Storm Bert batters Britain: Hundreds of flights are cancelled as strong winds sweep across the country and downpours cause 'unprecedented' flooding - with the wild weather already claiming four lives By OLIVIA ALLHUSEN and FRANKIE ELLIOTT Published: 21:50 GMT, 24 November 2024 | Updated: 21:56 GMT, 24 November 2024 e-mail 10 View comments Hundreds of flights have been cancelled as Storm Bert continues to batter Britain - with the extreme weather already claiming four lives. Torrential downpours, gale-force winds and unprecedented flooding has sparked travel chaos with trains being axed and roads closed across the UK. More than 200 flights have been cancelled so far at Heathrow according to travel data site FlightAware. Meanwhile, Greater Anglia which operates trains from London Liverpool Street to Stanstead Airport, cancelled 52 services on Sunday afternoon as fallen trees damaged the railway’s overhead electric wires. And entry into London Euston yesterday was being limited as a power cut caused chaos with the lighting and customer information boards. Entry into the station was being restricted for around 30 minutes due to it being 'extremely busy' leaving people stranded outside in the cold. Passengers were allowed to go into the station again at just after 6.40pm. It comes as officials in South Wales declared a major incident due to river flooding - as the body of 75-year-old Brian Perry was found after he went missing in the bulging River Conwy on Saturday. Mr Perry is the fourth victim of the killer storm, after yesterday's extreme weather saw thousands of homes left without power and three motorists killed in fatal traffic incidents. North Wales Police said a body had been found in the search for 75-year-old Brian Perry (pictured), who went missing in the River Conwy on Saturday Young farmers with a 4x4 on Clay Lane near Chudleigh Knighton near Newton Abbot in Devon making the most of the flooding from Storm Bert to waterski along the submerged road In Devon, a huge search and rescue mission is also currently underway after there were reports of a person floating in the River Sid during the storm. Yesterday's torrential downpours and high-speed gales also forced the Royal Parks to close all nine of its sites in London - including Kensington Parks, Primrose Hill and Hyde Park . The latter venue was currently hosting the Winter Wonderland event, but bosses confirmed the Christmas extravaganza would not go ahead due to 'the inclement weather conditions'. People's travel plans have also been left in tatters, as no trains are running between Paddington and Cornwall because of the flooding, with severe delays found across all lines. Residents attempt to clear drains to allow the water to subside in Abercarn, Newport Cars in the Cross Keys Rugby Club car park have been submerged in water as a result of Storm Bert Images of underwater cars, fallen trees and closed-off roads were a common scene up and down the country yesterday morning after last night's dramatic storm battered the nation. Communities across the UK had been told to remain on high alert yesterday as well, with more than 200 flood warnings in place for England, Wales and Scotland. There are more than 100 of these warnings in Wales alone, as pictures shared online showed dozens of homes, businesses and a number of schools were affected by flooding. A major incident was declared in the southern region of the country - as rising waters were reported in several towns including Pontypridd, Ebbw Vale and Aberdare. Chris Bryant, the MP for Rhondda and Ogmore, said Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council will work with emergency services to deal with the flooding. In a statement, Mr Bryant added: 'I am deeply saddened to witness the devastation caused by last night's storm and the severe flooding across our communities. 'The flooding across areas in the Rhondda and Ogmore is unprecedented. I have never seen it on this scale before. 'My team and I are working tirelessly to support those impacted, and I want to assure everyone that the Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, Bridgend County Borough Council and Dwr Cymru teams are doing everything in their power to respond to this crisis.' People pour water out of the front garden in Pontypridd, Wales, as officials declare a major incident due to river flooding A temporary damn holding back water from the flooding at Cross Keys Rugby Club in Newport The view of flooding at Cross Keys Rugby Club which includes the Changing rooms and Club house with three vehicles submerged in water People in London battle with the strong winds brought in by Storm Bert A resident in a playground in Abercarn attempts to clear the drains to allow water to subside Some of the lit-up model dinosaurs at Longleat House in Wiltshire toppled over in the 70mph wind Many people have woken up this morning to see broken fences, fallen trees and flooded roads in their neighbourhoods Firefighters pump water from Sion Street on November 24 in Pontypridd Paula Williams, outside her house Pontypridd, Wales which started flooding on Sunday morning Ms Williams at her home in Pontypridd, Wales, where rainwater has managed to get inside Ventusky Privacy Policy Winter Wonderland posted a statement on social media explaining why they Christmas event would not be running on Sunday There are more than 100 of these warnings in Wales alone, as pictures shared online showed homeowners bailing out of their properties next to the River Taff. The A4061 on Bwlch Road, in South Wales, has been closed in both directions following a mountain landslide A car is left stranded after Bwlch Road was forced to shut following the landslide during Storm Bert Firefighters pumping water from a street by the River Taff, in Pontypridd, Wales A family looks at a tree that fell on a car across a residential street due to strong winds in east London People cross London Bridge on a windy bridge in London as national severe weather warnings are in place Residents in Pontypridd, Wales, have shared astonishing pictures of the River Taff flooding Residents in Pontypridd have been forced to wade through the water as their streets were flooded Flood water rushes over a walkway, as rising waters have been reported in towns across the country, including Pontypridd, Ebbw Vale and Aberdare Emergency crews were called as the roaring winds and swirling river ripped through Pontypridd Residents in Wales pour water back into the River Taff near Pontypridd Museum Chris Bryant, the MP for Rhondda and Ogmore, said Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council will work with emergency services to deal with the flooding A dog walker on Wimbledon Common, south west London, braves the strong winds Police had put an appeal out to find Mr Perry after he was last seen at around 4.30pm wearing a red Berghaus waterproof jacket and accompanied by his wife and dog. He had been walking near Gower Road, which has been affected by severe flooding due to Storm Bert. There has been no formal identification but his family have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers. Residents of a flood-hit street in Wales have criticised Natural Resources Wales for not doing enough to prevent the flooding. Paula Williams, whose house on Sion Street in Pontypridd flooded, said: 'We do as much prep as we can when we know there's going to be an issue. 'The river levels were going down last night when we went to bed. 'We only knew something was happening because we had a neighbour knocking us. She was shouting 'get the cars moved'. 