Author: LokMarg

The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) has constituted a four-member medical board to determine Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Shahbaz Gill’s health condition and recommend whether or not he should be discharged.

Gill, who was arrested by the police on August 9 after he made controversial remarks against the Pakistan Army on television that were deemed as “highly hateful and seditious” by the country’s media authority, is being treated at PIMS, The Express Tribune reported.
He was admitted to the hospital after complaining about a chest infection, body pain and sore throat.

The doctors at PIMS said Gill was being administered antibiotics for his chest infection. They added that the PTI leader’s blood pressure, sugar and pulse were recorded in a normal range. The doctors have decided to make him undergo a CT pulmonary angiography to examine his lungs.

Gill was provided with all the facilities like AC, TV, sofa and food, as per Geo News citing the doctors.

Head of Medicine Department Associate Professor Shafaat Rasool will head the medical board. The other members are General Surgeon Atif Inaam Shami, pulmonologist Dr Zia, and Medical ICU’s Assistant Professor Dr Salman.

In another development, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhary on Saturday called for the formation of an independent panel to investigate Gill’s torture allegations, reported The Express Tribune.

In a tweet, the former information minister suggested the names of PTI’s Shireen Mazari, PPP Senator Mustafa Khokar and PML-N’s Khawaja Saad Rafique to probe into the custodial torture claims.

“In my personal opinion, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar and Dr Shireen Mazari should form a panel to investigate the torture being inflicted on Shahbaz Gill, and to bring those involved in it to the forefront,” he wrote.

“This way, there would be no accusations of the panel being pro-PTI,” he added.

Meanwhile, the information minister Marriyum Aurangzeb released videos of Gill showing that the PTI leader is “perfectly fine” and no signs of torture can be seen on Imran Khan’s chief of staff.

The Information Minister on Saturday castigated PTI chief Imran Khan and party members for spreading “fake propaganda” on media regarding Shahbaz Gill.

Marriyum said that for the last three days “false propaganda” is being spread on social media as “fake” videos of Gill are being spread on all media platforms regarding him being tortured during his imprisonment, reported Geo TV.

The information minister said that an inquiry is being held regarding this matter and Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah “will soon present evidence in front of everybody.”

However, she hinted that all “dots of the story connect to Khan”; reiterating that the PTI chief wanted to divert attention from the reality “which is against him.” (ANI)

Bollywood actor R Madhavan, on Sunday, sent a warm wish to his son Vedaant Madhavan on his 17th birthday, with a happy family picture.

Taking to Instagram, the ‘Tanu weds Manu’ actor shared the picture which he captioned, “Happy 17th my boy. A big year ahead for both of us. Praying that this year is all that you want and more.”

In the picture, R Madhavan could be seen twinning with his wife Sarita and son Vedaant in black outfits.

Soon after the ‘Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein’ actor shared the post, fans swamped the comment section with red heart emoticons and sweet wishes for the birthday boy.

Actor Tanuj Virwani commented, ” Happy birthday Vedant. Keep swimming to the top. “

‘The Kashmir Files’ actor Darshan Kumar wrote, “Happy Happy Birthday @vedaantmadhavan Wish you the world.”

17-year-old Vedaant Madhavan is a swimmer who recently bagged a gold medal in the men’s 800m freestyle at the Danish Open swimming event in Copenhagen.

Meanwhile, R Madhavan is currently flying high on the success of his recently released biopic drama film ‘Rocketry: The Nambi Effect’.

The film is based on the life of Nambi Narayanan, played by Madhavan, a scientist at the Indian Space Research Organisation.

Recently, the biographical drama was screened in Parliament and it received quite a phenomenal response. The Indian government leaders felicitated the actor and the scientists with bouquets.

He will be next seen in a thriller film ‘Dhokha Round D Corner’, alongside Khushali Kapoor, Darshan Kumar and Aparshakti Khurana.

Helmed by Kookie Gulati, the film is all set to hit the theatres on September 23, 2022.

Apart from that the 52-year-old actor will be also making his grand digital debut with Yash Raj Film’s debut series ‘The Railway Men’, opposite Divyendu Sharma, Kay Kay Menon and Babil Khan.

