BENGALURU: Prick that bad practice of celebrating with balloons. The NoBalloonPlease campaign is trying to persuade citizens and state governments to celebrate this Independence Day without balloons, but with earth-friendly decorations made of cloth, paper or flowers which can be reused recycled or composted. Odette Katrak, an environment and sustainability changemaker and her Beautiful Bharat citizen volunteer group is running the campaign. Katrak told TNIE, The campaign began in 2018. In 2020

BENGALURU: In order to add aesthetics and also cut down traffic and pollution at junctions on Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the BBMP Chief Commissioner, Maheshwar Rao, has directed officials to develop an additional 75 locations under the Suraksha Project. His direction came after an inspection on Friday between Kamakshipalya on Magadi Main Road and the Sumanahalli Electric Crematorium. As development work at the Sumanahalli junction is currently in progress under the Suraksha initi

BENGALURU: A group of parents whose children are currently in Upper Kindergarten (UKG) have appealed to the Commissioner of Public Instruction, seeking a 90-day relaxation in age eligibility cut-off for admission to Class 1 for the academic year 202627. As per current state policy, children should have completed six years of age by June 1 to qualify for Class 1 admission. However, many children born between June 2 and August 31 fall just short of this requirement, despite completing UKG and bein

BENGALURU: Former JDS MLC H M Ramesh Gowda has criticised the ruling Congress government for imposing exorbitant chargesranging from Rs 2 to Rs 3 lakhfor converting B Khata to A Khata within the Greater Bengaluru Authority limits. Gowda also termed the process as big bogus. If the matter goes to court, the government will be reprimanded, he added. Addressing a press conference on Friday, he said that earlier, BBMP was levying a tax of Rs 13,800 per square meter. This tax rate has been increased

BENGALURU: The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), which had claimed it is struggling financially and making efforts to shape up, has begun sending notices to 383 homes and apartment complexes over unauthorised water connections, and urged them to get the connections regularised by paying fees along with penalties. Board Chairman Ram Prasath Manohar said untreated water from apartments is a big challenge to the board, so they have imposed penalties ranging from a few lakhs to Rs 1

BENGALURU: Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) chairman Ram Prasat Manohar said that the board has given sanitary and water supply connections to one lakh of the 3.5 lakh houses in 110 new villages brought under BBMP limits in 2008. He told TNIE that delimitation of wards under Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) will not impact BWSSB services in these villages. BWSSB has to provide water and sanitary connections to 3.5 lakh houses in 110 villages. By 2028, all 3.5 lakh houses will h

This week has comprised of marathon phone-calls with my girlies. Till I turned 40, there were more male friends in my repertoire than the ladybug variety, as I found my guy fries more like me. They were uncomplicated, ambitious and with an elevated sense of humour. There was less bhaji talk and conversations veered towards work, shenanigans and where we should go on our next vacation. Even then I was in a non-girlie profession like criminal law, so there wasnt a swear-word or cuss word I hadnt h

From their first interaction on the sets of 'Love Mocktail' (2020) to becoming close pals, actors Milana Nagaraj and Amrutha Iyengars bond has only evolved with time. Together, they have witnessed milestone memories of each others personal and professional lives. I met Milana during the audition for 'Love Mocktail'. Initially, I used to stay with her and Darling Krishna. They used to help with my lines; thats how she and I became friends. Later, we bonded over being tea lovers eventually she be

Being flautist HS Venugopals daughter, Grammy-nominated singer Varijashree Venugopal grew up in a world immersed in music. Little did she know then that she would grow up to become close friends with composer Praveen D Rao, whom she first met as a child. I dont think she remembers the first time we met because she was a very tiny one-and-a-half or two-year-old. I remember trying to get the names of scales out of her, singing different scales. She was kind of a toy for many musicians at the time,

BENGALURU: Two people were arrested in connection with the kidnapping and murder of a school boy , following an exchange of fire with the police on Friday. Gurumurthy (27) and Gopalakrishna (25) were shot in the legs after they allegedly tried to resist the arrest and attacked the police team with sharp weapons near Bilvaradahalli road, in an attempt to escape, police said. The two policemen were also injured in the attack. The accused and the injured policemen are being treated at a hospital. C

