AHMEDABAD: On June 12, a haunting silence fell over Meghaninagar as a devastating plane crash unfolded. Amid the chaos, it wasnt just flames that rose - it was courage. In the eye of this disaster, health warriors at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital became the first line of humanity. Dr. Chirag Patel, Head of Emergency Medicine When the first call came, I was already in the department. My heart skipped for a second, but there was no time to pause. I sent out a WhatsApp alert to my entire emergency team,

NEW DELHI: In a transformative step towards hassle-free highway travel, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on June 18 announced the introduction of annual FASTag pass for non-commercial private vehicles such as cars, jeeps and vans. TheFASTag-based Annual Pass priced at Rs 3,000 will come into effect from August 15, Gadkari posted on 'X'. The pass will be valid for one year from the date of activation or up to 200 trips -- whichever comes first. It is exclusively designed f

NAGPUR: One person was killed and six others injured in a blast at a pharmaceutical companys unit in Nagpur district on Tuesday, police said. The explosion occurred in a glass-lined reactor at the unit of Ankit Pulps and Boards Pvt Ltd, located in Bhilgaon, eastern Maharashtra. The cause of the blast has not yet been determined. A senior police official informed PTI that the incident took place at around 11 am, resulting in the death of one individual and injuries to six others. One of the injur

NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday asked states to prepare an action plan for disaster management and mitigation at the district level within the next 90 days. He also urged them to conduct inter-state mock drills annually for events like cyclones. Addressing the annual conference of Relief Commissioners of States, Union Territories, and Disaster Response Forces as the chief guest, the Home Minister said there should also be a state-level action plan against lightning and thunder

DEHRADUN: A case has been registered against helicopter service operating firm Aryan Aviation Private Ltd for alleged negligence in connection with the chopper crash near Kedarnath on Sunday which killed all seven people on board, including a two-year-old child and the pilot. The Bell 407 helicopter which crashed due to bad weather in the forests of Gauri Mai Khark between Gaurikund and Triyuginarayan belonged to Aryan Aviation Private Limited. A case has been registered against Aryan Aviation's

MUMBAI: At least eight persons were killed, mostly due to lightning strikes, as heavy rains pummelled parts of Maharashtra, officials said on Sunday. The weather department has issued a red alert for the coastal districts of Ratnagiri and Raigad and an orange alert for Palghar, Thane, and Sindhudurg, and ghat areas of Pune, Satara and Kolhapur, they said. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been stationed for rescue operations. As

MUMBAI: Parts of Mumbai received heavy rainfall overnight and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday predicted more showers at isolated places in the city and suburbs, civic officials said. The weather department sounded a 'yellow' alert for Mumbai, forecasting heavy showers at isolated places, and an 'orange' alert for neighbouring Thane, Raigad and Palghar districts, which are expected to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall. Parts of Mumbai witnessed heavy showers overnight along

JAIPUR: Days after a boy from Kota topped the IIT entrance exams, another student from Rajasthan has brought pride to the state, this time in the medical field. Mahesh Keshwani from Hanumangarh district has emerged as the national topper in NEET UG 2025, securing All India Rank 1 with a score of 686 out of 720, as per the results declared by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on Saturday. Of the 20.08 lakh students who appeared for the examination, 12.36 lakh candidates qualified, making Maheshs

NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday said he was in touch with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy and also with his Canadian and Portuguese counterparts in connection with the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad. Besides 169 Indians, 53 British, one Canadian and seven Portuguese nationals were on board the flight that crashed on Thursday. Air India has confirmed that 241 people, who were on board were killed in the crash. One person has survived and is currently undergoi

LUCKNOW: As the survey of residences and shops in the 22 Kunj Galis (narrow lanes) leading to the Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan continues, 30 per cent of it already completed, the Mathura district administration has prepared an elaborate plan to rehabilitate the sevayats , the Goswamis, who have been openly opposing the Banke Bihari Corridor project. The plan includes relocating the sevayats to Rukmani Vihar in Vrindavan. The Goswami community, comprising hereditary priests, has been performi