'We managed to get the dog out down my parents so we didn't have to worry about her and then it was all hands to the pump.' James Green car which was hit by a falling tree in St Botophls Road in Worthing Rising waters were reported in several towns in Wales The flooding across areas in the Rhondda and Ogmore has been described as 'unprecedented' Residents attend to their properties on Sion Street in Pontypridd, Wales, following flooding Firefighters pumping water from Sion Street by the River Taff, in Pontypridd Residents rescue a car from flood water on Sion Street, in Pontypridd Mounted Police officers at Hyde Park in London, which has been closed to the public during Storm Bert Shopkeepers sweep out floodwater from a shop on Mill Street in Pontypridd A woman's hair is caught in the wind near Hyde Park in London which has been closed to the public during Storm Bert Flooding at a book shop which was due to open on Mill Street in Pontypridd, Wales Ms Williams blamed Natural Resources Wales for not listening to them the last time there was flooding. 'This time, there's only about four inches of water come in but it's in exactly the same place that we told NRW about last time, and they didn't do anything about it. 'They've tried to convince everybody that the flood defences worked. I have got videos proving the flood defences don't work.' She said the water was not coming over their walls and barriers, but up from underneath, forcing its way through their floorboards. 'We had one flood alert yesterday morning at 10 o'clock, which is just the general keep an eye out alert. 'We had the actual flood warning, which is the risk to flooding properties, at about 7.40am this morning but the river had already flooded, it was too late by then.' She said it was the work of them and neighbours fighting to protect the homes that stopped the flooding being as bad as in 2020. She said her neighbours bought pumps from Screwfix to hold back the water and they were lucky the water had come in during the morning when people were awake. More than 200 flood warnings in place for England, Wales and Scotland overnight on Saturday High winds overnight downed trees as Storm Bert swept through Somerset Fields are flooded at Colyford in Devon after the River Axe burst its banks after persistent heavy rain from Storm Bert Claire Instrell, whose home in Pontypridd was flooded four years ago but has avoided water this time, said: 'At eight o'clock this morning, I got knocked up out of bed. 'The neighbours were going around locking everyone's gates last night. 'The council, Natural Resources Wales, haven't done anything, nothing at all.' She said she did not want to sleep in her home on Sunday evening because she worried water could come in during the night. The council said 'significant' flooding has taken place with the 'impact looking to be more significant than the severe impact experienced during Storm Dennis' in 2020. Rest centres have been set up for residents impacted at Pontypridd Library, Ystrad Sports Centre, Sobell Leisure Centre and Cynon Valley Indoor Bowls Centre. A council spokesperson said: 'Throughout the evening the severity of the weather has resulted in widespread impact with over 100 properties potentially flooded, both commercial and residential. 'Council assets have also been damaged, with Lido Ponty, Park and Dare Theatre and a number of schools impacted. Impacted schools will send out direct communications to families to make them aware. Met Office yellow warnings for rain and wind covering large swathes of the country are in force on Sunday Firefighters work to pump water away from flooded residential streets near Moat Park in Dundonald on the outskirts of Belfast after Storm Bert battered the UK on Saturday Fencing has been blown down by strong winds caused by Storm Bert on the set of Bridgerton at Rangers House near Greenwich Park in South East London 'There are a number of highways closures, with a landslip on the Bwlch Mountain Road at Nantymoel closing this road, and South Wales Police closing bridges in Pontypridd. 'The advice to everyone is only travel if absolutely necessary.' In England, emergency crews have swarmed Sidmouth to follow up reports that a person had been seen in the River Sid at 10am yesterday. Police, fire crews, urban search and rescue teams, the ambulance service, coastguard rescue teams and a coastguard helicopter all taking part in the search. Teams searched the river and 'spotters' were placed along the river in 'very testing' conditions due to heavy rain and rough seas. Exeter racecourse also abandoned its day of racing due to having a 'significant amount of rain and strong winds of up to 50mph' this morning. The Met Office says the milder temperatures are causing the snow which covered the north of England and much of Scotland to melt, whilst the high-speed gales are exacerbating the impact of the hefty showers. Residents and business owners in some areas had been told to 'act now' after their communities were placed under red flood warnings - meaning extreme weather is expected and damage is likely. A flooded Cardiff Road in Nantgarw, South Wales as heavy rain is expected to continue falling on Sunday Walkers and sightseers brave the coast in the town of Dawlish, Devon, as Storm Bert hits with huge waves A sign put out at Sandringham House warning of the high winds in the area All nine of London's royal parks have also been closed off from the public, which includes all the cafes, kiosks, park roads & cycleways on the grounds. In a statement posted on social media, the charity said all the parks would be subject to a delayed opening on Monday following a safety inspection. Storm Bert is likely to continue causing 'dangerous coastal conditions' and disruption across southern England and parts of Wales until 9pm on Sunday with a yellow wind warning in place. Some communities may be cut off by flooded roads and closed off bridges, particularly in the west of England. Persistent downpours are also set to hit the south-west of England into Sunday, with a chance that some places over Dartmoor could see 100-150mm of rainfall, the Met Office said. Travel disruption continues into Sunday and ferry operator DFDS has cancelled services on some routes until Monday, including its Newhaven to Dieppe sailings. It comes after as much as 79.8mm of rain fell in Capel Curig, in Snowdonia, on Saturday while in Kinbrace, in the Highlands, it reached lows of -12.4C. Tens of thousands of homes have been without power, with 4,000 homes affected in the Midlands, south-west England and South Wales and 27,000 customers affected in the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire. Police are appealing for any witnesses to come forward after a 34-year-old man died in Shipley, West Yorkshire when his blue Renault Captur smashed into a wall The accident happened just before 1am this morning, with the unknown driver being given emergency treatment but tragically being pronounced dead at the scene Police remained in the area on Saturday to continue investigations into the death of the man A series of emergencies were caused by Storm Bert on Saturday. Police were reportedly searching for a dogwalker they feared could have been swept away by floodwaters in North Wales. The man went missing on Saturday around the river Conwy in the village of Trefriw. Fields around the river often flood in heavy rain, sparking fears he may have been swept up in the swollen waters. The search was launched shortly after 4pm when the alarm was raised by a family member. The fire service rushed water rescue specialist teams to the scene, where they were joined by police, the ambulance service and a Coastguard helicopter, the Daily Post reported. The dog has been safely located, but the man remains missing despite hours of searching. Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Team told the outlet that the rain, melting ice and snow had combined with a high tide to make raise water levels. Maps showing the route of the helicopter, which was fitted with thermal imaging cameras, can see it tracking the river close to the Welsh town. A spokesperson for the coastguard said: 'HM Coastguard was tasked to assist North Wales Police with a search for a missing runner at Llanrwst on 23 November at around 6.15pm. Pictured: A fallen power line in Stokesley, Teesside, as Storm Bert hits the UK A bus had run off the road on the A70 near Lugar in East Ayrshire as Storm Bert bites Traffic at a standstill in bad weather conditions on the M80 near Castlecary, North Lanarkshire A train departs from Waverley Station amidst snowfall during Storm Bert, in Edinburgh, Scotland 'The Coastguard helicopter from Caernarfon was sent alongside Ogwen Mountain Rescue Team. The helicopter concluded the search and has now been stood down.' Airports across the UK have shut and football matches have been cancelled following 16-inch snowfall. And in the Yorkshire town of Todmorden, flood sirens released a terrifying wail as they echoed up the Calder Valley. Winds measuring 70mph are battering coastal areas and melting snow and heavy rain are causing flooding. Gusts of up to 105mph were recorded at Cairngorm Summit in Moray at 10am, Met Office data showed, while temperatures plummeted to -11C in the Highlands. This includes fears of power cuts, travel cancellations, damage to buildings and a danger to life both from large waves and flying debris. In a post on X on Saturday evening, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: 'My thoughts are with all those affected by Storm Bert. 'For those who have lost power, my department will be keeping in close touch with the energy companies as they seek to ensure it is restored as swiftly as possible and help those affected.' Motorists get a push as the battle the strong winds and heavy snow showers in the Cumbrian village of Nenthead this morning A lone vehicle is driven along the snow covered M9 motorway near Stirling People help to push a vehicle uphill in the snow at Stirling Castle, Scotland Two busses are stuck in the snow during Storm Bert, along Frederick Street in Edinburgh And in Leeds the weather is no match for revellers - who headed out on the infamous Otley Run despite the wind and rain Racegoers in Ascot also battled the savage winds - struggling to hang onto their fancy outfits as they attended the plush event A snow plough and gritter clears snow on the M80 near Castlecary, North Lanarkshire An AA vehicle during heavy snowfall at Bannockburn, near Stirling Read More BREAKING NEWS Storm Bert claims three motorists' lives with two crashes and one crushed by a tree Earlier, a 34-year-old man in Shipley, West Yorkshire, was killed when his blue Renault Capture smashed into a wall in icy conditions. Then a man in his 60s died when a tree fell onto his black Mercedes E350. He was confirmed deceased at the scene. Northamptonshire Police have also reported that a man died in a two-car collision on the A45 near Flore at around 8.20am this morning. Five adults and five children had to be rescued from a house in Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, near Llangollen in north Wales, following a landslide. A North Wales Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said they are all being assessed by ambulance services away from the scene 'somewhere warm'. A further landslide has been reported in the area but it is understood no one has been affected. The strongest gust recorded so far by the Met Office is 82mph at Capel Curig in Conwy, north Wales, with winds of 70mph expected around coastal areas. The storm has been described as a multi-hazard event with snow being followed by warm air moving northwards - bringing high winds. James Green nearly died when a tree fell on his car because of storm Bert Winds measuring 70mph are battering coastal areas and melting snow and heavy rain are causing flooding Heavy rain and brisk winds for parts of England and Wales through Sunday morning 🌧️ Brighter elsewhere, with blustery showers in the northwest 🌦️ #StormBert #WeatherAware ⚠️ pic.twitter.com/cx587Q7aGa — Met Office (@metoffice) November 23, 2024 Traffic at a standstill in bad weather conditions on the M80 near Castlecary, North Lanarkshire Narly 27,000 customers have had their power supply disrupted across the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire A view of the M90 motorway clear of traffic, as the Queensferry Crossing is closed due to the risk of falling ice Read More Taking the pub by storm! Students refuse to let Storm Bert deter them from fancy dress pub crawl Ross Easton, of Energy Networks Association (ENA) - which represents the UK's power network operators, said: 'Forecasters are describing this as a 'multi-hazard event' with the worst of the weather yet to arrive, and so our members have extra engineers and contact centre teams available, and control rooms are monitoring the storm closely as it develops.' Savage winds across the UK have seen trees dangerously falling across roads. One man James Green narrowly escaped death when a tree fell on his car in Worthing. The M48 Severn Bridge in Gloucestershire was closed because of strong winds, and the A66 in County Durham was closed both ways between the A67 and A645 due to snow. Traffic has been at a standstill on the M80 near Castlecary, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. There was also chaos at Newcastle airport as s ome incoming flights were diverted to Belfast and Edinburgh while the airport's snow team tried to minimise disruption. Holidaymakers shared images showing snow-covered runways at both Newcastle and Yorkshire airport, with some even claiming there are 'seven hours plus delays'. Six weather warnings remain in place. Further south, heavy showers are hitting England. A look at the snow covering the runways of Newcastle International Airport Holidaymakers at Newcastle International Airport said the runway was 'decimated' by snow as Storm Bert batters the country Amber warnings have come into place bringing a 'potential risk to life and property' Holidaymakers at Newcastle and Yorkshire airport have reported seven hour plus delays due to heavy snow People are seen sledging at Antony Gormley's Angel of the North Forecasters have warned that the worst of Storm Bert is yet to come People walking in the snow at Stirling Castle in Scotland Read More Jaw-dropping moment kitesurfer battling Storm Bert gales takes off into the air Avanti West Coast cancelled its service between Edinburgh and Carlisle all day on Saturday with the next direct service from Carlisle not scheduled to run until Sunday afternoon. A number of matches in the EFL were called off due to heavy snow and rain battering the pitches, including Bradford against Accrington Stanley and Fleetwood against MK Dons. The Championship football match between Blackburn Rovers at Portsmouth at Ewood Park, Lancashire, was postponed due to torrential rain flooding the pitch. Many fans had already begun their journeys up and down the country to see their teams play on Saturday. Perth and Kinross Council cancelled its annual Perth Christmas lights switch-on event over safety and travel concerns. Ferry operator CalMac - which serves the west coast of Scotland - has cancelled several sailings on Saturday with disruption expected on many other services. A man looks up at the statue of King Robert the Bruce during heavy snowfall at Bannockburn, near Stirling National Highways issued a 'severe weather alert' for snow affecting Yorkshire and north-east England. Pictured: Dore train station in Sheffield covered in snow Storm Bert hits the coastal town of Dawlish, Devon as the sea batters the coast as walkers and sightseers come out to see the spectacle and get engulfed in the surf A trains makes it's way along the track towards Exeter as the sea batters the coastal defenses in Dawlish, Kent P&O Ferries also said it had cancelled the 4am sailing between Larne in Northern Ireland and Cairnryan in Scotland's south west on Saturday. Met Office warnings for this weekend Amber warning for snow Northern Scotland Saturday, 7am to 5pm Up to 1ft 4in (40cm) Yellow warning for rain and snow Scotland, Northern England and East Midlands Saturday 4am to Sunday 9am Up to 8in (20cm) of snow Up to 1.6in (40mm) of rain Yellow warning for wind Coastal areas across UK Saturday 5am to Sunday 7pm Wind gusts of up to 70mph Yellow warning for rain and snow Northern Ireland Saturday 00.01am to 11am Up to 8in (20cm) of snow Up to 1.6in (40mm) of rain Yellow warning for wind Southern England Saturday 3pm to 9pm Wind gusts of up to 70mph Yellow warning for rain Wales and South West England Saturday 6am until Sunday 6am Up to 5in (150mm) Advertisement A second amber warning will be in place between 7am and midday on Saturday covering parts of Yorkshire and the north east of England. Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern said the storm's arrival was following a 'relatively quiet' night on Friday with temperatures at around minus 4C across parts of Scotland and minus 1C in eastern England. 'We'll see two to four hours of heavy snow across parts of northern England and Scotland during Saturday morning,' Mr McGivern said. 'This snow will accumulate thick and fast, with five to 10cm at lower levels and as much as 20 to 40cm over hills accompanied by strong winds. 'You can expect blizzards over hills across northern England and Scotland, atrocious conditions for travelling and going over the hills and also the risk of power interruptions because of snow build up on power lines. 'So all in all, a multiple hazard event as we go into Saturday morning.' He said temperatures will rise quickly as the storm brings with it milder air from the Atlantic, resulting in a 'rapid thaw' by the afternoon. 'The melting snow and the heavy rain could lead to localised flooding in places but the wettest spots would be Wales, in the South West, particularly over south-facing hills, that's where we're likely to see gales and certainly the risk of impacts from wind as well as from rain,' the meteorologist said. Rail companies issued announcements of service changes ahead of the weekend. In Scotland, there will be speed restrictions on the West Highland Line, Highland Mainline, Stranraer line, Glasgow South Western Line, Far North Line, and West Coast Mainline between Carstairs and the border. ScotRail has withdrawn services from Inverness to Elgin, Aberdeen to Inverurie, and Glasgow Queen Street to Oban while trains from Glasgow Central to Carlisle will terminate at Dumfries. South Western Rail (SWR) asked passengers to only travel west of Basingstoke if their journeys are essential. A group of girls enjoy the night out in fancy dress - refusing to let the freezing cold affect their fun Others laughed as they headed out on their night out on the Otley Run in the northern city But groups of pals all laughed as they vowed to make the most of the night - whatever the weather Racegoers were struggling to hang onto their umbrellas at Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire Storm Bert wreaked havoc at the plush event as it destroyed umbrellas and carefully-prepared hairdos Some attendees laughed through the chaotic weather, making the most of the day of racing Others continued to forge ahead with fancy outfits and hats as they attended the historic event People wait in the snow for the Christmas Market to open during Storm Bert, along Princes Street in Edinburgh A man clears snow at the M9 motorway services near Stirling as Storm Bert batters the country Rail companies are urging passengers to avoid travelling to certain areas and some warned of reduced services. Pictured: a cyclist in Sheffield battles snow Tree surgeons clear up a fallen tree on Wimbledon Common south-west London this morning as the Met office issue yellow weather warnings for Storm Bert A look at the chaos that is being caused on the roads on the A66 as well as thick snow in East Durham Shoppers and commuters rush for shelter as they brave strong winds and teeming rain in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside Dog walkers brave strong winds and teeming rain in North Tyneside this morning Yellow wind, rain and snow warnings cover much of the rest of the UK on Saturday and into Sunday Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern said the storm's arrival was following a 'relatively quiet' night on Friday Heavy snow falls at the Lagangarbh Hut in Glencoe, Scotland. The Met Office said Storm Bert is expected to bring 'heavy rain, strong winds and disruptive snow to parts of the UK' Corgarff Castle in Aberdeenshire, surrounded by snow on Friday An abandoned car by the A635 Holmfirth Road on Saddleworth Moor in West Yorkshire on Friday Network Rail Western tweeted this image of snow on a train in Devon on Friday, saying: 'Heavy snow means that no trains are able to run to Barnstaple until noon, or Okehampton until 4pm' Ryan Phillips walks Arty the Siberian Husky through the snow in the grounds of Balmoral on Friday Rough seas near the Tynemouth Pier lighthouse on the River Tyne on Friday morning SWR announced services between Exeter and London Waterloo will start and finish at Basingstoke, that journey times will be longer between Salisbury and Exeter and between Bournemouth and Weymouth due to speed restrictions, and services across its network will start later than usual on Sunday and Monday because of safety inspections. Met Office UK storm names for 2024/2025 Ashley Bert Conall Darragh Éowyn Floris Gerben Hugo Izzy James Kayleigh Lewis Mavis Naoise Otje Poppy Rafi Sayuri Tilly Vivienne Wren Advertisement In the capital, Shepherds Bush tube station was closed due to flooding. An emergency response unit was dispatched by TfL to reopen it. TransPennine Express 'strongly' urged customers not to travel north of Carlisle on Saturday while Avanti West Coast advised passengers not to travel north of Preston - including Lancaster, Oxenholme, Penrith, Carlisle, Glasgow and Edinburgh. UK airports were not anticipating disruption. A spokesperson for Birmingham Airport said: 'Whilst we are not anticipating disruption at this time... we will continue to keep a close eye on the situation, as Storm Bert moves in.' Manchester Airport said 'we're expecting bad weather but aren't anticipating any disruption' while Newcastle Airport said it will be operating as normal overnight with teams 'fully prepared to respond should conditions deteriorate'. Clean-up operations are now under way after Storm Bert swept across Ireland, causing flooding and thousands of power outages. Power cuts affected 60,000 customers at the height of the outage; ESB teams are still working to restore supplies to the thousands still left without electricity. Status red rain warnings were in place for Cork and Galway until 10am on Saturday, with an orange alert for rain in place for counties Waterford, Kerry, Clare, Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim. Bridge Street in Killybegs, Co Donegal, is among the areas worst-hit by the storm - with homes, businesses and charities along the street affected by dramatic flooding overnight. A car in a ditch down a winding country lane during an icy spell in Dunsden, Oxfordshire, on Friday In the capital, Shepherds Bush tube station was closed due to flooding. An emergency response unit (pictured) was dispatched by TfL to reopen it A road is closed as the Queensferry Crossing is closed due to the risk