<img src="http://i.imgur.com/yaWyK95.png" style="margin:0 auto;width: 350px;height:auto;" />

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<img src="http://i.imgur.com/oWNb1hL.png" style="margin:0 auto;width: 350px;height:auto;" />

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<img src="http://i.imgur.com/njOlaob.png" style="margin:0 auto;width: 350px;height:auto;" />

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<img src="http://i.imgur.com/Efue1AO.png" style="margin:0 auto;width: 350px;height:auto;" />

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<img src="http://i.imgur.com/NsVq9UD.png" style="margin:0 auto;width: 350px;height:auto;" />

&nbsp;

Sources: <a href="http://www.indiatvnews.com/politics/national-exit-poll-assembly-elections-five-states-india-tv-371824">IndiaTV &ndash; Cvoter</a> ; <a href="http://indiatoday.intoday.in/live-blogs/exit-poll-2017-assembly-elections-result-up-results-/199.html">India Today - Axis My India</a> ; <a href="http://www.newsx.com/national/58142-live-newsx-mrc-exit-polls-the-most-accurate-break-up-of-numbers?pfrom=tags">NewsX - MRC</a> ; <a href="http://www.timesnow.tv/india/article/exit-polls-bjp-win-projected-in-4-states/57316">Times Now- VMR</a> ; ABP &ndash; Lokniti <a href="http://www.abplive.in/india-news/bjp-set-to-sweep-uttarakhand-may-get-34-42-seats-abp-news-exit-poll-503210">1</a>, <a href="http://www.abplive.in/india-news/punjab-exit-poll-live-updates-congress-aap-or-bjp-sad-503122">2</a>, <a href="http://www.abplive.in/india-news/abp-news-exit-poll-live-updates-wholl-be-victorious-in-up-uttarakhand-punjab-goa-502918">3</a>, <a href="http://abpnews.abplive.in/india-news/assembly-elections-exit-polls-2017-know-which-party-is-going-to-win-the-election-574390">4</a> ; <a href="http://www.todayschanakya.com/">News24 - Today&#39;s Chanakya</a> &nbsp;

Party abbreviations: INC: Indian National Congress, AAP: Aam Aadmi Party, SAD: Shiromani Akali Dal, BJP: Bharatiya Janta Party, BSP: Bahujan Samaj Party, SP: Samajwadi Party.&nbsp;

Note: Only the seat totals given by various agencies were compared, not the predictions for individual constituencies. Also, if an agency had given out a seat range as opposed to a specific seat total for any party/alliance, the mid-point of the range was used for comparison.&nbsp;

Update: Images were modified to accurately reflect the exit poll results.

Which polling agencies got the Indian state election results right? And which got it badly wrong? Check the graphics below to find out.

Sources: IndiaTV – Cvoter ; India Today - Axis My India ; NewsX - MRC ; Times Now- VMR ; ABP – Lokniti 1, 2, 3, 4 ; News24 - Today's Chanakya Party abbreviations: INC: Indian National Congress, AAP: Aam Aadmi Party, SAD: Shiromani Akali Dal, BJP: Bharatiya Janta Party, BSP: Bahujan Samaj Party, SP: Samajwadi Party. Note: Only the seat totals given by various agencies were compared, not the predictions for individual constituencies. Also, if an agency had given out a seat range as opposed to a specific seat total for any party/alliance, the mid-point of the range was used for comparison. Update: Images were modified to accurately reflect the exit poll results.

Indian Assembly elections: Did anyone get their predictions right?

Earthquake tremors were felt in Delhi at 10:33&nbsp;pm (Indian Standard Time). The tremors lasted about 35&nbsp;seconds.

The National Seismological Bureau said the epicentre of the earthquake measuring 5.8 magnitude on the Richter Scale was in Rudraprayag in Uttarakhand, a state in the north of India.

&nbsp;

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Earthquake tremors felt in Delhi, Noida, Uttarakhand
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Felt tremors in Delhi..Hope everyone is safe and sound after this <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/earthquake?src=hash">#earthquake</a>
&mdash; Ragini Nayak (@NayakRagini) <a href="https://twitter.com/NayakRagini/status/828652385388023808">February 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Tremors were felt in parts of North India, including New Delhi, according to Indian media reports.

&quot;The quake was quite heavy. It lasted for 25 or 30 seconds, but there are no reports of damage so far received,&quot; said Ashok Kumar, a senior police official in the state capital Dehradun.&nbsp;

Amit Negi, the secretary of disaster management in the state said they had alerted all districts and were coordinating with them.

There are no reports of loss of lives or damage to property.

(WION)

The National Seismological Bureau said the earthquake measured 5.8 magnitude on the Richter Scale

Earthquake tremors were felt in Delhi at 10:33 pm (Indian Standard Time). The tremors lasted about 35 seconds. The National Seismological Bureau said the epicentre of the earthquake measuring 5.8 magnitude on the Richter Scale was in Rudraprayag in Uttarakhand, a state in the north of India. Earthquake tremors felt in Delhi, Noida, Uttarakhand — ANI (@ANI_news) February 6, 2017 × Felt tremors in Delhi..Hope everyone is safe and sound after this #earthquake — Ragini Nayak (@NayakRagini) February 6, 2017 × Tremors were felt in parts of North India, including New Delhi, according to Indian media reports. "The quake was quite heavy. It lasted for 25 or 30 seconds, but there are no reports of damage so far received," said Ashok Kumar, a senior police official in the state capital Dehradun. Amit Negi, the secretary of disaster management in the state said they had alerted all districts and were coordinating with them. There are no reports of loss of lives or damage to property. (WION)

Earthquake tremors felt in Delhi, epicentre in Rudraprayag district in Uttarakhand

Here's an interactive look at the Indian states going to the polls over the next few weeks

Making sense of India's state elections

By Iftikhar Gilani

The Election Commission has announced the schedule of the high-stakes Assembly polls in UP, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur, which are being touted as a mini-general election. Since polls are being held exactly around the time Prime Minister Narendra Modi completes his half-term in office, they are also seen as a referendum on his policies and programmes, ahead of his big battle to seek mandate for another term in 2019.