Based on the Bhopal gas tragedy, the web series is all set to stream from December 2, 2022. (ANI)

After Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia’s jibe over the reports of Look Out Circular (LOC) against him and other accused in the excise policy case, sources in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) have clarified that the LOC might be issued soon as the procedure to do so is underway.

On Sunday, CBI sources had informed that LOCs were issued against Manish Sisodia and 14 others in the excise policy scam.
They later clarified that LOC is “in process, not issued yet”. It was a procedural matter that takes the due process to be followed before issuing it against any person.

According to the sources, during the searches conducted at the premises of the accused persons on Friday, two accused were not found at their location and they remained untraceable. Although, summons have been issued to them to join the investigation into the matter.

Earlier in the day after reports of LOC against him, Sisodia had tweeted an old video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in which the PM (as Gujarat Chief Minister) was hitting out at the then Central government and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

He also tweeted that CBI has found nothing during the searches conducted at his house.

In the LOC, the concerned agencies inform the Bureau of Immigration (BoI) regarding an individual who might leave the country without informing law enforcement agencies. BoI then updates the list of LOC to its officers at immigration checkpoints at international airports and seaports.

There are certain categories of LOC like where a person is completely banned from going outside the country and in certain categories, he can go but only after taking due permission and informing the concerned law enforcement agency. (ANI)

Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday raised questions on the country’s progress and accused the Centre of working against the country at a time when it should be battling unemployment.

“Instead of fighting inflation and unemployment, the Centre is fighting with the country at a time when it should make efforts with the state government when crores of youth are unemployed and the common man is battling with inflation,” Kejriwal said in a tweet.

“How can such a country progress whose leaders simply wake up in the morning and start their game of CBI and ED?” he said further.

The AAP national convenor’s remark came in a response to the Look Out Circular issued to his deputy Manish Sisodia after the CBI raids at his residence on August 19.

Earlier in the day, Sisodia took to Twitter and termed the CBI raids a “gimmick”.

“All the raids issued by you have failed, the foul play of not even a single penny has been found. Now, you have issued a Look Out Circular that Manish Sisodia is absconding, what is this gimmick, Modi Ji? I am openly roaming in Delhi, tell me where do I need to come?” Sisodia tweeted attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Hindi.

The Central Bureau of Investigation has barred the travel movement of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and 12 people for being allegedly involved in the Delhi Excise Policy Scam by issuing a Look Out Circular in their name.

The CBI had issued the Look Out Circular against all the accused, which is used by the authorities to check if the person travelling abroad is ‘wanted’ by the police or any agency. It can be used in immigration checks at international borders.

The LOC is issued to ensure that a person absconding or wanted by law enforcement agencies is not able to leave the country. It is mostly used at immigration checkpoints by the immigration branch at international airports and seaports.

During the raid of CBI in Delhi at 31 locations including seven states, two accused were not found, so the agency opened LOC with immediate effect against the 13 accused.

CBI had registered an FIR against Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and 14 others in connection with alleged irregularities in the excise policy which was implemented in November last year.

On Saturday the CBI summoned several accused for questioning in the corruption case in connection with the Delhi excise policy.

The investigative agency is currently probing the process of verification of bank transactions along with documents related to the case and electronic gadgets which were seized during the raids.

Excise officials, liquor company executives, dealers along with unknown public servants and private persons have also been booked in the case.

The CBI on Friday conducted a raid at the house of Sisodia in connection with the alleged corruption in the implementation of the Delhi excise policy.

CBI registered a case against Manish Sisodia, Deputy Chief Minister, GNCTD of Delhi and others including Arva Gopi Krishna, the then Commissioner (Excise), GNCTD of Delhi, Anand Tiwari, the then Deputy Commissioner (Excise), GNCTD of Delhi, Pankaj Bhatnagar, then Assistant Commissioner (Excise), GNCTD of Delhi and 10 liquor licensees, their associates and unknown others on a reference from Ministry of Home Affairs.

It was alleged that irregularities were committed including modifications in the excise policy and undue favours were extended to the license holders including waiver or reduction in licence fee, an extension of L-1 license without approval etc.

It was further alleged that illegal gains on the count of these acts were diverted to concerned public servants by private parties and making false entries in their books of accounts. (ANI)

Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia on Sunday lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the CBI Look Out Circular against him and said that after the 2024 general election the people will give a “Look Out Circular” to the BJP.

