Breaking News, July 30 | HIGHLIGHTS

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena workers on Tuesday damaged the car of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLC Amol Mitkari in Akola after he criticised MNS chief Raj Thackeray for targeting Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar over recent water-logging in Pune. Jay Malokar (24), who was part of the MNS group that vandalised Mitkari's car, died of a heart attack at a government hospital in Akola hours after the incident, Sandeep Deshpande, general secretary of the Raj Thackeray-led party, told reporters in Mumbai.

The Israeli military said Tuesday it carried out a strike on Beirut targeting the militant commander allegedly behind the deaths of 12 children and teens in a rocket attack on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights over the weekend. Israel has blamed the rocket attack on the Hezbollah militant group, which has denied any role in the attack.

Nepalese Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli-led government has appointed ambassadors for 13 countries, including India, China and the US. Shankar Sharma, who was among 11 ambassadors recalled by the previous Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' government on June 6, was reappointed as Nepal's ambassador to India, cabinet sources said.

The BJP government in Rajasthan on Tuesday repealed the Gandhi Vatika Trust, Jaipur Act, 2023 enacted by the previous Congress government for operations of Gandhi Darshan Museum here. A bill -- The Gandhi Vatika Trust, Jaipur (Repeal) Bill, 2024 -- to this effect was introduced in the Rajasthan Assembly on July 15, which was passed today after a discussion by a voice vote in the House. Replying to the debate on the Bill, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Sumit Godara said that the current bill has been introduced for better operation of the Gandhi Museum and a wide promotion of the ideas of Mahatma Gandhi.

In one of the worst natural disasters in Kerala, at least 123 persons were killed and 128 injured in massive landslides triggered by torrential rains in Wayanad on Tuesday. With hundreds trapped under the debris, sparking fears of mounting fatalities, rescue agencies were racing against time to pull out any survivors. Government sources said 123 people have been killed so far in the tragedy.

Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday attended the inauguration of Iran's new President Masoud Pezeshkian at a ceremony in Tehran. On the occasion, Gadkari conveyed good wishes from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to President Pezeshkian on assuming the office, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

The initial public offer of Akums Drugs and Pharmaceuticals got fully-subscribed on the first day of subscription on Tuesday. The Rs 1,875-crore initial share sale received bids for 2,07,92,684 shares, as against 1,51,62,239 shares on offer, translating to 1. 37 times subscription, as per the NSE data. The issue will conclude on August 1. The quota for Retail Individual Investors (RIIs) received 3. 35 times subscription, while the Non Institutional Investors part got subscribed 1. 96 times. The portion for qualified institutional buyers (QIBs) received 43 per cent subscription.

The Himachal Pradesh Forest Department has set an ambitious target to plant saplings on 9,000 hectares of land across the state this year, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Tuesday. Sukhu said the current state government has undertaken numerous initiatives, with one of its key goals being to transform Himachal Pradesh into a Green Energy State by March 31, 2026.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday slammed the Uttar Pradesh government over a bill that seeks to amend the Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, accusing it of trying to divert people's attention through communal politics. “What else do they have, they are not doing anything new,” he told reporters outside Parliament when asked about the bill that has been listed for discussion and passage in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly. They are trying to divert attention of the people through communal politics, he charged.

The UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion (Amendment) Bill 2024, also known as anti-love jihad law, which was introduced on Monday in the House, was passed in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly on Tuesday during the Monsoon Session Proceedings.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will visit landslide-hit Wayanad on Wednesday morning, party sources said. Landslides hit the hilly Wayanad district on Tuesday, leaving 57 people dead. The landslides triggered by heavy rainfall, which occurred early on Tuesday, have left a trail of destruction in its wake, with several houses destroyed, water bodies swollen and trees uprooted.

Jailed former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has approached an Anti-Terrorism Court here seeking bail in 12 cases linked to last year's May 9 riots, a media report said on Tuesday. The 71-year-old former cricketer-turned-politician's legal team, led by lawyer Salman Safdar, has filed the petitions, the Express Tribune reported on Tuesday. Khan, who is currently on judicial remand in all the cases, claims that there is no recovery to be made from him. He argues that the cases are based on malice and are a form of political retaliation against him.

Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena on Tuesday flagged off 320 electric buses, taking the number of such buses in the city to 1,970. Saxena said this addition will aid in Delhi's fight against pollution. Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot, who was also present at the event, said Delhi has now become the first city in India and the third across the world to have the highest number of electric buses.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted bail to Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Anubrata Mondal, who was arrested by the CBI in a cattle smuggling case. A bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and Satish Chandra Sharma granted the relief to Mondal after noting that the trial in the matter would take time and he has been in jail for two years. The TMC leader will, however, remain in jail as he was also arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the same case in November 2022.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday said it will hear on August 7 a plea of the Uddhav Thackeray faction challenging Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar's order declaring the Shiv Sena bloc led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as the "real political party" after its split in June 2022. The speaker had also dismissed the disqualification petitions of the Thackeray faction against CM Shinde and his supporting MLAs.

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Tuesday said the ruling Congress has planned to organise public meetings to counter the opposition BJP-JD(S)' foot march over the alleged Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allotment scam.

AAP's Punjab MLA Jaswant Singh Gajjan Majra on Tuesday withdrew from the Supreme Court his plea challenging his arrest and remand by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering probe linked to a bank fraud case. A bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and Satish Chandra Sharma allowed the request by Majra's counsel to withdraw the plea with liberty to move the Punjab and Haryana High Court for bail.

A seven-year-old girl died after she got entangled in a rope ladder while playing with her siblings at her home in Mumbai, police said on Tuesday. The incident occurred in a tenement in the Shivaji Nagar area on Sunday, an official said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday spoke to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and took stock of the situation in Wayanad that has been hit by a series of landslides. Shah also assured Vijayan of all possible help from the central government to deal with the situation.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday attacked Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on his speech a day earlier, stating that the INDI alliance has no nationalistic thinking and no positive agenda to offer to the people of the country.

Citing security challenges related to China and Pakistan, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge urged the Centre on Tuesday to take Parliament into confidence and alleged that in its "false bravado and hollow propaganda", it has forgotten that it also has the responsibility to protect India's strategic interests.

There is no proposal to set up a separate regulatory body for veterinary medicines, Union Health Minister J P Nadda told the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. Responding to a question, Nadda said drugs, including veterinary drugs, are regulated under the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules made thereunder.

Prime Minister of Vietnam, Pham Minh Chinh to visit  India on 30 July-1 August. During his visit, he will call on EAM Dr S Jaishankar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. 

Shooters Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh win Bronze medal in 10m Air Pistol Mixed team event

On the Wayanad landslide, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said, "A lot of damage has been caused in Wayanad due to natural disaster...I express my condolences to the bereaved families...PM Modi spoke to the Chief Minister of Kerala and the Central government is with the people of Kerala. The central government will provide whatever assistance is required."

In the wake of Delhi's Old Rajinder Nagar incident, Nitin Gokarn, Uttar Pradesh additional chief secretary for housing and urban development issues directions to Development Authorities - to stop illegal activities in basements, no digging to be done in basements during rain.

Madhya Pradesh Congress leader Mukesh Nayak says, "Kailash Vijayvagiya is a leader who made our official candidate for Lok Sabha elections sit in his vehicle and took him to withdraw his candidature. The timing of this conspiracy was such that we could not come up with an alternative. What is the use of welcoming those, who murder democracy, to Congress office?...This is indiscipline. We are not against extending courtesy but if they want to do that, call him to their own home and offer him tea. Congress office is not the appropriate place to do this. They have been suspended from their post, further action will be taken on the basis of what reply they give...Their reply is awaited."

Multiple NDRF teams, two helicopters and other rescue efforts are on their way to Mundakkai, which has been totally cut off by devastating landslides that hit Kerala's hilly Wayanad district, the state government said on Tuesday. State Revenue Minister K Rajan said one team of NDRF is working to clear the debris and create access as they progress towards Mundakkai. Three more NDRF teams from Kollam, Arakkonam, and Bengaluru are also on their way, Rajan said.

The ruling JMM on Tuesday criticised the central government for the train accident in Jharkhand and took a jibe at the Centre and the BJP stating that Chief Minister Hemant Soren and INDIA bloc were not involved. In a social media post, JMM also urged the Centre to ask the Railways Minister to stop making reels and pay attention to railways.

The Kerala government on Tuesday sought the assistance of the Indian Army for rescue operations in the wake of the devastating landslides in Wayanad district. A Defence PRO said on Tuesday that a team of 43 personnel, led by the Second-in-Command from the 122 Infantry Battalion (TA) MADRAS, has been mobilised to aid in the ongoing rescue efforts.