BENGALURU: With the revised auto fares coming into effect from August 1, commuters only demand is that autos abide by the law and go by meter. They have demanded that the traffic police and transport department enforce the revised fares and take strict action against those autos which do not fall in line. Auto fares have been revised from the existing Rs 30 to Rs 36 for 2 km and for every subsequent km from the existing Rs 15 to Rs 18. Autos have been given time till October 31 to recalibrate th

BENGALURU: An 80-year-old building at Sampangiram Nagar (SR Nagar) collapsed on Thursday, leaving the owner, Ashwin (37), trapped inside for some time. He was rescued by a mason and taken to hospital. As per officials of the Fire and Emergency Services Department, five people, including the owner, were inside as renovation works were being done and a sump was dug up. The old building was used as a cloud kitchen till last month. As the tenants vacated, the alteration works were taken up. As per M

BENGALURU: A woman waiting for a train gave birth to a baby boy on the platform at Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVT) on Thursday morning, with timely assistance from co-passengers and railway staff. Both mother and newborn are reported to be in good health. The incident occurred when Archana Kumari, aged 23, a passenger bound for Hatia on Train No. 12836 SMVT Bengaluru-Hatia Express, experienced severe labour pain. RV Suresh Babu, on duty as part of the train squad, immediately alerted the comm

BENGALURU: A 13-year-old boy was kidnapped and murdered on the outskirts of the city, in Anekal police station limits. After killing the boy, the miscreants poured petrol on the body and set it on fire. The boy was kidnapped between 7.30pm and 8pm Wednesday, from Shantinikethan Layout in Arakere in Hulimavu police station limits, while returning home from tuition classes. The charred body was found around 4.15pm on Thursday, in an isolated spot on the Bannerghatta-Kaggalipura main road. The boy

BENGALURU: Frustrated over frequent fights with her husband over financial issues, a 24-year-old woman killed her 20-month-old daughter by feeding her tea laced with insecticide and attempted suicide by consuming the same. The incident happened at Balajinagar in Thigalarapalya around 3 pm on Tuesday. The woman, identified as Chandrika, is undergoing treatment in a hospital while her daughter, L Charvi, died during treatment. The Byadarahalli police have registered a case of murder against her fo

BENGALURU: An 80-year-old building in Sampangirama Nagar collapsed on Thursday, trapping its owner Ashwin, who was rescued by a mason. Ashwin was later sent to the hospital for immediate medical treatment. As per officials from the Fire and Emergency Department, four people were inside the building, as alterations were being done and a sump was being dug. The old building was used as a cloud kitchen till last month. Alteration was taken up as the tenants vacated. As per Manikyam, a mason, the ri

BENGALURU: Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Chief Commissioner Maheshwar Rao directed officials to initiate steps for road construction in the buffer zone of stormwater drains (SWD) near the Hosakerehalli Kodi Road in RR Nagar zone. During an on-site inspection, he said land acquisition, if necessary, should be done through the Transferable Development Rights (TDR). He also inspected the adjoining crossroads near Kodi Road in Hosakerehalli and instructed that repair works be undertaken

BENGALURU: Karnatakas efforts to become a leader in quantum technology received praise from Nobel laureates during a high-level meeting with state officials on Wednesday. The interaction was held ahead of the Quantum India Bengaluru Summit, scheduled for July 31 and August 1. Physicists and Nobel Prize winners Prof Duncan Haldane and Prof David Gross met Science and Technology Minister NS Boseraju, along with senior officials from various departments, including IT/BT, Higher Education and Scienc

BENGALURU: After a successful two-month pilot, Lalbagh Botanical Garden launched a permanent bicycle and tricycle rental service on Wednesday to allow visitors to explore the entire park at their own pace. The horticulture department, which had initially introduced 10 electric cycles and tricycles in June on the occasion of World Environment Day, extended the trial period to July and expanded the fleet to 15. The department now has 30 electric vehicles - 10 tricycles and 20 bicycles. The service

BENGALURU: In a major online heist, cyber fraudsters hacked the digital wallet of Bengaluru-based Neblio Technologies Private Limited, a cryptocurrency exchange firm, and siphoned off Rs 378 crore. The Whitefield CEN police, who have registered a case, said that a company employee was arrested on suspicion of involvement in the fraud. According to the FIR filed on July 22 by Hardeep Singh, vice president of Public Policy and Government Affairs at the company, the theft occurred on July 19 around

