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Monsoon breaks over Kerala; thunderstorms, lightning kill scores in UP, Bihar, Jharkhand

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Monsoon breaks over Kerala; thunderstorms, lightning kill scores in UP, Bihar, Jharkhand

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Monsoon broke in Kerala on Tuesday, May 29, three days ahead of its normal date. The weather department has predicted a good rainy season this year, unlike 2017 when at least 60 per cent of the country did not receive adequate rainfall.

“Heavy rainfall was witnessed in many parts of the state as well as the Lakshadweep Islands. Amini in Lakshadweep reported 24 mm rain while Konni (Pathanamthitta) in Kerala registered 18 mm. The weather conditions are conducive for further advancement of clouds,” said media reports quoting Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) regional director K Santosh.

Heat wave continued to affect life in north and west India with maximum temperatures refusing to come below mid-forties.

At the same time, thunderstorms struck many parts leaving as many as 46 people dead and over two dozen injured in parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand on Monday. A report quoting news agency ANI said 15 people have died in Uttar Pradesh. In Bihar and Jharkhand, the told stands at 19 and 12, respectively.

According to a report in The Financial Express (FE) quoting a UP government official, of the 15 deaths, six were reported from Unnao district. They were struck by lightning on Monday night. Two deaths were reported each in Kanpur and Rae Bareli. Five persons are also said to have suffered injuries. The official said that concerned DMs have been asked to reach out to the victims and ensure financial assistance are delivered to their families within 24 hours.

The Met department has predicted that heavy thunderstorm accompanied by rainfall is likely to lash many regions including Bundelkhand, several western and eastern districts in the next 24 hours. Lucknow and neighbouring areas like Kanpur, Kannauj, Etawah, Mainpuri, Agra, Meerut and Moradabad also likely to witness heavy rainfall.

In Bihar, the toll mounted to 19 today morning. At least 12 people lost their lives in the southern part of the state, besides heavy damages caused to public amenities. In Gaya, 4 people were killed whereas 5 died in neighbouring Aurangabad. Two people were reported killed in Nawada. In Munger, three people died in havoc triggered by the untimely thunderstorm. In Katihar, three members of a family died.

In neighbouring Jharkhand, 12 people lost their lives and at least 28 others were injured. Several trees were uprooted in the capital city of Ranchi due to the sudden hailstorm. The IMD has predicted thunderstorm in the state until June 12 when monsoon is expected to hit the state.

In Ranchi’s Itki area, 17-year-old Subhash Minz was struck by lightning around 8.30 pm on Monday while he was having dinner with four others outside his residence in Nari village, said a report in The Hindustan Times (HT).

In another incident, 12-year-old Vishal Mahto was returning home from a vegetable market with his grandfather when he was struck by lightning at Koynartoli village in Ranchi, reported HT. The district witnessed its third casualty when a mason, identified as Phulesh Machua, was struck by a thunderbolt at Tamar on Monday evening.

According to news reports, the number of maximum causalities was reported in Bokaro where 8 people have died. In Khunti, 6 persons were killed whereas two persons died in Ranchi. In Ramgarh, two persons were killed and one death was reported in Palamu, Hazaribagh and Lohardaga each.

According to government figures, 43 people have lost their lives in the state this month in incidents related to thunderstorm so far, said the FE report.

Earlier this month, around 170 people were killed when high intensity dust storm that had hit the northern states.

Delhi and areas around continued to reel under heat wave-like conditions. The meteorological department said some relief could come in the form of precipitation through Tuesday and Wednesday.

“There are chances of a dust storm or thunderstorm on Tuesday. But as that will occur only in the late afternoon or evening, the day temperature is likely to remain almost the same as Monday,” reported HT, quoting RK Jenamani, head of the MeT department at the IGI airport.

Also, there is a high chance of rain and thundershowers on Wednesday, said the HT report, adding that a senior official said, “A western disturbance is approaching and moisture-laden easterly winds are also gathering strength. The intense heat, the western disturbance and the easterly winds are expected to trigger some rain on Wednesday.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1527596561237{border-top-width: 10px !important;border-right-width: 10px !important;border-bottom-width: 10px !important;border-left-width: 10px !important;padding-top: 10px !important;padding-right: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;background-color: #dbdbdb !important;border-radius: 10px !important;}”]IMD Bulletin

29 May (Day 1):

♦ Heat wave conditions are very likely to occur at many parts of West Rajasthan; some parts of East Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh and at one or two pockets over Haryana, Chandigarh & Delhi and Vidarbha.

♦ Heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places very likely over Kerala and Coastal Karnataka;

Heavy rain at isolated places over South Interior Karnataka, Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

♦ Thunderstorm accompanied with hailstorm very likely at isolated places over Uttrakhand.

♦ Thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds very likely at isolated places over Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, East Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal & Sikkim, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram & Tripura, Madhya Maharashtra, Konkan & Goa, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, North Interior Karnataka and Tamilnadu.