of falling ice, as a result of Storm Bert, near Edinburgh The River Blackwater bursts its banks and floods Mallow Racecourse in Mallow, County Cork A car drives through water along the A90, as a result of Storm Bert, in Cramond near Edinburgh Storm Bert hits the coastal town of Dawlish, Devon as the sea batters the coast as walkers and sightseers come out to see the spectacle Cars are driven in snowy conditions in Stirling, Scotland after Storm Bert hits A man helps to clear snow in Stirling, Scotland after Storm Bert blocked roads Rebecca Mullen, of The Flour House bakery in Riverstick, Co Cork, said that Storm Babet flooded the bakery last October, and the bakery had flooded again after Storm Bert There was also bad flooding in west Limerick, where the Feale River burst its banks, and on roads in Galway and Cork. Rebecca Mullen, of The Flour House bakery in Riverstick, Co Cork, said that Storm Babet flooded the bakery last October, and the bakery had flooded again after Storm Bert. They had received grants from the Red Cross to help them through the last flood where a lot of damage was done. In Northern Ireland, the Department for Infrastructure said its roads and rivers teams responded to more than 500 incidents since the yellow alert for rain and snow was issued overnight. It said that roads across counties Tyrone, Down and Antrim were blocked by trees and flood waters, and properties were flooded in Dundonald, Kilcoo, Coalisland and Ballinamallard as well a Royal Mail property in Mallusk. 'The Emergency Flooding Payment Scheme has been activated by the Department for Communities,' it said. 'The weather warning has now passed and although most rivers have now peaked, staff continue to liaise with multi-agency partners and to monitor water levels and remove debris from watercourses to help floodwaters to get away. 'Flooding was prevented in many areas due to the proactive screen maintenance work being undertaken by staff who continue to monitor watercourses. 'Please report any incidents of flooding to the Flooding Incident Line 0300 2000 100.' Wales Perth Share or comment on this article: Storm Bert batters Britain: Hundreds of flights are cancelled as strong winds sweep across the country and downpours cause 'unprecedented' flooding - with the wild weather already claiming four lives e-mail Add commentCarleton University faces backlash for employing professor convicted in 1980 Paris synagogue bombing
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(AP) — Authorities say 16-year-old actor Hudson Meek has died after he fell out of a moving vehicle in Alabama. The Jefferson County Coroner's Office says Meek was hurt on Dec. 19 while on a street in Vestavia Hills, a suburb of Birmingham. He died two days later. The Vestavia Hills Police Department has not issued any public statements. Meek made his on-screen debut in 2014’s “The Santa Con,” and had roles in various TV series, including “MacGyver.” He was perhaps best known for his role in the 2017 film “Baby Driver,” in which he played a younger version of Ansel Elgort’s titular character. Bad Bunny announces a new album, 'Debí Tirar Más Fotos' Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny announced he will release a new album in early January. He announced Thursday that “Debí Tirar Más Fotos" arrives Jan. 5. It is his sixth studio album and follows in his tradition of releasing new music on unexpected dates. This time, it's a Sunday instead of the typical Friday album drop date. Bad Bunny announced the news on Instagram in a short video featuring Puerto Rican filmmaker Jacobo Morales. He also released a new single, “PIToRRO DE COCO.” His last release was 2023’s “Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana.” Hwang Dong-hyuk on killing off his 'Squid Game' characters and wanting to work with Jake Gyllenhaal As season two of Netflix's hit series “Squid Game” returns Thursday, viewers can expect more untimely deaths for many of its characters. Its creator, writer and director, Hwang Dong-hyuk says whittling down the cast made him happy because less people were easier to manage on set. The show follows a deadly competition in South Korea that targets contestants who are heavily in debt and desperate for money. Hwang told the Associated Press in a Q&A that a third and final season has already filmed and it's better than season two. He also says his next project will be even darker in tone than “Squid Game.” Powerful thunderstorms rumble across Texas, delaying holiday travel DALLAS (AP) — Severe thunderstorms are firing up in parts of Texas and could trigger high winds, hail and potential tornadoes. More than 100 flights were delayed and dozens more were canceled Thursday at airports in Dallas and Houston. The National Weather Service says the greatest weather risk stretched from just east of Dallas, and between Houston and portions of southern Arkansas and western Louisiana. The risk includes the possibility of tornadoes, wind gusts between 60 and 80 miles per hour and large hail. The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for several counties in southeast Texas, including the Houston area. NYC taxi driver was having a medical episode when he jumped the curb and hit people, police say NEW YORK (AP) — New York City police say a taxi driver who hit six pedestrians when he jumped a curb in Manhattan on Christmas Day was having a medical episode at the time. An NYPD spokesperson would not elaborate on the type of type of medical episode but said Thursday no criminality is suspected at this time. The 58-year-old was taken to a hospital in stable condition for further evaluation. Also hospitalized after the yellow taxi drove onto the sidewalk across the street from Macy’s flagship store in Herald Square were a 9-year-old boy with a laceration to his right thigh, a 49-year-old woman with a leg injury and a 41-year-old woman. All were in stable condition. Pizza deliverer in Florida charged with stabbing pregnant woman at motel after tip dispute KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) — A pizza deliverer in Florida has been charged with pushing her way into a motel room and stabbing a pregnant woman after a dispute over a tip. The Osceola County Sheriff's Office says that Brianna Alvelo has been charged with stabbing a woman in her motel room in Kissimmee, Florida, a short time after delivering a pizza to her on Sunday. The woman gave Alvelo $50 on a $33.10 bill, expecting change back. When Alvelo started walking away, the woman asked for money back, and Alvelo told her they didn’t make change. The woman got a smaller dollar bill from her boyfriend, and Alvelo’s tip ended up being $2. Friday's Mega Millions drawing is worth an estimated $1.15 billion, one of the game's top jackpots Americans still dreaming of a really big Christmas present can keep that dream alive during Friday’s Mega Millions drawing for a jackpot worth an estimated $1.15 billion. Friday’s jackpot will potentially be the fifth largest in the game’s history. Mega Millions tickets are $2 a piece. But the odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 302,575,350, and the odds of winning any Mega Millions prize are 1 in 24, according to lottery officials. Tickets for the game are sold in 45 states, along with Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Christmas shooting at Phoenix airport leaves 3 people wounded, 1 stabbed PHOENIX (AP) — Police are investigating a Christmas shooting at Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix that left three people wounded by gunfire and another person stabbed. Phoenix police say the evening shooting was related to a family dispute that happened at a restaurant outside the security checkpoints in Terminal 4. An adult female and two adult males were shot, leaving the female with injuries police describe as life-threatening. Police say the two men were in stable condition. Police say the people involved knew each other. They had a physical fight that led to one of them pulling a gun. A man and a girl were detained in a nearby parking garage.
