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The floodwaters have destroyed crops and fishes from ponds have been swept away in districts of Assam. Stay tuned for the latest news of the day

5:10 PM

If they think they don't trust Rajasthan govt, they can send audio-tapes in the US for voice test: Rajasthan CM

5:04 PM

Thousands affected by floods in Assam's Darang and Sonitpur districts

A large number of people have been affected because of the worsening flood situation in Assam's Darang and Sonitpur districts. With the Brahmaputra and the Tangni rivers flowing well above the danger level, several villages in the large rural region of the eastern province of Darang have been submerged.

 

The floodwaters have destroyed crops and fishes from ponds have been swept away. People living in low-lying areas were forced to leave their homes. The overflowing waters of the Saktola River have wreaked havoc in hundreds of villages of the Mangalde and Sipajhar Vidhan Sabha areas in the western province of Darang.

 

"You can see the water of the river has come to my field, this water has spoiled everything along with my entire cultivation. We are living in a shortage of essentials; it is our appeal to the government to pay attention to us," said one of the affected persons.

 

The situation is the same in the Sonitpur district as well and a large number of people have been hit hard by the flood in the Borsola area. Expressing distress, a flood victim said, "My house is submerged for the past seven days and there is little help from the administration. Sometimes we eat and sometimes we don't."

 

"The floodwater has put us in a lot of trouble. We were already anguished by the COVID-19 lockdown and now the floods. All our food items have been swept away. The jute crop is completely destroyed. Farming lands are submerged in water, yet no government official has come here. Let's see what happens, there are talks of the MLA coming to visit us tomorrow," said another victim.

4:49 PM

Oil India Ltd issues statement on blowout in their gas well in Assam's Baghjan

4:32 PM

Latest News LIVE update: Gold crosses Rs 51,000 mark, up by Rs 502

Gold prices went past Rs 51,000 mark in the national capital, rising by Rs 502 on Thursday on strong international prices, according to HDFC Securities. The precious metal rose by Rs 502 to Rs 51,443 per 10 gram from Rs 50,941 per 10 gram in the previous trade, according to a PTI report. Silver, however, declined by Rs 69 to Rs 62,760 per kg from Rs 62,829 per kg on Wednesday.

 

"Spot gold prices for 24 carat gold in Delhi hit new high trading above Rs 51,000, gaining Rs 502 on strong international gold prices," HDFC Securities Senior Analyst (Commodities) Tapan Patel said.

 

In the international market, gold was trading higher at USD 1,875 per ounce, while silver was flat at USD 22.76 per ounce.

 

"Gold prices gained strength on tensions between the US and China. Surge in virus cases in the US has boosted safe-haven demand for precious metals," he added.

4:10 PM

Tejashwi Yadav tears into Bihar govt over flood situation

4:09 PM

Sensex jumps 268.95 points to end at 38,140.47; Nifty rises 82.85 points to 11,215.45

3:56 PM

Locals of Dilahi village in Darbhanga district of Bihar affected as homes submerged in floodwaters

3:54 PM

ECI defers by-elections in 8 constituencies due to coronavirus pandemic and flood

Considering the ongoing pandemic situation and floods the Election Commission of India (ECI) has deferred by-elections of eight constituencies up to September 7 this year. The elections will be held as soon as the situation becomes conducive, according to an ANI report.

 

The eight constituencies are -- Bihar (1 Valmiki Nagar PC), Assam (108, Sibsagar AC), Tamil Nadu (10-Thiruvottiyur, AC and 46, Gudiyattam (SC) AC), Madhya Pradesh (166, Agar, (SC) AC), Uttar Pradesh (65, Bulandhahr AC and 95, Tundla AC) and Kerala (117, Chavara AC).

 

By the provision, vacancies are required to be filled through by-election within six months from the date of occurrence of vacancies provided that the remainder of the term in relation to the vacancy in one year or more.

 

"The situation of COVID-19 has not improved in several parts of the country and conducting elections in this situation would pose a grave risk to the health and safety of the citizen," a source from ECI stated.

3:52 PM

No plan to monetise debt for now, GDP may not shrink too severely: DEA Secy

The Finance Ministry has not discussed any proposal to monetise its deficit with the Reserve Bank of India, Economic Affairs Secretary Tarun Bajaj said on Thursday.

 

Speaking at an event organised by industry body Ficci, Bajaj also said that based on tax collections so far, India’s economic contraction in FY21 may be less severe than previously anticipated, and that the proposal of a ‘bad bank’ had been discussed internally, but no decision had been taken.

 

“Currently there is no proposal for debt monetisation on the table. Questions on fiscal position and debt monetisation plan should be asked after 3-4 months,” Bajaj said.

 

A number of economists, including former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan, and former advisor to the Prime Minister, Rathin Roy, have advocated that the government can get the RBI to monetise deficit, provided that it has a clear expenditure plan on where is wants to spend the resources it raises. READ MORE...

3:36 PM

Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal inspected flood-affected areas at Solmari and Rangia

3:35 PM

For admissions in NITs and other Centrally Funded Technical Institutions, eligibility to secure minimum of 75%: HRD Minister

3:15 PM

Latest News LIVE update: China launches first rover mission to Mars

China on Thursday launched its first rover mission to Mars.

 

The six-wheeled robot, encapsulated in a protective probe, was lifted by a Long March 5 rocket from the Wenchang spaceport on Hainan Island at 12.40 a.m., the BBC reported. It should arrive in orbit around the Red Planet in February. Called Tianwen-1, or "Questions to Heaven", the rover won't actually try to land on the surface for a further two to three months.

 

This wait-and-see strategy will allow engineers to assess the atmospheric conditions on Mars before attempting what will be a hazardous descent. Tianwen-1 is one of three missions setting off to Mars in the space of 11 days. Thursday's development comes after the United Arab Emirates on Monday launched its Hope satellite towards the Red Planet.

3:05 PM

Pakistan Army opens fire, shells forward areas along LoC in J-K's Poonch: PTI

3:00 PM

Pregnant woman crossed river in a utensil to reach 15-km away hospital in Chhattisgarh

2:55 PM

Rajasthan HC can pass order on Pilot, MLAs plea against Speaker's move: SC

The Supreme Court Thursday allowed the Rajasthan High Court to pronounce order on plea of 19 dissident Congress MLAs, including sacked deputy CM Sachin Pilot, against the Assembly Speaker's notice for initiating disqualification proceedings against them, but said that it would be subject to the outcome of the petition before the top court.

 

Rajasthan Assembly Speaker CP Joshi however failed to get any interim relief on his plea alleging that the high court cannot interdict the disqualification proceedings undertaken by him under 10th schedule of the Constitution.

 

A bench of Justices Arun Mishra, B R Gavai and Krishna Murari said Joshi's plea raises important questions and requires prolonged hearing. READ MORE...