Tuesday, May 27, 2025 | 31 Pages | `5 & for State (+4 pages) `6 Reg.No MCS/048/2021-23; RNI No. 1541/1957 M.p.c.s office Mumbai. PIN 400001 THE FREE PRESS JOURNAL Vol. 68 No. 200 | Leader in E-paper circulation l www.freepressjournal.in ● EDITIONS: ● MUMBAI ● INDORE ● PUNE ● BHOPAL ● NASHIK ● KONKAN ● E-paper ● Member: Audit Bureau of Circulation (July to December 2024) NATION Groundwater crisis: 70% usage in agriculture, just 2% for drinking GAMES Cinema Akansha Ranjan Kapoor on why she went missing Royal Challengers Bengaluru target top-two finish for the last time in the IPL season Edit What the 90-Day tariff pause means for India and the world Record rain batters Mumbai ■ Water enters Aqua line 3 ■ Red alert in city ■ Highest May rains in 107 years Devashri Bhujbal, Shefali Pandit & Poonam Apraj MUMBAI The early onset of the south west monsoon in Mumbai completely exposed the gross unpreparedness of the BMC and also showed up the shoddy work undertaken by the Mumbai Metro Railway Vikas Corporation at the Worli Naka metro station which was inundated under water. The weather bureau has sounded a red alert for Mumbai, Thane and other areas warning of heavy rains. Apart from marking the earliest onset of monsoon in the last 75 years, the city broke the 107 years record of May rainfall. "From May 1 to 26 the Colaba observatory recorded 294.4 mm rainfall. In May 1918, the observatory had recorded 279.4 mm rainfall. It is the highest May rainfall in the last 107 years," said Indian Meteorological Department's (IMD) scientist Sushma Nair. The rains also disrupted flight operations at Mumbai airport with several flights being cancelled or rescheduled. Citizens trolled the authorities like never before while the opposition parties slammed the Mahayuti government. Vast areas of the me- INDIA SEES COVID SPIKE, NO PANIC tropolis were flooded since the de-silting of drains and nullahs was not carried out properly. Whatever silt was removed was washed back into the drains by the pre-monsoon showers a few days ago along with debris generated by the road concreting work. Lakhs of railway commuters had a harrowing time reaching their places of work, while motorists and cabbies were stuck in humungous traffic snarls in most parts of the city and suburbs. Said Jitendra Shah, a motorist, ``Mumbai was known as the city of dreams. But today it looked like a city of streams. It was pure horror driving today." The underground metroline from BKC to Worli Naka was inaugurated by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis only on May 9. But the station was a total mess with water pouring on to the platforms vastly embarrassing the state government. Apart from the usual flooding spots like Gandhi Market opposite King's Circle station, Hindmata junction, Milan subway etc, residents of many areas like Breach Candy, Bhendi Bazar, Andheri, Ghatkopar and Mulund complained of flooding. 4Contd on | nation 4See also | city, nation Monsoon expands footprint FPJ News Service MUMBAI Acharya Atre Chowk underground metro station after it was inundated on Monday 4Contd on | nation Waterlogging at King’s Circle ‘Op Sindoor ‘Our daughter, expression of nation’s pride’ India’s ethos’ Agencies DAHOD (GUJARAT) FPJ News Service MUMBAI Covid-19 cases are rising in India, but there is no reason to panic, according to Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director General Dr Rajiv Bahl. Addressing the media on Monday, Bahl assured that most cases remain mild and the govt is closely monitoring the situation. As per the latest data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India has reported 1,009 active Covid cases. Kerala accounts for the highest number (430), followed by Maharashtra (209) and Delhi (104). Seven deaths have been reported: four in Maharashtra, two in Kerala, and one in Karnataka. Dr Bahl explained that the severity of the situation depends on the transmissibility of the virus. Unlike earlier waves where cases doubled rapidly, current growth appears slower. “There is an increase in infections, but the percentage of severe cases remains low. So far, there is nothing to worry about,” he said. According to the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), the rise in cases is linked to NB.1.8.1 and LF.7 subvariants — both descendants of the JN.1 variant. Bahl noted that these strains can bypass prior immunity from infections or vaccines, but their impact is milder than earlier Omicron subvariants. Nevertheless, he stressed the need for heightened vigilance and readiness for any future spike. “We are monitoring the situation very closely,” Bahl said, adding that Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava held a high-level review meeting attended by DGHS and ICMR officials. 