The current elections are particularly a test of Modi&rsquo;s popularity among the middle class and business community as they come soon after the demonetisation decision. His latest strategy to build new social support base for the BJP also faces a litmus test. His decision to demonetize the higher denomination currencies and his welfare schemes have caught the imagination of the poor. Though Modi had been underlining his government&rsquo;s focus on &lsquo;antyodaya&rsquo; (the last man in the queue) and focusing on Babasaheb Ambedkar &mdash; the Dalit icon &mdash; for over a year now, his November 8 announcement of banning high-end notes has somewhat broken the barrier between classes. It has found resonance amongst the poor and the downtrodden as they were the biggest victims of corruption.

This is not an election campaign, it is a historic battle between rich and poor. &ldquo;Kaante ki takkar hai (it&rsquo;s a neck-and-neck fight),&rdquo; says Ram Naresh, a taxi driver from Noida, Uttar Pradesh. It makes him feel important when he sees his former employer queue up outside an ATM and later at a bank to get cash.

These elections are a battle of nerves for the BJP, because out of the five states, it rules Goa and is an alliance partner in Punjab. Though it has been out of power for over past 14 years in UP, it had swept Lok Sabha elections winning 71 of the 80 seats (its ally Apna Dal won two) in the 2014 general election. In Uttarakhand, it is directly pitted against the ruling Congress.

An opinion poll conducted a couple of months ago had shown an overwhelming majority (as high as 90 per cent in UP, 88 per cent in Punjab and 77 per cent in Uttarakhand) supporting these strikes. About 67 per cent of those polled in UP and 76 per cent in Uttarakhand said the strikes have made the BJP electorally strong. But the mood was somewhat opposite in Punjab, where the ruling Akali Dal-BJP combine is fighting a strong anti-incumbency factor. The Congress till a few years ago was a frontrunner in Punjab, banking upon upper caste Hindu voters (38 per cent) and Scheduled Castes (34 per cent of SC Hindus and 35 per cent of SC Sikhs) to return to power. But of late, its pitch has been queered with the entry of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The drugs problem continues to be on top of the agenda in the border state. Many top leaders of the government had been allegedly found involved in the drug racket.

In UP &mdash; with a population of over 200 million &mdash; often considered to be an election bellwether in India, the BJP had got just 15 per cent of the votes in 2012. But keeping in view its performance in the last Lok Sabha polls, it is now set to win 31 per cent, an unprecedented 16 per cent swing in its favour as the opinion polls suggest. But that may not be a guarantee to form a government on its own, say analysts. But capturing Lucknow is an important and critical milestone for Modi to be able to gain control of Rajya Sabha, as well as turn the Presidential election scheduled to be held in July in his favour. A lack of a majority in the Upper House has hit Modi&rsquo;s economic reforms agenda and delayed passage of a key tax legislation &mdash; the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill.

The state with 403 Assembly seats will test Modi&rsquo;s popularity after he abruptly pulled 86 per cent of the currency out of the system. The Congress said it will also highlight the cash crunch aspect of note ban.

&ldquo;The notes ban has caused the maximum pain to each of the 125 crore Indians,&rdquo; said party spokesperson Manish Tewari.

With the family feud taking dangerous proportions within the ruling Samajwadi Party, the BJP and BSP are smelling a chance. The Congress, much depleted after a series of electoral losses, is looking to form an alliance with Akhilesh Yadav if he is able to gain control of the Samajwadi Party or form his own party. A potential gainer &mdash; apart from the BJP, which has not governed Uttar Pradesh for 14 years &mdash; is Mayawati, the 60-year-old Dalit icon who has served four times as Chief Minister. Muslims, who form 19 per cent of the state&rsquo;s population, have traditionally been loyal to the Samajwadi Party. She is now working to win them over to her Bahujan Samaj Party and has allotted the maximum number of seats to Muslim candidates.

Mayawati is calling on minority groups such as the Dalits, who constitute 22 per cent of the population, and Muslims to reject the BJP, raking up issues like Dadri lynching of Ilkhlaq Hussain, beef ban and riots in Muzaffarnagar. Many lower caste voters had deserted her party in 2014, allowing the BJP to win a majority of seats. Aware that Mayawati is emerging as the main opponent to Modi in Uttar Pradesh, BJP chief Amit Shah has made more than 150 visits to the state in the last two years to expand the BJP&rsquo;s appeal from its traditional base of prosperous and upper caste voters to the less privileged ones.

In the far-off North-Eastern state of Manipur, where elections will he held in two phases &mdash; on March 4 and 8 &mdash; a bitter tussle is expected between the ruling Congress and the BJP. The BJP, which won the elections in Assam last year, is hoping to unseat the Congress. Ahead of the elections, the state has witnessed large scale unrest over issues including the inner-line permit system, creation of seven new districts and the demand by various groups to be named as scheduled tribes.