“It is unfortunate that the PM keeps thinking against whom should a CBI ‘Look Out Circular’ be issued today,” he said in a conversation with ANI. Hinting toward the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, he further asserted that the public will give a “Look Out Circular” to the BJP.

“Today, the country is looking for a leader who can give solutions to inflation, unemployment, and work to make India number one. What can they achieve by making Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia zero? The country needs a Prime Minister who thinks about Health and Education, the public will give a ‘look out notice’ to them in 2024 after asking about their huge promises,” he said.

He further claimed that the condition of India is the same as it was 75 years ago. “They do not understand that the country is seeking solutions to unemployment. Where Arvind Kejriwal is finding out ways to make India number one, they (PM Modi) are thinking about the people to whose house they can send CBI and ED for conducting raids.”

Earlier in the day, he took to Twitter to react to the LOC issued against him and termed the CBI raids a “gimmick”.

“All the raids issued by you have failed, the foul play of not even a single penny has been found. Now, you have issued a Look Out Circular that Manish Sisodia is absconding, what is this gimmick, Modi Ji? I am openly roaming in Delhi, tell me where do I need to come?” Sisodia tweeted attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Hindi.

The Central Bureau of Investigation has barred the travel movement of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and 12 people for being allegedly involved in the Delhi Excise Policy Scam by issuing a Look Out Circular in their name.

The CBI had issued the Look Out Circular against all the accused, which is used by the authorities to check if the person travelling abroad is ‘wanted’ by the police or any agency. It can be used in immigration checks at international borders.

The LOC is issued to ensure that a person absconding or wanted by law enforcement agencies is not able to leave the country. It is mostly used at immigration checkpoints by the immigration branch at international airports and seaports.

During the raid of CBI in Delhi at 31 locations including seven states, two accused were not found during the raid, so the agency opened LOC with immediate effect against the 13 accused.

“CBI issues a Look Out Circular (LOC) against 13 accused in Delhi excise police case including deputy chief Minister Manish Sisodia,” an agency official told ANI.

CBI had registered an FIR against Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and 14 others in connection with alleged irregularities in the excise policy which was implemented in November last year.

On Saturday the CBI summoned several accused for questioning in the corruption case in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy.

An agency official told, “the agency was probing documents seized during raids at 31 places, including the residence of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.”

The investigative agency is currently probing the process of verification of bank transactions along with documents related to the case and electronic gadgets which were seized during the raids.

Excise officials, liquor company executives, dealers along with unknown public servants and private persons have also been booked in the case.

The FIR alleged that Sisodia, Arva Gopi Krishna, Anand Tiwari and Pankaj Bhatnagar, were instrumental in recommending and taking decisions pertaining to excise policy for the year 2021-22 “without the approval of competent authority with an intention to extend undue favours to the licencees post tender”.

The CBI on Friday conducted a raid at the house of Minister Manish Sisodia in connection with the alleged corruption in the implementation of the Delhi Excise Policy.

CBI registered a case against Manish Sisodia, Deputy Chief Minister, GNCTD of Delhi and others including Arva Gopi Krishna, the then Commissioner (Excise), GNCTD of Delhi, Anand Tiwari, the then Deputy Commissioner (Excise), GNCTD of Delhi, Pankaj Bhatnagar, then Assistant Commissioner (Excise), GNCTD of Delhi and 10 liquor licensees, their associates and unknown others on a reference from Ministry of Home Affairs.

It was alleged that irregularities were committed including modifications in the Excise Policy and undue favours were extended to the license holders including waiver or reduction in licence fee, an extension of L-1 license without approval etc.

It was further alleged that illegal gains on the count of these acts were diverted to concerned public servants by private parties and making false entries in their books of accounts. (ANI)

Security personnel at Cochin International Airport have seized 30 kg of narcotic drugs worth ₹60 crore from a passenger.

The preliminary assessment of the Customs Narcotics Department concluded that it is metha quinol worth around Rs 60 crore in the international market. The seized contraband has been sent to the government laboratory for further testing.

According to the official information from CIAL, the accused was identified as Muraleedharan Nair, who had arrived in Kochi via Doha from Zimbabwe.

He was being checked for baggage as he boarded the Air Asia flight from Kochi to Delhi. The substance hidden in the bag was found by the security department of CIAL using the state-of-the-art ‘3D MRI’ scanning machine.

