Mumbai: A woman tourist from Maharashtra has remained untraceable since landslide and flash floods hit Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, state Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan said on Saturday.

The minister’s office in a statement said that 171 out of the 172 tourists from Maharashtra, who were stranded in the Dharali area, could be contacted, and they were all confirmed safe.

The Statement

“Only one person, Kritika Jain, is still missing, but the authorities are trying to locate her. Efforts are underway to establish contact with the tourist, and the Uttarakhand State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) has been instructed to conduct a search for her,” the statement said.

Of the 171 tourists from Maharashtra, 160 are safe at various locations – 31 are in Matli, six in Jolly Grant, and 123 in Uttarkashi – and have continued their journey as planned. The remaining 11 tourists are safe in Harsil and will be airlifted to safety, it stated.

Mahajan is overseeing the rescue operation on-site in Uttarkashi to ensure the safety of tourists.

The Maharashtra State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) is in constant touch with its Uttarakhand counterpart, the district control room, the district emergency operations centre in Uttarkashi, and the National Emergency Response Centre in New Delhi.

According to the statement, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is monitoring the situation.

As per information shared by Uttarakhand authorities, the airlift of tourists stranded in Harsil was scheduled for Saturday morning. Army, NDRF, SDRF and local rescue teams are operational in Dharali.

The landslide and floods have damaged roads and disrupted communication networks. Efforts are underway to restore connectivity and basic infrastructure.

A satellite phone has been deployed by IGP Rajeev Swaroop, and the Army has been alerted for immediate response.

The Maharashtra SEOC is coordinating rescue arrangements, updating information, and assisting the concerned families, the statement added.

Mumbai: The Lawrence Bishnoi gang has escalated its threats following a second round of gunfire at comedian Kapil Sharma’s café, “Caps Café,” in Surrey, Canada. On Friday, the gang released an audio clip allegedly from Bishnoi’s close aide, Harry Boxer, claiming responsibility for the attack and linking it to Bollywood star Salman Khan’s appearance on the opening episode of Sharma’s Netflix show.

The incident occurred on Thursday when assailants fired at least 25 rounds at the café. The gang asserts the attack was in direct retaliation for Kapil Sharma inviting Salman Khan to launch “The Great Indian Kapil Show” Season 2.

In the menacing audio, Boxer warns: “Whoever works with Salman Khan will be finished by the Bishnoi gang — they will be killed.” He declared there would be no further warnings, stating that next time “bullets will be fired straight at the chest.” The message also vowed to unleash unprecedented chaos in Mumbai, specifically naming producers, directors, and actors as potential targets. “Anyone collaborating with Salman Khan will be responsible for their own death,” the voice threatened.

Following the release of the clip, Mumbai Police moved into high alert. The Crime Branch has begun investigating the recording while increasing security at Kapil Sharma’s Oshiwara residence. Multiple officers have been deployed outside his apartment complex, with regular patrols in the area. CCTV footage from the vicinity is being reviewed for suspicious movements.

Sources confirmed Crime Branch officers visited Sharma’s home on Friday to question him about the threats. This was not their first interaction with the comedian. After the café was targeted for the first time in July, police had asked Sharma whether he had received extortion calls or threats from the Bishnoi gang — a claim he had denied at the time.

The second attack, combined with the new audio warning, has prompted authorities to investigate whether Bishnoi gang members have been conducting surveillance near Sharma’s home or shooting locations. Sources suggest that Sharma has now filed a formal complaint with local police, although he has not made a public statement.

The Bishnoi gang had also posted on social media on Thursday, taking responsibility for the Surrey shooting hours before the audio surfaced.

Kapil Sharma remains one of India’s most prominent entertainers. Host of the hugely popular The Kapil Sharma Show and its Netflix spin-off The Great Indian Kapil Show, he is regarded as the country’s highest-paid Hindi comedian. He first rose to fame in 2007 after winning The Great Indian Laughter Challenge Season 3, later making his Bollywood debut with Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon (2015), followed by Firangi (2017) and Zwigato (2023).

Mumbai: Three traders from Zaveri Bazaar are alleged to have defrauded many individuals by guaranteeing substantial returns on their investments in the gold industry. They reportedly put in around Rs 44 crore into Dabba Trading, which included 36 kg of gold and nearly Rs 10 crore in cash.

When encountering losses, the traders stated that the business was struggling. A report was lodged at Lokmanya Tilak Marg police station regarding these traders. A trader located in the western suburbs with a shop in Zaveri Bazaar knew Ladulal, Pallav, and Shubham, who were recognized in the neighborhood for their business activities.

They persuaded the trader to invest, guaranteeing profitable returns via various business strategies, initially drawing in approximately Rs 2 crore in capital. A profitable return enhanced the trader’s confidence, prompting further investments of 36 kg of gold and Rs 10 crore.

When returns stopped, the trader looked for reasons, and although he received cheques from multiple accounts, none were dishonoured. Following the inquiry, it became evident that the three individuals had incurred losses of Rs 44 crore in dabba trading, leading the trader to complain.

Dabba trading is an unlawful activity conducted outside the stock exchange, without proper registration and regulation, resulting in significant losses for investors and tax evasion for the government, while misleadingly asserting greater returns than legitimate stock market investments.