Local News

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday said that temperature levels in West Bengal are likely to rise by 2-4 degrees Celsius over the next two to three days. The weather office also said that there was a possibility that heatwave conditions prevail in some districts till Saturday. The weather office has also forecast a yellow alert for Paschim Medinipur, Paschim Bardhman, Birbhum and Bankura for Saturday. The department said the four districts may experience heatwave conditions till Sunday. On Thursday, Raiganj in Uttar Dinajpur district clocked the highest temperature level in Bengal at 41.8 degrees Celsius. In Kolkata, the maximum temperature was recorded as 36.9 degrees Celsius and a maximum humidity at 84 per cent on Thursday. The sky remained partly cloudy, officials said. In the southern part of the state, the maximum temperature in Burdwan, Panaghar, Barrackpur and Jhargram hovered around 37-38 degrees Celsius. In Kalaikunda, the maximum temperature was recorded as 39.7 degrees Celsius and 39.3 degrees Celsius in Purulia.

In West Bengal’s Raiganj, preparations are underway with fervour to create a majestic Golden Chariot that pays homage to the South Indian tradition. It is set to become the centrepiece of this year’s Rath Yatra. Valued at an estimated Rs 10 lakh, this chariot is being meticulously crafted from neem and sal wood, known for their durability and traditional significance. The initiative has gained significant momentum, particularly in Raiganj’s Beltala area of Debinagar, where skilled artisans are dedicatedly shaping every detail of this cultural marvel. The inspiration for this endeavour stems from Champak Brahma and his wife’s transformative visit to the Murudeshwar Temple in Karnataka four years ago, where they were deeply moved by the grandeur of the temple chariot. Motivated by this experience, they initiated the Rath Yatra in Raiganj, sparking a community effort to recreate a similar chariot that would symbolise devotion and cultural heritage.

iped natural gas (PNG) connection was inaugurated in Raiganj, North Dinajpur district, on Friday. Officials of the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) — which is working on the city gas distribution (CGD) project — introduced the first PNG connection at Jayanta Narayan Das’s house in Tulsitala, in ward five of Raiganj town.

In a major infrastructure push for West Bengal, the Union Government has approved the construction of three new railway line projects in North Bengal as part of its broader development vision for the state. The projects, cleared by the Ministry of Railways, aim to improve connectivity, mobility, and socio-economic growth in the region, particularly in densely populated and border-adjacent areas. Alternative rail routes planned Malda-Aluabari The approved projects include the Raiganj–Dalkhola (43.43 km), Gazole–Itahar (27.20 km), and Raiganj–Itahar (22.16 km) new railway lines. Together, these lines will provide alternative rail routes between Malda and Aluabari, easing congestion and significantly enhancing passenger and freight movement across North Bengal. The projects are also expected to strengthen rail connectivity towards areas close to the India–Bangladesh international border, improving strategic and logistical access.

His body was recovered from the Milanpara area near Mohanbati market in Raiganj. The police are investigating whether the murder was politically motivated or if there was another reason behind it. Nabyendu Ghosh had only recently become the district youth vice-president of the Trinamool Congress in Uttar Dinajpur in north Bengal. He was divorced and the father of one child. He had recently opened a sweet shop in the area near Mohanbati market.