Bihar

A day after Deepak Prakash—son of former Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha—took charge as Bihar’s Panchayati Raj Minister, the RJD launched a sharp political attack on him. The party mocked his rise, claiming that he had jumped “straight from being a counting agent of an Independent candidate to becoming a Cabinet minister.” RJD Calls It ‘Modi–Nitish Magic’ Taking to social media, the RJD posted a sarcastic remark, saying: “Deepak Prakash, who served as the counting agent for Independent candidate Ramnarayan Paswan in Sasaram, has become a minister in the Nitish government without contesting elections. Isn’t this Modi–Nitish magic? What more development does Bihar need now?” Prakash currently holds no membership in either House of the Bihar Legislature. Viral I-Card Sparks Con...

Bihar, already among the worst-affected states in terms of air quality during winter, is now battling an even deeper crisis—severely contaminated groundwater that is accelerating the rise in lung cancer cases, especially among non-smokers. This alarming trend was highlighted on Sunday by Dr. Tarkeshwar Tiwari, Senior Pulmonologist at Welspun Hospital, USA. Dangerous Mix of Pollution and Toxic Water According to Dr. Tiwari, who is currently visiting his hometown in Sonbarsa, Buxar, air pollution combined with widespread contamination in food, water, and daily-use items has led to a sharp increase in lung cancer cases across India. Bihar, he said, stands at a particularly vulnerable point due to its toxic winter air and high levels of arsenic in its groundwater. Arsenic Contaminatio...

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a ₹30,000 penalty on Cafe Blue Bottle in Patna for violating consumer guidelines by automatically adding a service charge to customer bills. The café has also been directed to refund the amount to the complainant and immediately discontinue the practice. Action Taken After Delhi High Court Order The action follows the Delhi High Court’s order dated March 28, which made it clear that all restaurants must comply with the service-charge guidelines issued by the CCPA. The court had also stated that any violation would invite strict proceedings against the concerned establishments. CCPA Guidelines: Service Charge Not Mandatory The CCPA’s July 4, 2022 guidelines prohibit restaurants and hotels from: Automatically adding...

The Civil Surgeon of Sitamarhi, Dr. Akhilesh Kumar, on Sunday issued a show-cause notice to Sadar Hospital doctor Dr. Aftab Alam following an alleged altercation with Deputy Superintendent Dr. Mukesh Kumar over duty attendance. Dr. Alam has been asked to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against him. He has been given one day to submit his reply. How the Dispute Began The incident took place on Saturday when a disagreement between Dr. Mukesh Kumar and Dr. Aftab Alam escalated over the marking of attendance in the duty register. The heated exchange soon turned into a physical scuffle, triggering panic among hospital staff and patients. On-duty health personnel and police officers stationed at the hospital intervened and brought the situation under control. Depu...

A day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi performs the historic flag hoisting atop the Ram Lalla Temple in Ayodhya on 25 November, another landmark development is set to unfold in Bihar. The construction of a grand Maa Janaki Temple will begin at Sitamarhi—recognized as the birthplace of Goddess Sita. Tourism Minister Arun Shankar Prasad, after offering prayers at the Janaki Temple on Sunday, formally announced that construction work would commence from Monday, marking a significant milestone for the region. A Temple as Majestic as Ayodhya's Ram Lalla Shrine Just as Ayodhya now hosts a magnificent Ram Temple, Sitamarhi too is set to witness the rise of an equally grand and architecturally extraordinary temple dedicated to Maa Sita. On 8 August 2025, Union Home Minister Amit Sha...

A shocking video from Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s home district, Nalanda, has triggered a wave of public outrage and raised serious questions over corruption in road construction projects. The viral clip, allegedly from Sirsi village in Harnaut, shows villagers exposing a newly built road that crumbles with just a few hand movements. (NBT Online does not independently verify the authenticity of the video, and the footage contains abusive language, so it is not being reproduced here.) Villager Tears Up Road Barehanded In the video shared by the social media handle The Nalanda Index, villagers can be seen confronting officials at the site while one man digs his fingers into the freshly laid road and peels off the tar layer like loose cloth. The villager can be heard sayin...

Patna: In a shocking revelation, a new study published in Nature has found traces of uranium in the breast milk of every lactating mother tested across six districts of Bihar. The findings indicate a direct transfer of toxic uranium—present in the region’s groundwater for years—into the bodies of newborns through their first and most essential source of nutrition. The study was conducted jointly by the Mahavir Cancer Institute, Patna (under Dr. Arun Kumar and Prof. Ashok Ghosh) and the Department of Biochemistry, AIIMS New Delhi (under Dr. Ashok Sharma). 40 Breast Milk Samples Tested — All Contained Uranium Between October 2021 and July 2024, researchers collected breast milk samples from 40 mothers aged 17–35 years in Bhojpur, Samastipur, Begusarai, Khagaria, Katihar, and Nalanda...