The land locked state is currently under an economic blockade called by the United Naga Council &mdash; the top group of the Naga tribes in Manipur over the state government&rsquo;s decision of creation of seven new districts, which has already crossed 70 days. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has pointed out that it is the &ldquo;constitutional duty of the state government&rdquo; to restore normalcy. Dr Mohammad Imtiyaz Khan who teaches at Gauhati University says that even after three terms, Congress government in Manipur has failed miserably to execute plans which are in larger public interest.

A local journalist Aya Shimray believes that there is a huge disparity between the hills and the valley. &ldquo;It has only helped in creating a sense of alienation in the hills. The tribals in the state are peeved at the manner in which they are being prevented from enjoying the privilges of employment offered to them by the country&rsquo;s constitution. Various instances of discrimination against the tribals even in its bureaucratic set up have surfaced during Ibobi&rsquo;s rule,&rdquo; he adds. Ibobi Singh, who has been in office since 2002, faces a life-time challenge from Irom Sharmila, who fasted for 16 years to demand the repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). She has formally announced to take on Singh in Assembly polls. Sharmila ended her fast against AFSPA on August 9 last year, and formed the People&rsquo;s Resurgence and Justice Alliance (PRJA) with an aim to become the Chief Minister and repeal the act. Sharmila said: &ldquo;During his 15 years of leadership, he has not done anything to repeal AFSPA. Since I realise that no politician shall repeal it, I am planning to contest the election, become the Chief Minister and repeal it.&rdquo;

In Goa, where the BJP is in power with its pre-poll alliance partner of 2012 Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), it is facing a stiff resistance both from the Congress and the AAP. More than the PM, here the fortunes of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar are at stake, who has been utilising every opportunity he gets to spend time in his home state. Goa is perhaps the first state where the RSS has split ranks with the BJP. It&rsquo;s a different matter that the BJP leaders say that it is only a section of the RSS which has formed a party called Goa Surakhsa Manch (GSM).

The 2017 elections are definitely a big test for Modi. Their outcome will chart the course for the 2019 general elections. Although state elections are largely governed by caste and community equations and the political campaigns are centred around state-level issues, Modi has emerged as a propelling figure in BJP campaigns. It is an election between him and the rest of political forces. His supporters are also banking upon him rather the party machinery, projecting him as an honest, incorruptible leader, someone who, unlike the Congress, is capable of taking prompt decisions. Amidst a divided Opposition, it seems they have managed to sail their ship through muddy waters. But in India, elections are known for throwing surprises.&nbsp;

(This report first appeared in DNA)

The states go to the polls just as the PM completes a half-term in office, so they are being seen as a referendum on him

