Jaipur, May 23: Rajasthan continues to grapple with an intense heatwave, with large parts of the desert state experiencing scorching temperatures. However, scattered thunderstorms in a few areas have provided some relief from the relentless summer heat.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), heatwave conditions are expected to persist in 16 districts on Friday, with no immediate relief in sight. A red alert has been issued for Jaisalmer, Sri Ganganagar, and Bikaner, while thundershowers are forecast in 19 districts, including Jaipur and Kota.

On Thursday, Sri Ganganagar recorded the highest maximum temperature at 47.3 degrees Celsius, which is 4.8 degrees above normal. Jodhpur recorded the highest minimum temperature at 31.7 degrees. Seven cities in Rajasthan witnessed temperatures exceeding 45 degrees Celsius, with Ganganagar experiencing the highest temperatures for the second consecutive day, surpassing 47 degrees Celsius again.

In contrast, temperatures fell slightly in some regions. In Jaipur, the maximum temperature dropped by 2 degrees Celsius to 42.8 degrees Celsius. In Alwar, the temperature fell by 5 degrees to 40 degrees, in Chittorgarh 42.4 degrees, in Udaipur 38.3 degrees, while Bhilwara recorded 41.5 degrees Celsius.

Thursday afternoon thunderstorms brought a shift in weather across Jhalawar, Baran, Bundi, Kota, Chittorgarh, and Bhilwara. Strong winds and rain offered some relief from the scorching heat.

Meanwhile, heavy rainfall in the Sadas area of Chittorgarh led to the collapse of a house wall. The tragic incident resulted in the death of Shaari alias Shanti (50), wife of Magana Bhil, and Suraj (7), son of Suresh Bhil. Raju alias Ratan (12), son of Kailash Bhil, was also seriously injured. All victims were rushed to Mahatma Gandhi Hospital in Bhilwara, where doctors declared Shaari and Suraj dead.

The weather changed around 5.30 p.m. in Bhilwara with a sudden storm followed by rain. The downpour brought much-needed relief from the intense heat and humidity. However, strong winds also caused trees to fall in several areas, and rain continued in parts of the district into the evening. Shahpura in Bhilwara registered the highest rainfall of 33 mm in the last 24 hours, said officials.

Guwahati, May 23: Assam Police foiled a drug peddling attempt in Cachar district on Friday, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced.

Police conducted an operation in the Cachar district, resulting in the seizure of narcotics valued at Rs 3.11 crore.

The operation against drugs was carried out by police on intelligence-backed information.

Taking to X, Sarma wrote, “Backed by intel, @cacharpolice carried out an operation near ISBT Silchar and apprehended a drug peddler with 622 gms heroin, valued at ₹3.11cr.”

“Our relentless #AssamAgainstDrugs effort will continue. Good job @assampolice”, he added.

Earlier on Thursday, drugs valued at over Rs 5.7 crores were seized by the security forces in Manipur and Mizoram. A defence spokesman said that Assam Rifles successfully apprehended a drug trafficker and seized a large amount of illegal narcotics from Manipur’s Noney district on Wednesday night.

The suspected drug peddler was moving in a truck from Imphal to Jiribam, along National Highway-37.

After receiving input from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence about the likely trafficking of narcotics, Assam Rifles personnel became vigilant and stopped a vehicle matching the description at a check post in Noney.

During the search operation, 569.24 grams of heroin and large quantities of amphetamine/methamphetamine tablets were recovered from the possession of the arrested drug peddler.

The drugs, the total value of which is Rs 5 crore, were contained in 50 cases of soap and 49 sachets.

In another incident, Border Security Force (BSF) personnel of the Mizoram and Cachar Frontier, based on specific input, conducted a search operation at Vairengte in Mizoram’s Kolasib district, along southern Assam, and seized 7.042 kg of pseudoephedrine tablets (a precursor chemical) valued at Rs 7.04 lakh.

One person was also arrested in connection with the drug seizure, a BSF spokesman said. Officials said that all the drugs were smuggled from neighbouring Myanmar.

New Delhi, May 23: The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to examine a plea seeking a complete ban on “illegal” betting apps.

The petition also sought strict regulations on online gaming and fantasy sports, and the enactment of a comprehensive law.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N.K. Singh issued a notice to the Centre and sought its response, but refrained from issuing notices to the state governments at the present stage.

The petitioner, claiming himself “a prominent social activist, humanitarian, and President of Global Peace Initiative, which is dedicated to promoting peace and justice globally”, said the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in the interest of millions of people and to protect the sanity and democracy in India by banning “illegal” betting apps.

The petition referred to an FIR registered in March this year in Telangana against 25 Bollywood celebrities, cricketers and influencers for misleading the public by promoting betting apps.

Further, it referred to a news article regarding the suicide of 24 people from Telangana after they were unable to pay debts incurred due to online betting.

It said that the petition was filed directly before the Supreme Court to safeguard Indian youth and vulnerable citizens from the perils of unregulated online betting and gambling, often disguised as fantasy sports and skill-based gaming.

The petitioner said the plea was filed in “the larger public interest to safeguard the youth of India from the unregulated, exploitative, and dangerous online betting industry operating under the garb of fantasy sports and skill-based gaming”.

“That betting, both online and offline, is inherently a game of chance, not a game of skill, and hence falls within the ambit of gambling, which is prohibited in many states under the Public Gambling Act, 1867,” said the petition, adding that there is no uniform central legislation to regulate online betting.

Further, the petitioner claimed that he is a globally recognised Peace Ambassador, nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by many countries, including the US, Norway, Sudan and India, for stopping several major wars through his peace efforts and rescuing 310 orphans and street children around the world.