Srinagar, July 3 (IANS) With a maximum temperature of 35.6 degrees Celsius, J&K’s Srinagar city recorded the hottest day of the season on Wednesday, weather officials said.

Mukhtar Ahmad, director of the local Met Department, told IANS that the maximum temperature in Srinagar was 35.6 degrees Celsius, which is 6 degrees above normal.

“It is the highest maximum temperature of the season so far with the last highest maximum recorded being 37 degrees Celsius on July 9, 1999 in Srinagar. On July 1, 2005 and July 10, 2006, the maximum temperature recorded in Srinagar was 35 degrees Celsius. All time highest maximum temperature recorded in Srinagar is 38.3 degrees on July 10, 1946,” the Met Department Director said.

He also said that in the Kokernag tourist report in Anantnag district, the maximum temperature was 33.3 degrees Celsius, which is the highest ever recorded there.

“On July 8, 1993, Kokernag had recorded 33 degrees Celsius as the maximum temperature which was the highest there till today,” he said.

The Met Department has forecast wet weather from Thursday evening.

“On July 4, an intermittent spell of light to moderate rain/thundershower at many places with isolated heavy rain over Jammu Division is likely. On July 5 and 6, there is a possibility of intermittent moderate rainfall at most places of J&K with heavy rainfall at few places. On July 7, intermittent spell of light to moderate rain/thundershower at many places with isolated heavy Rain over Jammu Division. On July 8 to 10, hot and humid weather with the possibility of a spell of rain/thundershower at scattered places of Jammu Division towards late night/early morning and a spell of rain/thundershower at a few places of Kashmir Division,” it said in a statement.

The Met Department also issued an advisory warning that flash floods, landslides/mudslides & shooting stones at a few vulnerable places are likely to occur from July 4 to July 6, and water logging is expected in low-lying areas.

–IANS

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Guwahati, July 3 (IANS) At least 11 animals have been killed due to flooding in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR), an official said on Wednesday.

KNPTR director Sonali Ghosh said that many camps have been inundated as flood water has submerged a large portion of the UNESCO world heritage site.

According to Ghosh, out of 233 camps under three Wildlife Divisions — Eastern Assam Wildlife Division, Biswanath Wildlife Division and Nagaon Wildlife Division — 173 camps have been submerged in flood water.

Meanwhile, nine other camps have been vacated due to rising water levels.

There are five ranges in the KNPTR — Agratoli, Kaziranga, Bagori, Burapahar and Bokakhat.

The highest number of camps have been inundated under the Kaziranga range.

“At least 51 camps have been inundated in the Kaziranga range and 37 camps were submerged in Bagori range,” Ghosh said.

She further said that 65 animals have been rescued in KNPTR.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has taken stock of the flood situation in the park.

–IANS

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Thiruvananthapuram, July 3 (IANS) A day after the Kerala Police arrested three people suspected of being part of a gang which allegedly killed a 20-year-old housewife 15 years back in Alappuzha, a district court on Wednesday sent the trio to police custody.

The three, who had been arraigned as the accused in the FIR registered on Tuesday, are Jinu, Pramod, and Soman, all hailing from Mannar in Alappuzha.

Kala, 20, disappeared from Mannar 15 years back and a missing person case was registered. However, despite efforts by the police, nothing came out and her husband Anil later remarried.

Anil has been named as the first accused and is presently employed in Israel and the police have been trying to reach him.

This case resurfaced last month when the local police received an anonymous letter revealing crucial information about Kala and alleging that she was murdered. Soon the police got into action and picked up five people, of which three were arrested and produced before the court, which sent them to police custody.

Based on the questioning, on Tuesday, a police team arrived at Anil’s house and opened a septic tank for checking. After emptying it and with forensic experts presently engaged in scientific examination of what they recovered, the police expect they will be able to crack the case.

But with the arrested giving contrasting versions, the police are leaving nothing to chance, as first, the accused said Kala’s body was thrown into a river and on further questioning, they said it was put into the septic tank.

A forensic expert said through a DNA test, things can be resolved but the challenge is with 15 years now passing, it is doubtful whether there is still the presence of bone marrow.

“Moreover, if a body is dumped into a septic tank, the decaying takes a different line as compared to being buried in a pit. Inside a septic tank, a lot of reactions take place due to the human excreta. Only a detailed and thorough forensic analysis will bring out the real test report on what has been recovered from the septic tank,” the expert said.

Meanwhile, Kala’s 16-year-old son said he would not believe that his mother was dead and gone, while Anil’s father claimed that Kala had long back left Anil to live with another person.

–IANS

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New Delhi, July 3 (IANS) The Indian Army clarified on Wednesday night that martyred Agniveer Ajay Kumar’s family was paid Rs 98.39 lakh as compensation, rebutting Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s claim that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had “lied” about recompensating the family on the floor of the Lok Sabha.

The clarification came soon after Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, said in a video message on X: “Protection of truth is the foundation of every religion. But Defence Minister Rajnath Singh lied in the Parliament about the assistance given to the family of a martyred Agniveer.”

Rahul Gandhi also accused the Defence Minister of deceiving the Parliament regarding the ‘assistance’ provided to the family of martyred Agniveer Ajay Singh, as he demanded an apology from Rajnath Singh to the Parliament, the nation, the armed forces, and the bereaved family.

Clearing the air, the Army said in a post on X: “Certain posts on social media have brought out that compensation hasn’t been paid to the next of kin of Agniveer Ajay Kumar who lost his life in the line of duty. It is emphasised that the Indian Army salutes the supreme sacrifice made by Agniveer Ajay Kumar. The last rites were carried out with full military honours.

“Of the total amount due, the family of Agniveer Ajay has already been paid Rs 98.39 lakh. Ex-gratia and other benefits amounting to approximately 67 lakh, as applicable according to the provisions of the Agniveer scheme, will be paid on final account settlement shortly post due police verification. The total amount will be Rs 1.65 crore approximately.

“It is re-emphasised that emoluments due to a fallen hero are paid expeditiously to the next of kin of departed soldiers, including Agniveers.”

To recall, Rahul Gandhi, who has always been critical of the Agnipath scheme of recruiting Agniveers into the armed forces, reiterated his opposition to the scheme during his first speech as the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha on Monday.

He accused the government of creating division among soldiers by providing pensions to some and not others, stating, “Agniveer is a disposable tool. One soldier receives pension, while another does not. You are fostering a divide among soldiers.”

Rajnath Singh countered Rahul Gandhi’s allegations, accusing him of spreading misinformation. He also emphasised that the government provides Rs 1 crore in compensation to the families of martyred Agniveers.

–IANS

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Bengaluru, July 3 (IANS) A six-year-old girl’s body was found at the Bengaluru railway station on Wednesday and police, after a preliminary investigation, suspect that she was raped and murdered.

According to police, the body of the girl was found near the parking space close to a platform in the Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna railway station premises by the parking lot staff.

Scratch injury marks were found all over the girl’s body and her clothes were found stained with blood. The police probe has revealed that the victim girl was the daughter of a couple who are daily wage workers.

It is suspected that the body was dumped in the parking lot after she was raped, but it is yet to be ascertained whether the girl was gang raped or it was a crime committed by a single person.

The body has been shifted to the Victoria Hospital for autopsy.

Superintendent of Police, Railways, Sowmya Latha stated that the police have taken up the case and are examining CCTV footage. The girl was murdered first and then the body was dumped here, she added. Further details are awaited.

–IANS

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