Another hotel fire kills nine in India as Kolkata blaze sparks safety probe
A FIRE at a hotel in Kolkata killed nine people, including a child, on Wednesday, marking another deadly hotel blaze in India within days as authorities investigated possible safety failures. Nine people were killed, including a child, in the fire that broke out early on Wednesday, Anuj Sharma, the fire services director of West Bengal state, told AFP. Thick smoke enveloped the hotel. Some victims were found in the bathrooms. Delhi hotel fire kills at least 21 people Preliminary information suggested an air conditioner at the budget Shika Inn hotel may have exploded and caused the fire, Sharma said. A forensic team was deployed to examine the scene after firefighters brought the blaze under control. Police said 60 guests were staying at the hotel. Media reports said six people were injured and taken to hospital for treatment. Firefighters used ladders to enter the building through windows and rescue people trapped inside. The dense smoke made it difficult for firefighters to climb the staircase and reach the upper floors, a police officer was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India news agency. Some victims were likely Bangladeshi nationals who had travelled to Kolkata for medical treatment, said Santosh Pathak, a member of West Bengal's ruling party. Fire at training centre in India's Lucknow kills at least 15 We are trying to confirm the nationality of the victims, he told reporters. The Indian Express newspaper, quoting police sources, said three of the dead were from Bangladesh. Atiyar Rehman, a guest from Satkhira in Bangladesh, told the English-language daily that the hotel had no fire safety system. We woke up struggling to breathe in the smoke. We somehow managed to escape, Rehman said. Ten critically ill patients die in hospital fire in Odisha West Bengal's fire minister, Kaushik Chaudhary, said police were probing possible safety lapses at the hotel. On Monday, eight people died in a hotel fire in Tarapith, while building fires remain common in India due to a lack of firefighting equipment and routine disregard for safety regulations. Prime minister Narendra Modi said he was extremely pained by the loss of life. (With inputs from agencies)
Three Arrested in Indore for Supplying SIM Cards in Cyber Fraud Case
Indore, August 19: In a significant breakthrough, Indore police have arrested three individuals linked to a cyber fraud case involving approximately 8.5 million, which occurred in Maharashtra and West Bengal. This operation, dubbed Operation Fast 2.0, was executed based on information received from the Ministry of Home Affairs. The state cyber cell had compiled a ... Read more Three Arrested in Indore for Supplying SIM Cards in Cyber Fraud Case
Kolkata Hotel Fire Kills 9, Six Injured; 80 Rescued As Safety Norms Face Serious Questions
A massive hotel fire in Kolkatas Mirza Ghalib Street has killed at least nine people and injured six others. Around 80 people were rescued from the five-storey building, while dense smoke made the rescue operation difficult. Officials said the deceased were reportedly Bangladeshi citizens visiting Kolkata for medical treatment. West Bengal Fire Minister Kaushik Chowdhury raised concerns over alleged safety and construction violations, while a short circuit is being considered as a possible cause. Meanwhile, another hotel fire in Birbhums Tarapith killed eight people, taking the two-day toll to at least 17.
West Bengal Government to Audit Hotels Following Kolkata Fire Incident
Kolkata, August 19: The West Bengal government has decided to conduct an audit of all hotels and lodges in Kolkata following a recent fire incident. State Fire Services Minister Kaushik Choudhury announced this decision on Wednesday. Minister Choudhury stated that he had a detailed discussion with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari regarding the matter. It was ... Read more West Bengal Government to Audit Hotels Following Kolkata Fire Incident
West Bengal govt seeks custodial interrogation of Abhishek Banerjee's aide in land-grabbing case
West Bengal government informed the Supreme Court that Sumit Roy is not cooperating with the probe. The court had previously stayed Roy's arrest in the Salboni land-grabbing case. Roy's anticipatory bail plea was rejected by the Calcutta High Court earlier this month. The state government requested the withdrawal of protection from arrest for the personal assistant.