SAN FRANCISCO — About 90 minutes before the Warriors’ Christmas Day game against the Lakers, Steph Curry addressed his team. This season can go one way or another, he told them. The message was brief, only two or three minutes. They’d lost 10 of 13 entering the Lakers matchup, sinking from 12-3 to 15-13. They didn’t quite need a players-only meeting, but Curry decided it was time to at least speak up. “It is an inflection point on obviously which direction our season can go,” Curry said at the postgame podium. “Thirty games in, you’re one game above .500. You need some context on how you got there. I think our last 14 games, it’s just been tough. Trying to find any type of momentum or consistency. Through that, you just can’t lose spirit and belief that we’re a good enough team to figure it out. Because this league is ruthless, this league changes from window to window of what you’ve got to fall back on. When you dig yourself a hole like that, sometimes it can be hard to pull out of. We’re right in that window where we can still regain some momentum. These next however many weeks before the break are pivotal. Or else we’ll be in a situation where we’re chasing down the stretch, and nobody wants to do that.” Curry has always chosen his words carefully with the media, but it seems like he’s been more pointed this season than in years past. At media day, he said he was confident that the Warriors can be “relevant” early. Recently, he said that if the team’s string of late-game offensive failures continues, they’ll be a “mediocre” team. Taking time to address his teammates is far from unprecedented, but it is noteworthy from Curry. He often uses the word “urgency,” and this was another way to try to evoke more of it. Golden State played with ample effort on Christmas Day, but couldn’t beat the Lakers even after Anthony Davis exited seven minutes into the game. Curry scored the Warriors’ last eight points, including two ridiculous 3-pointers to tie the game late, but Austin Reaves beat Andrew Wiggins off the dribble and Jonathan Kuminga didn’t rotate as the help defender, allowing Reaves to bank in the game-winner. Curry scored a season-high 38 points in the loss. He has had two stinkers recently, but unimpeachably remains one of the best players in the league. And he’s always been a revered leader in his own right. “When Steph talks, he talks at the right moment,” Wiggins said. “It was needed. The message was clear. That’s the leader here. We go where Steph goes. Definitely needed. Motivational. I think it’ll be the start of something good for us.” The start of something good will have to begin after Christmas. Golden State has games against the Clippers, Suns, Cavaliers, Grizzlies and 76ers — who just beat the Celtics — upcoming. Their schedule has been unrelenting and doesn’t let up immediately. In their 3-11 skid, the Warriors have proven that they’re not solid enough to overlook any opponent. They’ve lost to the Nets, Spurs, Pacers and now the Lakers without Davis or D’Angelo Russell. “We’re down,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said. “Everybody’s disappointed. We’ve lost some confidence, you can feel it. We had a great vibe early in the season and we’re going through it now. I love our guys. High-character guys. They care about the game. They care about each other. I believe in them, I believe we’re going to get this thing turned around.” Curry has a similar belief. The Lakers loss, while a gut punch, was a nice reminder that he can still ramp it up and take over a game in crunch time, like he did consistently during the 12-3 start. Perhaps the biggest source of optimism for the Warriors should be the status of the Western Conference. They’re currently the 10-seed, but they’re 1.5 games back of fifth place. The Thunder, Rockets and Grizzlies have separated themselves at the top of the West. The Mavericks were right there, but on Christmas lost Luka Doncic to a calf strain. The rest of the conference is up for grabs. The Warriors are certainly a candidate to snatch a real seed. Or they could keep tumbling and spiral toward the lottery. The season can go one way or another. “I still have hope, faith and confidence that we can figure it out,” Curry said. “That’s how I’m built. I feel like we can go out there and talk about it, but how you execute, how you show up on a nightly basis — the effort we’re giving, even considering what our record’s been over the last stretch — is a team that’s desperate, trying to figure it out. It just hasn’t gone our way. Until things change, you have to keep that mentality.” ©2024 MediaNews Group, Inc. Visit at mercurynews.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Ruben Amorim on mission to steer Man Utd away from RELEGATION as he emphatically rules out European finishNoneNvidia’s stock dips after China opens probe of the AI chip company for violating anti-monopoly lawsLONDON (AP) — West Ham beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 in the Premier League and heaped more pressure on beleaguered coach Gary O’Neil on Monday. Both sides came into the match under a cloud and the game was widely billed as a make-or-break match for O’Neill and West Ham counterpart Julen Lopetegui. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi has urged the management of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) to intensify efforts towards the enrollment of more workers in all sectors into the Employees Compensation Scheme (ECS). The Minster who stated this in his address at the NSITF 2022/2023 Service Award held over the weekend in Abuja, also harped on efficient resource management as key to optimum productivity, while commending the Fund for contributing to the upliftment of the nation’s workforce. Represented by the Director II, Social Security Department of the Ministry, Ngozi Anukwu, Dingyadi underscored the importance of the Service Award at a time when the Federal Government renewed emphasis on excellent stewardship as a precursor of optimum national productivity. He said:“ This award ceremony is coming at a time when the government of President Tinubu is encouraging effective utilization of resources for optimum productivity. It came at a time when the Federal Government places more premium on the ratio of valuable output to input as a measure of efficiency and effectiveness in the service of the federation. “Suffice that this award measures the ratio of the energies put in by the staff of the fund, especially the awardees in the implementation of the Fund’s social security mandate which anchors on the Employees Compensation Scheme(ECS).” The Minister urged the recipients of the awards to see it as an opportunity to double down efforts towards the progress of the Fund and the nation. Managing Director of the NSITF, Oluwaseun Faleye, said the occasion was not just an opportunity to celebrate exceptional contributions but also an avenue to reaffirm the core values of hard work, dedication, and excellence which is the hallmark of an efficiently run organization. Faleye further assured that the strategic objectives of his administration which anchored on five pillars aim to re-engineer the fund and reach new heights in providing social safety nets to Nigerians, expressing pleasure that all hands were already on deck. He said, “as we reflect on today’s recognitions, let’s consider what it means to truly excel. Exceptional performance goes beyond meeting targets or