By Iftikhar Gilani The Election Commission has announced the schedule of the high-stakes Assembly polls in UP, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur, which are being touted as a mini-general election. Since polls are being held exactly around the time Prime Minister Narendra Modi completes his half-term in office, they are also seen as a referendum on his policies and programmes, ahead of his big battle to seek mandate for another term in 2019. The current elections are particularly a test of Modi’s popularity among the middle class and business community as they come soon after the demonetisation decision. His latest strategy to build new social support base for the BJP also faces a litmus test. His decision to demonetize the higher denomination currencies and his welfare schemes have caught the imagination of the poor. Though Modi had been underlining his government’s focus on ‘antyodaya’ (the last man in the queue) and focusing on Babasaheb Ambedkar — the Dalit icon — for over a year now, his November 8 announcement of banning high-end notes has somewhat broken the barrier between classes. It has found resonance amongst the poor and the downtrodden as they were the biggest victims of corruption. This is not an election campaign, it is a historic battle between rich and poor. “Kaante ki takkar hai (it’s a neck-and-neck fight),” says Ram Naresh, a taxi driver from Noida, Uttar Pradesh. It makes him feel important when he sees his former employer queue up outside an ATM and later at a bank to get cash. These elections are a battle of nerves for the BJP, because out of the five states, it rules Goa and is an alliance partner in Punjab. Though it has been out of power for over past 14 years in UP, it had swept Lok Sabha elections winning 71 of the 80 seats (its ally Apna Dal won two) in the 2014 general election. In Uttarakhand, it is directly pitted against the ruling Congress. An opinion poll conducted a couple of months ago had shown an overwhelming majority (as high as 90 per cent in UP, 88 per cent in Punjab and 77 per cent in Uttarakhand) supporting these strikes. About 67 per cent of those polled in UP and 76 per cent in Uttarakhand said the strikes have made the BJP electorally strong. But the mood was somewhat opposite in Punjab, where the ruling Akali Dal-BJP combine is fighting a strong anti-incumbency factor. The Congress till a few years ago was a frontrunner in Punjab, banking upon upper caste Hindu voters (38 per cent) and Scheduled Castes (34 per cent of SC Hindus and 35 per cent of SC Sikhs) to return to power. But of late, its pitch has been queered with the entry of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The drugs problem continues to be on top of the agenda in the border state. Many top leaders of the government had been allegedly found involved in the drug racket. In UP — with a population of over 200 million — often considered to be an election bellwether in India, the BJP had got just 15 per cent of the votes in 2012. But keeping in view its performance in the last Lok Sabha polls, it is now set to win 31 per cent, an unprecedented 16 per cent swing in its favour as the opinion polls suggest. But that may not be a guarantee to form a government on its own, say analysts. But capturing Lucknow is an important and critical milestone for Modi to be able to gain control of Rajya Sabha, as well as turn the Presidential election scheduled to be held in July in his favour. A lack of a majority in the Upper House has hit Modi’s economic reforms agenda and delayed passage of a key tax legislation — the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill. The state with 403 Assembly seats will test Modi’s popularity after he abruptly pulled 86 per cent of the currency out of the system. The Congress said it will also highlight the cash crunch aspect of note ban. “The notes ban has caused the maximum pain to each of the 125 crore Indians,” said party spokesperson Manish Tewari. With the family feud taking dangerous proportions within the ruling Samajwadi Party, the BJP and BSP are smelling a chance. The Congress, much depleted after a series of electoral losses, is looking to form an alliance with Akhilesh Yadav if he is able to gain control of the Samajwadi Party or form his own party. A potential gainer — apart from the BJP, which has not governed Uttar Pradesh for 14 years — is Mayawati, the 60-year-old Dalit icon who has served four times as Chief Minister. Muslims, who form 19 per cent of the state’s population, have traditionally been loyal to the Samajwadi Party. She is now working to win them over to her Bahujan Samaj Party and has allotted the maximum number of seats to Muslim candidates. Mayawati is calling on minority groups such as the Dalits, who constitute 22 per cent of the population, and Muslims to reject the BJP, raking up issues like Dadri lynching of Ilkhlaq Hussain, beef ban and riots in Muzaffarnagar. Many lower caste voters had deserted her party in 2014, allowing the BJP to win a majority of seats. Aware that Mayawati is emerging as the main opponent to Modi in Uttar Pradesh, BJP chief Amit Shah has made more than 150 visits to the state in the last two years to expand the BJP’s appeal from its traditional base of prosperous and upper caste voters to the less privileged ones. In the far-off North-Eastern state of Manipur, where elections will he held in two phases — on March 4 and 8 — a bitter tussle is expected between the ruling Congress and the BJP. The BJP, which won the elections in Assam last year, is hoping to unseat the Congress. Ahead of the elections, the state has witnessed large scale unrest over issues including the inner-line permit system, creation of seven new districts and the demand by various groups to be named as scheduled tribes. The land locked state is currently under an economic blockade called by the United Naga Council — the top group of the Naga tribes in Manipur over the state government’s decision of creation of seven new districts, which has already crossed 70 days. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has pointed out that it is the “constitutional duty of the state government” to restore normalcy. Dr Mohammad Imtiyaz Khan who teaches at Gauhati University says that even after three terms, Congress government in Manipur has failed miserably to execute plans which are in larger public interest. A local journalist Aya Shimray believes that there is a huge disparity between the hills and the valley. “It has only helped in creating a sense of alienation in the hills. The tribals in the state are peeved at the manner in which they are being prevented from enjoying the privilges of employment offered to them by the country’s constitution. Various instances of discrimination against the tribals even in its bureaucratic set up have surfaced during Ibobi’s rule,” he adds. Ibobi Singh, who has been in office since 2002, faces a life-time challenge from Irom Sharmila, who fasted for 16 years to demand the repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). She has formally announced to take on Singh in Assembly polls. Sharmila ended her fast against AFSPA on August 9 last year, and formed the People’s Resurgence and Justice Alliance (PRJA) with an aim to become the Chief Minister and repeal the act. Sharmila said: “During his 15 years of leadership, he has not done anything to repeal AFSPA. Since I realise that no politician shall repeal it, I am planning to contest the election, become the Chief Minister and repeal it.” In Goa, where the BJP is in power with its pre-poll alliance partner of 2012 Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), it is facing a stiff resistance both from the Congress and the AAP. More than the PM, here the fortunes of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar are at stake, who has been utilising every opportunity he gets to spend time in his home state. Goa is perhaps the first state where the RSS has split ranks with the BJP. It’s a different matter that the BJP leaders say that it is only a section of the RSS which has formed a party called Goa Surakhsa Manch (GSM). The 2017 elections are definitely a big test for Modi. Their outcome will chart the course for the 2019 general elections. Although state elections are largely governed by caste and community equations and the political campaigns are centred around state-level issues, Modi has emerged as a propelling figure in BJP campaigns. It is an election between him and the rest of political forces. His supporters are also banking upon him rather the party machinery, projecting him as an honest, incorruptible leader, someone who, unlike the Congress, is capable of taking prompt decisions. Amidst a divided Opposition, it seems they have managed to sail their ship through muddy waters. But in India, elections are known for throwing surprises. (This report first appeared in DNA)

India: In states going to polls, it's Modi versus the rest

The election commission of India announced Wednesday the election schedule for five states going to the polls. It also said that it will implement the recent Supreme Court order barring religion, race, caste, community and language&nbsp;from being used at the time of elections to get votes.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The states going to the polls are Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Manipur, and Uttarakhand.

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ECI will ensure level playing field for inclusive, free and fair elections, by curbing muscle power and abuse of money: CEC Nasim Zaidi <a href="https://t.co/QPxP22D3lF">pic.twitter.com/QPxP22D3lF</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/816538965100609538">January 4, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Elections in Goa and Punjab will be held on February 4, and in Uttarakhand on February 15.

Manipur will go to the polls in two phases, on March 4 and March 8.

Uttar Pradesh will go to the polls in seven phases: February 11, 15, 19; 23, 27, March 4, and March 8.

Making the announcements, chief election commissioner Nasim Zaidi said, &quot;Model code of conduct comes into force with immediate effect.&quot;

&quot;690 legislative assemblies will go to polls. Over 16 crore voters will participate in the election. Nearly 100% voters have electoral photo id cards. There will be complete accountability of photo voter slips and colourful voter guides will be distributed to each family,&quot; he added. .

Stating that there will be a voter assistance booth outside every polling station, Zaidi said, &quot;The height of voting compartments has been raised to 30 inch for secrecy and every polling station will have four posters for voting procedure and dos and don&#39;ts.&quot;

Zaidi added that the ECI is committed to curbing the misuse of black money, cash, liquor, and gifts to influence voters.

