VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html A large unusual fish caught in the floodwaters of the Gandak basin being examined by locals at Valmikinagar in West Champaran BETTIAH: Unidentified and unusual fish swept into the Gandak river and its floodplains by floodwaters from Nepal have prompted the Bihar govt to issue a safety advisory, asking residents of West Champaran and Gopalganj not to consume or trade in such fish until their identity and safety are confirmed.The fisheries division of the dairy, fisheries and animal resources department issued the caution on Tuesday after unusual fish were found in local water bodies and low-lying areas across the flood-hit Gandak basin.Floodwaters from Nepal have entered the Gandak system, inundating several areas of West Champaran and Gopalganj. The department said fish can be swept away from ponds, rivers and other water bodies during floods and carried over considerable distances. During this movement, they may come into contact with contaminated drains, dead animals and other pollutants, raising the risk of contamination by bacteria, viruses and fungi.“Do not consume any unidentified or unusual-looking fish. Until confirmation by the concerned department, an unfamiliar fish should not be considered fit for consumption,” the advisory said.Residents have also been asked not to buy or sell unfamiliar fish caught from floodwaters or assume an unusual-looking species is safe merely because it resembles a commonly eaten fish. Anyone developing vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, dizziness or breathing difficulty after consuming such fish has been advised to seek immediate medical attention.Wildlife Trust of India director Sameer Kumar Sinha said most fish swept into the Gandak in Bihar following the Nepal floods are believed to be ‘Bagarius bagarius’, commonly known as the goonch catfish and locally called “Gochita”.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesHe said the large freshwater catfish is found in fast-flowing rivers of India, Nepal and parts of Southeast Asia. The carnivorous species feeds on smaller fish, crabs and other aquatic organisms and often hides among rocks in deep stretches with strong currents.Sinha said local communities consume the fish, but it spoils quickly after death and may pose health risks if eaten after deterioration. He urged people to follow the Bihar govt advisory and exercise caution. The species is listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as threatened.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorDilip KumarDilip Kumar, our Bettiah Correspondent, has been working for the print, television, and digital media for the last 20 years. Cover social, political, and crime news, as well as have a keen interest in wildlife stories. Based in Champaran, famous for Mahatma Gandhi’s ‘Champaran Satyagrah,’ I have a special hold on the news related to the Valmiki Tiger Reserve and the Indo-Nepal border.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosManipur Violence: Three Naga Villages Attacked, 10 Houses Torched In Fresh Kangpokpi ClashesUnion Minister Chirag Paswan Gets Death Threat From ‘Terrorists’, Office Seeks Enhanced SecurityS-400 vs Project Kusha: Why India Wants More Russian Air Defence Despite Atmanirbharta’Historic Win’: CJP Hails Supreme Court Verdict As Apex Court Quashes FIRs, Sept 5 CancelledMamata Banerjee’s Niece Found Dead In Birbhum Home, Post-Mortem Underway To Establish CauseSonia Gandhi’s ‘Belonging’ Book Row: Why Did Penguin India Drop the Publishing Deal?Centre Defers Census In Manipur Amid NRC ProtestsCash Shortage Unlocks ₹17 Crore Fake Note Mystery At PNB’s Saharanpur Currency ChestBihar, Jharkhand End 25-Year Dispute, Sign Sone River Water-Sharing Agreement‘Spreading Jhooth Ki Goonj’: PM Modi Hits Out At Rahul Gandhi, Hails 7.8% GDP Growth In New Video123PhotostoriesWhy are ambulances mostly white? 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Your chin could be the real reason your face looks less definedJanmashtami 2026 outfit ideas: Celebrity-inspired Indian looks to channel your inner RadhaEmpty shampoo bottles? 