Jharkhand

Ranchi: The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Jharkhand has initiated preparations for the Special Summary Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in the state. Ahead of the SIR, CEO K. Ravi Kumar has directed the training of Booth Level Agents-2 (BLA-2) appointed by recognized political parties. All District Election Officers (DEOs) have been formally informed through official letters. Mandatory Training for Party-Nominated Agents The CEO has emphasized the preparation of electoral rolls in light of the upcoming SIR program. To enhance transparency and strengthen the credibility of the revision and correction processes, recognized political parties’ cooperation has been sought. Accordingly, BLA-2 agents appointed by political parties will be mandatorily trained on various activities re...

Chaibasa, West Singhbhum, Jharkhand: Fear and panic grip villages in West Singhbhum as wild elephants wreak havoc across the region. On Friday morning, a rogue elephant entered Tilokuti village under Benisagar Panchayat in the Majhgaon block, attacking villagers and killing two people, including a minor. SDPO Jagannathpur, Rafael Murmu, said that despite repeated efforts by police and forest officials, the elephant remained within the Majhgaon police station area near the Odisha border, refusing to leave. The victims have been identified as 40-year-old Prakash Malwa from Benisagar village and a minor boy. Another person sustained injuries during the attack. Murmu added that due to the elephant’s continued presence, recovery of the bodies could not be carried out immediately, promptin...

Khunti, Jharkhand: Tribal leader and local “Padha Raja” Som Munda was brutally shot dead by unidentified assailants in Jharkhand’s Khunti district on Wednesday evening. The murder, which occurred in front of his wife while the couple was returning home on a motorcycle, has sparked widespread outrage and led to a district-wide shutdown on Thursday. Som Munda, a prominent tribal leader who contested the Khunti assembly seat in 2024, was returning from Khunti to his village Chilanghi when two men on a motorcycle overtook them near a pond in Jamudag and opened fire. One bullet struck Munda in the chest. Despite attempts to continue toward Khunti, he collapsed on the road and was later declared dead at a hospital. His wife informed police with the help of a passing tractor and an auto-ricksh...

Ranchi, Jharkhand: A severe cold wave has gripped Jharkhand, with temperatures dropping below freezing in several areas, including McCluskieganj near the state capital. Dense morning fog blanketed many regions, while frost formed on the ground due to the biting cold. Over the past 24 hours, Kanke recorded a minimum temperature of 2°C and Khunti at 2.1°C. In McCluskieganj, local resident Nelson Paul Bobby Gordon measured a minimum of -0.5°C, while the Rana Country Cottage recorded the lowest temperature at -0.7°C using a digital meter. In Ranchi, the minimum temperature was 6.6°C, accompanied by thick fog and chilling winds. Daltonganj reported the lowest visibility of 300 meters, while Deoghar recorded 600 meters. Cold Wave Forecast Continues According to the Ranchi Meteorologi...

Ranchi: Jharkhand is currently experiencing a severe cold wave, with minimum temperatures in several districts falling below 10°C. Khunti has recorded temperatures below 3°C, while Ranchi’s Kanke area has also seen minimum readings drop below 3°C. According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) officer in Ranchi, Abhishek Anand, the coldest minimum temperature on Wednesday was recorded in Torpa, Khunti district, at 2.1°C. Kanke, Ranchi, recorded 2.7°C. Lohardaga registered 3.7°C, Daltonganj 4.4°C, Bokaro 6.6°C, and Jamshedpur 7.6°C. Cold Wave Conditions Continue Western and central parts of Jharkhand are experiencing cold day and night conditions. The minimum temperature is currently stable, with no significant change expected over the next two days. However, a slight incr...

The havoc caused by wild elephants in West Singhbhum district has now turned deadly. An incident in the Noamundi block has shaken the state of Jharkhand. A wild elephant went on a rampage across two villages, killing six people. Chaibasa:In the Noamundi block of West Singhbhum district, located under the Jeteiya police station, the area was left in shock after a wild elephant caused mayhem on the night of Tuesday. The elephant trampled five villagers from Bawadia village and one person from Badapasai village to death. Among the deceased, four people from Bawadia village are reported to be from the same family, plunging the village into mourning. Four Other Villagers Seriously InjuredInitial reports suggest that four other villagers were seriously injured in the attack, with one in cr...

Ranchi: In a decisive move to free the RIMS (Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences) premises from illegal encroachments, the Ranchi administration has demolished the controversial ‘Kailash Kothi’ near the DIG Maidan in Bariatu, following a directive from the Jharkhand High Court. The demolition sparked tension on-site, requiring deployment of significant police forces to maintain order. Strong Opposition During DemolitionAs the administrative team, including magistrates and local officials, arrived to carry out the demolition, residents and supporters of Kailash Kothi protested fiercely. The escalating situation prompted authorities to call in reinforced security, allowing the bulldozer to proceed under police protection. The encroachment reportedly occupied 33 decimal of land acquired...

Lohardaga: Train operations on the Ranchi–Lohardaga–Tori route have been disrupted following structural cracks in the Koel River Railway Bridge (Bridge No. 115). The Ranchi–Lohardaga Express will remain suspended until March, with trains currently operating only between Ranchi and Irgaon. Connecting train and bus services have been arranged for passengers traveling between Lohardaga and Tori. Inspection and Immediate RepairsThe technical fault was detected in pillars four and five of the bridge, prompting the South Eastern Railway (SER) to halt operations on the affected section. On Tuesday, SER General Manager Anil Kumar Mishra, along with a team of technical experts, conducted a detailed two-hour inspection of the bridge. Pillar five has been prioritized for immediate repair, follo...

Jamshedpur: The movement of elephants around Jamshedpur and nearby areas has brought train operations to a temporary halt. With herds of elephants approaching railway tracks, the Chakradharpur division of South Eastern Railway has taken precautionary measures to prevent potential accidents. Several passenger and MEMU trains have been cancelled from 7 to 9 January 2026 to ensure the safety of both passengers and wildlife. Heightened Risk Due to Elephant MovementRailway officials reported that in sections of the track surrounded by forest, elephant herds frequently come close to the rails. Poor visibility due to dense fog and night-time darkness increases the risk of collisions. To mitigate these dangers, train operations have been suspended as a precaution. Joint monitoring teams from th...

Jamshedpur: A new revolution in education is set to unfold in Jamshedpur’s government schools. Starting from the 2026-27 academic session, not only children but also their parents will be seen attending classes, as the East Singhbhum district administration launches a unique initiative to promote adult literacy. The program, part of the Literate India Campaign and the Hulas initiative, aims to empower illiterate parents with basic reading, writing, and arithmetic skills, enabling them to actively support their children’s education. Daily One-Hour Classes for ParentsUnder this scheme, all government schools in the district will conduct one-hour daily classes for parents from Monday to Saturday. These sessions will take place during school hours, ensuring that children’s learning is no...