The Manipur government on Tuesday eased prohibitory orders in Imphal West, Imphal East and Bishnupur, allowing residents to move between 5am and 5pm. While daytime movement is permitted, activities that may disrupt law and order are still banned, PTI reported. Prohibitory orders were clamped across five districts of Imphal valley from June 7 night after violent protests broke out following the arrest of an Arambai Tenggol leader by the CBI. Alongside the curfew, authorities also suspended intern

The Manipur government on Tuesday eased prohibitory orders in Imphal West, Imphal East and Bishnupur, allowing residents to move between 5am and 5pm. While daytime movement is permitted, activities that may disrupt law and order are still banned, PTI reported. Prohibitory orders were clamped across five districts of Imphal valley from June 7 night after violent protests broke out following the arrest of an Arambai Tenggol leader by the CBI. Alongside the curfew, authorities also suspended intern

BHOPAL: Paliganj town 50 km from the Bihar capital is in news nearly a thousand km away in Madhya Pradesh, thanks to one of its government school teachers, who has emerged as the key solver of an inter-state Aadhaar ID manipulation-enabled examination racket, which helped candidates from the Gwalior-Chambal region crack the 2023 MP Police Constable Recruitment Exam. Ranjan Kumar Gupta, a school teacher from Paliganj appeared in place of ten candidates, including one of the merit holders of the

GUWAHATI/ RANGIA: The flood situation in Assam continued to improve with the affected population and area decreasing to around 3.37 lakh in 12 districts, respectively, officials said on Sunday. An official bulletin said that the total death toll in this year's floods and landslides is at 23, including six killed in mudslides, till Saturday. Major rivers, including the Brahmaputra, were on a receding trend, though a few of these continued to flow above the danger mark. Following this, ferry servi

NEW DELHI: The Central Consumer Protection Authority had issued an advisory to e-commerce platforms to conduct self-audits within three months to detect dark patterns and take necessary steps to ensure its resolution. In order to identify and eradicate dark patterns, the government has constituted a Joint Working Group (JWG) and advised e-commerce platforms to comply with Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023. The e-commerce platforms, based on the self-audit reports, h

IMPHAL: The Manipur government has ordered suspension of internet and mobile data services, including VSAT and VPN, in the territorial jurisdiction of five valley districts for five days with effect from 11:45 pm on Saturday, an official statement said. The districts include Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Kakching. The order issued by Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Home), N Ashok Kumar, said, In view of the prevailing law and order situation, especially in Imphal East, Imphal West

SAMBHAL: Posters of the absconding accused in the Sambhal violence will be put up in other districts of Uttar Pradesh, a senior police official has said. Superintendent of Police (SP) Krishan Kumar told reporters late on Friday evening that properties of the accused wanted in the Sambhal violence will be attached. Besides, raids are being conducted at various places to arrest them. Some of the accused, whose posters were put up earlier were involved in gathering the crowd on November 24 last yea

DANTEWADA: Seven Naxalites, two of them carrying cash rewards on their heads, surrendered in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh on Friday, a police official said. The cadres turned themselves in before police and CRPF officials citing disappointment at the growing differences within the outlawed CPI (Maoist), the harsh forest life and the movement's hollow ideology, he said. The surrendered cadres also said they were impressed by the police's rehabilitation drive 'Lon Varratu' in the district an

SAMBHAL: A massive insurance scam involving fraudulent policies, fake documents and even killings carried out to claim insurance money has surfaced in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal district, with the estimated fraud amount crossing Rs 100 crore, officials said on Thursday. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also taken interest in the case and sought related documents and FIR copies from the local police, they added. Additional Superintendent of Police (South) Anukriti Sharma told reporters that the

NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday held separate meetings with the foreign ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan ahead of the fourth India-Central Asia Dialogue, which is scheduled for Friday. Kazakh Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu, Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin, Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Zheenbek Kulubaev, and Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov all condemned terrorism and supported collaborative efforts to tackl

