Gir No Longer Home to Most Asiatic Lions
Gujarats Asiatic lion population has increased from 674 in 2020 to 891 in 2025, according to the Gujarat Forest Department. While 394 lions were found within Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, the majority now live in nine satellite populations outside the core protected areas, including coastal regions of Bhavnagar and southwest Saurashtra. However, 669 lion deaths were recorded during the same period due to old age, disease, injuries, cub mortality, accidents and rising human pressures. Mongabay India correspondent [] The post Gir No Longer Home to Most Asiatic Lions appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
2 held in Gujarat for duping Hyderabad woman of Rs 1.95 crore
Hyderabad: The Cybercrime police in Hyderabad apprehended two fraudsters in Gujarat on Monday, December 29, for siphoning off Rs 1.95 crore from a victim through a digital arrest scam. The accused persons, Saiyad Soyab Jahid Bhai and Belim Anas Rahim Bhai, residents of Bhavnagar in Gujarat, used multiple mule bank accounts to receive and withdraw Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
CSIR-IIIM Jammu celebrates 85th Foundation Day, inks new industry pacts
Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 1: The CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Jammu, on Monday celebrated its 85th Foundation Day. The event brought together senior scientists, dignitaries, and researchers who reflected on the institutes eight-decade-long journey and its expanding national footprint. Former Director of CSIR-CFTRI Mysuru, Dr Sridevi Annapurna Singh, graced the ceremony as the chief guest, while Dr Kannan Srinivasan, Director of CSIR-CSMCRI Bhavnagar, attended as the guest of honour. The celebration was presided over by Dr Zabeer Ahmed, [] The post CSIR-IIIM Jammu celebrates 85th Foundation Day, inks new industry pacts appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Govt Says 15 Airports Under UDAN Scheme Are Temporarily Non-Operational
At present, fifteen airports, namely Pathankot, Pakyong, Kushinagar, Aligarh, Azamgarh, Chitrakoot, Shravasti, Moradabad, Bhavnagar, Ambikapur, Rourkela, Ludhiana, Datia, Kalaburagi and Shimla are temporarily non-operational under the UDAN scheme: Murlidhar Mohol
CSIR-IIIM Jammu celebrates its 85th Foundation Day, inks new industry pacts
Jammu: The CSIRIndian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Jammu, on Monday celebrated its 85th Foundation Day with enthusiasm and a renewed commitment to scientific innovation. The event brought together senior scientists, dignitaries, and researchers who reflected on the institutes eight-decade-long journey and its expanding national footprint. Former Director of CSIR-CFTRI Mysuru, Dr. Sridevi Annapurna Singh, graced the ceremony as the Chief Guest, while Dr. Kannan Srinivasan, Director of CSIR-CSMCRI Bhavnagar, attended as the Guest of Honour. The celebration was presided [] The post CSIR-IIIM Jammu celebrates its 85th Foundation Day, inks new industry pacts appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Gujarat Officer Who Murdered Wife, Kids Was In Extra-Marital Relationship With Colleague
ACF Shailesh Khambhla was arrested in Bhavnagar for killing his wife and two children. Police suspect marital tensions led to murders.
Gujarat Forest Officer Murders Wife And 2 Children, Dumps Bodies In Pit
The mysterious disappearance of a forest officer's wife and two children in Gujarat has turned out to be a cold-blooded murder, leading to the arrest of her husband, who allegedly dumped the bodies in a pit near his residence in Bhavnagar.
Woman, 2 Children Found Dead In Gujarat, Husband Suspected: Cops
The bodies of a Gujarat forest official's wife and their two children were recovered in Bhavnagar on Sunday ten days after they went missing, police said.
Bride-To-Be Killed By Fiance Hour Before Wedding After Fight Over Saree
A woman was allegedly killed by her fiance inside their house in Gujarat's Bhavnagar city, an hour before the couple was to get married on Saturday, police said.
