State

Hatadihi: Irregularities have surfaced in the Command Area Development and Water Management (CADWM) programme, with works reportedly executed without prior project approval or budget allocation, even as the scheme faces an acute staff shortage across four districts. Despite the government allocating crores of rupees under...

Kendrapara/Rajnagar: Bhitarkanika National Park and the adjoining Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary will remain closed for tourists and local visitors from May 1 to July 31 to facilitate the breeding and nesting of estuarine (saltwater) crocodiles. Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Mangrove Forest Division (Wildlife), Rajnagar,...

Bargarh: Police seized 960 bottles of cough syrup and arrested seven persons during a surprise raid at a football ground here, officials said Thursday. Acting on a tip-off about an illegal cough syrup trade at Behera football ground, a team from Bargarh Sadar police station...

Bhubaneswar: Severe heatwave conditions scorched Odisha Thursday, with the mercury crossing 40 degrees Celsius at 12 places, according to the IMD. Titlagarh town in Bolangir district recorded a maximum temperature of 43.7 degrees Celsius, making it the hottest place in the state for the day....

Baripada: Forest department officers arrested a poacher along with a country-made gun inside the Similipal tiger reserve (STR) in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district, an official said Thursday. The arrested accused is a resident of Kulian area in the district. During a routine patrol inside the Balidiha...

Bhadrak: Police busted a major sex racket in Bhadrak town Thursday, arresting four persons and rescuing two young women. According to reports, police received a tip-off about illegal activities being carried out in the Rajghat Bridge and Dhamra Bridge areas of the town. Acting on...

Sonepur: Police seized a Scorpio SUV loaded with ganja on National Highway-57 under Puintala police limits in Bolangir Wednesday. According to reports, around 3.6 quintals of ganja were recovered from the vehicle (registration number CG 04 QD 4385). The seized contraband is estimated to be...

Sonepur: Police seized counterfeit currency notes worth Rs 8.47 lakh and arrested two persons following a late-night operation near the State Bank of India’s main branch in Sonepur town, officials said Wednesday. Acting on a tip-off about the racket, a police team led by Town...

NARENDRA RAUT, OP Koraput: Residents of several villages surrounding the Kodingamali bauxite mining area in Koraput district have urged the district administration to take steps for the installation of a conveyor belt or some other alternative arrangement for the transport of bauxite, instead of trucks,...

Paralakhemundi: A court in Gajapati district has sentenced a 38-year-old man to life imprisonment for murdering his wife following sustained dowry-related harassment. Additional District and Sessions Judge Bibhu Prasad Panda convicted Regati Dhanunjaya, alias Rakoti Dhanunjaya, under Section 302 of IPC and imposed a fine...