♦ Squally wind speed  reaching 40­50 Kmph gusting to 60 Kmph very likely along  & off Kerala and Karnataka and south Maharashtra, Goa , Odisha & West Bengal Coasts, over and around Lakshadweep area and Andaman & Nicobar Islands, eastcentral & northeast Bay of Bengal. Sea conditions are likely to be rough to very rough over these areas.Fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea over these areas.

♦ Duststorm at isolated places very likely over Rajasthan.

30 May (Day 2):

♦ Heat wave conditions are very likely to occur at some parts of West Rajasthan and at one or two pockets over East Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

♦ Heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places very likely over Coastal Karnataka

Heavy rain at isolated places over South Interior Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram & Tripura.

♦ Thunderstorm accompanied with squall very likely at isolated places over Uttar Pradesh.

♦  Thunderstorm   accompanied   with   gusty   winds  very   likely   at   isolated   places   over   Himachal   Pradesh,   Uttarakhand,   Punjab,   Haryana, Chandigarh, & Delhi, Bihar and Sub­Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim.

♦ Squally wind speed  reaching 40­50 Kmph gusting to 60 Kmph very likely along  & off Kerala and Karnataka and south Maharashtra, Goa, Odisha & West Bengal Coasts, over and around Lakshadweep area. Sea conditions are likely to be rough to very rough over these areas. Fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea over these areas.

♦ Duststorm/thunderstorm at isolated places very likely over East Rajasthan and Duststorm

at isolated places very likely over West Rajasthan.

31 May(Day 3):

♦ Heat wave conditions are very likely to occur at one or two pockets over West Rajasthan and

Madhya Pradesh.

♦ Heavy rain very likely at isolated places over Coastal Karnataka, Assam & Meghalaya and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram & Tripura.

♦ Thunderstorm accompanied with squall very likely at isolated places over Uttar Pradesh, Gangetic West Bengal and Jharkhand.

♦ Thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds very likely at isolated places over Uttarakhand, Bihar and Odisha.

01 June (Day 4):

♦ Heavy rain very likely at isolated places over Kerala, Coastal Karnataka and Sub­Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim, Assam & Meghalaya and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram & Tripura.

♦  Thunderstorm   accompanied   with   gusty  winds  very   likely   at   isolated  places   over   Uttar   Pradesh,   Jharkhand,   Gangetic   West   Bengal   and Odisha.

02   June  (Day   5):

♦ Heavy   rain   very   likely  at   isolated  places   over  Sub­Himalayan   West   Bengal   &   Sikkim   and   Assam   &   Meghalaya.

♦ Thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds very likely at isolated places over Uttar Pradesh.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Priyanka Gandhi and Prashant Kishor held talks in Delhi after Bihar election setback

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Prashant Kishor reportedly met in Delhi days after both Congress and Jan Suraaj suffered setbacks in the Bihar Assembly election.

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3 hours ago

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December 15, 2025

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Priyanka Gandhi

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Jan Suraaj chief Prashant Kishor met in Delhi last week, days after the Bihar Assembly election delivered a setback to both political outfits, sources said. The meeting reportedly took place at Sonia Gandhi’s 10, Janpath residence and lasted several hours.

While the interaction has triggered political speculation, both leaders have publicly played down any significance. When asked about the meeting, Priyanka Gandhi said there was little interest in who she meets or does not meet. Prashant Kishor, on the other hand, denied that any such meeting had taken place

Bihar rout brings renewed focus on opposition strategy

The reported interaction followed disappointing election outcomes in Bihar. Jan Suraaj contested 238 Assembly seats but failed to secure a single win, while the Congress managed only six victories out of the 61 seats it contested, a drop of 13 seats compared to the previous election

Sources familiar with the developments indicated that the poor showing by both sides has reopened conversations about future political strategy, especially with several major state elections scheduled over the next two years

A relationship marked by past cooperation and friction

Prashant Kishor has previously worked with the Congress, with mixed outcomes. In 2017, he played a key role in the Congress’s victory in Punjab, but the same year saw the party suffer defeat in Uttar Pradesh. The contrasting results led to internal disagreements, with some party leaders later questioning Kishor’s approach and influence

Talks of Kishor formally joining the Congress resurfaced ahead of the 2022 Uttar Pradesh election, with discussions involving senior party leaders. However, those negotiations collapsed amid differences over organisational reforms and decision-making authority. Kishor later described his experience with the party as unsatisfactory and ruled out joining it, citing resistance to structural change

Jan Suraaj’s debut and future calculations

After parting ways with the Congress, Kishor launched Jan Suraaj with the aim of reshaping Bihar’s political discourse. Despite claims that the party shifted focus from caste-based politics to employment issues, its electoral debut failed to translate into votes

Sources suggest that recent defeats across the opposition spectrum have prompted fresh assessments ahead of upcoming elections in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Assam in 2026, followed by Uttar Pradesh in 2027. The longer-term focus remains the 2029 Lok Sabha election, where the ruling party is expected to seek another term

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Omar Abdullah distances INDIA bloc from Congress’s vote chori campaign

Omar Abdullah has clarified that the INDIA opposition bloc is not linked to the Congress’s ‘vote chori’ campaign, saying each party is free to set its own agenda.