Wedding day turns deadly in Gujarat, groom kills bride with iron pipe hours before marriage ceremony
AHMEDABAD: A 22-year-old woman, set to marry this morning in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, was brutally murdered by her would-be husband with an iron pipe after a heated argument over food and money. The accused, who had been living with her in a live-in relationship, fled immediately after the murder. Police launched a manhunt and began an in-depth probe into the killing that unfolded just hours before the wedding rituals. The incident occured near Tekri Chowk in the Prabhudas Lake area, where 22-year-old Soni Rathod was murdered by her fianc Sajan Baraiya, with whom she had been living for months in a live-in relationship. Police said the couple had an argument early in the morning over food and money, a dispute that rapidly escalated into violence. Sajan allegedly grabbed an iron pipe, and repeatedly striked Soni on her head and body. Officers said he even smashed her head against a wall, leaving her with fatal injuries. A police convoy rushed to the scene the moment locals alerted the Gangajaliya Police Station. Investigators sealed the area, recovered the body, and sent it for post-mortem. City DySP RR Sindhal, detailing the sequence of events in an extended statement, said This morning, a murder took place near Prabhudas Lake Street No. 10 within the Gangajaliya Police Station limits. The deceased, Soni, aged 22, was scheduled to marry the accused, Sajan, aged 26, today. The wedding card of Soni Rathod and Sajan Baraiya. The accused arrived at the brides residence early in the morning, where a quarrel broke out between them. During this quarrel, Sajan lost his temper, picked up an iron pipe, and inflicted severe injuries on her head and body. He further pushed her against a wall, causing fatal head injuries. After the assault, the accused fled from the spot, the DySP said. The officer added, We have taken possession of the body, initiated post-mortem procedures, and begun the formal complaint process. He further said that the couple had been living together for a long time, and preparations for their wedding were already underway. Funeral rites for a family member of Soni had been conducted just yesterday, making todays violence even more tragic. As police teams fan out to trace the absconding accused, officers describe him as violent, agitated, and capable of further harm. Multiple teams have been deployed to track him down, and the investigation continues with urgency.
The BJP said the first attack took place on January 20, 1939, in Vadodara; soon after, the Muslim Leagues goon squads were allegedly plotting a deadlier assault in Bhavnagar, where Patel arrived on May 14, 1939, to lead the Fifth Praja Parishad
AHMEDABAD: Unseasonal rains have wreaked havoc across several districts of Gujarat, devastating standing crops and leaving thousands of farmers in distress. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel swiftly mobilised his cabinet, dispatching ministers to the ground for direct assessment. With over 10,00,000 hectares of farmland reportedly affected, the state government has now approved a week-long survey to evaluate losses and ensure compensation reaches the farmers swiftly. Unseasonal rains lashing Gujarat for the past several days have left a trail of devastation across the states farmlands. Crops in key agricultural belts, including Tapi, Navsari, Gir Somnath, Amreli, Bhavnagar, and Surat, have suffered extensive damage, shaking the backbone of the farming community. Sensing the gravity of the situation, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel immediately directed his ministers to fan out across the affected areas and assess the damage first-hand. Acting on the CMs orders, senior ministers interacted with farmers and gathered on-ground details of crop destruction and their hardships. At todays cabinet meeting, the government officially approved a statewide survey to measure the damage. Gram sevaks have been tasked with carrying out the assessment within a week, with a detailed report to be submitted to the administration for prompt relief measures. Briefing journalists after the cabinet meeting, Government Spokesperson and Cabinet Minister Jitu Vaghani emphasised the governments commitment to farmers, saying, Over the past few days, we have all witnessed the impact of unseasonal rains and the hardships faced by our farmers. The Chief Minister and the entire cabinet stand firmly with the farming community during this difficult time. He revealed that over 10,00,000 hectares of farmland have already been reported damaged, with major losses seen in soybean, cotton, sugarcane, and groundnut crops. A five-member ministerial committee, formed by CM Patel, has already submitted its detailed ground report to the cabinet, triggering immediate follow-up actions. Earlier, taking stock of the situation on the ground, Agriculture Minister Jitu Vaghani chaired a review meeting with officials in Shihor (Bhavnagar district) and later visited Kajavdar village, where he met distressed farmers. He assured that CM Patel is personally monitoring the developments and that all necessary steps will be taken to ensure farmers get adequate help without delay. On October 20, the Gujarat government announced a Rs 947 crore agricultural relief package for farmers hit by the AugustSeptember rains across 18 talukas in five districts. The package includes Rs 563 crore under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) provisions and an additional Rs 384 crore provided directly by the state government to ensure timely financial assistance to affected farmers. With ministers on the move and gram sevaks gearing up for village-level assessments, the Patel government has entered a crucial week of response, one that will decide how quickly relief reaches those whose livelihoods now hang in the balance.