4See also | nation Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said Pakistan's only aim is to hate India and think of ways to harm it. He was addressing a rally in Dahod in Gujarat where he hailed Operation Sindoor as not merely military action, but an "expression of India's ethos and feelings". "The sight of the Pahalgam attack sends shivers down my spine. Therefore, Modi acted as our countrymen desired," he said Terrorists may not have imagined in their wildest dreams how difficult it would be to fight against Modi, the PM said. "I visited Vadodara before coming here. Thousands of mothers and sisters had gathered to celebrate the Indian armed forces. Similarly, here too, you all are expressing your blessings for Operation Sindoor by wearing the Tiranga. What terrorists did in Jammu and Kashmir, will India, led by Modi, sit quietly? If anyone attempts to erase the Sindoor of our sisters, it becomes crucial to eliminate them," Modi said. What terrorists did in Jammu and Kashmir, will India, led by Modi, sit quietly? The sight of the Pahalgam attack sent shivers down my spine. Therefore, Modi acted as our countrymen desired. Terrorists may not have imagined in their wildest dreams how difficult it would be to fight against Modi. He said the action was part of the responsibility citizens of the nation gave him when they made him 'pradhan sevak" on May 26, 2014. Modi gave a free hand to the three wings of the country's armed forces and its warriors did what the world had not seen for the last several decades, Modi asserted. 4Contd on | nation 3 judges suggested for SC PTI NEW DELHI The SC collegium on Monday recommended the appointments of Karnataka High Court Chief Justice N V Anjaria, Gauhati HC Chief Justice Vijay Bishnoi, and Bombay High Court judge Justice A S Chandurkar as judges of the top court. The five-member collegium headed by Chief Justice B R Gavai recommended the names as against three existing vacancies of judges in the top court following the superannuation of ex-CJI Sanjiv Khanna, and Justices Abhay S Oka and Hrishikesh Roy. "The Supreme Court collegium in its meeting held on May 26, 2025 has recommended elevation of the following chief justices/judge of the high courts, as judges in the Supreme Court - Justice N V Anjaria, Justice Vijay Bishnoi and Justice A S Chandurkar," said a resolution uploaded on the apex court website. Apex court judge Justice Bela M Trivedi is also set to superannuate on June 9, and May 16 was her last working day at the apex court. 4Contd on | nation The southwest monsoon has advanced further, reaching deeper into Maharashtra—including Mumbai—as well as parts of Karnataka, including Bengaluru, and fully covering the northeastern states, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The IMD has issued alerts for extremely heavy rainfall over Kerala, coastal and southern interior Karnataka, the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, and the Konkan region—including Mumbai— on May 26 and 27. Hilly areas of Tamil Nadu are also expected to receive very heavy showers on May 26, with persistent rainfall likely in these regions through June 1. In western India, the Konkan coast and the Western Ghats of Maharashtra are set to receive intense rain on May 26–27. Col Sofiya Qureshi’s kin join PM roadshow Agencies VADODARA The city lit up with patriotic fervour on Monday as thousands lined the streets to welcome PM Narendra Modi. Among the sea of waving flags and cheers stood a family with a special reason to be proud. Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, one of the two women officers who led the media briefings on Operation Sindoor, wasn’t at the roadshow herself. But her presence was deeply felt through her family — parents Taj Mohammad and Halima Qureshi, twin sister Shyna Sunsara, and brother Sanjay Qureshi — who joined the massive crowd from Harni Airport to the heart of Vadodara. “When PM Modi saw us, he greeted us with respect,” said Taj Mohammad, beaming. “We greeted him back just as re- spectfully.” His wife Halima added with emotion, “Sofiya is not only our daughter, she belongs to the whole country now.” The family carried more than just flowers — they carried pride. For them, this wasn’t just a roadshow. It was a moment where their daughter’s service to the nation was being silently honoured. Shyna, Sofiya’s twin, described it as a surreal experience. “It was a different kind of happiness,” she said. “Meeting the PM, knowing what my sister has done — it’s an honour we’ll never forget.” She spoke of the significance of two women — Colonel Sofiya and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh — taking the lead on such a crucial operation. “This was a message to the world,” she said with conviction. “Women are no less than anyone.” Jaishankar rejects Pak tip-off charge FPJ News Service MUMBAI External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has categorically denied allegations made by the Congress party that India informed Pakistan in advance about military