Uttar Pradesh

Varanasi: In a significant decision, the Varanasi Municipal Corporation (VMC) has announced relief for residential property owners by waiving the surcharge on pending water bills. The move affects 1,41,103 households in the city. House owners in the residential category are now exempt from paying the surcharge, but the original outstanding water bills must be cleared by March 31, 2026. Currently, the VMC has a total surcharge of ₹72.02 crore on these properties. The decision was approved during a board meeting held on Monday at Gandhi Bhavan, Town Hall. Board Meeting Highlights The meeting, chaired by Varanasi Mayor Ashok Kumar Tiwari, saw Councillor Suresh Kumar Chaurasia propose the waiver of surcharges under Section 91(2). The proposal received support from Rajesh Yadav Challu,...

Pratapgarh: In a highly unusual incident in Aspur Devsara, Pratapgarh, a woman married her lover in the presence of her husband after insisting on being with him. The event has sparked widespread discussion in the region. According to reports, the husband caught his wife with her lover late Saturday night. The following morning, the matter was taken to the local police station, where a panchayat (village council) convened to resolve the situation. During the proceedings, the wife firmly stated that she would not leave her lover. The husband, who married in 2016 and has two children aged seven and four, eventually acquiesced to his wife’s demands. The marriage between the woman and her lover was solemnized at the ancient Shiv Temple in Amargarh. During the ceremony, the wife touched h...

Mathura (Uttar Pradesh):In a major development linked to the iconic Shri Banke Bihari Temple of Mathura-Vrindavan, the temple administration has decided to launch a nationwide drive to trace and reclaim properties belonging to the deity. This decision comes after the discovery of around 15 hectares of valuable land in Kota district of Rajasthan, registered in the name of the temple. The land was traced by the High-Powered Committee constituted on the directions of the Supreme Court. The committee has not only identified the property but has also secured its original documents from the local administration. Encouraged by this breakthrough, the committee has now resolved to search for other temple assets spread across different parts of the country. High-Powered Committee Takes Key Dec...

Pratapgarh (Uttar Pradesh):In a significant development in the long-running domestic violence case involving Kunda विधायक and Jansatta Party Loktantrik chief Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya, his wife Bhanvi Singh on Monday described the Supreme Court’s latest order as a decision “in her favour” and reaffirmed her resolve to continue her fight for justice. The Supreme Court has directed the Delhi High Court to decide, within four months, the petition related to the stay on summons issued by a trial court against Raja Bhaiya. The trial court had earlier taken cognisance of a domestic violence complaint filed by Bhanvi Singh and summoned the Kunda MLA. Raja Bhaiya subsequently approached the Delhi High Court, which stayed the summons. The apex court has now asked the High Court to ...

Prayagraj: Jyotish Peeth Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati has strongly reacted to a notice issued by the Magh Mela administration questioning his use of the title “Shankaracharya.” Calling the move unjustified and beyond administrative authority, he asserted that only Shankaracharyas themselves can determine who holds the title — not the state government, not the Chief Minister, and not even the President of India. Speaking to the media, Swami Avimukteshwaranand said, “When the Shankaracharyas of Dwarka and Sringeri themselves acknowledge me as a Shankaracharya and have taken the holy dip with me, what more proof is needed? Will the administration decide whether I am a Shankaracharya? Will the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister decide? Or will the President of India? Even the...

Noida: A tragic accident occurred early Tuesday on the elevated road in Sector-49, Noida, when a luxury Jaguar car collided violently with a truck. The accident, which happened around 4:30 AM, claimed the life of 19-year-old Falak Ahmad and left three others seriously injured. According to police, the car was traveling from Bhangel towards Agapur at high speed. While attempting to overtake a Canter truck, the Jaguar lost balance and crashed into a truck ahead. The impact was so severe that the front section of the car was completely destroyed, leaving all four occupants critically injured. Occupants of the Jaguar The car carried four young people aged 18–19: Falak Ahmad (19) Ayush Bhati (18) Neel Pawar (18) Ansh (18) The injured were immediately rushed to a nearby...

Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh: In a unique initiative to promote girls’ education, District Magistrate Durga Shakti Nagpal of Lakhimpur Kheri has launched the innovative program ‘DM Kheri Ki Pathshala’. The initiative is aimed at implementing the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao vision of the central and state governments, bringing educational resources directly to every girl in the district. On Monday, DM Nagpal, along with local representatives, distributed ‘Vidyadayini Potli’ to 9,000 schoolgirls from council schools and Kasturba Gandhi residential girls’ schools. Each potli contained essential study materials including a whiteboard, study table, markers, and duster, enabling the girls to set up a small learning space at home. Objective of the InitiativeDM Nagpal explained that the aim of...

Prayagraj: Controversy surrounded Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati during the Magh Mela 2026, when a scuffle broke out between his followers and police at the Mauni Amavasya bathing ritual. The Shankaracharya was reportedly denied participation in the sacred bath, prompting him to stage a sit-in protest against the authorities. This is not the first time Swami Avimukteshwaranand has been involved in public disputes. Earlier, the Shankaracharya declined an invitation to attend the Ram Temple Prana Pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya. He currently serves as the 46th Shankaracharya of Jyotish Peeth in Uttarakhand, succeeding Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati after his demise. Early Life and EducationBorn as Umashankar Upadhyay in Brahmanpur village, Patti Tehsil, Pratapgarh, Swami Avimukteshwar...

Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh: A chilling incident in Sarsawa town, Saharanpur, has left authorities and locals in shock. On Tuesday morning, a family of five was found dead in their rented home, with all victims showing gunshot wounds. The deceased include Ashok (40), his elderly mother Vidyawati (70), wife Anjita (35), and their two sons Kartik (16) and Dev (13). The gruesome discovery has raised questions: Was this a brutal mass murder, or did extreme mental distress lead to a family suicide? Background of the FamilyAshok, employed as a Sanchay Amin in Nakur Tehsil under a dependent quota after his father’s death, was reportedly a quiet and law-abiding individual. His sons were studying in classes 9 and 10. Neighbors describe the family as peaceful, with no known disputes or conflicts...

Noida, Uttar Pradesh: IAS officer Dr. Lokesh M, who served as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Noida Authority, has been removed from his position and placed on a waiting list following a tragic incident in Sector-150. On the night of January 17, 2026, a software engineer drowned in a construction pit, prompting the Yogi Adityanath government to take swift action. The Chief Minister directed the removal of Dr. Lokesh M from his CEO post, and a three-member SIT has been formed under the supervision of ADG, Meerut Zone, including the Meerut Divisional Commissioner and Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department. The SIT will investigate the circumstances of the incident, departmental roles, negligence, and measures to prevent such occurrences in the future. About Dr. Lokesh MBorn...