After cabinet overhaul, Gujarat BJP now plans major organizational reshuffle
AHMEDABAD: Gujarats political scene is changing again. After appointing a new BJP state president and reshuffling the state cabinet, the ruling party is now preparing for another big organizational change. The BJP plans to bring in new leaders to key posts and redraw its power structure from the state capital Gandhinagar to the district level a clear sign that the party is getting ready for the next big election. According to party sources, the next major step will be appointing new State General Secretaries one of the most powerful roles in the partys state unit. These appointments are expected within a week. Currently, the Gujarat BJP has four General Secretaries. Among them, Kutch MP Vinod Chavda is likely to keep his position, while the other three posts may go to new faces. The move aims to strengthen the partys organization and prepare for upcoming political challenges. Party insiders say this reshuffle is not just routine. It is part of a larger strategy to tighten control and improve coordination after the recent cabinet changes, in which ten ministers were dropped. The BJP wants to strengthen its structure at the district level to improve governance and maintain political balance. As part of this plan, new in-charge ministers will be appointed for 20 districts. The government now wants each minister to handle only one districtespecially those with important departmentsto improve focus and accountability. Earlier, many ministers managed two districts, which often reduced efficiency. Even Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghvi may see changes in his responsibilities. He currently oversees both Vadodara and Gandhinagar districts for the BJP, but he may now retain only Gandhinagar, reflecting the leaderships push for more focused roles. The 20 districts expected to get new in-charge ministers include Aravalli, Mahisagar, Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, Botad, Bharuch, Bhavnagar, Dahod, Panchmahal, Dang, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Surendranagar, Junagadh, Patan, Narmada, Chhota Udepur, Tapi, and Valsad. Each new appointment will aim to balance political representation and improve administration, helping the BJP strengthen its control both at the grassroots and state levels. With these changes on the way, the Gujarat BJP is reshaping not just its cabinet but also its political strategy getting ready for the road ahead.
Ease of travel: Civil aviation ministry firms up winter schedule of all airlines
NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Friday announced the winter schedule of all scheduled domestic airlines that will come into effect from October 26. A total of 26,495 flight departures per week across 126 airports in the country have been approved by the ministry. Indigo has been allotted the maximum departures of 15,014, while Air India and Vistara combinedly will be responsible for 4,277 departures. This marks an improvement of 5.85% over the winter schedule of 2024. An official release from the Civil Aviation Ministry said that when compared with the summer schedule, the winter schedule will have 1,000 additional departures. There are 26,495 departures per week which have been finalised to/from 126 airports as per Winter Schedule (WS) S25 compared to 25,610 departures per week from 129 airports in the Summer Schedule 2025. This schedule will be in place till March 28, 2026. The new airports which will make their debut this winter are Amravati, Hissar, Purnia and Rupsi. The airports that have been suspended from operations are those in Aligarh, Moradabad, Chitrakoot, Bhavnagar, Ludhiana, Pakyong and Shravasti. The Winter Schedule 2025 of the scheduled domestic airlines has been finalised after the slot conference meeting held in September. The final slots clearances have been received from respective airport operators, it added. Indigo will have a 6.05% growth over its summer schedule while Spicejet will have a 26.45% increase. Star Air with 538 departures will have a 6.53% growth. Air India will have a dip of 0.77% while Air India Express will go down by 6.04% dip. FlyBig will have the maximum impact with a 67.05% negative growth in departures with just 58 flight departures while Fly91 will have a 59.35% dip. Akasa Air s departures will go down by 5.69%.
