Bihar boat capsize: 2 bodies recovered, nine people still missing as search continues
Muzaffarpur (PTI): Two bodies were found as the search operation continued on Friday morning for the people who went missing in the boat capsize in Bagmati river in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district, officials said.
Speaking to PTI, District Magistrate Pranav Kumar said the bodies of a 40-year-old man and a four-year-old child have been fished out from the river.
"Searches are underway to trace the remaining missing persons," he said.
Eleven persons, mostly school-going children and women, went missing after a boat with around 30 people capsized near Madhur Patti ghat of Bagmati river on Thursday morning when it was on the way to Bhattgama ghat on the opposite side, he said.
Twenty children were rescued soon after the accident, he added.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is working along with the SDRF in search for the remaining nine missing persons.
"District officials are now going door-to-door in the neighbourhoods near the ghat to check if any children are missing," Kumar said.
A team of doctors is also camping near the ghat, and a facility for conducting post-mortem examinations has been set up there, he said.
"Senior officials of the district administration are supervising the entire operation," the DM said.
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TN govt reaffirms 21-yr age limit for liquor sales
Chennai (PTI): Seeking to curb rising alcohol consumption among minors in the state, the Tamil Nadu government has reinforced the legal age requirement of 21 for all liquor purchases and consumption.
The government has also ordered the closure of 717 liquor outlets across the state and warned of strict action against those who violate the new directives.
The state-owned Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC), the agency which holds a monopoly on sales of liquor, will be shutting 276 outlets near places of worship, 186 near educational institutions and 255 outlets near bus stations.
A senior TASMAC official on Thursday said that the staff at liquor shops have been instructed to check identity proof, including Aadhaar card, for all customers whose age is in question.
The official also said that the state government is considering a reduction in operational hours.
Currently, the liquor shops across the state operate from 12 noon to 10 pm.
"They are weighing a proposal to move the closing time to 8 pm," he added.
At present, the TASMAC operates a total of 4,765 liquor shops across the state. After the closure of 717 shops, it would come down to 4,048 outlets.
In 2025, the revenue from liquor sales stood at Rs 48,344 crore, which is the second highest after the registration department.