7 clever ways to reuse them instead of throwing them away123Hot PicksNepal floodGrand Canyon floodsSugar importMumbai milk priceCNG priceGoa anti-conversion billTN milk price hikeMaharashtra SIRDelhi trafficTop TrendingPM ModiDelhi TrafficDan DriscollPakistan Hindu Temple DemolishedUS Iran WarGlenn PhillipsPascal WehrleinConnor McDavidDelhi SIRLebron James Sep 01, 2026, 22:48 IST Aries Horoscope Today, September 02, 2026: Mixed energies shape your decisions; focus on clarity before making choices Sudhikaran row: BJP SC Morcha performs ‘buddhi-shuddhi’ ritual for Rahul Gandhi Rivers swell across UP, inundating over 11,300 hectares in five districts LUCKNOW: Rivers in Uttar Pradesh reached or crossed danger levels at several monitoring stations as satellite data showed inundation of 11,358.49 hectares across five districts, highlighting the spread of flood conditions in the state. The affected districts are Ballia, Ghazipur, Gorakhpur, Mau and Deoria.The inundation figures were released by the Flood Management Information System Centre (FMISC) under the Uttar Pradesh irrigation department. Its satellite-based assessment, prepared using RISAT-1A MRS SAR data analysed by the National Remote Sensing Centre, showed major inundation in Ballia and Ghazipur and minor inundation in Gorakhpur, Mau and Deoria by Monday evening.Ballia reported flooding in 179 villages across 12 blocks, covering approximately 8,061.63 hectares. Ghazipur saw inundation in 87 villages across six blocks, covering 2,341.33 hectares. Deoria reported flooding in 18 villages across five blocks, Gorakhpur in 14 villages across three blocks, and Mau in 13 villages in one block.The combined assessment covered 311 villages in 27 blocks. The total submerged area was estimated at 11,358.49 hectares.The FMISC clarified that the assessment includes riverine flooding, water accumulation in low-lying areas, rainfall-induced flooding and isolated waterlogged patches.According to the Central Water Commission’s readings available at 9 pm on Tuesday, water levels were at or above the danger mark at 11 monitoring stations in Uttar Pradesh. The situation was serious along the Ganga, Ghaghra and their tributaries in Budaun, Barabanki, Ballia, Mirzapur, Varanasi and Ghazipur.At Kachhla Bridge in Budaun, the Ganga was flowing at 162.43 m, exactly at the danger level. Its warning level is 161.80 m.In Barabanki, the Ghaghra at Elginbridge was flowing at 106.09 m, 2 cm above its danger mark of 106.07 m and more than a metre above the warning level of 105.07 m. The CWC forecast suggested that the river could rise further to 106.07 m by 9 am on Wednesday.The Sharda also known as Mahakali river at Kukea in Lakhimpur Kheri rose to 139.81 m, marginally above its danger level of 139.8 m and well above the warning level of 138.8 m.The Ghaghra was also above the danger mark at Turtipar in Ballia, where it stood at 64.08 m against a danger level of 64.01 m. The station recorded 22 mm rainfall during the day. The forecast, however, indicated a fall to 64 m by Wednesday morning.In Ballia, the Ganga was flowing at 59.37 m, nearly 1.75 m above its danger level of 57.615 m. The district accounted for the largest share of the inundated area recorded by the state’s FMISC.The most pronounced river-level exceedances in eastern Uttar Pradesh were recorded along the Ganga and its tributaries. At Tendui in Varanasi district, the Varuna was flowing at 71.35 m against a danger level of 70.21 m. The station recorded 43 mm rainfall.At Saidpur in Ghazipur, the Ganga stood at 67.52 m against a danger level of 67.19 m. The station recorded 68 mm rainfall. At the Ghazipur monitoring station, the river was flowing at 63.33 m, exceeding the danger level of 63.105 m. The level was rising and was forecast to reach 63.47 m by 8 am on Wednesday. The station recorded 63 mm rainfall.In Mirzapur, the Ganga was above the danger mark at Ahraura and Chunar. At Ahraura, the river stood at 74.75 m against a danger level of 74.30 m, though the trend was declining. At Chunar, it was flowing at 72.82 m against a danger level of 72.78 m.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesAt Narayanpur in Mirzapur, the Ganga was at 72.59 m, above the warning level of 71.41 metres but 21 cm below the danger mark of 72.41 m. The station recorded the highest rainfall among the locations shown in the CWC data, at 75.4 mm.The CWC data also recorded a high level at Chausa in neighbouring Bihar, where the Karamnasa was flowing at 61.86 m against a danger level of 60.39 m. The reading is significant for the downstream flood situation in eastern Uttar Pradesh.“The readings suggest that flood pressure is spread across multiple river systems rather than being confined to one stretch. While some stations showed a declining trend, water levels at several locations remained above danger marks, leaving riverbank settlements, agricultural fields, roads and embankments vulnerable,” said an official source.