Jyoti Rises Over 2% After Securing 10.91 Crore Order from Nand Infrastructure
Mumbai, October 13 (Udaipur Kiran): Shares of Jyoti Ltd gained over 2% in early trade today after the company announced securing a fresh order worth 10.91 crore (excluding GST) from Nand Infrastructure & Projects, Bhavnagar, for the NWR TharadDhanera Lift Irrigation Project. At Rs. 93.94, the stock was trading up by 2.34%, or Rs. 2.15, ... Read more Jyoti Rises Over 2% After Securing 10.91 Crore Order from Nand Infrastructure
RTI reply exposes audit lapse of over Rs 2 lakh crore in eight Gujarat Municipal Corporations
AHMEDABAD: A massive accountability crisis has exploded in Gujarat as eight major Municipal Corporations have not been audited for several years, leaving a budget worth over Rs 2 lakh crore unaudited and unverified. The revelations, made through an RTI response, expose systemic neglect, violation of audit laws, and a stunning breakdown of financial transparency. Citizens of these cities have effectively been left in the dark about how public money is being spent. Now, Gujarats urban governance is staring at a financial storm. RTI documents have exposed that not a single audit has been completed for several years for eight major Municipal Corporations: Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Bhavnagar, Junagadh, Surat and Vadodara. The data, obtained from the Director of the Local Fund Accounts Office in response to an RTI filed under Section 4(1) of the Act, reveals how thousands of crores of rupees in civic funds have remained unaudited, violating the Gujarat Local Fund Audit Act, 1963. The backlog means that over Rs 2 lakh crore of municipal expenditure across Gujarats largest cities has never undergone mandatory financial scrutiny. With an annual budget of around 12,000 crore in 202425, the Ahmedabad civic body hasnt completed an audit since 201718, which roughly translates to approximately 50,000 crore in unverified accounts for just one city. Similar patterns are seen in Surat and Vadodara, while other corporations have remained unaudited for four to six years. Experts say that this is not a mere technical lapse, but a deep governance failure. Ignored directives, defied laws This financial vacuum exists despite clear legal obligations and repeated directives. Notably, the Gujarat Local Fund Audit Act, 1963, under Section 4 mandates annual audits of all local bodies. The 11th Central Finance Commission (200005) had recommended that the audit of Municipal Corporations be done under the guidance of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), with reports submitted to the State Assembly. A Finance Department resolution on May 6, 2005, and later a circular on December 23, 2011, made this legally binding. The CAG had also flagged the non-compliance in August 2009, urging Gujarat to ensure timely audits. In 2011, Section 108A was added to the Gujarat Provincial Municipal Corporations Act, 1949, to reinforce the obligation. Yet, the RTI reply confirms that none of these directives have been implemented effectively. Last Audited Year, Municipal Corporation and Pending Years. The failure has also meant that no audit reports have been tabled in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly for years, as the audits were never done. The Finance Departments 2011 circular was meant to bring in accountability through CAG-supervised audits of Municipal Corporations. These reports were to be presented before the Assembly, debated, and acted upon. Instead, the process has been derailed for over a decade. Neither the CAG nor the Local Fund Audit Office has enforced strict timelines, and successive governments have allowed this crisis to deepen. RTI applicant raised red flag RTI Activist and Professor Hemant Kumar Shah has slammed the government, alleging a deliberate shielding of irregularities. In a democracy, the audit report for the previous financial year should be presented in the new year, debated by corporators, and acted upon as per rules. If the audit itself is not done for years, transparency collapses, and irregularities get buried, Shah claimed. He further alleged, This is a clear violation of the Gujarat Local Fund Audit Act, 1963. The State Assembly has failed in its duty to ensure annual presentation of audit reports. Transparency is a fundamental principle of democracy. When 