New Delhi, Sep 14: India has approved a proposal to supply power to Nepal for 18 hours a day till December 31 this year, following the extensive damage caused to the Himalayan country’s hydropower projects in the devastating flash floods, an official statement said on Monday.

“The Ministry of Power has accorded approval for the export of power, for 18 hours a day to Nepal Electricity Authority till December 31, 2026,” according to the statement.

Approval has been given for up to 600MW of export through Muzaffarpur-Dhalkebar 400 kV D/c line and up to 54 MW through Tanakpur-Mahendranagar 132 kV S/c line. The quantum of power to be exported from January 2027 will be reviewed in December, 2026, the statement said.

The recent floods have caused significant damage to hydropower infrastructure in Nepal, reducing its domestic power generation capacity and creating an additional requirement for electricity.

The approval will help Nepal meet its power requirements during this difficult period and further strengthen the close and longstanding energy cooperation between India and Nepal, the statement explained.

“India remains committed to supporting Nepal and strengthening bilateral cooperation in the energy sector,” the statement added.

India also intensified its humanitarian assistance to Nepal in the wake of the floods, delivering relief material and deploying personnel to support search, rescue, and forensic operations. Indian Air Force aircraft were used to carry relief and rescue supplies to Kathmandu.

The country also dispatched specialised technical gear, including mud rescue suits, gas detectors, breathing apparatus, inflatable walkways, portable generators, lighting towers, and dewatering pumps. India has provided DNA kits, reagents, and equipment for DNA profiling to aid in victim identification.

Meanwhile, the death toll from flash floods has risen to 1,386, with more bodies recovered from eight affected districts.

The floods, triggered by an ice-rock avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border on August 26, devastated towns and villages in northern and central Nepal.

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, 104 of the recovered bodies have so far been identified and handed over to families. Around 5,130 people are still reported missing.

Security forces continue search and rescue operations. More than 13,700 people have been rescued so far, while 339 people are undergoing treatment in hospitals.

Gurugram, Sep 14: A woman biker in Haryana’s Gurugram has alleged that a car repeatedly followed her before hitting her motorcycle and fleeing the spot, leaving her shaken and raising concerns over road safety in the city.

“I have nothing to say, but today I felt unsafe on Gurugram roads. People like these aren’t afraid of hitting people and running away,” the woman said after the incident.

The rider, who identifies herself as Sia and operates the Instagram page ‘rebelwheels_sia_’, uploaded footage of the incident on social media and described what she said happened before the collision.

According to Sia, the incident occurred on Sunday while she was riding her Aprilia RS 457 sports bike along Golf Course Road with members of her biking group.

In the video, she alleged that the occupants of a car had been following her from the beginning of the ride. She claimed that the people inside the vehicle behaved aggressively and attempted to get close to her motorcycle.

Sia said she asked the occupants to maintain a safe distance, but instead, they allegedly asked her to stop. She also claimed that the men appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.

The rider said she continued moving ahead in an attempt to prevent the car from cutting her off. A friend riding behind her also tried to intervene by positioning his motorcycle in a way that prevented the car from repeatedly coming alongside her.

Despite this, Sia alleged, the car continued following her. She claimed that at one point, the driver attempted to cut across the path of her motorcycle, resulting in a collision.

The impact knocked Sia off her bike, while her motorcycle was dragged several metres along the road. The car then reportedly left the area.

The incident was captured on an action camera fitted to Sia’s motorcycle.

She further alleged that one of her friends pursued the car and attempted to stop the driver. The vehicle eventually halted at a traffic signal, where the friend confronted the driver and allegedly told him that he was responsible for the collision.

However, according to Sia, the driver denied causing the accident and subsequently drove away from the traffic signal.

In a social media post, Sia appealed to the Gurugram Police to take action against motorists who allegedly put other road users at risk and flee after causing accidents.

She also shared the vehicle’s registration number and identified the registered owner mentioned in the vehicle’s registration certificate.

The video subsequently gained significant attention online, with social media users expressing support for the rider and calling for action against the alleged driver. Several users tagged the Delhi Police, Gurugram Police, Gurugram Traffic Police and Haryana Police, urging authorities to investigate the incident.

Some users also called for an FIR to be registered, while others highlighted concerns over rash driving and the safety of motorists, particularly on busy roads in Gurugram.

New Delhi, Sep 14: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nitin Nabin has urged people to light an ‘Aashirvaad ka diya (lamp of blessings)’ at their homes on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday on September 17, calling for prayers for his long life and good health and highlighting his 25-year journey in public service and nation-building.

In a post on X, Nabin said that “Public Service for National Service” has been the core motto of PM Modi’s life, describing the Prime Minister’s 25-year journey dedicated to public service and nation-building as unprecedented.

“‘Public Service for National Service’ has been the core motto of the life of the Honourable Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji. As the head of the government, his 25-year journey dedicated to the resolve of public service and nation-building has been unprecedented,” Nabin said.

He said PM Modi’s “visionary leadership” had given the country a new direction and strength, adding that India was moving rapidly towards the goal of “Developed India @ 2047” as a result of the collective resolve provided by the Prime Minister.

“To express our best wishes for the country’s progressive journey and for PM Modi ji’s illustrious leadership, let us light the ‘Aashirvaad ka diya’ (lamp of blessings) in our respective homes between 6 and 7 pm on the auspicious occasion of the Prime Minister’s birthday on September 17, and offer our blessings while praying for his long life and good health,” Nabin said.

In a video message, Nabin also highlighted what he described as the challenges facing the country when PM Modi began guiding its leadership.

“When he started guiding the country’s leadership, the situation was not easy. He introduced new schemes, new plans and a new vision, and gave hope to the nation’s youth that challenges can be turned into opportunities,” Nabin said.

He also cited the government’s initiatives for women, particularly the Lakhpati Didi programme, saying it was helping women become financially self-reliant and contribute to India’s development.

“Through Lakhpati Didi, our nation’s women are becoming self-dependent and contributing to the nation’s development. We believe PM Modi’s leadership will take women forward and strengthen their confidence,” he said.

Nabin further highlighted the issue of Naxalism, saying the Prime Minister had made its elimination a key resolve of his government.

“Our country had Naxalism for a long period of time. PM Modi included it in his resolve, and Naxalism has been abolished at the root. In 2026, India is Naxal-free,” Nabin said.