New Delhi, June 23: In a major crackdown on narcotics trafficking, East District Police in Delhi have arrested a drug peddler and her alleged supplier, recovering 106.68 grams of suspected heroin/smack and Rs 1,01,732 in cash believed to be proceeds from drug sales.

According to a press release issued by East District Police, the operation was conducted during the investigation of FIR No. 144/2026 registered under Section 21 of the NDPS Act at Shakarpur Police Station. Police described the action as part of a sustained campaign against drug trafficking and abuse in the national Capital.

The case began on June 21 after police received secret information that a woman was allegedly selling smack/heroin near Metro Pillar No. 51 in Vijay Block, Laxmi Nagar. Acting on the tip-off, a police team reached the spot and apprehended the suspect, identified as 42-year-old Farzana Begum, a resident of Loni in Uttar Pradesh.

During her search, officers recovered 31.68 grams of suspected heroin/smack and Rs 4,832 in cash. During interrogation, Farzana allegedly revealed the identity of the person supplying the narcotics to her.

Based on this information, a police team led by Inspector Manoj Kumar conducted a follow-up operation near Jag Pravesh Chandra Hospital in Shastri Park, where the supplier, identified as 26-year-old Imran of Kartar Nagar, Delhi, was apprehended.

Police said 24 grams of suspected heroin/smack were recovered from Imran’s possession. A further search of the red scooty allegedly used by him led to the recovery of an additional 51 grams of suspected heroin concealed in a yellow plastic packet.

“A total of 106.68 grams of suspected heroin/smack (Intermediate Quantity) was recovered from both accused persons,” the police said in the statement. The recovered substance was examined on the spot by the Mobile Crime Forensic Team using a Narcotic Drug Detection Kit and tested positive for suspected heroin/smack.

Investigators also recovered Rs 96,900 from Imran and his vehicle, taking the total cash seizure to Rs 1,01,732. Police said the accused disclosed during interrogation that the money had been generated through the sale and distribution of narcotics.

In addition to the contraband and cash, officers seized a red scooty, a mobile phone and an earphone.

“Efforts are underway to identify the complete supply chain and other associates involved in narcotics trafficking,” the press release stated. Police are now probing the source of the drugs and examining both forward and backward linkages of the network.

East District Police reiterated its commitment to a “zero-tolerance campaign against narcotics trafficking,” adding that Intelligence-based operations and enforcement drives will continue to target drug networks operating in the district.

New Delhi, June 23: A sudden spell of severe weather swept through Delhi and adjoining parts of the National Capital Region (NCR) on Tuesday afternoon, with intense dust storms and powerful winds disrupting normal life and prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a Red alert, expected to last for at least 3 hours.

The Weather Department warned that adverse conditions were likely to persist for at least three hours, with wind speeds potentially touching 100 kmph in isolated areas. It also forecast thunderstorms, lightning activity and light rainfall across several parts of the region.

The dramatic change in weather began around 2.30 p.m., when the IMD issued urgent advisories for Delhi as well as neighbouring areas of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Soon after, strong gusts of wind swept across the capital, significantly reducing visibility as thick clouds of dust enveloped roads, open spaces and residential neighbourhoods.

The weather event brought temporary respite from the intense heat that had prevailed across the region over the past few days. Meteorologists noted that above-normal temperatures had created favourable atmospheric conditions, leading to the build-up of energy that contributed to the sudden storm activity.

The IMD forecast that the dust storm would be followed by thunderstorms, lightning, and light rainfall as moisture-bearing winds interacted with the unstable atmosphere. The rainfall is expected to help settle dust particles and bring further cooling to the region.

The alert extended beyond Delhi to several districts in neighbouring states. In Haryana, areas including Sonipat, Rohtak, Kharkhoda, Bhiwani, and Charkhi Dadri were expected to be affected. In Uttar Pradesh, warnings were issued for Bagpat, Khekra, Pilakhua, and Sikandrabad, while parts of Rajasthan such as Alwar, Bhiwadi, Tijara, and Deeg were also placed under watch.

According to the IMD, dust storms followed by thunderstorms, lightning, light rain and gusty winds ranging between 50 and 80 kmph were likely to impact Delhi and the surrounding NCR regions during the afternoon.

Weather observers also indicated the possibility of moderate to heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms in several parts of Delhi-NCR. However, conditions were expected to improve gradually, with dry weather likely to return by the evening.

New Delhi, June 23: The two-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up to investigate the devastating fire at a commercial building in Lucknow’s Aliganj area, reached the spot on Tuesday and began its investigation into the incident that claimed the lives of 18 young people.

The SIT, formed on the instructions of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, comprises Additional Chief Secretary Amrit Abhijat and Additional Director General of Police (ADG), Lucknow Zone Praveen Kumar. Both the senior officials, accompanied by several policemen scanned the badly charred building and searched for gaps and violations that turned the building into a ‘death trap’ for students.

Hours before the SIT team, a group of Forensic experts also arrived at the mishap site to inspect and examine the building’s premises for possible forensic evidence.

The FSL team carried out detailed inspection of the site for getting insights into the cause of the deadly blaze, ascertaining the possible reasons at the three-storey building in Lucknow’s Aliganj area.

The inferno claimed at least 18 lives, and left many others grievously injured.

The fire, that broke out on Monday at around 3 P.M., ripped through the residential building, illegally modified as a commercial centre, in North Lucknow.

The building housed an animation centre and saw many students trapped on the second floor of the complex. As the fire engulfed the building, this prevented them from escaping the deadly inferno.

Two youths, who tried to jump out of the building suffered serious injuries and are currently receiving treatment at a trauma centre.

According to preliminary reports, the fire broke out in the building AC’s duct and the billowing smoke led to suffocation of many as there was no exit route in the building.

The building and its owners are under the lens for flouting building by-laws, construction guidelines and norms and set to face the heat after their arrests.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited the site to review the situation and later also met injured victims at the hospital.