BENGALURU: Furious over the second consecutive incident of a pack of ferocious stray dogs mauling to death a person within a year at Byatarayanapura Ward of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the Karnataka Lokayukta Justice B S Patil ordered a probe while heckling the officials for not taking steps despite having warned them after the previous incident. Summoning the officials on Wednesday by taking suomotu cognisance of the death of Seethappa (68), who was mauled to death by a pack

BENGALURU: A 32-year-old woman is battling for life after she sustained a bullet injury in a suspected misfiring incident from her friends licensed pistol. The victim is Rachel. Hennur police have registered a case against her friend Nikhil Narayanswamy under different sections of the Arms Act, and BNS who looks after his fathers printing press business. Narayanswamy is facing criminal charges for not taking care of his licensed revolver by keeping it in safe custody. Rachel, a resident of Cox T

BENGALURU: Bengaluru's designated silence zones are emerging as some of the citys loudest pockets, with noise levels breaching permissible limits by wide margins, particularly at night, outpacing even industrial areas in violations. According to the Karnataka State Pollution Control Boards (KSPCB) May data, the RVCE Mysore Road zone registered night-time noise levels of 57.8 decibel (dB), exceeding the legal limit by 44.5%, while the Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health (NIMHANS) zone reporte

From a mild fever to complicated surgery, when patients seek medical help, they place their faith in the expert and the outcome, positive or negative, always falls on doctors. In a bid to tackle the complexities in interventional pulmonology, bring transparency, and foster learning, the 4th Annual Conclave of Advanced Pulmonary Interventions (CAPI 2025), which took place recently, introduced a unique concept the Complication Museum. The initiative, inaugurated on Sunday, featured medical expert

In the cacophony of best-selling fiction and non-fiction tomes creating a buzz at traditional literature festivals, the gentler notes of poetry, that demand ones careful reading, engagement, and willingness to sit in the quiet, often gets lost. It is to rectify this and carve out a space for poetry alone that Bengaluru Poetry Festival (BPF) was first started, according to co-founder Subodh Sankar, ahead of the festivals 9th edition set to happen this weekend. This years edition will see 86 invit

Having directed critically well-received and socially conscious films for decades, national award winning director Devashish Makhija is well-known as a screen-writer and director with films like Bhonsle (2018), Joram (2022) and Ajji (2018) under his belt. While film enthusiasts know him as the creator of stories that typically follow a character locked in a fight against the system, be it a tribal man labelled as a maoist trying to escape with his baby daughter in Joram , an older Mahrashtrian c

I live in an old-world apartment, where the lift has been creaking since the Bronze Age, and the watchman could put ChatGPT to shame. He moonlights as a caretaker and sunlights as a plumber, and occasionally judges youngsters for bringing over their partners. When I first moved into my apartment, I wished my apartment were also posh and cutting-edge. But gradually, I have begun to warm up to the old-worldliness of it. Mine is the kind of apartment where a power cut makes everybody step out and c

AHMEDABAD: As part of the ongoing anti-terror operation, the Gujarat ATS on Wednesday arrested a 33-year-old Jharkhand-native woman from Bengaluru for her alleged role in bolstering Al Qaeda's influence in India. The accused, Shama Parveen, is believed to have been integral to AQISs social media propaganda machinery. The ATS collaborated with Bengaluru police to identify and locate Parveen. A joint team conducted a raid at Parveens residence in Manorayanapalya locality and arrested her. Parveen

BENGALURU: A BCom student and three others have been arrested by the Kothanur police for stealing over 1 kg of gold ornaments from her uncles house to fund a lavish lifestyle with her boyfriend. The accused spent several lakhs of rupees on parties and trips, the police said. The accused are- Sachita, Yashwanth (her boyfriend and classmate), Tanush and Ramprakash (both are Yashwanths friends). All of them are in their early 20s. In June first week, Sachitas uncle, B N Srinivas, filed a complaint

BENGALURU: With Bengali migrant workers in Gurugram being detained or fleeing out of fear, the atmosphere in Whitefield an area known for its Bengali migrant settlements grows tense by the day. With events happening near the nations capital being made public over the internet, Bengali migrants in Bengaluru -- many of whose friends or relatives had been working in Gurugram -- find little hope in carrying on with their livelihoods. The situation is worsened by sporadic, yet similar incidents. Fr