He is a native of Palakkad and has been turned over to the narcotics department. (ANI)

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chairman Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said that a plan is under consideration to change the status of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and declare it as a separate province.

During the party’s general council meeting on Saturday, the JUL-F chief said that his party had opposed the plan and passed a resolution at the all-parties conference not to change the existing status of Kashmir, Dawn newspaper reported.

“The plan about changing the status of Azad Kashmir is still under consideration, but JUI-F would insist not to change the position of Azad Kashmir,” said Maulana Fazl.

The two-day general council meeting of JUI-F started in Peshawar, in which over 900 members were participating. The council would discuss the prevailing political scenario, upcoming by-elections and the next general elections in the country.

Meanwhile, PoK will hold local body elections in the month of September on a party basis after 31 years.

The announcement was made by Chief Election Commissioner Justice Retd Abdul Rasheed Sulehria along with the poll body members in a media conference.

“The apex court of AJ&K has given us a deadline to conduct polls before October 12, 2022 however, we are ready to conduct them in the month of September this year,” said CEC Justice Retd Sulehria as quoted by The Express Tribune.

According to a senior member of the poll body Farooq Niaz, all arrangements have been completed to ensure local bodies’ elections.

Another member Farhat Ali Mir said that the first phase for the arrangements was delimitation which has been completed on time while the second phase was the completion of voter lists, and the task has already been achieved before the deadline.

More than 5,192 polling stations have been established while in general elections there were only 5,123 polling stations, the Pakistani media outlet reported citing the polling official.

Asked about the changes in these elections, Farhat Ali Mir said that there is no change in the local government election procedure and they will be conducted on the same pattern as the 1991 local body polls.

In May, Prime Minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas said that his government would hold the local body (LB) polls in accordance with the direction of the top court.

Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry had asked the election commission to redouble its efforts to hold local body elections in the state in line with the orders of the top court. (ANI)

The war of words between BJP and AAP continued a day after the CBI raid on Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia’s residence in the excise policy case with union minister Anurag Thakur stating that the AAP leader might have changed his name to “Money Shh” and asking why Delhi government’s liquor policy was taken back if it was fine.

Sisodia said he might be arrested soon and that the liquor issue was just an excuse to target him since he was a minister under Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Sisodia alleged that the raid against him was all political and had nothing to do with the alleged violations in Delhi’s Excise Policy.

“Maybe within the next 3-4 days, CBI-ED will arrest me… we won’t be scared, you won’t be able to break us… Elections of 2024 will be AAP vs BJP,” said Sisodia said at a press conference in the national capital today.

“Their issue is not liquor/excise scam. Their problem is Arvind Kejriwal… whole proceedings against me, raids at my residence and office, are to stop Arvind Kejriwal… I haven’t done any corruption. I’m just Arvind Kejriwal’s Education Minister,” he said.

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur took a dig at Sisodia on Saturday, saying that the Delhi Deputy Chief Minister might have changed his name to “Money Shh”, alleging that he is good at taking money and keeping quiet about it.

The Bharatiya Janata Party leader challenged the Delhi Chief Minister to respond answers to his questions within 24 hours.

“Manish Ji, if your liquor policy was right, why did you take it back? It’s like ‘chor ki daadhi mei tinka’… why is there a soft corner for liquor businessmen?… I challenge Arvind Kejriwal to come in front of the nation and answer me within 24 hours,” Union Minister Anurag Thakur said at a press conference.

Thakur alleged that though Manish Sisodia is accused number one in the alleged liquor scam, Arvind Kejriwal was its kingpin.

“No. 1 accused of liquor scam is Manish Sisodia (Delhi Dy CM and AAP leader) but the kingpin is Arvind Kejriwal (Delhi CM). Today’s press conference clearly showed how the colour on his face was gone after his scam. He couldn’t even answer any questions,” he added.

Thakur’s remarks came after Sisodia earlier today said that he might be arrested soon.

The CBI on Friday conducted a raid at Sisodia’s residence in connection with the alleged corruption in the implementation of the Delhi Excise Policy.

In his remarks to the media on Saturday, Sisodia said Delhi’s excise policy was the best policy.

