Madurai, Sep 27: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay is likely to offer prayers at the Meenakshi Amman Temple on September 28 on his first visit since taking office.

Temple officials said he may be asked to sign a declaration affirming his faith in Hinduism before entering the inner shrines.

The proposed temple visit is scheduled for 4 p.m., after he launches a newborn scheme at Government Rajaji Hospital and opens the renovated Gandhi Museum.

Police, however, said only the hospital and museum events were on the official itinerary so far, and that a temple visit would depend on Vijay’s decision.

Temple officials said entry to the shrines of the Goddess and Lord Sundareswarar is restricted to Hindus. They cited a Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court ruling that permits non-Hindus to worship after making a declaration.

CM Vijay, who is Christian, would either submit a declaration stating his faith in Hinduism or sign an application to that effect, the officials said.

The final arrangements have not been announced yet. The Chief Minister is expected to arrive by private aircraft at 11 a.m. Barricades have been installed along both sides of the airport road for his reception, and he is likely to greet supporters from an open-top vehicle.

His convoy will then travel via the Ring Road to Government Rajaji Hospital, where he will launch the Thai Maman Gold Ring Scheme for babies born in government hospitals.

At 1 p.m., CM Vijay is scheduled to inaugurate the Gandhi Museum, renovated at a cost of Rs 10.25 crore. He will then go to the Circuit House for lunch and a short rest.

Officials have reportedly been told to remain prepared in case he makes an unscheduled stop at a government office on the way.

If the temple visit goes ahead, its administration plans to receive him with a traditional poorna kumbham welcome. Devotees may be barred from entering the temple from the afternoon until he leaves, with an official announcement on the arrangements expected on September 27.

CM Vijay is scheduled to leave Madurai for Chennai at about 5 p.m. after completing his engagements. Police are making security arrangements along the routes to the hospital, museum and temple ahead of the visit.

Kathmandu, Sep 27: Nepali authorities have issued a special flood warning after the Narayani River crossed its danger level in parts of southern Chitwan and Nawalparasi districts, with the water level continuing to rise.

Flooding in the transboundary river, known as the Gandak in India, could also affect downstream areas in the neighbouring country.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) issued the flood warning on Sunday morning and urged residents living along the banks of the Narayani River to move away from the river and to higher ground, considering the risk to lives and property.

According to a special flood forecast and advisory bulletin issued by the Centre of Hydrology and Water Resources Research (CHWRR) at 7:45 a.m. Sunday, the water level of the Narayani River had risen to around 11 metres, well above the designated danger level of 9 metres.

The CHWRR said the water level at the Devghat flood monitoring station in Chitwan district is expected to keep rising until this afternoon and could peak at about 13 metres around 11 a.m.

“There is a high likelihood that the water level will remain above the danger level until the evening,” the CHWRR said, adding that high flows are also expected to continue in the Narayani’s tributaries through the afternoon.

The Kali Gandaki River, one of the Narayani’s major tributaries, has recorded a flow significantly above its danger level, while the Seti, Madi, Marsyangdi, Daraundi and Chepe rivers are flowing above their warning levels and continue to rise. The Budhi Gandaki and Trishuli rivers have also approached their warning levels, with flows continuing to increase.

The CHWRR said the high flow has created a high risk of flooding and inundation in low-lying and flood-prone areas along the Narayani River in Chitwan and Nawalparasi East and West districts—all three districts border India.

Nepali authorities have also advised people to avoid travelling along the banks of the Narayani and its tributaries and to avoid unnecessary movement near riverbanks, bridges, embankments and other vulnerable locations.

People living along the Kali Gandaki, Seti, Madi, Marsyangdi, Daraundi, Chepe, Budhi Gandaki and Trishuli rivers and their tributaries have been urged to remain on high alert until the evening.

The authorities have asked residents to follow flood-related information and instructions issued by local administrations, security agencies and other relevant authorities.

Nepal, which was hit hard by devastating floods in the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers, has been experiencing incessant rainfall in several parts of the country since September 24.

A rainfall-triggered landslide buried a house in Bhaskatta, Mathagadhi Rural Municipality, Palpa district, in western Nepal early Sunday, leaving three people missing, Nepal Police said. A police team has been deployed to carry out the rescue operation, police said.

Meanwhile, flooding in the Kali Gandaki River swept away 25 houses in the Farse area of Jaljala Rural Municipality-8 in Parbat district, according to police. “Of the approximately 80 houses in the settlement, 25 have been swept away, while the remaining houses are at risk,” police said.

“No human casualties have been reported, and all residents of the settlement have been relocated to a safe location,” police added.

Srinagar, Sep 27: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) Kashmir of J&K Crime Branch said on Sunday it has arrested a long-absconding accused in a multi-crore fraud case.

A statement said that the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) Kashmir, Crime Branch, J&K, has arrested an accused person, Soom Nath Koul, son of Kalash Nath Koul, Resident of 22-Lotus Tower, Bangalore North, Karnataka, presently residing at Janipur, Jammu, in compliance with the orders of the Court of the Sub-Judge, Srinagar.

A special team of this investigation agency was constituted to execute the orders passed by the Court. The team, after sustained efforts and following due procedure, succeeded in tracing and apprehending the accused. The accused had remained absconding for several years.

During this period, ‘Hue and Cry Notices’ were issued and published from time to time to trace and identify the accused. Despite sustained efforts to locate him, the accused allegedly continued to evade detection and was reportedly using different identities.

The accused is involved in many cases registered with the Crime Branch, Kashmir. A total of five cases have been registered against him, pertaining to allegations of cheating, forgery and land-related fraud involving migrant properties through fake Powers of Attorney and agreements to sell.

In one of the cases, a chargesheet was filed against the accused in absentia under Section 512 CrPC. During the course of investigation, it emerged that the accused allegedly induced individuals to purchase land by representing himself under different identities, including Soom Nath Koul, Brij Nath Bhat, Mohan Lal Dhar and Hadi Nath Dhar, and cheated them in connection with land transactions.

The investigation has further revealed allegations of fraud involving crores of rupees, committed in connivance with other accused persons. Pertinently, during the course of the investigation, one Ghulam Mohi-Ud-Din Dar, son of Abdul Khaliq Dar, resident of Jawalapora, Samson, Budgam, was arrested last week.

He was found to be involved in the same case. The arrest of Soom Nath Koul, alias Brij Nath Bhat, alias Hadi Nath Dhar, alias Mohan Lal Dhar, forms part of the ongoing investigation into the above-mentioned cases.

Further investigation is underway to ascertain the complete extent of the alleged financial fraud, the land transactions involved, and the role of other persons allegedly connected with the offences.

“The general public is advised to remain vigilant against economic fraudsters and report any such incidents directly to SSP EOW Srinagar (Crime Branch J&K), Abdul Waheed Shah. If you have been a victim of economic fraud, you may also send your complaint to the official email: sspeow-kmr@jkpolice.gov.in”, the statement said.