Police have arrested a man for allegedly killing his four-year-old stepson by subjecting him to severe physical torture in Thane city of Maharashtra, an official said. The accused, identified as Dilshad, was arrested late Monday night and a case under section 103 (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) was registered at the Chitalsar police station, he said.

The toll rose to 23 in the landslides that hit Kerala's hilly Wayanad district on Tuesday, according to state Health Minister Veena George. George, speaking to reporters, said 23 bodies have been recovered so far and were kept in various hospital morgues.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed anguish over the loss of lives in landslides in Kerala's Wayanad district and assured Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of all possible help from the Centre to deal with the crisis. The prime minister announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased. The injured would be given Rs 50,000. Eight people, including three children, died in the landslides that hit Kerala's hilly Wayanad district on Tuesday, according to officials.

Five people, including two children, were confirmed to have died in landslides that hit Kerala's hilly Wayanad district on Tuesday, authorities said. Of those killed, four people, including a child, died in the Chooralmala town of the district, while a one-year-old child of a Nepali family died in the Thondernad village, according to the Wayanad district authorities.

The All-India Federation of Tax Practitioners (AIFTP) has requested the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) to extend the deadline of filing Income Tax returns by a month to August 31 for the assessment year 2024-25. In a memorandum, AIFTP national president Narayan Jain and Direct Tax Representation Committee chairman S M Surana said floods in several states have severely impacted the process of filing returns. Landslides in Uttaranchal and Himachal Pradesh have further compounded these difficulties, they added.

Two days after uncovering 34 plots and houses owned by an engineer, anti-corruption vigilance officers in Odisha detected 52 plots and six multi-storey buildings linked to a senior officer in the excise department. Acting on complaints that the officer possessed property exceeding his known sources of income, a team of vigilance officers, including 10 DSPs, 15 inspectors, and other staff, on Monday raided 10 locations associated with Rama Chandra Mishra, joint commissioner of the excise department.

Patna District Magistrate has formed an investigation team to check all coaching centres across the district.

"The reason for waterlogging in this area is that this is a low-ground area... The sewers here are blocked... The sewer lines are choked because they don't have enough diameter to accommodate so much water," a protestor said.

List of trains cancelled:

• 22861 Howrah-Kantabaji Express
• 08015/18019 Kharagpur-Dhanbad Express
• 12021/12022 Howrah-Barbil Express

List of trains short terminated:

• 18114 Bilaspur-Tata Express has been short terminated at Rourkela.
• 18190 Ernakulam-Tata Express has been short terminated at Chakradharpur.
• 18011 Howrah-Chakradharpur Express has been short terminated at Agra.

J&K: Amid heightened security, another batch of pilgrims left for Amarnath Yatra from Pantha Chowk base camp.

At least one person has been killed and nearly 60 were injured after 18 bogies of the Howrah-CSMT Express derailed near Chakradharpur in Jharkhand. The train derailed between Rajkharsawan and Badabambo stations under the South Eastern Railway. The train traveling from Howrah to Mumbai derailed at 3:45 am.

"Train No. 12810 Howara-CSMT Express derailed near Chakradharpur, between Rajkharswan West Outer and Barabamboo in Chakradharpur division at around 3:45 am. ARME with Staff and ADRM CKP on site. 6 persons have been injured. All have been given first aid by the Railway medical team," Indian Railways said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the inaugural session of 'Journey Towards Viksit Bharat: A Post Union Budget 2024-25 Conference' at Vigyan Bhawan in the national capital today (July 30) at around 12 pm. It is being organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), aiming to present the outline for the government’s larger vision for growth and role of industry in this journey. Over 1,000 participants from the industry, government, the diplomatic community, and think tanks among others will attend the conference in person while many will connect from the various CII centres across the country and overseas, according to a statement by the Prime Minister’s Office.

Massive landslides struck various hilly areas near Meppadi in Kerala's Wayanad district early on Tuesday, leaving several people suspected to be trapped. The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) has said that Fireforce and NDRF teams have been deployed to the affected area, with an additional NDRF team en route to Wayanad. Two teams of Kannur Defence Security Corps have also been instructed to move to Wayanad to assist in the rescue efforts, according to a Facebook post by the KSDMA. Locals from the affected areas report that many people are feared to be trapped.