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorArvind ChauhanWhen he’s not chasing stories, you’ll likely find him exploring food lanes, indulging in mutton delicacies and sundaes. He is a journalist with a can-do spirit and a flair for compelling storytelling. From railways and aviation to defence, infrastructure, social development and various other diverse beats, his reportage reflects depth. His work has earned him the Times Scribe Award four times.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosManipur Violence: Three Naga Villages Attacked, 10 Houses Torched In Fresh Kangpokpi ClashesUnion Minister Chirag Paswan Gets Death Threat From ‘Terrorists’, Office Seeks Enhanced SecurityS-400 vs Project Kusha: Why India Wants More Russian Air Defence Despite Atmanirbharta’Historic Win’: CJP Hails Supreme Court Verdict As Apex Court Quashes FIRs, Sept 5 CancelledMamata Banerjee’s Niece Found Dead In Birbhum Home, Post-Mortem Underway To Establish CauseSonia Gandhi’s ‘Belonging’ Book Row: Why Did Penguin India Drop the Publishing Deal?Centre Defers Census In Manipur Amid NRC ProtestsCash Shortage Unlocks ₹17 Crore Fake Note Mystery At PNB’s Saharanpur Currency ChestBihar, Jharkhand End 25-Year Dispute, Sign Sone River Water-Sharing Agreement‘Spreading Jhooth Ki Goonj’: PM Modi Hits Out At Rahul Gandhi, Hails 7.8% GDP Growth In New Video123Hot PicksNepal floodGrand Canyon floodsSugar importMumbai milk priceCNG priceGoa anti-conversion billTN milk price hikeMaharashtra SIRDelhi trafficTop TrendingPM ModiDelhi TrafficDan DriscollPakistan Hindu Temple DemolishedUS Iran WarGlenn PhillipsPascal WehrleinConnor McDavidDelhi SIRLebron James Vaibhav Sooryavanshi stars as East Zone beat defending champions to reach Duleep Trophy final Start with Rs 25,000 basic salary, end with Rs 1 crore corpus: How EPF compounding math can make you a crorepati at 8.25% interest in less than 30 years with 6% annual increment Julie Andrews reveals her fitness and wellness routine at 90: Simple lifelong morning exercise habit and how curiosity, creativity keep her feeling young says, ‘I probably feel like in my 50s’ Career & Money Predictions, 2nd September, 2026: Aries Moon Brings Strong Work Momentum; These Zodiac Signs May See Strong Career Movement Lamine Yamal: People kept telling him he looked like Lamine Yamal; then one video changed everything for this 15-year-old Kerala boy A Staten Island deli manager started paying kids for better report cards 3 years ago; his fundraiser has now crossed $500,000 and he is giving school supplies to 3,000 students In 2007, Dolly Parton cradled Emma Jarman when she was just one day old at Rotherham Hospital; now 18, the teenager opens up about their surreal encounter and the lasting impact it had on her life Why are ambulances mostly white? The real reason behind their colour Pisces Horoscope Tomorrow, September 2, 2026: Career, Money, Love and Health Predictions Pankaj Bhadouria Breast Cancer: MasterChef Winner Pankaj Bhadouria shares ‘Cancer’ changed her; says ‘I was weakened by infections that took a massive toll on my physical health’ 80,000-year-old stone points in Uzbekistan resemble weapons used in France 25,000 years later, raising questions about how humans reached Europe | World News NEW DELHI: Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday claimed that Bharatiya Janata Party-led West Bengal government was pursuing “political vendetta” against his party after he was questioned for nearly six hours by Kolkata Police over the removal of an unauthorised billboard.The Trinamool Congress MP from Diamond Harbour said that the Suvendu Adhikari-led government was selectively targeting TMC by removing its signboards, freezing party accounts and initiating cases against its leaders and workers.”If they think they can silence us through false cases and arrests, they are mistaken,” Abhishek Banerjee told reporters as he walked out of Shakespeare Sarani police station after questioning.”They can question me but I am not scared, they are,” he said, adding that the police action was a bid to weaken TMC.The TMC leader also alleged that several party workers arrested in connection with the incident were subjected to “custodial torture”.