“Excise policy due to which whole controversy is created is the country’s best policy. We were applying it with transparency and sincerity. Had Delhi LG not changed his decision conspiring to fail the policy, Delhi government would’ve been getting at least Rs 10,000 cr every year.”

Earlier on Friday, Sisodia said that he and his family had cooperated with the CBI, which he claimed was “being misused” by the Centre, on a day when the investigative agency carried out raids at multiple locations in connection with a case linked to the AAP government now withdrawn excise policy.

Speaking to the reporters after the CBI officials left after a 14-hour-long raid on Friday, Sisodia said, “CBI team came this morning. They searched my house and seized my computer and phone. My family cooperated with them and will continue to cooperate. We have not done any corruption or wrong. We are not afraid. We know that CBI is being misused.”

Sisodia was among 15 persons booked in an FIR filed by the CBI. Excise officials, liquor company executives, dealers along with some unknown public servants and private persons have been booked in the case.

The FIR said that “facts in the matter prima facie disclose the commission of offences” punishable under section 120-B, 477A IPC and section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988″ against the accused.

The premises of then Excise Commissioner Arava Gopi Krishna and Anand Tiwari were among those searched.

Amid the furore over the CBI raid, Kejriwal said he and Sisodia will be on a two-day visit to Gujarat from Monday. Gujarat is slated to the polls later this year.

“On Monday, Manish ji and I will go to Gujarat for two days – to guarantee education and health. Like Delhi, Gujarat will also have good schools, good hospitals and Mohalla clinics. Everyone will get a free good education and good treatment. People will be relieved, we will also interact with youth,” Kejriwal said in a tweet.

Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court had issued search warrants against Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Thursday, a day before the CBI raid.

While the FIR was registered on August 17, the concerned court of ASJ MK Nagpal issued the search warrant to CBI in the matter on August 18, 2022. The search list submitted by CBI included some documents in the court.

CBI registered a case against Manish Sisodia, Deputy Chief Minister, GNCTD of Delhi and others including Arva Gopi Krishna, the then Commissioner (Excise), GNCTD of Delhi, Anand Tiwari, the then Deputy Commissioner (Excise), GNCTD of Delhi, Pankaj Bhatnagar, then Assistant Commissioner (Excise), GNCTD of Delhi and 10 liquor licensees, their associates and unknown others on a reference from Ministry of Home Affairs.

It was alleged that irregularities were committed including modifications in the Excise Policy and undue favours were extended to to the license holders including waiver or reduction in licence fee, an extension of L-1 license without approval etc.

Meanwhile, Vijay Nair, who is an accused in the case, said he will cooperate with CBI in the probe.

“I am surprised to see the news claiming that I have run away abroad. I have been here for the last few weeks due to some personal work. It is wrong to say that I am absconding,” Nair said

“Yesterday, my house in Mumbai was raided. I spoke to the CBI officer on phone and asked her whether I needed to come. She told me that a CBI officer named Mr Alok will get in touch with me and inform me when and where to report. I have neither received any notice nor any call from Mr Alok. I have not done anything wrong so there is no question of running away,” he added.

Former union minister Kapil Sibal, who had on Friday slammed the government over the CBI raid on Sisodia, termed the agency as “uncaged parrot”.

“CBI, once a “caged parrot” is now uncaged. Now, its plumes are saffron Its wings are ED It parrots what his Master says!” Sibal said in a tweet.

The CBI raid at Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia’s residence in the excise policy case on Friday has exposed fault lines amid talk of opposition unity for the 2024 electoral battle with Congress supporting the action by the probe agency while several other opposition parties including Trinamool Congress and CPI-M slamming the government over action against the AAP leader.

PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday slammed the Congress over its stance, saying that the party has been unable to rise above its interests as AAP is its formidable opponent.

Mehbooba Mufti referred to protest by Delhi Congress seeking Sisodia’s resignation and accused the party of joining “BJP’s propaganda” even as it is “victim of ED onslaught”.

“Sad that Congress is unable to rise above party interests because AAP is a formidable opponent. Having been a victim themselves of ED onslaught yet they are joining BJPs propaganda. At a time when agencies are being weaponised, the Opposition should’ve rallied together,” Mehbooba Mufti said in a tweet.

Delhi Congress held a protest on Saturday demanding the resignation of Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia over alleged corruption in Delhi Excise Policy following CBI raid at his residence.