strikes on terror camps during Operation Sindoor. Addressing the Parliamentary Consultative Committee on External Affairs on Monday, Jaishankar made it clear that the Pakistani side was only informed after the strikes were executed—via a formal communication between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two countries. Sections of media reported, without attribution that Pakistan was alerted by India 30 minutes after the launch of Operation Sindoor “There was no prior communication with Pakistan,” Jaishankar told the panel, according to sources. “The DGMOs spoke only after the strikes. And only they spoke— no other Indian official communicated with Pakistan.” This statement is a direct rebuttal to the claims made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, 4Contd on | nation Warlike situation outside and inside B’desh: Yunus Agencies DHAKA The head of Bangladesh's interim government Prof Muhammad Yunus said, "A war-like situation emerged both inside and outside the country, preventing us from moving forward, causing everything to collapse, and pushing us back into subservience." This was revealed by Yunus' Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam who quoted Prof Yunus as saying as much on Sunday night at meetings with political parties. Prof Yunus met 20 leaders of different political parties and organisations in two separate sessions at state guest house Jamuna. The talks follow reports that Prof Yunus on Thursday expressed frustrations over some recent developments and expressed his desire to step down. BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and National Citizen Party leaders met separately with Yunus on Saturday. Yunus observed that the 2024 mass uprising gave the country a great opportunity to turn around, Shafiqul said. "Since the Awami League's activities were banned [on May 12], there have been relentless efforts to destabilise the situation. We must protect ourselves from this," Yunus said. He urged everyone to be confident that he would not do anything that may harm the country. 4Contd on | nation ‘PUTIN HAS GONE ABSOLUTELY CRAZY’ Agencies WASHINGTON “I’ve always said that he wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that’s proving to be right, but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!” – Donald Trump US President Donald Trump says he is "not happy" with Vladimir Putin, following Moscow's largest aerial attack yet on Ukraine. On Truth Social Trump said: "I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. "He has gone absolutely CRAZY! He is needlessly killing a lot of people, and I’m not just talking about soldiers." Trump addded: "I’ve always said that he wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that’s proving to be right, but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!" In separate comments to reporters on Sunday night, Trump said: "I don't know what the hell happened to Putin. I've known him a long time. Always gotten along with him. 4Contd on | nation caught on camera Jyoti Malhotra had armed entourage in Lahore Ketan Narottam Tanna MUMBAI Jyoti Malhotra had everything an influencer could dream of—followers in six digits, glossy travel content, a glam wardrobe, and a passport with more stamps than a bureaucrat's file. But while her fans admired her sunkissed selfies and exotic escapades, it seems someone else had been watching a little too closely—and not from the comments section. The Haryana-based YouTuber, best known for her luxe vlogs from Paris to Phuket, now finds herself not in front of the camera, but in custody. And this plot twist has nothing to do with algorithm changes. Jyoti is currently under arrest on suspicion of being a spy Pakistan. Yes, the same country where she was recently spotted strolling through Lahore's legendary Anarkali Bazar, guarded by six hulking men wielding AK-47s. And no, they weren’t extras for a new music video. The first public whiff of something fishy came from none other than Callum Mill, a Scottish YouTuber who documents his travels with nothing but a backpack and blind optimism. His March video innocently titled Exploring Lahore Alone ended up documenting something far more sensational: Jyoti Malhotra, casually tossing her hair, flanked by a bulletproof posse labeled "No Fear" as if auditioning for a crossborder version of Narcos. Callum’s bewildered commentary said it all: "She’s the one with all the guys. Six gunmen surrounding her. I don’t know why… what’s the need for all the guns?" Neither did Indian investigators know—until now. Turns out, Jyoti’s seemingly jet-set lifestyle didn’t quite match her declared income. While other influencers chased brand deals, she was globetrotting in first class, staying at luxury hotels, sipping jasmine tea with diplomats, and brushing shoulders with power brokers in both Pakistan and China. The math wasn’t matching. 4Contd on | nation