Uttar Pradesh

A major road accident caused by dense fog claimed two lives and left several others injured on the Agra–Gwalior Highway on Monday morning. The incident occurred near Iradatnagar in the early hours, when near-zero visibility led to a chain collision involving eight vehicles. According to eyewitnesses, the accident took place around 6 a.m., when thick fog severely reduced visibility to just a few metres. Vehicles moving at high speed were unable to react in time, resulting in sudden braking and a domino effect of collisions. The impact was so severe that two people—identified as Vishnu, a resident of Baad under Malpura police station limits, and Imran from Kirawali—died on the spot. Eight others sustained serious injuries and were rushed to nearby hospitals, where doctors said that the...

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has busted a major bribery racket within the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) department in Jhansi, arresting IRS officer and Deputy Commissioner Prabha Bhandari along with four others. The arrests were made in connection with an alleged ₹1.5 crore bribery deal aimed at providing relief to a hardware businessman accused of large-scale tax evasion. According to CBI’s Anti-Corruption Branch, the accused officials were demanding bribes to settle a case involving crores of rupees in GST evasion. After negotiations that reportedly continued for nearly eight days, the deal was allegedly finalized at ₹70 lakh. Deputy Commissioner Prabha Bhandari was arrested from her residence in Delhi, while the remaining accused were apprehended in Jhansi. Du...

Lucknow: New Year celebrations in Lucknow’s Hazratganj area on the night of 31 December turned chaotic when a drunken police constable allegedly tried to run over fellow officers and defy traffic authorities. The constable, identified as Soumya Jaiswal, who is posted at Barabanki Police Lines, was arrested after a tense confrontation. Incident During Heavy CrowdsThe incident occurred late Wednesday night when large crowds had gathered in Hazratganj for New Year festivities. To maintain order and manage traffic, police had set up diversions. Around this time, Jaiswal, reportedly under the influence of alcohol, reached Atal Chowk in his car. When a duty officer instructed him to move the vehicle aside, Jaiswal allegedly argued with the officer, verbally abused him, and attempted to flee b...

Ghaziabad: Residents of Sutthari village in Muradnagar police jurisdiction are living in fear as a rogue dog has attacked 21 people in just one week, leaving children and women among the seriously injured. The village, home to around 2,000 people, has been grappling with this menace for the past month, and repeated attempts to control the animal have so far failed. Locals claim that the dog has become mentally unstable and attacks anyone who comes near without provocation. The ongoing attacks have created a climate of terror, especially affecting children and women, who are now afraid to leave their homes. Impact on Daily LifeChildren have stopped playing in the streets, and even the elderly now venture outside only carrying sticks for protection. Residents remain on constant alert, ...

Prayagraj: A 63-year-old retired teacher narrowly escaped losing her life savings to cyber fraud, thanks to the vigilance of bank staff in Prayagraj. On 31 December 2025, cyber criminals “digitally arrested” Chanchal Srivastava, prompting her to rush to Punjab National Bank to transfer ₹90 lakh from her fixed deposit (FD) to a savings account. Chanchal Srivastava, a resident of Clive Road in Civil Lines, was approached by fraudsters who created panic, claiming digital legal action against her. At around 1:30 PM, she met bank employee Neetu at the front desk and requested the FD withdrawal. Sensing the unusually large amount, Neetu immediately informed Chief Manager Vipin Kumar. Suspicious Behavior Raises AlarmDuring discussions with the chief manager, Chanchal gave inconsistent detai...

Lucknow: In a significant move to make electricity connections more affordable and consumer-friendly, the Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) has released the new Cost Data Book 2025, effective for the next two years. The updated data book simplifies procedures and reduces charges, providing major relief to residents, particularly those in underdeveloped and non-electrified colonies. What is the Cost Data Book?The Cost Data Book details the fees and charges applicable for electricity services. It specifies rates for connection processing fees, security deposits, supply provisioning charges, material costs, and smart meters. The 2025 version replaces the previous revised data book issued in July 2019. With this, electricity connections are set to become more transpare...

Lucknow: In a major step to address the growing water crisis and promote sustainable development in Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced an ambitious plan to recycle and reuse wastewater across the state. The government aims to treat 50% of the wastewater generated in the state by 2030, and achieve 100% wastewater treatment and reuse by 2035. Under this initiative, treated wastewater will not only support agricultural activities but also serve industrial and urban needs, transforming a previously wasted resource into a key driver of economic growth. Wastewater as a ResourceThe plan envisions turning wastewater from a liability into an economic asset. A comprehensive policy is being prepared for the safe reuse of treated water across municipal services, industri...

Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh: A shocking video from a clothing store in Najibabad, Bijnor, has gone viral on social media, showing a masked youth threatening a young woman by holding a knife to her throat. The incident sent waves of panic through the busy market as bystanders captured the alarming moment on their phones. The IncidentAccording to local sources, on Wednesday evening, three young women were returning home from shopping at a winter collection sale along Railway Station Road when the masked youth suddenly approached from behind. He pressed a knife to one of the girl’s throats, causing the group to panic and scream. The commotion drew a crowd, and police patrolling the area quickly intervened to apprehend the suspect on the spot. Accused IdentifiedThe accused has been identified ...

Prayagraj: The Allahabad High Court has issued a stern warning to a Meerut trial court for displaying undue haste in judicial proceedings. Justice Kshitij Shailendra emphasized that judicial processes must be conducted with decency, restraint, and patience. The High Court observed that if the trial court had waited a day or two for the certified copy of the Supreme Court’s order, it would have caused no harm. The criticism comes after the Meerut Sessions Court issued summons to the accused on the same day without waiting for the Supreme Court’s clarifications and orders. Case BackgroundThe matter pertains to the high-profile murder case in Mundali, Meerut. During the police investigation, certain individuals’ names were initially excluded. Later, an attempt was made to include them a...

Ghaziabad: Continuous cold waves and dense fog have thrown the flight schedule at Hindon Airport into disarray, causing significant inconvenience to passengers. On Wednesday, a flight to Kolkata had to be cancelled, while a flight to Adampur returned to Hindon after failing to land due to poor visibility. Kolkata Flight Cancelled for Third Consecutive DayVisibility issues have severely affected the Kolkata route. For the third consecutive day, IndiGo’s morning flight to Kolkata was cancelled, disrupting the plans of passengers traveling to Bengal for work and personal commitments. Adampur Flight Diverts Mid-AirAn afternoon flight to Adampur departed at 2:30 PM but encountered thick fog upon arrival. The pilot spent over two hours circling in the air, attempting to obtain landing clea...