Thursday, February 5

Bihar

Nalanda Tragedy: Wedding Bus Crashes Into Divider, One Dead and Over 25 Injured
Bihar, State

Nalanda Tragedy: Wedding Bus Crashes Into Divider, One Dead and Over 25 Injured

Nalanda, Bihar: A major road accident took place on Monday near the Kanchanpur bridge under the Deepnagar police station area, where a bus carrying wedding guests lost control and rammed into a divider on the overbridge. The crash left one person dead and more than 25 others seriously injured. According to reports, the passengers were returning to Warsaliganj after attending a wedding ceremony at a hotel in Sohsarai. The deceased has been identified as Sidheshwar Prasad, a resident of Bhaironbigha under Kashichak police station. Driver on Mobile Phone, Bus at High Speed Eyewitnesses stated that the bus was moving at high speed when the driver was allegedly talking on his mobile phone. The driver lost control, causing the vehicle to crash violently into the divider. The impact was ...
Patna Street Vendors Must Follow New Timings from Today or Face Penalty
Bihar, State

Patna Street Vendors Must Follow New Timings from Today or Face Penalty

Patna: In a major move to reduce traffic congestion and curb encroachments, the district administration of Patna has announced a new schedule for fruit and vegetable vendors across the city. Effective 1st December 2025, street vendors will be allowed to sell their goods only between 5 AM to 8 AM and 8 PM to 10 PM in designated areas. Vendors failing to comply with the timings will be subject to fines. Order from Divisional CommissionerActing on directives from Divisional Commissioner Animesh Kumar Parashar, Patna DM Tyagarajan S.M. and SSP Kartikey Sharma have issued strict orders and formed nine special teams to clear encroachments in priority areas. This multi-agency campaign will be implemented across six zones of Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC)—Nutan Rajdhani, Patliputra, Kankarba...
Bihar: Childcare Leave Policy Yet to Be Implemented for Women University Teachers
Bihar, State

Bihar: Childcare Leave Policy Yet to Be Implemented for Women University Teachers

Patna: Despite the NDA government in Bihar, led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, being popular for its women-centric policies, hundreds of female professors in colleges and universities across the state have been struggling for the past 10 years to have the Childcare Leave (CCL) policy implemented. Central Government ProvisionThe childcare leave policy, notified in the Central Government Gazette in 2015, provides female government employees, including school teachers, up to 730 days (two years) of leave to care for children under 18 years of age. At the same time, maternity leave was extended to 180 days for female employees. Women can avail both maternity leave and childcare leave for up to two children during their service. UGC Guidelines for Higher EducationThe University Grants Co...
Bihar Assembly 2025: Women Secure Less Than a Quarter Representation Despite Half the Population
Bihar, Politics, State

Bihar Assembly 2025: Women Secure Less Than a Quarter Representation Despite Half the Population

Patna: In the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, women played a crucial role in helping the NDA cross the historic 200-seat mark. Yet, despite being half of the state’s population, women could secure less than a quarter of the seats in the legislature. Both participation and victory rates for women candidates lagged significantly behind their male counterparts. Participation Across PartiesIn the 2025 elections, only 258 women candidates contested against 2,357 men, highlighting the persistent gender gap in political representation. Among the major parties, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) led in nominating women, fielding 23 female candidates, while the Indian National Congress nominated six, the VIP and left parties fielded one each. Within the NDA, the BJP and JD(U) each fielded 13 women...
Patna Junction Area to Get Relief from Traffic Jams: New Traffic Plan by District Administration
Bihar, State

Patna Junction Area to Get Relief from Traffic Jams: New Traffic Plan by District Administration

Patna: The district administration of Bihar’s capital is taking major steps to ease traffic congestion around Patna Junction, one of the city’s busiest hubs. A new traffic management plan has been prepared in collaboration with the traffic police, aimed at ensuring smooth movement of vehicles and reducing chronic jams in the area. The plan came into effect on 1st December 2025. New Traffic MeasuresUnder the new system, all public and commercial vehicles—including auto-rickshaws, e-rickshaws, and taxis—are completely banned from entering the station premises. Only private vehicles will be allowed access to the station building and platforms. Vehicles approaching Patna Junction from Kankarbagh will now use the Chirayataand Flyover, proceed via GPO Chowk and R-Block Chowk, and drop or p...
Bihar Assembly 2025: Muslims’ Representation Shrinks to 4.52% Despite 17.6% Population Share
Bihar, Politics, State