BENGALURU: Tunnelling for Bengalurus proposed Tunnel Road project, initially estimated to take 33 months, has now been slashed to 24 months in the final Detailed Project Report (DPR). While experts call the projection unrealistic, official from Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Limited (B-SMILE) say the reduced timeline is possible due to the deployment of eight high-speed Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs), as opposed to the earlier plan to use six medium to average-speed TBMs. The draft DPR had pegged

BENGALURU: Tunneling for Bengalurus proposed Tunnel Road project, initially estimated to take 33 months, has now been slashed to 24 months in the final Detailed Project Report (DPR). While experts call the projection unrealistic, official from Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Limited (B-SMILE) say the reduced timeline is possible due to the deployment of eight high-speed Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs), as opposed to the earlier plan to use six medium to average-speed TBMs. The draft DPR had pegged

BENGALURU: BBMP Chief Commissioner Maheshwar Rao on Tuesday instructed officials to take steps to construct a model footpath on the Bannerghatta Main Road. He was speaking while inspecting the pavement, potholes, cleanliness and other issues at Dairy Circle on Bannerghatta Main Road in South Zone. The Metro Pink Line is coming on Bannerghatta Main Road. The footpaths on this route should be constructed on the same pattern and made into a model footpath. Slabs and curb stones should be repaired a

BENGALURU: Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday said the Ward Delimitation Commission will start the work of redrawing ward boundaries under the newly formed Greater Bengaluru Authority from August 3. The final notification for the five new corporations will be published on November 1, he told reporters after holding a meeting with Greater Bengaluru Authority officials. The DCM, who also holds the Bengaluru Development portfolio, said, The commission will carry out works like ward boun

BENGALURU: Ahead of the countrys first-ever Quantum India Bengaluru Summit, scheduled to be held on Thursday and Friday, the state government will host Nobel laureates in Physics Prof Duncan Haldane (2016 winner) and Prof David Gross (2004) for an exclusive dialogue on Wednesday. On Tuesday, Minor Irrigation, Science & Technology Minister N S Boseraju chaired a preparatory meeting related to the summit along with Karnataka Science and Technology Promotion Society (KSTePS) Managing Director Sadas

The world of comedy is often a space where laughter knows no boundaries, and people from all walks of life join in to share a moment of elation. Shraddha Jain, popularly known as Aiyyo Shraddha, is one such standup comedian who does just that creating a space that transcends cultures, ages and backgrounds, bound by the power of humour. Now touring around the nation with her latest Aiyyo So Mini Things! , Jain is set to bring her humour to the city, where she performed her first show. Bengalurea

When you go looking for the postmaster generals office on Palace Road, what greets you is a typical whitewashed government office, but a few steps further reveals a roughly 175-year-old mansion that seems to have slipped through a stitch in time, with the Mangalore tile roofs and beautiful bay windows to prove it. Beaulieu (French word for beautiful place), once the abode of a British civil servant, a princess, and a former Dewan of Mysore, is currently undergoing restoration. Built around 1860

Golden rays of the sun play hide and seek in the misty-white canvas of dawn in the Kabini Forests. As they sneak through the dancing branches, the silence is broken by an alarm call. These calls are popularly considered vocal signals sent by monkeys, squirrels, or various birds living atop the crown layer of the forests upon sighting predators on the ground, turning into warning signals for other animals. They are natures CCTV that convert visuals into audio signals, jokes K Dinesh Kumar, a prof

BENGALURU: In a shocking incident, a 68-year-old man was mauled to death by a pack of stray dogs at Telecom Layout in Kodigehalli around 3 am on Monday. Following the attack, officials from the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Animal Husbandry Department rounded up 15 stray dogs from the area. The dogs have been taken to a facility in Yelahanka for observation. According to Dr Manohar, Assistant Director of the BBMP Animal Husbandry Department (Yelahanka Zone), the victim was reportedly

BENGALURU: The state government will face a big challenge in its plan to split the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) into five corporations under the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA). Each corporation can have up to 150 wards with 150 councillors and will need a council hall to accommodate them along with officials, with not less than 50 office rooms and the required staff across its various departments. Pointing out that the government will have huge infrastructure challenges to run th