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6 hours ago

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December 15, 2025

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Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah has drawn a clear line between the INDIA opposition bloc and the Congress’s ongoing ‘vote chori’ campaign, stating that the alliance has no role in the issue being raised by the grand old party.

Speaking to the media, Abdullah said every political party within the alliance is free to decide its own priorities. He underlined that the Congress has chosen to focus on alleged irregularities linked to voter lists and electoral processes, while other parties may pursue different agendas.

According to Abdullah, the INDIA bloc as a collective is not associated with the ‘vote chori’ narrative. He added that no party within the alliance should dictate what issues another constituent should raise in public discourse.

The remarks came days after the Congress organised a large rally in the national capital to intensify its campaign. The party has alleged that the Election Commission is working in favour of the BJP to influence electoral outcomes. Both the poll body and the ruling party have rejected these claims.

INDIA bloc cohesion under scrutiny

Abdullah’s comments have gained significance as they follow his recent observation that the INDIA bloc is currently on “life support”. That remark, made during an interaction at a leadership summit in Delhi, triggered mixed reactions from alliance partners.

At the event, Abdullah had said the opposition grouping revives intermittently but struggles to maintain momentum, especially after electoral setbacks. He also pointed to the Bihar political developments, suggesting that decisions taken by the alliance may have contributed to Nitish Kumar returning to the NDA fold. He further cited the inability to accommodate the Hemant Soren-led Jharkhand Mukti Morcha in Bihar seat-sharing talks as a missed opportunity.

Allies respond to Omar Abdullah’s remarks

Reactions from within the INDIA bloc reflected differing views on Abdullah’s assessment. RJD leader Manoj Jha termed the remarks “rushed” and said responsibility for strengthening the alliance lies with all constituents, including Abdullah himself.

CPI general secretary D Raja called for introspection among alliance partners, questioning the lack of coordination despite the stated objective of defeating the BJP and safeguarding democratic values.

Samajwadi Party MP Rajeev Rai disagreed with the “life support” analogy, saying electoral defeats are part of politics and should not demoralise opposition forces. He cautioned that internal pessimism only serves the BJP’s interests.

BJP targets opposition unity

The BJP seized on the comments to attack the opposition bloc’s unity. Senior leader Shahnawaz Hussain dismissed the INDIA alliance as defunct, claiming it lost relevance after the Lok Sabha elections and lacks leadership and a clear policy direction.

Abdullah’s latest clarification on the ‘vote chori’ campaign reinforces the visible differences within the opposition alliance, even as its constituents continue to debate strategy and coordination ahead of future political battles.

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Nitin Nabin terms BJP working president role a party blessing, thanks leadership

BJP national working president Nitin Nabin has termed his appointment a blessing of the party, thanking its leadership and pledging to work on the ideals of his late father.

Published

6 hours ago

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December 15, 2025

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Nitin Nabin

Newly appointed BJP national working president Nitin Nabin on Monday described his elevation as a blessing bestowed by the party and expressed gratitude to its top leadership for placing faith in him.

Speaking to reporters in Patna after paying floral tributes to a statue of his late father, former BJP MLA Nabin Kishor Prasad Sinha, the Bihar minister said he would continue to work on the principles he inherited from his family and the organisation.

“I have always worked on the ideas of my father, who treated the party like his mother and put the nation above everything else. I believe that is why the party has given me this responsibility,” Nabin said. He later visited Mahavir Mandir in the city to offer prayers.

Gratitude to Prime Minister, focus on Antyodaya

Thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his guidance, Nabin said development under the current leadership has reached towns and villages across the country. He added that the party has expanded its presence and emerged as a platform representing the poor.

According to Nabin, no section of society has remained untouched by the welfare initiatives of the NDA government. He said the idea of Antyodaya has now reached every corner of India, recalling the contributions of Deendayal Upadhyaya, Syama Prasad Mookerjee and Atal Bihari Vajpayee in shaping the philosophy.

On elections and party organisation

Responding to questions on upcoming elections, including in West Bengal, Nabin said BJP workers remain active at all times. He remarked that unlike other parties, BJP cadres work round the year and remain prepared in every state.

At 45, Nabin is a five-time MLA from the Bankipur assembly constituency and has served twice as a minister in the Bihar government. He comes from an RSS background and is currently part of the Nitish Kumar-led state cabinet.

A generational shift in the party

Nabin’s appointment as national working president on Sunday was seen as a significant organisational move. The position, though not mentioned in the party constitution, has earlier served as a transition role before elevation to the top post.

Prime Minister Modi publicly endorsed the decision, describing Nabin as a hardworking and grounded leader with strong organisational experience. Party leaders have projected the move as part of a generational shift, with Nabin expected to follow a trajectory similar to that of the current national president, who had earlier served as working president before taking charge of the organisation.

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