3 months in Bengal opposition, TMC split tests Mamata: Rebuild or fade
Three months into its second stint in opposition after 15 years in power, the TMC faces a question that could determine the shape of West Bengal politics for years to come: can Mamata Banerjee rebuild a party no longer united behind her, or will its electoral defeat permanently fracture Bengal's principal opposition formation. Three competing centres now shape the crisis -- the Mamata Banerjee camp, the Ritabrata Banerjee-led rebel faction and 20 Lok Sabha MPs who have moved to the NCPI and extended support to the NDA. The battle has reached the Election Commission, with rival factions staking claims to the organisation, while the parliamentary rupture has sharply reduced TMC's Lok Sabha presence. For Mamata, the immediate challenge is not to recreate the TMC but to build a party capable of functioning without government and political protection that came with 15 years in office. The crisis has moved beyond defections to a battle over the TMC's organisation, elected representatives
Kolkata fire deaths caused by asphyxia, not burns: Minister
A devastating fire in a central Kolkata building resulted in nine deaths, primarily due to asphyxia, and the rescue of around 80 people. West Bengal minister Kaushik Chowdhury highlighted the quick response of the Fire Brigade but raised concerns about safety norms, lack of windows, and the proliferation of cramped hotels within the building. An investigation committee will be formed, and fire audits will be conducted across all hotels in the state.
The top court, on August 6, had stayed the arrest of Sumit Roy in connection with the land-grabbing case. It, however, directed him to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation.
100 days of BJP Government in West Bengal | Balancing trust and mistrust
The BJP government in West Bengal has to usher in real bhorosa (trust) not only by driving the bhoy (fear) of misrule of the previous government out but by taking everyone along
West Bengal: Katapol underpass in Hooghly waterlogged due to lack of drainage, commuters face risks
HOOGHLY: Lack of a proper drainage system has led to prolonged waterlogging at the Katapol underpass in Serampore, causing inconvenience to commuters and posing a serious risk to residents. A resident, Amit Shaw, highlighted the difficulties faced by people in the area due to the prolonged waterlogging. Speaking to ANI, he said, Water remains logged []
At least 9 killed, six injured in massive fire at hotel in Kolkata
At least nine people died, and six were injured in a fire at a hotel on Mirza Galib Street in central Kolkata early on Wednesday night, police said. Five fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the blaze that erupted around 1.45 am. Police and Disaster Management Department personnel reached the spot for the rescue operation. The injured have been taken to a nearby hospital. The dense smoke made it difficult for firefighters to climb the staircase and reach the upper floors. While nine people have died, more deaths are feared, a police officer told PTI. Our priority is to rescue those trapped and determine the reasons for the fire. The flames have been doused, and the cooling process is underway, he added. West Bengal Fire Department headquarters is located close to the hotel building.
At least nine dead in massive Kolkata hotel fire
Kolkata, Aug 19: At least nine people died, and six were injured in a fire at a hotel on Mirza Galib Street in central Kolkata early on Wednesday night, police said. Five fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the blaze that erupted around 1.45 am. Police and Disaster Management Department personnel reached the spot for the rescue operation. The injured have been taken to a nearby hospital. The dense smoke made it difficult for firefighters to climb the staircase and reach the upper floors. While nine people have died, more deaths are feared, a police officer told PTI. Our priority is to rescue those trapped and determine the reasons for the fire. The flames have been doused, and the cooling process is underway, he added. West Bengal Fire Department headquarters is located close to the hotel building.
Kolkata hotel fire: Nine dead, six injured in massive blaze at Mirza Ghalib Street in West Bengal
A massive fire erupted at a hotel on Mirza Ghalib Street in Kolkata. At least nine people died and six others were injured in the incident. All deceased individuals were identified as Bangladeshi nationals seeking medical treatment. Firefighters rushed to the scene and worked through the night to control the blaze. The exact cause of the devastating fire remains under investigation by authorities.