BENGALURU: Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Chief Commissioner Maheshwar Rao instructed revenue division officials to issue notice to about 3.75 lakh tax defaulters who have not paid outstanding property tax under BBMPs jurisdiction, and collect the tax. Addressing a meeting on Monday, he instructed officials to collect property tax more effectively. Tax dues from about 3.75 lakh defaulters comes to Rs 700-800 crore. Notices will be issued through SMS and email for payment of property t

BENGALURU: The final Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the proposed Tunnel Road project in Bengaluru has come under sharp criticism after it emerged that dedicated bus lanes, included in the draft version, have been dropped. Bengaluru Central MP PC Mohan on Monday called the move a clear example of infrastructure being designed for the privileged, sidelining the needs of the common Bengalurean. Tunnel Road final DPR quietly drops bus lanes, once again making it clear that the tunnel is only for

BENGALURU: As many as ten two-wheelers parked outside houses were completely gutted when miscreants set them on fire on Bajaj Street near Halasuru market and Kaliamman Temple around 3.30 am on Monday. CCTV footage in the vicinity captured three men with their faces covered with towels pouring petrol on the bikes and shutters of a few grocery and vegetable shops and setting them on fire. A Pulsar 150 cc bike purchased just a month ago and four bicycles were also gutted. Around 3.30 am, everybody

BENGALURU: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) lake department, which is undertaking lake development under the Brand Bengaluru initiative at various water bodies across the city, has a Herculean task of recovering encroached lake land. According to data, 472 acres of lake land encroachment have been identified by BBMP, and the civic body has so far managed to reclaim only 17.38 acres. Officials from the civic bodys lake wing say that once the survey by the Revenue department on lake l

Responding to a reporters question, a woman wittily offers life advice: Block him and sleep early. He may be temporary, but the dark circles are forever. In another viral moment, two students take a jab at Isaac Newton, blaming him for discovering gravity and thus indirectly sending them to school to study it. Welcome to the bizarre and oddly relatable world of AI (artificial intelligence) generated content thats flooding social media! Theatres have also become new witnesses to the shift, with t

In the ever-evolving fashion world, arm cuffs, the late 90s favourite jewellery, are the new entry back with a modern twist, making a bold statement. From Kylie Jenner to Bhumi Pednekar, many celebrities have already made it a part of their style statement. As accessories like waist chains, ear cuffs, body chains, and varieties of anklets continue to rule, arm cuffs are something Bengalureans find hard to ignore. From chunky and dramatic pieces to minimalist and classic ones, the options are ma

BENGALURU: A 45-year-old former gram panchayat president and Congress worker was brutally hacked to death by unidentified assailants over a property dispute. The crime occurred near a roadside eatery in Kanakapura, in the Sathanur police station limits of Bengaluru South district, on Saturday night, and two suspects were arrested on Sunday. The deceased has been identified as Nanjesh, a resident of Honnaganidoddi village and former president of Achalu GP in Kanakapura taluk. A police officer sai

BENGALURU: The Railway Protection Force (RPF) on Sunday busted a gang involved in illegally promising confirmed tickets to waitlisted passengers at Bengaluru City Railway Station. Nine staff members from various travel agencies were detained for charging double the fare to secure such tickets. According to officials, the accused targeted vulnerable passengers waiting at reservation counters. They approached them with false assurances of confirmed tickets and lured them to nearby travel agency of

BENGALURU: In a surprise late-night operation against drug peddlers and consumers, North Division police visited the houses of 106 individuals with a history of drug-related offences. During the special drive, police arrested three persons and seized drugs. The operation was led by DCP-North Babasab Nemagoud, along with three ACPs, 13 police inspectors and other police personnel. DCP Nemagoud told TNIE that the special operation was conducted as part of efforts to tackle drug peddling in the cit

BENGALURU: With the rise in online shopping, especially during festive seasons, cybercriminals are exploiting unsuspecting customers through fake e-commerce websites that closely imitate legitimate portals. These fraudulent platforms lure users with flashy deals and deep discounts, aiming to steal money and sensitive personal information. A senior officer from a CEN (Cybercrime, Economic Offences and Narcotics) police station in Bengaluru told TNIE that two main types of scams are currently bein