(This report first appeared in DNA)&nbsp;

The states are Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Manipur, and Uttarakhand. All votes will be counted on March 11

The election commission of India announced Wednesday the election schedule for five states going to the polls. It also said that it will implement the recent Supreme Court order barring religion, race, caste, community and language from being used at the time of elections to get votes. The states going to the polls are Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Manipur, and Uttarakhand. ECI will ensure level playing field for inclusive, free and fair elections, by curbing muscle power and abuse of money: CEC Nasim Zaidi pic.twitter.com/QPxP22D3lF — ANI (@ANI_news) January 4, 2017 × Elections in Goa and Punjab will be held on February 4, and in Uttarakhand on February 15. Manipur will go to the polls in two phases, on March 4 and March 8. Uttar Pradesh will go to the polls in seven phases: February 11, 15, 19; 23, 27, March 4, and March 8. Making the announcements, chief election commissioner Nasim Zaidi said, "Model code of conduct comes into force with immediate effect." "690 legislative assemblies will go to polls. Over 16 crore voters will participate in the election. Nearly 100% voters have electoral photo id cards. There will be complete accountability of photo voter slips and colourful voter guides will be distributed to each family," he added. . Stating that there will be a voter assistance booth outside every polling station, Zaidi said, "The height of voting compartments has been raised to 30 inch for secrecy and every polling station will have four posters for voting procedure and dos and don'ts." Zaidi added that the ECI is committed to curbing the misuse of black money, cash, liquor, and gifts to influence voters. (This report first appeared in DNA)

Election Commission of India announces poll schedule in five states, says will follow apex court order

The local government in India&#39;s hill state of Uttarakhand is planning to complete its late leader Sanjay Gandhi&#39;s pet mission in the mid 1970s -- forced sterilisation. 
 
But luckily for us, unlike Gandhi&#39;s plot to curb population in the country by sterilising poor men, the Congress government will use birth control pills to rein in the burgeoning monkey population in the state.&nbsp; 
 
The state forest department will team up with&nbsp;the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) to ensure female monkeys are given&nbsp;oral immuno-contraceptives to leave them temporarily infertile, The Times of India reported. 
 
&quot;The vaccine will be mixed with food and will render the female infertile for a year. The dose will be repeated over a period of four years. The monkeys will either be tagged or identified from their traits,&quot; said WII director V B Mathur. 
 
The oral contraceptive will produce antibodies in the monkey which will block fertilisation. 
 
The entire shindig to control the monkey population in Uttarakhand is purely down to their nonsensical value. 
 
Initially, the government will procure the drug named&nbsp;Porcine zona pellucida (PZP) from the United States to accomplish this feat. But since the drug is costly, the state might look at similar vaccines that can be manufactured on a mass scale. 
 
 
(WION) 
 
&nbsp; 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
&nbsp;

Congress, one of the two major political parties in India, proves to be an echo chamber as far as forced sterilisation is concerned

The local government in India's hill state of Uttarakhand is planning to complete its late leader Sanjay Gandhi's pet mission in the mid 1970s -- forced sterilisation. But luckily for us, unlike Gandhi's plot to curb population in the country by sterilising poor men, the Congress government will use birth control pills to rein in the burgeoning monkey population in the state. The state forest department will team up with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) to ensure female monkeys are given oral immuno-contraceptives to leave them temporarily infertile, The Times of India reported. "The vaccine will be mixed with food and will render the female infertile for a year. The dose will be repeated over a period of four years. The monkeys will either be tagged or identified from their traits," said WII director V B Mathur. The oral contraceptive will produce antibodies in the monkey which will block fertilisation. The entire shindig to control the monkey population in Uttarakhand is purely down to their nonsensical value. Initially, the government will procure the drug named Porcine zona pellucida (PZP) from the United States to accomplish this feat. But since the drug is costly, the state might look at similar vaccines that can be manufactured on a mass scale. (WION)

No planet of apes in India's hill state of Uttarakhand: Monkeys put on birth control pills

A northern Indian state will soon begin a multi-million dollar search in the Himalayas for a mythical plant believed to hold life-saving properties, a local minister said today. 
 
Uttarakhand will spend 250 million Rupees ($37 million) of state money hunting the herb Sanjeevani Booti, which is credited in the ancient Hindu text Ramayana with restoring life to the brother of a god. 
 
While many wild plants with medicinal properties grow in the Himalayas, there is scant evidence that the plant ever existed, with sages and modern researchers failing for centuries to find it. 
 
&quot;We have to try and it will never go to waste. If we are determined we will certainly find it,&quot; Surendra Singh Negi, the state&#39;s minister for alternative medicine, told AFP. 
 
The minister said the search will focus on the Dronagiri range of Himalayas near the Chinese border, one mountain of which is mentioned in the epic Ramayana as being the site where the magical herb grows. 
 
&quot;We have set an initial budget of 250 million Rupees ($37 million) for the project,&quot; Negi said. 
 
Scientists will start work in August, the minister said, adding that the central government has refused to fund the project. 
 
Ancient texts say the plant has life-restoring properties, grows in the high mountains of the Himalayas and glows in the dark. 
 
According to Ramayana, the monkey god Hanuman was tasked by the god Rama with fetching the herb after a healer said it would cure his dying brother Laxman. 
 
But Hanuman failed to identity the plant, instead uprooting the entire mountain and carrying it thousands of miles to treat the mortally injured prince during a war with demons in what is now Sri Lanka. 
 
India&#39;s 5,000-year-old medicine system Ayurveda uses herbs to cure ailments and has seen a revival under Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s government. 
 