1 blocking order every 68 seconds: Govt takedowns of online content surge
Government directions to restrict online content witnessed a dramatic surge between March and July this year, with nearly 1.95 lakh blocking orders sent to Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, according to data accessed by The Indian Express. The figures mean that, on average, one blocking order was issued every 68 seconds, or nearly 1,275 orders every day. The sharp rise assumes significance as the period coincided with the students protests against examination leaks at Delhis Jantar Mantar, which began in June and continued until July 25. Instagram received the largest share, with nearly one lakh blocking orders, accounting for more than half of the total. Facebook received around 80,000 orders, while YouTube received nearly 15,000, reports Indian Express. Together, the two Meta-owned platforms: Instagram and Facebook accounted for roughly nine out of every 10 orders issued to the three companies. The orders, many of which were issued through the Home Ministrys Sahyog portal, can cover hundreds of individual posts, pieces of content or accounts. The scale of the increase becomes clearer when compared with the previous year. RTI records obtained by The Indian Express showed that between October 2024 and October 2025, only 2,312 blocking orders were sent to 19 online platforms through Sahyog, an average of about six orders a day. A senior government official told the Indian Express newspaper that a considerable share of the latest orders were issued during the student protests as they gathered momentum, particularly on Instagram. The report said Meta has integrated its API (Application Programming Interface) with the Sahyog portal to meet the governments requirement of removing flagged content within three hours. Under the system, content identified through government directions uploaded on the portal can be automatically removed from Meta platforms without a separate human review by the company. Digital rights activists have raised concerns over the arrangement, arguing that automated takedowns could leave little room for platforms to examine whether a particular government direction meets legal requirements. Apar Gupta, advocate and founder-director of the Delhi-based Internet Freedom Foundation, said an automated system could turn a conditional legal obligation into automatic compliance. He questioned whether anyone at the platform checks the authority issuing an order, its legal basis or the reasons cited for the takedown. According to information shared by users on social media, the restrictions appeared to affect several posts supporting the students protests, criticism of the governments ethanol fuel-blending policy and content relating to the West Bengal Assembly elections, besides deepfakes and other material. The surge in takedown orders also comes against the backdrop of tighter government rules. In February, the IT Ministry amended the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, reducing the compliance window for certain government-directed takedowns from the earlier 24-36 hours to just 2-3 hours. With India having more than 600 million social media users, the growing scale of government takedown requests has opened a wider debate over online regulation, freedom of expression and the safeguards needed before content is removed.
Kolkata High Court Expresses Discontent Over Appointment of School Teachers for Census Work
Kolkata, August 19: The Kolkata High Court expressed its dissatisfaction on Tuesday regarding the appointment of school teachers for census work in West Bengal. Justice Krishna Rao, presiding over a single-judge bench, questioned whether the central government consulted the state government before deciding to appoint school teachers for this task. Earlier, the Kolkata High Court ... Read more Kolkata High Court Expresses Discontent Over Appointment of School Teachers for Census Work
West Bengal Minister Accuses TMC of Corruption in Tea Gardens
Kolkata, August 19: West Bengals Tourism Minister Shankar Ghosh has recently alleged that during the Trinamool Congress (TMC) regime, numerous tea garden lands in North Bengal were sold illegally. He claims that the proceeds from these unlawful sales were funneled into the TMC party fund. Ghosh, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator from Siliguri, made ... Read more West Bengal Minister Accuses TMC of Corruption in Tea Gardens
Ritabrata provisional LoP, appointment valid for 2 months: Calcutta HC
HC stays Bengal govt order on review of all TMC-era caste certs
Bengal govt to move judicial panel over tea-garden land scam
Asish Banerjee death case: Police to probe unknown threats, TRDA irregularities
Govt plans kite, balloon fest on Vishwakarma Puja
Man loses Rs 95K to AI voice scam
ASI arrested on kidnap & rape charges
Fire on second floor ATC bldg terrace, no impact on flight ops
PM scheme for mothers from Oct: Chief minister Suvendu Adhikari
JUTA writes to higher education minister Jagannath Chattopadhyay on promotions
Strict attendance by professors a must, says higher education minister Jagannath Chattopadhyay
1 dead, 26 rescued as 2 dilapidated buildings collapse in north Kolkata
CJP forced to change meeting venue, pushes for better edu infra in Bengal
Traffic slows down as potholes show up after rain
Why Centre not consulting state: Calcutta High Court on govt school teachers census duty
Record no. of vacant seats at JU & CU after WBJEE centralised counselling
Shillong, August 18: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday expressed deep condolences over the deaths of five residents of the state in a fire in West Bengal and announced financial assistance of 2 lakh each to the bereaved families. The victims, including two children, were among eight people killed in a fire at... The post CM Conrad Sangma Announces 2 Lakh Aid For Families of 5 Meghalaya Residents Killed In West Bengal Fire first appeared on Northeast Today .