Bihar Assembly 2025: Muslims’ Representation Shrinks to 4.52% Despite 17.6% Population Share

Patna: The 2025 Bihar Assembly elections have highlighted a stark underrepresentation of the Muslim community. While Muslims constitute 17.6% of the state’s population, their presence in the Bihar Legislative Assembly has been reduced to just 11 legislators, accounting for only 4.52% of total seats. This reflects the persistent social, economic, and educational marginalization of the community. Given that religion-based reservation is not feasible under India’s democratic framework, questions have arisen regarding how the democratic system can adequately reflect the rights and aspirations of the Muslim population. Experts emphasize that Muslims must focus on strategic alignment on development issues rather than separatist approaches. What Experts SayAnalysts argue that a separatist o...
Trouble for RJD’s Ritlal Yadav? ED May File Case Following Patna Police Report
Bihar, State

Trouble for RJD’s Ritlal Yadav? ED May File Case Following Patna Police Report

Patna: The legal troubles of former RJD MLA Ritlal Yadav appear to be deepening. Patna Police have submitted a detailed investigation report to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), paving the way for a possible case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against the ex-MLA. Sources say the police report alleges that Ritlal Yadav ran an organized criminal syndicate, earning crores of rupees through extortion and illegal land grabs. Findings of the Police Investigation The investigation, conducted by Khagaul Police Station and a Special Investigation Team (SIT), reportedly established that Yadav and his associates forcibly occupied government land, constructed illegal structures, and extorted money from builders and landowners in the Danapur Assembly area. Key findings ...
Darbhanga Villagers Rescue Two Cats Locked Inside House for Three Months
Bihar, State

Darbhanga Villagers Rescue Two Cats Locked Inside House for Three Months

Darbhanga: A remarkable act of compassion has emerged from Majhaulia village in Darbhanga, Bihar, where villagers rescued two cats that had been trapped inside a locked house for three months. Not only did the locals provide food and water daily, but they also eventually freed the animals with the homeowner’s consent. The house belonged to Saroj Jha, who locked it before Durga Puja and left for Kolkata. Trapped inside, the first cat survived thanks to the villagers, who slid biscuits and water through the window and grill every morning and evening for three months. Second Cat Triggers Urgent Rescue The situation escalated when a second cat entered the house one night, and their cries drew the attention of the entire village. Concerned for the animals’ well-being, the villagers con...
Will Mokama MLA Anant Singh Take Oath Today? Latest Update
Bihar, Politics, State

Will Mokama MLA Anant Singh Take Oath Today? Latest Update

Patna: Newly-elected Mokama MLA Anant Singh may soon be released from Beur Jail, Patna, as proceedings of the Bihar Assembly begin today. Singh, currently in custody in connection with the Dular Chand Yadav murder case, has filed a bail petition in the Patna High Court to secure interim relief and take oath as an MLA. Legislators are required to take their oath between 1–5 December, and Singh’s lawyers have cited this constitutional obligation while requesting the court’s intervention. Remarkably, despite being under arrest, Anant Singh contested and won the assembly election from Mokama on a JD(U) ticket. Interim Bail Sought for Oath-Taking Singh’s legal team informed the High Court that their client must be present in the Bihar Assembly to formally assume office. “He was elected...
Amid Bungalow Row, Lalu Family May Soon Shift to Mahua Bagh Residence
Bihar, Politics, State

Amid Bungalow Row, Lalu Family May Soon Shift to Mahua Bagh Residence

Patna: Pressure is mounting on Bihar’s former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council, Rabri Devi, to vacate her government bungalow. In response, the Lalu Prasad Yadav family is reportedly planning to shift to their under-construction private residence in the Mahua Bagh area of Danapur block, Patna. On Saturday, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav personally visited the construction site with his security team to review the progress of the new home. Sources indicate that the family has instructed the builder to expedite completion. Private Home Takes Priority Over Government Allotment A senior aide close to Lalu Prasad hinted that the family may choose to move into their Danapur residence rather than the newly allotted government bungalow. Rabri Devi and her hu...