2 lakh crore goes unaudited, the publics right to know how their money is used is crushed. Citizens kept in the dark The lack of audits not just weaken financial scrutiny but also denies Gujarats urban citizens of transparency over how civic budgets are spent on critical services like roads, water, housing, and sanitation.Over two crore people live in these eight municipal areas. However, no red flags were raised, no mismanagement was officially recorded. Political and governance questions mount The revelation has triggered serious concerns: Why has the State not enforced its own audit rules for over a decade? How is financial scrutiny being bypassed despite repeated CAG interventions? Who is responsible for this 2 lakh crore transparency vacuum? Legal experts say this is not just an administrative lapse, but a potential violation of constitutional principles governing local self-government. What next? With RTI evidence out in the open, pressure is likely to mount over the State government to immediately initiate pending audits and present reports in the Assembly. Activists and former bureaucrats argue that independent CAG oversight and public disclosure of audit findings are the only way to restore credibility. However, with seven years already lost in some corporations, the process of auditing such massive backlogs will be long, complex and politically sensitive. Whether the State acts decisive or let the lapse unchecked will determine the future of transparency and accountability in Gujarats urban administration. Notably, Hemant Kumar Shah said,If audits are not done, irregularities remain invisible. And when irregularities remain invisible, accountability dies.
IMD forecasts rise in night temperatures by up to 5 degrees in northwest India
NEW DELHI: As the monsoon withdraws from most parts of Northwest India, the intrusion of dry air from the northwest has led to hot and humid conditions in the region. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has reported that night temperatures are expected to rise by 3 to 5 degrees Celsius above normal in Northwest India over the next five days. This is said to benefit the kharif crops. According to IMD, when maximum temperatures are 3 degrees Celsius above normal, combined with above-normal relative humidity, the weather is classified as hot and humid. However, scientists predict that temperatures will drop after October 5 due to the arrival of a fresh patch of western disturbances, which will bring mild cool winds and rainfall to the plains of North India. Currently, the line marking the withdrawal of the southwest monsoon passes through Veraval, Bharuch, Ujjain, Jhansi, and Shahjahanpur. In Delhi, the maximum and minimum temperatures over the past 24 hours ranged from approximately 35 to 38 degrees Celsius and 24 to 28 degrees Celsius, respectively. The minimum temperature was above normal by 2 to 4 degrees Celsius, while the maximum temperature exceeded normal by 1 to 3 degrees Celsius. The IMD has also issued a flash flood alert for Saurashtra and Kutch due to a well-marked low-pressure area over the Gulf of Cambay. The districts likely to be affected by flash floods include Amreli, Bhavnagar, Botad, Devbhoomi Dwarka, Gir Somnath, Jamnagar, Junagarh, Porbandar, Rajkot, Surendranagar, and Morbi. Low-lying areas in these regions may be inundated due to extreme rainfall, with isolated places in Konkan and Gujarat expecting more than 210 mm of rain. The IMD has also advised fishermen not to venture into the Arabian Sea along the Konkan coast off Goa for the next four days, until October 4. In its agricultural advisory, the IMD has recommended that farmers take necessary measures to drain excess water from fields of rice, sugarcane, cotton, pigeon pea, groundnut, maize, pearl millet, castor, as well as vegetable and fruit orchards in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh. Additionally, it has advised providing mechanical support to horticultural crops and staking or supporting vegetables and young fruit-bearing plants to prevent lodging due to strong winds. Moreover, an increase in rainfall activity is expected, with isolated heavy rainfall likely over East India starting from October 2. In the Southern Peninsula, light to moderate rainfall, along with isolated heavy rainfall, is predicted for Tamil Nadu until October 2.