EKW at 25: A Ramsar site in need of rescue
IIT-Kgp launches Rs 1,000-cr campus modernisation drive on Platinum Jubilee
Bengal plans tea tourism circuit in Hills
Tricolour rakhis to liven up Raksha Bandhan
Institute of Chartered Accountants of India holds public finance workshop for 100 West Bengal MLAs
Around 100 West Bengal MLAs attended an ICAI workshop on public financial management and legislative oversight. The session focused on state budgets, government accounting, fiscal responsibility, sustainable financial management and transparency in public spending.
West Bengal to bring tiger back to Buxa, plant 10 crore trees
West Bengal plans to release a tiger into Buxa Tiger Reserve on October 2 as part of efforts to revive the big-cat population in North Bengal under NTCA guidelines. The state also plans to plant three crore mangroves in the Sunderbans between September and December and aims to plant 10 crore trees across West Bengal this year.
Weather Update: Heavy rain alert in UP, MP and Jharkhand, cyclonic system activated
Weather Update: India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned in its weather bulletin released on August 18 that heavy rains will be seen in many states of the country in the next 24 to 48 hours. Due to the impact of the depression on the northern parts of Jharkhand and adjacent Gangetic West Bengal, the weather [] The post Weather Update: Heavy rain alert in UP, MP and Jharkhand, cyclonic system activated first appeared on informalnewz .
State govt secures 2,426 free private hosp beds for critical patients
Queries rise for Ayushman admissions
Bengal police reject CJP claim over Bankura death
The West Bengal police rejected claims that a Bankura man died following a rutal physical assault on the father of a CJP activist, saying he had sustained only a minor injury during an alleged attack at his residence and later died after being admitted to hospital following severe blood pressure fluctuations.
L&T Finance eyes Bengal expansion with 26 new gold-loan locations
L&T Finance plans to add twenty-six new locations by March twenty twenty-seven. This expansion aims to deepen its presence in West Bengal's gold-credit market. The company currently operates twenty-eight locations and has a portfolio of Rs one hundred sixty-five crore. West Bengal's gold-loan market is estimated at Rs forty-seven thousand crore. New RBI guidelines aim to create a level playing field for lenders.
New 'boss' scam to dupe corporate employees busted
Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Branch has uncovered a Rs 1.5 crore WhatsApp fraud, leading to the arrest of two key SIM and OTP suppliers in West Bengal. The investigation revealed a sophisticated international cybercrime network spanning China, Pakistan, India, and Hong Kong, operating a oss scam and utilizing a Cybercrime as a Service model. Police recovered a significant portion of the defrauded amount and secured thousands of devices.
10th day of quizzing for Abhisheks PA Sumit Roy
Saugata Roy faces BJP protest at airport
West Bengal Tourism Minister seeks probe into tea garden land sale, usage during TMC regime
West Bengal Tourism Minister Shankar Ghosh has alleged that land belonging to several North Bengal tea gardens was illegally transferred and sold during the previous Trinamool Congress government, with the proceeds allegedly diverted to the party fund for elections.