The protesters raised slogans against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Sisodia. (ANI)

The Chief Justice of India NV Ramana on Saturday urged people to build a democracy filled with “vibrancy and idealism”, where differences of identities and opinions are respected.

“Don’t allow corrupt thoughts. Don’t tolerate injustices. Think beyond yourself, and be willing to make sacrifices. Be sensitive to the needs of the community and society,” said the CJI at the 37th and 38th convocation address of Acharya Nagarjuna University.

“I call upon all you changemakers- you must be ‘Conscious Changemakers’. Think of sustainable models of development. This consciousness must acknowledge the needs of our community and environment while being pioneers in your respective fields. Take inspiration from your culture and language and try to accommodate it in your vision for the future. Transcend beyond the ideas of self. Try to take your community along with you. Develop an inclusive vision of progress. Be a stakeholder in the nation-building process,” he added.

CJI Ramana remembered the days when he attended this university nearly four decades ago, he said our learning was not limited to the boundaries of classes.

“We used to debate on ideologies, philosophy, politics and social issues under the trees or in canteens or dining halls. Our deliberations, our activism, and our resolution to bring about changes shaped our opinions about the world. It taught us the value of an individual voice and opinion, in shaping the dynamics of society and politics. We realised the value of liberal democracy: where the rights and freedoms protect our thought and speech, where diversity of opinion is welcomed,” he said.

These institutions were a reflection of our socio-cultural diversity, our distinct identities and backgrounds elevated our deliberations by bringing in diverse opinions, he said.

CJI further said, “Our collective endeavours taught us the value of the spirit of fraternity. It kept us connected with our roots – we felt the responsibility of building an equitable society- It was through these shared experiences, that we understood the nerve of the society. I am witnessing the education system preferred by the present generation.”

He said these institutions are losing their social relevance and there are mushrooming of factories of education which is leading to the devaluation of degrees and human resources.

“I am afraid that institutions are losing their social relevance. We are witnessing mushrooming of factories of education which is leading to the devaluation of degrees and human resources. I am not sure, who or what is to be blamed,” he said.

The need of the hour is to develop a model of education which must teach us, how to face real-life challenges, CJI further said.

He added, “It should enable us to achieve social solidarity and create individuals who are meaningful members of society. It is time for a transformation of our education system. Our institutes must focus on the value of social relationships and conscious citizenship. It should blend our historical baggage with a futuristic vision, to equip young minds with the right tools and attitudes to transform our society with awareness and right understanding.”

Universities and their research wings should focus on issues affecting our country and try to find comprehensive solutions, he added.

CJI Ramana added that while aiming for economic progress, we must not lose sight of our cultural and environmental duty, it would be a grave dishonour to our roots. The youth of today must think of innovative ways of benefitting from the untapped composite culture of India, he said. (ANI)

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday issued an orange alert for the next 12 hours across Himachal Pradesh.

Speaking to ANI, IMD Deputy Director of State, Bui Lal said the state will also see moderate to heavy rain during the next five days.

“The next 5 days to see moderate to heavy rain. An orange alert has been issued for the next 12 hours for the whole state, yellow alert for the rest of the days till August 24,” Lal said.

At least 21 people were killed in Himachal Pradesh due to rain-triggered landslides and other weather-related incidents during the past 24 hours, a senior official said on Saturday.

According to State Disaster Management Authority, 12 people have been injured and six people are missing.

“21 dead, 12 injured, 6 missing in the last 24 hours as heavy rainfall continues to trigger flashflood situations, landslides and accidents in the state,” State Disaster Management Authority said.

Flash floods and other incidents were reported from 30 different locations in the state. There have also been reports that at least 15 houses were also damaged. Due to inclement weather, several transformers were damaged.

Other than this, the Chakki railway bridge connecting Pathankot to Himachal Pradesh also collapsed. So far, 225 people have lost their lives due to rain this year.

Meanwhile, on Friday a cloudburst and a landslide were reported in the Mandi area of the state.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy rainfall in isolated places today in Himachal Pradesh in the districts of Kangra, Chamba, Bilaspur, Sirmaur, and Mandi districts.

Locals and tourists have been advised to avoid going near the rivers and streams in bad weather.

The Himachal Pradesh’s disaster management department has issued a warning for landslide due to heavy rains predicted in the state till August 25. (ANI)