Jammu, Aug 30: District Magistrate (DM) in J&K’s Jammu district on Saturday ordered all private water tankers to remain at the disposal of the Jal Shakti Department in the wake of the situation arising out of floods.

An order issued by DM Jammu said that floods in Jammu district have disrupted the potable water supply system, and the concerned agencies are working for the quick restoration of the potable water supply.

The order said that it has been observed that private water tankers are operating in an unregulated manner, leading to arbitrary pricing, unequal access, and potential distribution of unsafe water, thereby endangering public health, hygiene, and safety.

“All private water tankers operating within the territorial jurisdiction of District Jammu are restrained from independently supplying or selling water to any household/commercial establishment, with immediate effect,” it said.

The order pointed out that all such private water tankers are requisitioned by the district administration, Jammu, and placed at the disposal of the Jal Shakti (PHE) department, Jammu, for regulated and equitable water distribution.

It further said that all private borewells drilled in District Jammu for filling of tankers are hereby requisitioned by the District Administration, Jammu, and placed at the disposal of the Jal Shakti (PHE) department, Jammu, with immediate effect.

The order directed that all the SDMs are further directed to identify within their respective jurisdictions individuals/establishments running private tankers and to immediately hand over the same to the Jal Shakti (PHE) department, Jammu.

There is a general crisis of safe drinking water in Jammu district after the recent floods, as most safe water supply sources have become muddy and unsafe.

Ten people have been killed and three have gone missing in the landslide and cloudburst that hit Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi and Ramban districts overnight.

State government officials said that seven people died in a landslide that flattened a residential house in the Mahore area of Reasi district on Friday night.

The officials said that the incident occurred after intense overnight showers lashed the area.

Three people died overnight in a cloudburst incident in the Rajgarh area of Ramban in the Jammu division.

According to the administration, many houses were damaged in the incident, with some completely washed away by the force of the floodwaters.

The latest disaster added to a series of destructive events in Jammu and Kashmir this month, where heavy rain, flash floods, and landslides have already taken a heavy toll.

Several districts in the Jammu region have witnessed large-scale devastation, with official reports confirming that more than 46 people have died so far in rain-related incidents.

In Reasi and Doda districts alone, at least 16 people have been killed as heavy rainfall triggered multiple landslides, swollen rivers, and flood-like conditions that engulfed many villages.

Over the past week, districts, including Jammu, Samba, and Kathua, have also faced severe damage to property and infrastructure.

Patna: Nine years after the murder of senior journalist Rajdev Ranjan in Bihar’s Siwan, the Special CBI Court in Muzaffarpur on Saturday convicted three accused while acquitting three others.

On May 13, 2016, Rajdev Ranjan, then bureau chief of a leading Hindi daily, was shot dead in Siwan.

He was returning from a hospital visit when assailants opened fire, hitting him with two bullets that proved fatal on the spot.

His wife, Asha Yadav, lodged the FIR at the Siwan Town police station, and suspicion soon pointed towards jailed RJD strongman and former Siwan MP Mohammad Shahabuddin, though charges were later framed against other accused.

The case was later taken over by the CBI, which filed a chargesheet against seven accused, excluding Shahabuddin.

Shahabuddin, considered the main accused, died during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The trial involved six accused – Azharuddin alias Laddan Mian, Rohit Kumar Soni, Vijay Kumar Gupta, Sonu Kumar Gupta, Rajesh Kumar, and Rishu Kumar Jaiswal.

Another accused was declared a juvenile, with his case being heard separately.

After nearly eight years of proceedings, during which the CBI examined 69 witnesses and presented 111 pieces of evidence, District and Additional Sessions Judge-3 Namita Singh delivered the judgment.

As per the judgement, Azharuddin alias Laddan Mian, Rajesh Kumar and Rishu Kumar Jaiswal were acquitted while Vijay Kumar Gupta, Sonu Kumar Gupta and Rohit Kumar Soni were found guilty.

Defence lawyer Sharad Sinha told reporters that the court acquitted three accused due to lack of evidence, while the remaining three were found guilty of the journalist’s murder.

The high-profile case, once linked to Shahabuddin’s political clout in Siwan, was initially heard at the Special Court (MP/MLA cases) in Patna before being shifted to the CBI Court in Muzaffarpur.

The sentencing of the three convicted accused is expected in the coming days.

Mumbai: Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ official residence ‘Varsha’ in Mumbai on Saturday to seek the blessings of Ganpati Bappa.

In a video shared by CM Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister Amit Shah can be seen performing the traditional aarti. During the visit, Fadnavis expressed his honour in an X post, stating, “Hon Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amitbhai Shah and family performed aarti at our official residence ‘Varsha’ in Mumbai, today with utmost devotion, and together we prayed for the well-being of all.”

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, accompanied by his family, also visited the Mogareshwar Public Ganeshotsav Mandal in Andheri East on Saturday to seek the divine blessings of Bhagwan Shri Ganesha. The visit was marked by the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

After offering greetings at the mandal, Shah, Fadnavis, and Shinde took part in the darshan of Ganpati Bappa, receiving his blessings. On this auspicious occasion, they prayed to Shri Gajanana for the happiness and prosperity of the country and the state.

In a post, CM Devendra Fadnavis shared his honour in welcoming Union Minister Amit Shah, stating, “Honoured to welcome our leader, Hon Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amitbhai and family at my official residence ‘Varsha’ in Mumbai, today for Ganpati Bappa’s divine darshan and blessings!”

Amit Shah also visited Lalbaugcha Raja, Mumbai’s most famous Ganesh pandal, today as part of his two-day tour to participate in the Ganeshotsav 2025 festivities. Shah was accompanied by his family during the visit, where he sought the blessings of Lord Ganesha.

The Ganeshotsav, celebrated with grandeur across Mumbai, attracts thousands of devotees daily. Shah’s engagement at Lalbaugcha Raja is expected to strengthen the party’s connection with voters and reinforce its presence during the ongoing festival season.