GUWAHATI: More than 5.15 lakh people across 22 districts are affected as Assam continued to battle the first wave of the floods. Assam and Arunachal reported one death each on Monday which took the Northeast toll to 39 11 in Assam, 10 in Arunachal Pradesh, six each in Meghalaya and Mizoram, three in Sikkim, two in Tripura and one in Nagaland. The entire region has been hit by floods and landslides, triggered by incessant rains. According to a flood bulletin issued by the Assam government, 5,15,

RAIPUR: Sixteen Maoist cadres, including two active members of Peoples' Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) company, surrendered in Sukma district, about 450 km south of Raipur on Monday. According to the police, six of the surrendered rebels were carrying a collective reward of Rs 25 lakh. With this, as many as 571 Maoists have surrendered so far in 2025 in Chhattisgarh's Bastar. Interestingly, nine out of the 16 cadres belonging to Kerlapenda village panchayat falling under the Chintalnar police

GUWAHATI: Five persons have been killed in landslides in Assam in the last 24 hours as incessant rain has led to floods in six districts, affecting over 10,000 people, an official bulletin said on Saturday. The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said all five deaths have been reported from the Kamrup Metropolitan district. Urban Affairs Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah had on Friday said that three women were killed in a landslide in Bonda area on the outskirts of Guwahati. He had sa

MUMBAI: The BJP-led Maharashtra government on Friday issued the Government Resolution sanctioning Rs 28 crore to release the monthly Rs 5000 to Rs 10,000 amount to those who were jailed during Emergency. According to the state government, the Rs 5000 monthly amount will be paid to the person who was in prison for less than a month during Emergency while Rs 10,000 will be given to those who were in jail for more than a month. In case of the death of the beneficiary who was jailed, half of the amo

NEW DELHI: A prolific academic, Dr Banu M R, a PhD in nursing, who has authored textbooks, published numerous research articles, and is currently serving as an Assistant Nursing Superintendent at NIMHANS, Bengaluru, is among the 15 nurses and ANMs, who were conferred with the prestigious National Florence Nightingale award-2025 by President Droupadi Murmu on Friday. She is also acknowledged for demonstrating exemplary leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, emerging as a role model for her peer

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Houses in low lying areas of Kerala were flooded in the heavy rains, while the accompanying strong winds uprooted trees, damaged homes and caused power disruptions, throwing normal way of life into disarray across the state. In Thrissur, Kannur and Kasaragod districts, there were reports of several homes getting flooded due to the heavy rains, forcing people to move to relief camps. Not just homes, but many roads in these districts and other parts of the state were inundated

AGARTHALA: Heavy rain threw normal life out of gear across several parts of Tripura on Friday, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicting more intense showers over the next 24 hours. The state capital, Agartala, recorded 25 mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours, according to officials. The IMD has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall accompanied by squally winds reaching speeds of 5060 km/h across the state due to a deep depression over the Northwest Bay of Bengal. In response, a r

AGARTHALA: Heavy rain threw normal life out of gear across several parts of Tripura on Friday, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicting more intense showers over the next 24 hours. The state capital, Agartala, recorded 25 mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours, according to officials. The IMD has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall accompanied by squally winds reaching speeds of 5060 km/h across the state due to a deep depression over the Northwest Bay of Bengal. In response, a r

GUWAHATI: The Border Security Force (BSF) thwarted an infiltration attempt by a large group of Bangladeshi nationals in Assams South Salmara-Mankachar district on Tuesday morning. The incident took place during the reported deportation of 14 illegal Bangladeshi immigrants. According to reports, an altercation between BSF and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) ensued when the persons were being pushed back. However, the BSF neither confirmed the reports of deportation nor an altercation with the BGB.

