1. Heavy Rainfall Expected in Next 48 Hours
The weather office has predicted chances of heavy rainfall in several parts of the state during the next 48 hours. The heavy rainfall is expected in the districts of Saurashtra and south Gujarat.
The rainfall is expected under the influence of a low-pressure area over the east-central Arabian Sea off north Maharashtra coast with an associated cyclonic circulation tilting southwards.
Meteorological department office has clarified that conditions are favourable for the movement of the system west-northwestwards and intensify into a well-marked low pressure, which eventually will intensify into a depression during the next 48 hours.
(Source: DNA)
2. Vadodara: 11-Year-Old Boy Drowns in River
The Kalol fire-brigade team on Friday, 20 September fished out the body of an 11-year-old boy who was swept away by the Ruparel river, while trying to cross it on Thursday evening. According to police, the boy identified as Hasim Tap, along with his friends Faizal Nana (10) and Mushtaqim Padawa (13), was on his way back home from their school when the incident took place.
“There is a road that leads to their house from the school, but the other boys informed us that they generally cross the river to and from the school as it is a shorter route. However, on Thursday due to heavy rains, the water level in the river was high but the children could not judge it and tried to cross the river,” said Police Inspector Vejalpur, R D Bharwad.
As the children tried to cross it, they started to drown. Two of them were saved by passers-by but Hasim was swept away with the river.
(Source: The Indian Express)
3. Eight Cities May Go Cashless for Traffic Fine Payment
The state is mulling to introduce a cashless payment system for traffic violators in the eight municipal corporations of the state. The system will provide traffic cops with a point of sale machines so that they can collect fines through debit and credit cards. Apparently, at present traffic fines are only collected in cash.
Earlier the fine was low and as a result, most violators could pay up immediately. But since the implementation of the amended Motor Vehicle Act, the fines have gone up considerably. Most of it is in the range of Rs 500 and above.
The decision by the state to allow cashless payment through debit and credit cards is being taken, given the fact that many offenders may not have a higher cash amount with them. It is also likely to reduce the conflict with cops over fines.
(Source: DNA)
4. One Detained for Spreading Fake Info About CM’s Car on Social Media
Police detained a man in Surat for allegedly circulating “misleading” information on social media about the insurance and pollution certificates of a vehicle in VIP convoy of Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.
The police action comes two days after state cabinet minister for transport R C Faldu criticised “anti-social elements” for spreading misleading information and promised strict action against them.
The accused has been identified as Afraz Raza Sheikh, a resident of Surat, police said.
“A complaint was lodged Thursday, 19 September with the Local Crime Branch against unidentified persons for circulating fake screenshot of a Scorpio car claiming that its insurance has expired on 10 April, 2015 and that it doesn’t have a valid pollution certificate. In reality, the vehicle’s insurance is valid up to 31 December, 2019. We found out that a Facebook profile by the name of ‘News Network’ spread the fake information. Using the mobile number registered with the Facebook account, we tracked the user in Surat and detained him on Thursday night,” said a Local Crime Branch officer.
(Source: The Indian Express)
5. Forest Guard Arrested on Bribe Charge, Senior Officer on the Run
The Anti-Corruption Bureau Friday, 20 September arrested a forest guard for allegedly taking bribe of Rs 10 lakh from a person who had applied for permission to lay optical fibre cable network line in the forest area in Valsad district.
The accused forest guard has been identified as Jigar Rajput. Dharmendrasinh Chawda, forest officer of Killa Pardi, who is also allegedly involved in the crime, is absconding, police said.
Rajput was produced before the Valsad court Friday which sent him to police remand till Saturday afternoon.
A private agency got the contract of laying underground optical fibre line network in the protected and non-protected forest area in Valsad. The Deputy Conservator of Forest in Valsad gave the necessary approval for the non-protected zone. However, when the agency applied for permission to work in the protected zone, Chawda and Rajput allegedly demanded Rs 10 lakh from him, police said.
(Source: The Indian Express)
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