(AFP)

The herb Sanjeevani Booti is credited in the ancient Hindu text Ramayana with restoring life, but there's scant evidence it exists

A northern Indian state will soon begin a multi-million dollar search in the Himalayas for a mythical plant believed to hold life-saving properties, a local minister said today. Uttarakhand will spend 250 million Rupees ($37 million) of state money hunting the herb Sanjeevani Booti, which is credited in the ancient Hindu text Ramayana with restoring life to the brother of a god. While many wild plants with medicinal properties grow in the Himalayas, there is scant evidence that the plant ever existed, with sages and modern researchers failing for centuries to find it. "We have to try and it will never go to waste. If we are determined we will certainly find it," Surendra Singh Negi, the state's minister for alternative medicine, told AFP. The minister said the search will focus on the Dronagiri range of Himalayas near the Chinese border, one mountain of which is mentioned in the epic Ramayana as being the site where the magical herb grows. "We have set an initial budget of 250 million Rupees ($37 million) for the project," Negi said. Scientists will start work in August, the minister said, adding that the central government has refused to fund the project. Ancient texts say the plant has life-restoring properties, grows in the high mountains of the Himalayas and glows in the dark. According to Ramayana, the monkey god Hanuman was tasked by the god Rama with fetching the herb after a healer said it would cure his dying brother Laxman. But Hanuman failed to identity the plant, instead uprooting the entire mountain and carrying it thousands of miles to treat the mortally injured prince during a war with demons in what is now Sri Lanka. India's 5,000-year-old medicine system Ayurveda uses herbs to cure ailments and has seen a revival under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government. (AFP)

Indian state to spend $37 million hunting mythical 'life-saving' plant

Chinese troops recently violated the border in Chamoli district of northern Indian state of Uttarakhand and were seen camping along with arms despite the two nations having agreed to keep it a demilitarised area. 
 
The incident took place on July 19 when a team led by Chamoli district magistrate and others, including officials from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) went for a survey of Barahoti ground, official sources said. 
 
The sources said that the civilian team was sent back by Chinese People&#39;s Liberation Army troops, who claimed it to be their land. 
 
The 80-square kilometre ground has been agreed by the two countries to be a disputed part since 1957 and was to be sorted out at the negotiating table by the two sides.&nbsp; 
 
Over the past few years, Chinese troops have been spotted in the area and even air violations have taken place in this area, the sources said. 
 
&#39;ITBP never entered here with arms since 1958 agreement&#39; 
 
Chinese side had sent in a delegation on April 19, 1958 for negotiations with their Indian counterparts and both sides had agreed not to send troops into the area but had avoided a discussion on final settlement of the Barahoti ground. 
 
The sources said that ever since this agreement, ITBP, which mans the 3,488-km Sino-Indian border from Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh in Northeast, had never entered the area with arms. 
 
However, shepherds from both sides were allowed to enter the ground. 
 
The Chinese troops have since the reported incursion returned even as apprehensions persisted that they may be taking undue advantage of the agreement of 1958 by pushing in their soldiers into the area which they recognise as &#39;Wu-Je&#39;. 
 
While Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat termed the development as &quot;something to worry about&quot; hoping that India will pay heed to his request for increased vigil, junior minister in Indian government Kiren Rijiju said ITBP had been asked to look into the matter.&nbsp; 
 
(PTI)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Chinese troops have been spotted in the area and even air violations have taken place over past few years: Officials?

Chinese troops recently violated the border in Chamoli district of northern Indian state of Uttarakhand and were seen camping along with arms despite the two nations having agreed to keep it a demilitarised area. The incident took place on July 19 when a team led by Chamoli district magistrate and others, including officials from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) went for a survey of Barahoti ground, official sources said. The sources said that the civilian team was sent back by Chinese People's Liberation Army troops, who claimed it to be their land. The 80-square kilometre ground has been agreed by the two countries to be a disputed part since 1957 and was to be sorted out at the negotiating table by the two sides. Over the past few years, Chinese troops have been spotted in the area and even air violations have taken place in this area, the sources said. 'ITBP never entered here with arms since 1958 agreement' Chinese side had sent in a delegation on April 19, 1958 for negotiations with their Indian counterparts and both sides had agreed not to send troops into the area but had avoided a discussion on final settlement of the Barahoti ground. The sources said that ever since this agreement, ITBP, which mans the 3,488-km Sino-Indian border from Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh in Northeast, had never entered the area with arms. However, shepherds from both sides were allowed to enter the ground. The Chinese troops have since the reported incursion returned even as apprehensions persisted that they may be taking undue advantage of the agreement of 1958 by pushing in their soldiers into the area which they recognise as 'Wu-Je'. While Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat termed the development as "something to worry about" hoping that India will pay heed to his request for increased vigil, junior minister in Indian government Kiren Rijiju said ITBP had been asked to look into the matter. (PTI)

Northern Indian state Uttarakhand confirms Chinese incursion?

Two people were killed in rain-related incidents in north Indian state of Uttarakhand today even as the showers subsided at most places including in capital city Dehradun where the sun emerged in the afternoon after a couple of days. 
 
India Meteorological Department (MeT) has forecast a decrease in rainfall from today onwards which may lead to lowering of water levels in the rivers. 
 
&quot;Though widespread rains from across Uttarakhand were reported this morning, they were moderate at most places and heavy only at a few, mostly in Dehradun, Haridwar, Tehri, Almora and Nainital districts.&nbsp;There will be further decrease in rainfall from today onwards with a drop in both intensity and distribution,&quot; said MeT director Vikram Singh, adding that there was no &quot;heavy rain&quot; warning for the state today or the next three to four days. 
 