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelines”One of our workers, Tarik, was arrested and subjected to custodial torture. He secured bail yesterday, but 12 or 13 others remain in judicial custody,” he alleged.This comes days after a confrontation broke out when Kolkata Municipal Corporation officials, accompanied by police, entered the office premises to dismantle the billboard mounted on an iron structure facing the road.Private security guards, party supporters and some TMC leaders resisted the move, leading to a scuffle with police and civic officials. Police subsequently registered three FIRs and arrested several people.Abhishek, who has been named as an accused in two of the cases, was served a notice to appear before the police and arrived at the station around 12.15 pm, as TMC supporters gathered outside and raised slogans alleging that he was being targeted by the state government.The cases include sections pertaining to obstruction of government officials in the discharge of their duties, unlawful assembly, assault and harassment of women police personnel.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorRohitashwa RanjanRohitashwa Ranjan is a digital journalist with The Times of India, where he decodes Indian politics as a carefully staged production with scripts, subtext and everything behind. His stories track elections, party dynamics and the things that often are buried beneath the headlines. When not parsing vote shares or alliances, he is usually reading between the lines, where the real story tends to reside.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosUnion Minister Chirag Paswan Gets Death Threat From ‘Terrorists’, Office Seeks Enhanced SecurityS-400 vs Project Kusha: Why India Wants More Russian Air Defence Despite Atmanirbharta’Historic Win’: CJP Hails Supreme Court Verdict As Apex Court Quashes FIRs, Sept 5 CancelledMamata Banerjee’s Niece Found Dead In Birbhum Home, Post-Mortem Underway To Establish CauseSonia Gandhi’s ‘Belonging’ Book Row: Why Did Penguin India Drop the Publishing Deal?Centre Defers Census In Manipur Amid NRC ProtestsCash Shortage Unlocks ₹17 Crore Fake Note Mystery At PNB’s Saharanpur Currency ChestBihar, Jharkhand End 25-Year Dispute, Sign Sone River Water-Sharing Agreement‘Spreading Jhooth Ki Goonj’: PM Modi Hits Out At Rahul Gandhi, Hails 7.8% GDP Growth In New VideoNepal Flood Crisis: 8,900 Army Personnel Deployed As Search For Missing People Continues123Hot PicksNepal floodGrand Canyon floodsSugar importMumbai milk priceCNG priceGoa anti-conversion billTN milk price hikeMaharashtra SIRDelhi trafficTop TrendingPM ModiDelhi TrafficDan DriscollPakistan Hindu Temple DemolishedUS Iran WarGlenn PhillipsPascal WehrleinConnor McDavidDelhi SIRLebron James Vijay Deverakonda shares first reaction to Rashmika Mandanna’s ‘Mysaa’: ‘Violent Pilla, you’ll make fans proud’ Asian Games cricket row: Japan Cricket CEO says teams can make own arrangements In 2023, buyers paid $87,000 for a crumbling 1979 Michigan concrete dome with caved-in ceilings; after a total overhaul, the 2,457-sq-ft home is back for $499,900 Aditya Dhar lauds Yash’s ‘Toxic’ amid backlash over the film also Kiara Advani, Nayanthara starrer, after it was compared to ‘Dhurandhar’ by Ram Gopal Varma and criticised Nepal floods: Indian team starts DNA analysis, drones deployed as teams tackle tunnel challenge – what we know In 1943, two Jewish refugees fleeing the Nazis bought a crumbling Los Angeles mansion for $9,000; 83 years later, after the Palisades Fire forced it shut, Villa Aurora has reopened ‘Hope is still alive’: Krunal Pandya reacts after missing out on India’s Afghanistan T20I squad Karthi, SJ Suryah and Ashika Ranganath visit Tiruchendur temple, seek blessings of Lord Murugan ahead of ‘Sardar 2’ release Aquarius Horoscope Tomorrow, September 2, 2026: Career, Money, Love and Health Predictions In 1960, Nasa launched rhesus monkey Miss Sam on a Mercury escape test, reaching 1,800 mph before she landed safely in the Atlantic UPI gets festive boost: Digital payments hit a record 24.51 billion transactions in August A WWII-era training plane was packed into boxes in 1953; its owner carried the pieces through 3 moves for 50 years before the forgotten aircraft was finally restored ‘I was standing with just a towel,’ ‘Mandaadi’ actor Soori recalls painful set incident that hurt him deeply “I thought it would be ₹15,000-₹20,000”: Nawazuddin Siddiqui recalls daughter asking for a small bag costing ₹2.5 lakh that shocked him; what parents can learn about setting boundaries Missiles from anywhere? 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Credit: ANI NEW DELHI: An unexpected roadside interaction between Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay and an elderly woman became one of the notable moments of his visit to Mettur in Salem district on Tuesday. During the brief encounter, Vijay gifted the woman his own pair of Christian Dior sunglasses.Vijay was in Salem to open the gates of the Mettur Dam and release water for Samba cultivation in the Cauvery Delta. News agency PTI reported that after inspecting the Mettur hydroelectric power station and opening the sluice gates of the Stanley Reservoir, he made an unscheduled stop at a roadside farm while travelling towards Salem airport.According to local accounts, Vijay noticed a group of elderly women working in the fields and stepped out of his vehicle to meet them.Chellam, an elderly resident of the area, walked towards the chief minister and held his hand.