15 hotels sealed in Tarapith fire safety crackdown
Ritabrata Banerjee Remains Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Amid Legal Dispute
Kolkata, August 18: Ritabrata Banerjee, a former Trinamool Congress MLA expelled from the party, will continue to serve as the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly. The Calcutta High Courts division bench has referred a petition challenging Banerjees appointment back to a single bench. Justices Shampa Sarkar and Ajay Kumar Gupta declined ... Read more Ritabrata Banerjee Remains Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Amid Legal Dispute
West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari said the initial budgetary allocation of 36,000 crore would not be sufficient for the cash transfer scheme given the growing number of beneficiaries
Tragic Fire in Tarapith: 15 Hotels Near Temple Shut Indefinitely
Kolkata, August 18: A devastating fire at the Bidheshini Hotel in Tarapith, located in West Bengals Birbhum district, has claimed the lives of nine individuals. In response to this tragedy, authorities have ordered the indefinite closure of 15 hotels situated near the renowned Tara Temple. Following the fire, police arrested the hotels main owner, Probith ... Read more Tragic Fire in Tarapith: 15 Hotels Near Temple Shut Indefinitely
TMC's Ritabrata Banerjee to remain Leader of Opposition till Calcutta HC decides issue in two months
In a significant development, the Calcutta High Court on Tuesday directed that rebel T MC MLA Ritabrata Banerjee will continue as the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly till a single bench decides on a petition challenging his appointment to the post within two months. The order was passed by the division bench comprising Justices Shampa Sarkar and Ajay Kumar Gupta of the Calcutta High Court.
Kolkata High Court Dismisses Petition Against Public Address System Directives
Kolkata, August 18: The Kolkata High Courts division bench dismissed a petition on Tuesday that challenged the West Bengal polices verbal order to remove loudspeakers and microphones from state mosques. While rejecting the petition, Acting Chief Justice Tapobrata Chakraborty and Justice Atarup Banerjee clarified that the court would not issue any orders based solely on ... Read more Kolkata High Court Dismisses Petition Against Public Address System Directives
CID to Investigate Death of Former TMC Councillors Husband in West Bengal
Kolkata, August 18: The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of West Bengal Police has taken over the investigation into the death of Birju Keot, husband of former Trinamool Congress (TMC) councillor Jenny Sharma, which occurred while he was in police custody. Following the incident, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari acknowledged that there was some negligence on the ... Read more CID to Investigate Death of Former TMC Councillors Husband in West Bengal
Bread has become expensive; now you will have to spend more money for breakfast.
Bread Price Hike: The price of bread has increased in West Bengal. Due to rising raw material costs, the new prices, effective August 17, 2026, will impact the budget of daily bread buyers.Bread becomes expensive in West Bengal.West Bengal Bread Price News: If you start your day with tea...
The Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Branch has busted a high-profile international cyber fraud network allegedly providing infrastructure and services to cybercriminals based in Pakistan and China. Ahmedabad Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gehlot said two people have been arrested from West Bengal in connection with the case, while further investigation is underway.The accused have been identified as Imran Ali Piyada and Injamul. Police recovered seven mobile phones from them, including three Android phones and four keypad phones, along with SIM cards and a router.
From Puchka to a national QSR: Sagar Daryani-backed Wah! Foods targets Rs. 250 crore revenue by FY30
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], August 18: Wah! Foods, the company behind Wah! Puchka and Wah! Litti, has outlined plans to achieve 250 crore in annual revenue by FY30 as it builds a nationally recognised Indian street-food QSR platform.
CJP Team Visits Alleged Attack Victims Family
CJP National Spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka visited Bankura in West Bengal to meet CJP volunteer Abdul, whose father was allegedly beaten to death. Ranka alleged that Abdul and his family were targeted after he returned from the Jantar Mantar protest and became involved in the groups Fix Our Schools campaign.He further alleged that the family faced repeated attacks and claimed that police failed to provide adequate protection. The allegations have not been independently verified.
Bengal BJP battles to prevent Trinamoolisation of party
Three months after winning power in West Bengal, the BJP is confronting a significant political challenge: how to expand and consolidate its presence without adopting the very political culture it campaigned against, particularly concerning the integration of former TMC leaders and the need to curb practices like extortion and intimidation among its own cadres.