The current spell of heavy rains has affected the Chardham Yatra, a pilgrimage to four holy sites in India, with the highways leading to the Himalayan shrines of Badrinath and Kedarnath still blocked. 
 
Sahdev Chohri, a bank employee, was killed in Uttarkashi town of the state when the car he was driving fell into a swollen Bhagirathi river after being hit by a boulder due to a landslip, said Dharasu police station in-charge Ravindra Yadav.&nbsp;The mishap occurred on Rishikesh-Gangotri national highway when Chohri was on his way from Chinyalisaur town to Uttarkashi where he used to work in Punjab National Bank, he said. 
 
It took National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) personnel four hours to recover the body from the river. 
 
A child drowned in Badhedi Rajputana village of Haridwar district after being swept away by flood waters this morning. 
 
With these incidents, the number of casualties during the current spell of rains in the state has risen to 14 since Friday.&nbsp;Two more people from Jamalpur Khurd village of Haridwar district drowned late last night. 
 
Four were killed in Tehri district last evening as their car was hit by debris falling from the hill due to a landslide triggered by heavy rains.&nbsp;One woman was killed on Saturday morning when the bus she was travelling in overturned after being hit by the overflowing waters of a swollen canal at Haldwani in Nainital district. 
 
A tree fell over a cowshed late on Saturday evening in Uttarkashi town killing one on the spot and leaving two injured of whom, one succumbed on way to the hospital.&nbsp;A car skidded off the road and fell into a gorge, killing three and leaving two others injured in Pauri district on Saturday evening. 
 
(PTI)

India's Meteorological Department forecast a decrease in rainfall from today onwards, which may lead to lowering of water levels in rivers

Two people were killed in rain-related incidents in north Indian state of Uttarakhand today even as the showers subsided at most places including in capital city Dehradun where the sun emerged in the afternoon after a couple of days. India Meteorological Department (MeT) has forecast a decrease in rainfall from today onwards which may lead to lowering of water levels in the rivers. "Though widespread rains from across Uttarakhand were reported this morning, they were moderate at most places and heavy only at a few, mostly in Dehradun, Haridwar, Tehri, Almora and Nainital districts. There will be further decrease in rainfall from today onwards with a drop in both intensity and distribution," said MeT director Vikram Singh, adding that there was no "heavy rain" warning for the state today or the next three to four days. The current spell of heavy rains has affected the Chardham Yatra, a pilgrimage to four holy sites in India, with the highways leading to the Himalayan shrines of Badrinath and Kedarnath still blocked. Sahdev Chohri, a bank employee, was killed in Uttarkashi town of the state when the car he was driving fell into a swollen Bhagirathi river after being hit by a boulder due to a landslip, said Dharasu police station in-charge Ravindra Yadav. The mishap occurred on Rishikesh-Gangotri national highway when Chohri was on his way from Chinyalisaur town to Uttarkashi where he used to work in Punjab National Bank, he said. It took National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) personnel four hours to recover the body from the river. A child drowned in Badhedi Rajputana village of Haridwar district after being swept away by flood waters this morning. With these incidents, the number of casualties during the current spell of rains in the state has risen to 14 since Friday. Two more people from Jamalpur Khurd village of Haridwar district drowned late last night. Four were killed in Tehri district last evening as their car was hit by debris falling from the hill due to a landslide triggered by heavy rains. One woman was killed on Saturday morning when the bus she was travelling in overturned after being hit by the overflowing waters of a swollen canal at Haldwani in Nainital district. A tree fell over a cowshed late on Saturday evening in Uttarkashi town killing one on the spot and leaving two injured of whom, one succumbed on way to the hospital. A car skidded off the road and fell into a gorge, killing three and leaving two others injured in Pauri district on Saturday evening. (PTI)

14 killed over weekend in rain-related incidents in north India

Heavy rains lashed parts of India&#39;s northern state of Uttarakhand on Saturday, throwing normal life out of gear. 
 
The meteorological department has issued an alert of heavy to very heavy rainfall in the state in the next 24 hours. 
 
Several areas in Srinagar district were flooded after the Alaknanda river breached its embankments, submerging shops and houses. 
 
Vehicular traffic also remained disrupted due to recurring landslides on the Rishikesh- Badrinath National Highway, cutting link to Rudraprayag and Chamoli districts, in Uttarakhand. 
 
&quot;If I talk about the national highway, it is also lying in the danger zone. Water is flowing downside from across the national highway. There are chances of landslides too. I think if it continues to rain like this for one or two days, it may severely damage the National Highway,&quot; said a local. 
 
People in Farsu village of the district vacated their houses and took shelter in an ancient temple to escape nature&#39;s wrath. 
 
&quot;All houses, shops and ancient temple everything are submerged in water. Government and administration are here from last two days,&quot; said another villager. 
 
Several rivers in India&#39;s northern Uttarakhand state are in a spate following heavy rainfall in the last few days. In the holy city of Haridwar, water levels in the river Ganges also rose alarmingly. 
 
Rains triggered cloudbursts in various parts of the state earlier this month, claiming lives of 35 people. 
 
Uttarakhand suffered heavy losses after flash floods due to cloudburst in June 2013 that left over 5,000 dead or missing. 
 
Monsoon season is critical for the country&#39;s 263 million farmers because nearly half of their farmland lacks irrigation. 
 
But it also causes devastating landslides, floods and water-borne diseases, as civic administrations often fail to cope with challenges posed by it. 
 
