travelled to Tirupati for the darshan of Lord Venkateswara and were returning to Bengaluru when the accident occurred. The Toyota car reportedly lost control and hit the median before overturning, resulting in the deaths of four occupants on the spot.

Three others travelling in the vehicle — Vikas, Neethu and Advika — sustained injuries and were shifted to the Bangarpet government hospital for treatment.

A case has been registered at the Bethamangala Police Station, and further investigation is underway.

In a separate incident in neighbouring Chikkaballapur district, three women were killed after an Omni car carrying agricultural labourers collided with a mini goods vehicle near Kothanur Gate in Shidlaghatta taluk.

The accident occurred when 10 labourers from Mallikarjunapura village were being taken in an Omni car by a man identified as Ramachandrappa to Hujuguru village for flower harvesting.

Three women from Mallikarjunapura were killed on the spot in the collision. Several others sustained injuries and were shifted to the Shidlaghatta Taluk Hospital for treatment.

A case has been registered at the Shidlaghatta Rural Police Station in connection with the accident.

The two separate accidents have claimed seven lives and left several others injured in the two districts.

Patna, Sep 7: The monsoon remains active across Bihar, with the Meteorological Department issuing a Yellow Alert for rain in 13 districts on Monday.

The alert covers West Champaran, East Champaran, Gopalganj, Siwan, Saran, Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Muzaffarpur, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Vaishali, Samastipur and Supaul.

Heavy rainfall has been forecast in four districts—Supaul, Samastipur, Sitamarhi and Darbhanga.

Strong winds reaching speeds of up to 30 kmph are also expected in some areas, along with the possibility of lightning.

The Meteorological Centre has advised residents to remain cautious during adverse weather.

Several parts of Bihar received significant rainfall over the past 24 hours.

Munger recorded 73 mm, followed by Patna with 68 mm, Banka with 67 mm, Muzaffarpur with 65 mm, and Jamui and Siwan with 55 mm each.

Despite the recent rainfall, Bihar has recorded a 35 per cent deficit in cumulative rainfall so far this season.

Against the expected 820.9 mm, the state has received 531.3 mm.

Patna received 68 mm of rainfall on Sunday. The capital is expected to remain cloudy on Monday, although the possibility of continuous heavy rainfall is low. Light drizzle may occur in some areas.

Humidity and temperatures may rise once the rain subsides, while no significant change in temperature is expected over the coming week.

While rainfall continues in parts of the state, rising river levels have compounded the situation.

Heavy rainfall in Nepal and Uttarakhand has contributed to increased water levels in several rivers, with floodwaters now affecting 18 districts and approximately 6.65 lakh people.

The Ganga is flowing above the danger mark from Buxar to Bhagalpur.

The Punpun has risen 2.75 metres above the danger mark, with floodwaters reportedly overtopping or breaching protective embankments in the southern parts of Patna and entering residential areas.

Flooding has also disrupted transportation at several locations, with water affecting the Patna-Gaya railway section, Bihta Sarmera NH 78, and the Mokama National Highway.

The Son River has also caused flooding in riverside villages in the Bihta block, affecting around 20,000 people and submerging several roads.

According to the Meteorological Department, rainfall across Bihar is expected to remain uneven over the next few days, with localised cloud activity and light rain likely in different areas.