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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]

India News

Congress, BJP attack Bhagwant Mann over remarks on Punjab blasts

Congress and BJP have jointly criticised Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann after he linked recent blasts near defence sites to political motives, triggering a controversy.

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Bhagwant Mann

A political row has erupted in Punjab after Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann linked recent blast incidents to political motives, drawing sharp criticism from both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The controversy follows two low-intensity explosions reported within a short span of time — one near the Border Security Force (BSF) headquarters in Jalandhar and another close to an army cantonment area in Amritsar. The incidents raised concerns over security, particularly given the sensitive nature of the locations.

In response, Mann suggested that the blasts could be part of a larger political strategy. His remarks triggered a strong backlash, with opposition parties accusing him of politicising a serious security issue.

Leaders from the Congress criticised the Chief Minister’s statement, calling it inappropriate and alleging that such comments undermine the gravity of the situation. They stressed that matters related to national security should be handled with caution and responsibility.

The BJP also joined the criticism, questioning the basis of Mann’s claims and urging the state government to focus on investigation and law enforcement instead of making political allegations.

The developments have led to an unusual moment where both Congress and BJP appear aligned in their criticism of the Aam Aadmi Party-led government in the state.

Meanwhile, the blasts themselves have intensified concerns over safety in border regions, with authorities continuing their investigation into the incidents. No casualties were reported, but the proximity to defence establishments has made the issue particularly sensitive.

The episode has further escalated political tensions in the state, with security and accountability emerging as key points of debate.

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India News

Himanta Biswa Sarma resigns as Assam chief minister, oath ceremony likely after May 11

Himanta Biswa Sarma resigns as Assam Chief Minister after BJP-led NDA’s victory. He will continue as caretaker CM until the new government is sworn in after May 11.

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Himanta sharma

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma resigned from his post on Wednesday, paving the way for the formation of a new government after the BJP-led NDA secured a decisive victory in the 2026 Assembly elections.

Sarma submitted his resignation to Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya at Lok Bhawan in Guwahati. The Governor accepted the resignation and asked him to continue as the caretaker Chief Minister until the new government takes charge.

The resignation comes after the NDA’s strong electoral performance, where the alliance won a clear majority in the 126-member Assembly, ensuring its return to power for another term.

Oath ceremony expected after May 11

Speaking to reporters after submitting his resignation, Sarma said the swearing-in ceremony for the new government is likely to be held after May 11.

He indicated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been invited to attend the ceremony but is unavailable until May 11, which has influenced the tentative schedule.

Decision on next chief minister soon

Sources suggest that central observers, including senior BJP leaders, are expected to arrive shortly to oversee the selection of the legislature party leader. The newly elected MLAs will then decide on the next Chief Minister.

Despite the formal resignation, party sources indicate that Sarma is likely to continue in the role for another term, given the BJP’s strong mandate in the state.

The move marks the beginning of the government formation process in Assam following the election results declared earlier this week.

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Rahul Gandhi and Vijay alliance took shape through backchannel talks, early signals from Congress leaders

Congress outreach and political calculations led to Rahul Gandhi and Vijay coming together after the Tamil Nadu 2026 election results.

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The coming together of Rahul Gandhi and actor-politician Vijay in Tamil Nadu after the 2026 Assembly elections was not sudden, but the result of behind-the-scenes political manoeuvring and early signals within the Congress.

According to media reports, some leaders in the Tamil Nadu Congress had already sensed the scale of Vijay’s surge during the campaign, anticipating what was later described as a “wave” in favour of his party.

After the results, where Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) emerged as the single largest party but fell short of a majority, communication channels between the Congress leadership and Vijay quickly became active.

A key moment in this evolving political equation was a phone call from Rahul Gandhi to Vijay, congratulating him on the party’s strong performance. The conversation was seen as more than a courtesy, signalling the possibility of cooperation at a time when government formation required additional support.

Reports indicate that discussions within Congress weighed the political benefits of supporting Vijay, especially given the shifting dynamics in the state where traditional dominance by major Dravidian parties has been challenged.

With TVK needing allies to cross the majority mark, Congress emerged as a potential partner, leading to a broader political realignment in the state. This development also triggered tensions within opposition alliances, highlighting the strategic importance of the decision.

The evolving partnership reflects a mix of electoral pragmatism and changing voter sentiment, particularly the growing influence of younger voters, which leaders acknowledged as a key factor in the election outcome.

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