Over 4,000 criminal cases against legislators; 326 MPs, 14 CMs face cases
A report on criminalisation of politics submitted in the Supreme Court has stated that 251 members out of 543 in the Lok Sabha and 75 lawmakers out of 233 in the Rajya Sabha have criminal cases against them. The affidavit filed in the apex court by senior advocate Vijay Hansaria, who has been appointed amicus curiae in a PIL seeking expeditious disposal of criminal cases against MPs and MLAs, said that there are over 4,000 criminal cases against Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs). The affidavit stated that the chief ministers of 14 states, out of 28, have declared criminal cases, including serious ones. According to the data, Telangana CM Anumula Revanth Reddy has 89 cases against him, followed by West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari, who has 29 cases, and Karnataka CM D K Shivakumar, who has 19 cases. Hansaria submitted that despite monitoring of cases by the top court and high courts to ensure expeditious trials, the number of pending criminal cas
Baazar Style Retail locked at 5% upper circuit for 3rd day; here's why
Established in 2013, Baazar Style Retail is a value fashion retailer, based out of Kolkata. It has a strong retail footprint across Eastern India, with a dominant presence in West Bengal.
False claim, Minor injury: West Bengal Police denies brutal assault of CJP activists deceased father
CJP officials and Sheikh Abdul Hafiz stated that he had been intimidated by some goons backed by the local BJP MLA Nirmal Dhara, since he returned from the CJPs protest in Delhis Jantar Mantar
West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari laid the foundation stone for the company's greenfield integrated steel manufacturing project in Raghunathpur in West Bengal's Purulia district
Jharkhand Governments Delay Criticized by West Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh
Kolkata, August 18: West Bengal minister Dilip Ghosh has reacted sharply to the Jharkhand governments decision to cancel the JSSC-CGL exam and all tests conducted by TDP. He stated that the government should have made this decision two weeks ago, avoiding unnecessary drama that has troubled students. Ghosh questioned, Why did the Jharkhand government take ... Read more Jharkhand Governments Delay Criticized by West Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh
Criminal Cases Against Netas: 4,192 Trials Pending, 170 Lok Sabha MPs Face Serious Charges
A 96-page report submitted to the Supreme Court by amicus curiae Vijay Hansaria has revealed the scale of serious criminal cases pending against Indias elected representatives. The report says 14 of 28 Chief Ministers face serious criminal cases, with Telanganas A Revanth Reddy topping the list with 89 cases. West Bengal has the highest share of MLAs facing serious cases at 58 percent. As of July 2026, 4,192 criminal cases against sitting and former MPs and MLAs remain pending. The amicus has sought special courts and active High Court monitoring.
1 killed, 19 injured after building collapses in Kolkata; rescue operations underway
Fire breaks out on 2nd-floor extended terrace of ATC building at Kolkata airport
TMC MP Mahua Moitra moves privilege notice over late-night order to vacate WB circuit house
Mahua Moitra filed a privilege notice against three West Bengal officials. She alleged a serious breach of protocol and contemptuous conduct occurred. Officials asked her to vacate a circuit house late at night on August 14. Moitra stated this was part of a larger effort to impede her duties. She sought the Speaker's protection from intimidation and harassment.
Health Ministry backs NMC action on work-hour violations
Srinagar, Aug 17:The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has informed Parliament that the National Medical Commission (NMC) has the power to take action against medical colleges and institutions violating reasonable working hour rules. The statement came in a written reply by Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel in the Lok Sabha. In response to questions linked to a National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) case and reports of excessive duty hours, Patel said under the Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations (PGMER), 2023, NMC can take action against the medical colleges not adhering to work and rest hour rules. In her reply, the Minister stated: Case No 441/90/0/2025 of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) was referred to Ministry to submit the action taken report on a complaint dated March 17, 2025. The matter was examined in the Ministry in consultation with National Medical Commission (NMC) and submitted the report to NHRC. It was stated that as per regulation 5.2 (ii) of the PGMER, 2023, All post-graduate students will work as full time resident doctors. They will work for reasonable working hours and will be provided reasonable time for rest in a day. The NMC is empowered to take action against the concerned medical college or institution, as per specified under Regulation 9.2 of the PGMER, 2023. Patel has also clarified the constitutional position, stating that public health and hospitals is a state subject and that the respective state governments or UT administrations prescribe norms for doctors working hours. They are also