NEW DELHI: India is likely to receive above-normal rainfall in June, which is expected to keep maximum temperatures in check in most parts of the country, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Tuesday. At a press conference, M Ravichandran, Secretary in the Ministry of Earth Sciences, said rainfall across the country during June is likely to be more than 108 per cent of the long-period average of 166.9 mm. During June, most of the country is expected to receive normal to above-normal

RAIPUR: Police and intelligence agencies have been keeping a close watch on activities of Maoist cadres and their overground supporters following the last week's killing of their top leader Basavaraju in an encounter in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region, officials said on Monday. In a statement attributed to Maoists and shared nearly a week after the encounter, the Naxals have admitted that a total of 28 cadres, including Basavaraju, were killed in the gun-battle. In one of the biggest strikes on Nax

CHANDIGARH: In a bid to help students acquire basic conversational skills in an Indian language of their choice, other than mother tongue, the students from classes VI to X in government schools of Punjab will be learning basics Telugu language during a week-long Bharatiya Bhasha Summer Camp, as per a direction issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy in Union Ministry of Education. As per the instructions issued by State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) to a

PATNA: Nalanda, home district of Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, has suddenly become a favourite destination for opposition leaders to launch programmes ahead of assembly elections due in October-November. However, several hurdles have come their way. Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi was scheduled to visit Rajgir in Nalanda district on May 27, but permission was reportedly not granted for the venue by the district administration, which stated that the hall (venue

MUMBAI: The talk of two Thackerays reunion sparked once again after Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anil Parab said that both the Thackerays Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray will take up this talk appropriately. Anil Parab, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader who is close to Uddhav Thackeray said that they are very positive about the report of both Thackerays reunion. He said that they never closed the door of dialogue. Both the parties Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS senior leader will meet and take the talk forward. Wh

GUWAHATI: A mob in Assam on Thursday killed an adult Royal Bengal tiger, cut off its body parts and took them away. The carcass was found at the Tinighariya Dukhutimukh village in the Khumtai revenue circle of Golaghat district. Apparently, the animal had strayed out of the adjoining Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve. In a viral video, a large number of people were seen in a jungle area, many of them armed with sticks. One person was arrested in connection with the incident. A Royal Beng

PRATAPGARH: Four minor girls, including three sisters, drowned in the Bakulahi River on Thursday while collecting clay from the riverbed, police said. The incident occurred around 11 am at Cheti Singh Ka Purwa village under the Kunda police station area, about 70 km from the district headquarters, said Additional Superintendent of Police (West) Sanjay Rai. The deceased girls have been identified as Swati (13), Sandhya (11) and Chandni (6) - all sisters from Jalalpur Dihwa village and their neigh

VIJAYAPURA: Six people died in a road accident involving two SUVs and a private bus in this district on Wednesday morning, police said. The accident occurred on National Highway near Managuli village in Basavana Bagewadi taluk and the identities of the deceased are yet to be ascertained, they added. According to Laxman Nimbargi, Superintendent Of Police, Vijaypura , a Mahindra SUV 300 vehicle traveling towards Solapur jumped the median and collided with a private bus coming from Mumbai to Ballar

CHANDIGARH: Private traders have bought 10.79 lakh metric tonnes of wheat this rabi season in Punjab, the highest ever purchase by the private sector, paying about Rs 200 more than the Minimum Support Price (MSP) to farmers. The highest purchase by private players was from Sangrur, home district of chief minister Bhagwant Mann. As per official data with the state food and supplies department, a total of 130.5 lakh tonnes of wheat have been procured across the state till May 15, the last day of p

RANCHI: In a significant move, the Jharkhand Cabinet has given its approval to the new excise policy. The move is designed to overhaul liquor sales across the State, addressing revenue losses and allegations of irregularities under the previous model. According to the new excise rules, retail liquor sales will now be handled by private entities, while the state government will retain control of wholesale operations through the Jharkhand State Beverage Corporation Limited (JSBCL). Retail licenses

NEW DELHI: Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai was on Wednesday sworn in as the 52nd Chief Justice of India. He was administered the oath by President Droupadi Murmu at a brief ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan. He succeeds Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who demitted office on Tuesday on attaining the age of 65 years. Justice Gavai, who was elevated as a judge of the Supreme Court on May 24, 2019, will have a tenure of over six months and would demit office on November 23. Justice Gavai took the oath of affir

In a significant organizational overhaul aimed at strengthening its grassroots presence, the Maharashtra unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday appointed 58 new district party presidents. The reshuffle, which comes ahead of the impending local body elections, is seen as a strategic move to infuse young leadership and expand the partys reach at a micro level. Despite Maharashtra having 36 administrative districts, the BJP has appointed multiple district presidents in several regions

