Cyclone Kyarr: Heavy rain set to cloud Diwali festivities in Coastal Karnataka
Cyclone Kyarr will intensify into 'Extremely Cyclonic Storm' over the next few hours: IMD predicts
Mangaluru: Cyclone Kyarr in the Arabian Sea which has caused heavy rainfall in Goa, Karnataka and parts of Kerala since Thursday is now set to cloud the Diwali festivities in Coastal Karnataka.
The cyclone apparently has not died down as initially expected by the weather forecast department and meteorological department and heavy rain is once again predicted for Sunday. Initially, the authorities had predicted that Kyarr would head towards coast of Oman on Saturday evening but heavy rain continued to lash Coastal Karnataka till late Saturday.
Much contradicting to its previous predictions IMD on late Saturday evening predicted that Cyclone Kyarr will intensify into 'Extremely Cyclonic Storm' over the next few hours. Met Department Director in Karnataka Srinivas Reddy has said that moderate to heavy rainfall will continue in many parts of coastal Karnataka with very heavy rainfall in isolated places.
The rain is expected to continue on Sunday and is expected to curtail celebrations of Diwali celebration in Coastal Karnataka. In Mangaluru and most parts of Dakshina Kannada similar weather with Thunderstorm and constant rain alike Saturday is predicted by the meteorological department for Sunday.
In Udupi however, the weather is expected to be more disappointing for the Diwali enthusiasts in the District. The Meteorological Department has predicted more rain and thunderstorm on Sunday in Udupi than it was raining on Saturday.
Much like Udupi District, Uttara Kannada District will also witness heavy rain with thunderstorm in the coastal parts of the District which can turn out to be interruption for the Diwali celebrations for many.
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Cross-border narcotics network busted in Jammu; most-wanted drug lord arrested
Jammu, Apr 15 (PTI): The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Wednesday said a major narcotics network with interstate and cross-border links was busted with the arrest of most-wanted drug kingpin Gulzar Ahmad alias Lau Gujjar along with several of his associates.
Senior Superintendent of Police (Jammu) Joginder Singh said Gujjar had been supplying narcotics in bulk quantities across the region, and evading capture for more than two decades, terming his arrest a major breakthrough.
"He was a hardcore criminal and a key figure in the drug supply chain. His network has now been fully identified and dismantled," the SSP told reporters here.
He said Gujjar entered the criminal world as a bovine smuggler in 2006 before launching himself into drug trade around 2016, and scaling up operations by 2019.
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A Pakistan-made pistol was recovered from his possession at the time of his arrest on April 4, the SSP said, adding that three of his associated were also arrested and more than 700 grams of heroin was seized.
Interrogation of around 10 more suspects linked to the network is underway, while around two dozen other suspects have been identified and are under surveillance, he said.
SSP Singh said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by a superintendent of police rank officer has been constituted to probe the case, who would examine forward and backward linkages of the network including financial trails and assets created through illicit trade.
The police are trying to ascertain the source and the routes through which these illicit supplies entered India -- whether through Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir or through other border areas, he said.
Singh said the weapon recovered from the accused drug lord indicates a Pakistan link. "We are investigating that aspect as well, pointing towards broader narco-terror angle."
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The SSP said Gujjar was wanted in at least 28 cases in Jammu district alone and dozens of FIRs are registered against him in other states under different identities.
Highlighting the crackdown against drug syndicates, he said police have so far registered 103 cases related to drug peddling in Jammu district this year.
Out of these, nine cases involve commercial quantities of contraband.
Nearly 11 kg of heroin has been seized, along with poppy husk, ganja, controlled medication capsules, and other such contraband, he said, adding around 20 driving licences have been cancelled, and nearly 200 vehicles linked to drug activities have been blacklisted.
