Karnataka: Two dead in separate rain-related incidents in Uttara Kannada
Karwar, Jun 15 (PTI): Two rain-related fatalities were reported in Uttara Kannada district as heavy monsoon rainfall continued to impact normal life along the Karnataka coast.
In the first incident, a two-year-old child died after accidentally falling into a roadside drain near their residence in the Jali area of Bhatkal town on Saturday. CCTV footage captured the moment the child slipped and fell into the water-filled drain.
In a separate incident, a 50-year-old man identified as Madewa Narayana Devadiga drowned after being swept away by floodwaters in Gulme Belalkhanda, Bhatkal taluk. He was walking home when he lost his balance in the rising water. Police have registered a case at the Bhatkal Rural Police Station in both cases.
The incidents come amid continued heavy rainfall in coastal Karnataka, where all coastal districts have been under red and orange alerts issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Heavy monsoon showers in Uttara Kannada district have led to a series of landslides across multiple locations, disrupting road connectivity and raising fresh concerns over the stability of hill slopes altered for infrastructure development.
In the latest incident, a major landslide was reported late Friday night and again on Saturday at Devimane Ghat along the Shirsi–Kumta highway, blocking the movement of light vehicles. Officials said landslides occurred at four different points on the stretch, prompting authorities to temporarily halt traffic on the route.
Landslides were also reported near Raghavendra Math in Habbuwada and along National Highway-66 near Binaga and Baithkol. While no casualties were reported, waterlogging in low-lying areas has inundated homes and shops in parts of Karwar following three consecutive days of rain.
Civic rights activists of the district have expressed concern over what they allege are unscientific hill-cutting practices undertaken for road construction. Many believe that the reckless excavation of slopes without adequate reinforcement has made the region more vulnerable to monsoon-triggered landslides.
"There is an urgent need to restore damaged slopes and increase vegetation cover in landslide-prone zones. The forest department must also step in to ensure ecological stability," locals said.
The incidents come even as the India Meteorological Department has issued red and orange alerts for several coastal and Malnad districts of Karnataka.
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Four held for Rs 33 lakh online investment fraud; interstate racket busted
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi Police has busted an interstate cyber fraud syndicate involved in an online investment scam and arrested four persons, an official said on Saturday.
A crime branch team arrested the accused in a case where a victim was allegedly cheated of Rs 33.83 lakh on the pretext of lucrative returns through online trading platforms.
“Police said the accused lured victims with promises of high returns and later coerced them into depositing more money on the pretext of unlocking or withdrawing earlier investments,” the officer said.
Police said the racket operated across several states, including Delhi, Punjab and Rajasthan, and used a network of mule bank accounts to route and layer the defrauded money to conceal its origin.
“During the investigation, the cheated amount was traced to 15 bank accounts. Thirteen of these accounts were registered outside Delhi, indicating the organised and interstate nature of the syndicate,” said the police officer.
The accused have been identified as Mohammad Khalid (26) and Atiur Rahman (23), both residents of Delhi, Ramandeep Singh (29) from Punjab, and Tanish alias Heera Ram (27) from Rajasthan.
According to the police, Khalid was arrested on March 15 and allegedly disclosed that he gave his bank account details and SIM card to a co-accused for a commission.
Rahman, who was already lodged in a jail in Haryana in a similar case, was later formally arrested. Ramandeep Singh was arrested on April 6 and allegedly admitted to sharing his account credentials for monetary gain.
Tanish was apprehended from Rajasthan on April 9 for facilitating the use of such accounts in the fraud network.
During the probe, officers analysed over 100 call detail records, IMEI data and transaction-related digital evidence to track the accused and establish the money trail.
Three mobile phones and SIM cards used in the crime have been recovered.
Further investigation is underway to identify other members of the syndicate and trace additional financial linkages, the police said.