SRI NAGAR: All schools and colleges in Kashmir, except those in the border districts, reopened on Tuesday following a suspension of hostilities between India and Pakistan, officials said. Education institutes in Kupwara, and Baramulla districts, and those in the Gurez sector of Bandipora would remain closed for now, they said. According to the officials, Kashmir University will resume classes on Wednesday. Schools, colleges and universities in the Union Territory were temporarily shut last week

Fresh unrest gripped BJP in Gujarats Bharuch after Member of Parliament P Mansukh Vasava slammed the party over the appointment of Jhagdiya and Valia taluka office-bearers. Taking to social media, Vasava accused the leadership of favouring Congress defectors while ignoring loyal workers and social equations, stoking anger among cadres. District BJP chief Prakash Modi admitted that the party MPs and MLAs failed to come together, exposing widening internal cracks. MLA brings humour to serious meet

BHOPAL: What began as a silent movement by tribal youths last November to liberate marriages from dowry, liquor, DJ music, has turned into a force to reckon with in just six months. Titled Mission D3, the movement has spread to every corner of Bhil and Bhilala tribe dominated Jhabua and Alirajpur districts of western Madhya Pradesh. The initiative has succeeded in saving poor tribal families from falling in the debt trap of private money lenders for financing the 3Ds dahej (dowry), daroo (liquo

RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh will intensify surveillance and take action against Bangladeshi infiltrators and immigrants residing illegally in the state. As part of a special campaign, a directive from the state Home Minister Vijay Sharma, who is also the Deputy Chief Minister, mandates the formation of a special task force in every district of the state. This campaign is crucial from a national security perspective, as these infiltrators could pose serious challenges. There will also be action against

CHANDIGARH: Amid heightened security concerns along the Indo-Pak border, authorities in Punjabs border districts have issued fresh advisories, including voluntary blackouts and the closure of educational institutions. In Ferozepur and Pathankot, the district administrations have urged residents to switch off lights voluntarily at 8 PM and avoid stepping out unless necessary. All educational institutions including schools, colleges, and universitieswill remain shut on Monday in five border distri

AHMEDABAD: As a high-alert precaution, blackouts has been imposed in all 71 villages of Santalpur taluka bordering Gujarat's Patan district besides Kutch district on Saturday, while operations at Deen Dayal Port Kandla and Mundra Adani Port have been suspended until further notice, sources said. Eight airports across Gujarat Bhuj, Kandla, Keshod, Jamnagar, Naliya, Mundra, Rajkot, and Porbandar have been closed as a precautionary measure and will remain shut until May 14. In Jamnagar, the Distr

CHANDIGARH: Pathankot in Punjab went into alert mode on Saturday after explosion-like sounds were heard in the border district, with the local authorities ordering closure of markets in the region as a precautionary measure. After a night of bristling tension, people woke up to explosion-like sounds in Pathankot and Jalandhar districts, while air sirens rang out in Hoshiarpur, Amritsar and Ferozepur amid a sharp upturn in the military conflict between India and Pakistan. Punjab shares a 532-km b

CHANDIGARH: Three members of a family were injured in a village in Ferozepur as Pakistan launched drones into border districts of Punjab on Friday night. Multiple explosions were heard as the drones were neutralized. A widespread blackout was enforced in six border districts: Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Ferozepur, Fazilka and Tarn Taran. Sources said that drones were sighted in Jammu and Samba in Jammu and Kashmir and Pathankot, Ferozepur and Fazilka in Punjab. One drone fell on a house in K

GUWAHATI: The Meghalaya government has imposed a night curfew in three districts, given the current situation in Bangladesh and to thwart possible infiltration attempts. This comes after the Border Security Force (BSF) reportedly stepped up vigil along the 4,096-km-long India-Bangladesh border straddling Assam, Mizoram, Tripura, West Bengal, besides Meghalaya. Night curfew in Meghalaya was imposed in East Jaintia Hills, West Jaintia Hills and East Khasi Hills districts. The state shares a 443-km