(Reuters)

Several areas in Srinagar district are flooded after the Alaknanda river breached its embankments, submerging shops and houses

Heavy rains lashed parts of India's northern state of Uttarakhand on Saturday, throwing normal life out of gear. The meteorological department has issued an alert of heavy to very heavy rainfall in the state in the next 24 hours. Several areas in Srinagar district were flooded after the Alaknanda river breached its embankments, submerging shops and houses. Vehicular traffic also remained disrupted due to recurring landslides on the Rishikesh- Badrinath National Highway, cutting link to Rudraprayag and Chamoli districts, in Uttarakhand. "If I talk about the national highway, it is also lying in the danger zone. Water is flowing downside from across the national highway. There are chances of landslides too. I think if it continues to rain like this for one or two days, it may severely damage the National Highway," said a local. People in Farsu village of the district vacated their houses and took shelter in an ancient temple to escape nature's wrath. "All houses, shops and ancient temple everything are submerged in water. Government and administration are here from last two days," said another villager. Several rivers in India's northern Uttarakhand state are in a spate following heavy rainfall in the last few days. In the holy city of Haridwar, water levels in the river Ganges also rose alarmingly. Rains triggered cloudbursts in various parts of the state earlier this month, claiming lives of 35 people. Uttarakhand suffered heavy losses after flash floods due to cloudburst in June 2013 that left over 5,000 dead or missing. Monsoon season is critical for the country's 263 million farmers because nearly half of their farmland lacks irrigation. But it also causes devastating landslides, floods and water-borne diseases, as civic administrations often fail to cope with challenges posed by it. (Reuters)

Uttarakhand on alert after heavy rainfall

Rescue operations were underway in India&#39;s northern&nbsp;Uttarakhand&nbsp;state today as many people were feared trapped under debris after heavy rainfall caused havoc.
According to reports, Pithoragarh and Chamoli districts were inundated after the cloudburst, causing severe problems to the people.

Large tracts of agriculture fields have been destroyed in Suva village of the Dharchula area and three bridges linking the village have been washed away.

The Chief Minister of&nbsp;Uttarakhand, Harish Rawat, said that official teams had been dispatched to carry out search and rescue operations to find those missing.

Rawat also told reporters there were reports of further bad weather from other regions in India.

&quot;We have reports of disaster from Chamoli district too. There is heavy rainfall in Bageshwar, Uttarkashi and some other areas as well,&quot; said Rawat.

Rawat announced a compensation of 200,000 Indian rupees (about $2,968) would be given to the relatives of the deceased.

Over 54 millimetres of rain was recorded here in the last 24-hours. The Thal-Munsyari road has been cut-off and dozens of vehicles remained stranded on both sides.

The Yamunotri highway, near Kharadi, has also been damaged leading to traffic being halted.

Entry of heavy vehicles was halted on the Kedarnath highway after a landslide at Gangolgaon.

All major rivers in the hilly tracts have swollen. 
 
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department has predicted heavy rain at isolated places especially in Nainital, Udham Singh Nagar and Champawat districts of Uttarakhand.

The weather department has also issued a warning alert of heavy to very heavy rain at few places in Nainital, Udham Singh Nagar, Champawat, Almora, Pauri, Haridwar, Dehradun and Tehri districts during the next 72 hours starting from today.

Keeping in view of the alert, all District Administrations have been asked to take precautionary measures.

Director of the state Meteorological&nbsp;Department Vikram Singh has said that a low pressure line between the Bay of Bengal and Punjab is triggering the rains, and the western disturbance is also moving and it will approach Afghanistan and Jammu and Kashmir in the next two to three days. 
 
(With inputs from Agencies and Zee News)

Pithoragarh and Chamoli districts were inundated after the cloudburst as rains destroy bridges and agricultural fields

Rescue operations were underway in India's northern Uttarakhand state today as many people were feared trapped under debris after heavy rainfall caused havoc. According to reports, Pithoragarh and Chamoli districts were inundated after the cloudburst, causing severe problems to the people. Large tracts of agriculture fields have been destroyed in Suva village of the Dharchula area and three bridges linking the village have been washed away. The Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Harish Rawat, said that official teams had been dispatched to carry out search and rescue operations to find those missing. Rawat also told reporters there were reports of further bad weather from other regions in India. "We have reports of disaster from Chamoli district too. There is heavy rainfall in Bageshwar, Uttarkashi and some other areas as well," said Rawat. Rawat announced a compensation of 200,000 Indian rupees (about $2,968) would be given to the relatives of the deceased. Over 54 millimetres of rain was recorded here in the last 24-hours. The Thal-Munsyari road has been cut-off and dozens of vehicles remained stranded on both sides. The Yamunotri highway, near Kharadi, has also been damaged leading to traffic being halted. Entry of heavy vehicles was halted on the Kedarnath highway after a landslide at Gangolgaon. All major rivers in the hilly tracts have swollen. Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department has predicted heavy rain at isolated places especially in Nainital, Udham Singh Nagar and Champawat districts of Uttarakhand. The weather department has also issued a warning alert of heavy to very heavy rain at few places in Nainital, Udham Singh Nagar, Champawat, Almora, Pauri, Haridwar, Dehradun and Tehri districts during the next 72 hours starting from today. Keeping in view of the alert, all District Administrations have been asked to take precautionary measures. Director of the state Meteorological Department Vikram Singh has said that a low pressure line between the Bay of Bengal and Punjab is triggering the rains, and the western disturbance is also moving and it will approach Afghanistan and Jammu and Kashmir in the next two to three days. (With inputs from Agencies and Zee News)

Rescue operations underway in northern India as more than 30 believed dead in flash floods

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