“He asked me if I had eaten,” Chellam recalled. “I told him I hadn’t, because I was waiting to see him first.”During the interaction, Vijay asked her name and enquired about her well-being before walking with her around the garden and the nearby cattle shed belonging to local farmer Palanisamy.Chellam said the chief minister then offered her the sunglasses he was carrying. She later appeared in the oversized frames, walking beside Vijay with her hand on his arm and waving to people gathered along the route as he led her through the crowd.“I was surprised when he came and stood next to me. I told him how happy I was to see him, and he gifted me these sunglasses,” she told PTI.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesAccording to Chellam, Vijay’s gesture reminded her of his days in cinema.“He looked just like he does in his movies,” she said. “I was so happy I told him I would defend him if anyone ever tried to harm him.”The chief minister spent around 15 minutes at the farm, during which he distributed dhotis and sarees to the host family and discussed local agricultural issues, including the government’s decision to increase the milk procurement price to Rs 44.Chellam later said Vijay also urged her to have food. “He told me he had already eaten and insisted that I go and eat,” she said.Videos of the interaction were subsequently shared widely on social media. The visit also comes as the state government focuses on water release for Samba cultivation, with the Mettur Dam playing a key role in irrigation across the Cauvery Delta during the cropping season.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorSubhadra SrivastavaSubhadra Srivastava is a journalist with The Times of India, covering geopolitics, international and national affairs. With over three years of experience, she focuses on national and global developments, conflict, diplomacy and their impact on India. Her work combines breaking news with in-depth analysis, offering readers context and clarity on the stories shaping the world.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosS-400 vs Project Kusha: Why India Wants More Russian Air Defence Despite Atmanirbharta’Historic Win’: CJP Hails Supreme Court Verdict As Apex Court Quashes FIRs, Sept 5 CancelledMamata Banerjee’s Niece Found Dead In Birbhum Home, Post-Mortem Underway To Establish CauseSonia Gandhi’s ‘Belonging’ Book Row: Why Did Penguin India Drop the Publishing Deal?Centre Defers Census In Manipur Amid NRC ProtestsCash Shortage Unlocks ₹17 Crore Fake Note Mystery At PNB’s Saharanpur Currency ChestBihar, Jharkhand End 25-Year Dispute, Sign Sone River Water-Sharing Agreement‘Spreading Jhooth Ki Goonj’: PM Modi Hits Out At Rahul Gandhi, Hails 7.8% GDP Growth In New VideoNepal Flood Crisis: 8,900 Army Personnel Deployed As Search For Missing People ContinuesDelhi Draft Voter Roll Out: 47.7 Lakh Electors Excluded, Claims Allowed Till September 30123Hot PicksNepal floodGrand Canyon floodsSugar importMumbai milk priceCNG priceGoa anti-conversion billTN milk price hikeMaharashtra SIRDelhi trafficTop TrendingPM ModiDelhi TrafficDan DriscollPakistan Hindu Temple DemolishedUS Iran WarGlenn PhillipsPascal WehrleinConnor McDavidDelhi SIRLebron James Zeenat Aman reveals why she stayed in her turbulent marriage with Mazhar Khan: ‘I had children, fought many battles but eventually I realised he had to help himself’ Indian woman in Japan steps out at 11 pm, says ‘This is a very big deal’ Sagittarius Horoscope Tomorrow, September 2, 2026: Career, Money, Love and Health Predictions Data Darbar: Trump backs server farm boom as protests grow in US In 1944, Polish priest Henry Denis endured Nazi malaria experiments at Dachau; after surviving the camp, he fulfilled his vow by building Our Lady of Fatima Shrine in Nebraska Sep 01, 2026, 20:13 IST DU fourth year rollout sparks teacher workload concerns as DUTA flags resource crunch Scarlett Johansson net worth in 2026: Earnings from films, highest-paying roles, real estate and more 10 baby girl names that symbolise strength and courage Scorpio Horoscope Tomorrow, September 2, 2026: Career, Money, Love and Health Predictions ‘We can resist US unilateralism’: Iran president tells Putin on sidelines of SCO summit