deadlines. It’s about going above and beyond, overcoming challenges, and embracing teamwork. It’s this commitment to our mission that drives our continued success. “Over the past year, we’ve faced unprecedented challenges, yet it is during these times that the true strength of our team has shone through. Many of you have displayed resilience, creativity, and adaptability, turning obstacles into opportunities for growth. Your dedication, long hours, and personal sacrifices reflect an extraordinary commitment that deserves our deepest appreciation.” Faleye further underlined the place of teamwork as a core factor in successful organizations, noting that while outstanding staff were being honoured, it should be placed on record that the achievements were the product of collective effort. “It’s the collaboration, mutual support, and shared excellence that propels us forward. Together, we build a culture of success that will inspire future generations within our organization.” Offering his gratitude to the awardees, Faleye urged them to remain a shining example to all through an unwavering dedication to duties for seamless service delivery to the Fund’s stakeholders. A statement signed by the General Manager, Corporate Affairs NSITF, Nwachukwu Godson, noted that among the awardees were the General Manager, Compliance, Lateef Musa, who joined the service of the Fund in 1994, Ndakoji Musa, an Assistant General Manager and Chinenye Okoroafor, an Assistant Manager at the Lekki Branch of the Fund in Lagos.It looked like a recipe for disaster. So, when his country's swimmers were being accused of doping earlier this year, one Chinese official cooked up something fast. He blamed it on contaminated noodles. In fact, he argued, it could have been a culinary conspiracy concocted by criminals, whose actions led to the cooking wine used to prepare the noodles being laced with a banned heart drug that found its way into an athlete's system. This theory was spelled out to international anti-doping officials during a meeting and, after weeks of wrangling, finally made it into the thousands of pages of data handed over to the lawyer who investigated the case involving 23 Chinese swimmers who had tested positive for that same drug. The attorney, appointed by the World Anti-Doping Agency, refused to consider that scenario as he sifted through the evidence. In spelling out his reasoning, lawyer Eric Cottier paid heed to the half-baked nature of the theory. "The Investigator considers this scenario, which he has described in the conditional tense, to be possible, no less, no more," Cottier wrote. Even without the contaminated-noodles theory, Cottier found problems with the way WADA and the Chinese handled the case but ultimately determined WADA had acted reasonably in not appealing China's conclusion that its athletes had been inadvertently contaminated. Critics of the way the China case was handled can't help but wonder if a wider exploration of the noodle theory, details of which were discovered by The Associated Press via notes and emails from after the meeting where it was delivered, might have lent a different flavor to Cottier's conclusions. "There are more story twists to the ways the Chinese explain the TMZ case than a James Bond movie," said Rob Koehler, the director general of the advocacy group Global Athlete. "And all of it is complete fiction." In April, reporting from the New York Times and the German broadcaster ARD revealed that the 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for the banned heart medication trimetazidine, also known as TMZ. China's anti-doping agency determined the athletes had been contaminated, and so, did not sanction them. WADA accepted that explanation, did not press the case further, and China was never made to deliver a public notice about the "no-fault findings," as is often seen in similar cases. The stock explanation for the contamination was that traces of TMZ were found in the kitchen of a hotel where the swimmers were staying. In his 58-page report, Cottier relayed some suspicions about the feasibility of that chain of events — noting that WADA's chief scientist "saw no other solution than to accept it, even if he continued to have doubts about the reality of contamination as described by the Chinese authorities." But without evidence to support pursuing the case, and with the chance of winning an appeal at almost nil, Cottier determined WADA's "decision not to appeal appears indisputably reasonable." A mystery remained: How did those traces of TMZ get into the kitchen? Shortly after the doping positives were revealed, the Institute of National Anti-Doping Organizations held a meeting on April 30 where it heard from the leader of China's agency, Li Zhiquan. Li's presentation was mostly filled with the same talking points that have been delivered throughout the saga — that the positive tests resulted from contamination from the kitchen. But he expanded on one way the kitchen might have become contaminated, harkening to another case in China involving a low-level TMZ positive. A pharmaceutical factory, he explained, had used industrial alcohol in the distillation process for producing TMZ. The industrial alcohol laced with the drug "then entered the market through illegal channels," he said. The alcohol "was re-used by the perpetrators to process and produce cooking wine, which is an important seasoning used locally to make beef noodles," Li said. "The contaminated beef noodles were consumed by that athlete, resulting in an extremely low concentration of TMZ in the positive sample. "The wrongdoers involved have been brought to justice." This new information raised eyebrows among the anti-doping leaders listening to Li's report. So much so that over the next month, several emails ensued to make sure the details about the noodles and wine made their way to WADA lawyers, who could then pass it onto Cottier. Eventually, Li did pass on the information to WADA general counsel Ross Wenzel and, just to be sure, one of the anti-doping leaders forwarded it, as well, according to the emails seen by the AP. All this came with Li's request that the noodles story be kept confidential. Turns out, it made it into Cottier's report, though he took the information with a grain of salt. "Indeed, giving it more attention would have required it to be documented, then scientifically verified and validated," he wrote. Neither Wenzel nor officials at the Chinese anti-doping agency returned messages from AP asking about the noodles conspiracy and the other athlete who Li suggested had been contaminated by them. Meanwhile, 11 of the swimmers who originally tested positive competed at the Paris Games earlier this year in a meet held under the cloud of the Chinese doping case. Though WADA considers the case closed, Koehler and others point to situations like this as one of many reasons that an investigation by someone other than Cottier, who was hired by WADA, is still needed. "It gives the appearance that people are just making things up as they go along on this, and hoping the story just goes away," Koehler said. "Which clearly it has not." Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Chelsea’s surprise defeat by Fulham meant victory over the Foxes stretched their lead to seven points, with a match in hand, with the halfway point of the campaign fast approaching. But Slot is maintaining his level-headed approach despite the clamour growing around their chances of adding another title to the one won in 2020. Tonight's goalscorers 💪 pic.twitter.com/xn9sfZbVow — Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 26, 2024 “If you are in this game for a long time like the players and I am then 20 games before the end you don’t look at it as there are so many challenges ahead of you,” he said after Cody Gakpo, Curtis Jones and Mohamed Salah scored to turn around an early deficit following Jordan Ayew’s strike. “Injuries and and a bit of bad luck can happen to any team, it is far too early to be already celebrating – but it is nice for us to be where we are. “I don’t think there was any easy win for us in any of these games; it could have been an easy win against Tottenham but we conceded two and it was then 5-2 – that tells you how difficult it is to win even when you have all your players available. “That is why we have to take it one game at a time. The league table is something of course we are aware of but we always understand how many games there are to go.” Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy felt his side held their own until Salah scored in the 82nd minute. “I think we were in the contest for a result for a long time,” he said. “Three-one was the turning point in the sense the game was done there to get a result. “I think the 60th minute I remember a chanced for Daka to score the equaliser so we were in the game to get a surprising result. “We did well, we did what we could: a good start with the goal but if you speak of a turning point, 3-1 with Salah, the game was done.” Van Nistelrooy left goalkeeper Danny Ward out of the squad after he struggled in the defeat to Wolves and was jeered by his own fans. “The change in goal was one to make and the conversation with Wardy was impressive, the way he was thinking of the team and the club,” added the Dutchman. “I insisted on a conversation and of course it is a private conversation but what I want to share is the person and the professional he is. “I was impressed with that and his willingness for the team and the club to do well. “Really tough what happened for him. We are professionals but human beings as well, when frustration is being directed towards one person that is difficult.”
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Almost €228m was raised for good causes through the National Lottery in 2023. The National Lottery Good Causes Report for 2023, released today, showed that around 1.2 million people a week played National Lottery games in 2023. More than €6 billion has been raised since the National Lottery was established in 1987. The Regulator of the National Lottery ensures that 65pc of the proceeds of the National Lottery after prizes go to the Exchequer for distribution to good causes. In 2023, €227.9 million was raised for good causes. Good causes funding, combined with Exchequer funding, supports on average over 4,500 charity and voluntary groups, sports bodies, arts and heritage organisations, youth and Irish Language projects. Public Expenditure Minister Pascal Donohoe said: “The National Lottery contributes substantially to the economic and social fabric of communities all over Ireland.” The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, led by Minister Catherine Martin, who lost her seat in November, received the largest allocation of funding in 2023. The Arts Council, Irish language support schemes such as Raidió Rí Rá and grants for sporting bodies such as Sport Ireland and Special Olympics Ireland were all part-funded by the National Lottery last year. The beneficiary with the second-largest allocation of funds from the National Lottery was the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, with 30 national and major regional voluntary organisations funded last year alongside numerous other community and national youth services for vulnerable or disadvantaged young people aged 10 to 24. Belvedere Youth Club in Dublin’s north-east inner city reintroduced a music programme for their members as a result of funding last year, while Involve Youth Project Meath, which specialises working with the Travelling Community, was also supported. The third largest area of expenditure part-funded by the National Lottery is housing and heritage, including mobility aid grants, Heritage Council Grants and communal facilities in housing projects. The Donegal Railway Heritage Museum and Dark Sky Ireland, a national organisation which raises awareness of the impacts of light pollution to protect Irish nightscapes, were among the projects part-funded by the National Lottery. National volunteering supports, a seniors alert scheme, supports for community and voluntary sector and the Society of St Vincent de Paul and Protestant Aid were also supported under the Department The seniors alert scheme provides personal monitored alarms for vulnerable older people, with more than 130,000 people participating in the scheme since 2015. While ticket sales were down for the Lottery in 2023, according to accounts filed this year, funding continued to support groups across Ireland.NVIDIA Announces Upcoming Events for Financial Community
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Woman from Kunkolim had rescued the cub on December 5 Nirgosh Gaude Ponda: A controversy has erupted in Ponda over the whereabouts of a leopard cub which was rescued in Kunkolim-Priol area earlier this month. While the forest department claims that the cub was released in the forest after the treatment was completed, a animal rights activist has alleged that the cub died in the custody of the North Goa division of forest department, Ponda last week. He has also challenged the department to provide the evidence of the “release” of the cub into the forest. Statements made by officials related to the custody and treatment of the cub don’t match and appear vague, he claimed. Sources from the department have confirmed about the death of the cub, which was housed in one storeroom of the division in Ponda. The Range Forest Officer (RFO) of Ponda has claimed that they released the cub in the Priol forest within four days of its rescue, while animal lover Surel Tilve has alleged that the cub died due to mishandling by the department officials. Tilve brought the issue to light through social media questioning the whereabouts of the cub rescued from Kunkolim village. Speaking to The Navhind Times, RFO Deepak Tandel maintained that they released the cub in the Priol forest within four days of its rescue. He said that it was treated at Veterinary Hospital, Ponda on the first day as it was dehydrated. Then it was sent to the clinic at Bondla Zoo for further treatment and then it was released in the forest area as it was fit. When asked about the exact date of the cub’s release, the RFO could not reveal that. However, when asked about the fitness certificate of the animal and chief warden’s order required to release it in the forest, he said that Schedule I animals are handled by Deputy Conservator of the Forest (DCF). But contacted, the DCF, Ponda was unavailable for comments, and his staffers informed that he was on leave. Veterinary doctors at Animal Husbandry’s hospital at Curti-Ponda, said that the cub was brought thrice at the hospital by the forest department officials for treatment. “It was recovering well and it was brought first on December 5, then on December 6 for followup check-up and then on December 12 when it started taking feed,” the doctors added. Meanwhile, Tilve in a press briefing claimed that “forest department officials killed the cub and secretly buried without following the protocol of handling Schedule I animals”. He said he has strong evidence about the animal’s death and the department should come out clear on the incident. He demanded a detailed inquiry into the incident and questioned as to why the incident was kept under wraps. It may be recalled that on December 5, a woman from Walwada, Kunkolim-Ponda rescued the female leopard cub in her neighbourhood which was being chased by dogs and handed it over to the forest department.