responsible for setting service conditions and the duty rosters in the concerned institutions. The parliamentary response also addressed the situation at R G Kar Medical College, Kolkata. The minister said, The incident at R G Kar Medical College, West Bengal was taken up by the Honble Supreme Court of India in SMW (Crl) No 2 of 2024, wherein the court had constituted a National Task Force (NTF) to formulate recommendations for redressal of the issues regarding safety, well-being and working conditions of medical professionals. The report of NTF had been submitted to the court in November 2024. She said that the NMC Anti-Ragging Committee had met on August 14, 2024, to discuss the various aspects of safety and working conditions of medical students and resident doctors. As an immediate step, the NMC issued an Advisory dated August 13, 2024, to all medical colleges and institutions. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Directorate General of Health Services had also directed all Central Government hospitals and institutes, includinbg AIIMS to ensure filing of institutional FIRs within a maximum of six hours in cases of violence against doctors and healthcare personnel. Advisories had also been issued to states and UTs on August 23, 2024, and September 3, 2024, urging a ramp-up of security to medicos, and safer working environments, especially females. The ministers reply is significant in view of the rising incidents of persistent complaints that postgraduate residents in several medical colleges. The medicos have alleged that they are being made to work 80-100 hours a week. This is far beyond what many consider reasonable. A Public Interest Litigation filed by the United Doctors Front in the Supreme Court seeks enforcement of the Ministrys own 1992 directive limiting resident doctors duty to 12 hours a day, and not more than 48 hours a week. The petition had cited the National Task Force report on the mental health of medical students. It recorded over 150 suicides in 5 years. These, as per the PIL were largely linked to work-related stress and sleep deprivation. The Supreme Court had recently adjourned the hearing after the Centres counter-affidavit was not placed on record. The case is listed for 17 September. In J&K, resident doctors at Government Medical College Jammu, Government Medical College Srinagar and other medical colleges have welcomed the ministrys clear restatement. Several postgraduate students described the ministers written reply as an important official acknowledgment. Reasonable working hours and reasonable time for rest, they said, are obligations on the institutions, they said. A resident from GMC Srinagar said, We welcome this statement. What we need now is a transparent, independent audit of actual duty hours, duty rosters and rest periods across all medical colleges in J&K. Only an audit will show how far the ground reality has drifted from the regulations. He urged both the NMC and the J&K Health and Medical Education Department must invoke the penal provisions under Regulations 9.1 and 9.2 of the PGMER, 2023 against non-complying institutions.
Demands for Investigation into Ashish Banerjees Death Intensify
Kolkata, August 18: Ritabrata Banerjee, the leader of the opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, has raised concerns regarding the death of Ashish Banerjee. He has also addressed allegations against Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and MP Kirti Azad. In a conversation with a news agency on Monday, Ritabrata Banerjee stated, We are demanding an investigation ... Read more Demands for Investigation into Ashish Banerjees Death Intensify
Tragic Fire at Tarapith Hotel Claims Eight Lives, Including Five from One Family
Kolkata, August 18: The death toll from the fire at a hotel in Tarapith, Birbhum district of West Bengal, has risen to eight, according to police reports. Among the deceased are five members of a family from Meghalaya who had come to the sacred city to worship at the Tara Temple. The family was staying ... Read more Tragic Fire at Tarapith Hotel Claims Eight Lives, Including Five from One Family
West Bengal Police deny assault claims after Abdul Hafiz
The News Mill
Hotel fire kills 9 pilgrims in temple town Tarapith
Two Leaders from Bengal Join BJPs National Executive Committee
Kolkata, August 18: Following a significant victory in recent elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has appointed two prominent leaders from West Bengal to its National Executive Committee. This move underscores the importance of the partys West Bengal unit to its national leadership. Among the new appointees is Manoj Tigga, the BJP Member of Parliament ... Read more Two Leaders from Bengal Join BJPs National Executive Committee
Moitra seeks privilege action against officials over eviction
Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has moved a privilege notice before Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla against three senior officials, alleging a serious breach of protocol and contemptuous conduct after she was asked to vacate a circuit house in West Bengal's Krishnanagar late in the night on August 14.
No forcible land acquisition, says CM Suvendu Adhikari
Deletion of parents names from voter list cant decide students EWS eligibility: HC
5 of a Meghalaya family among 9 killed in Tarapith fire
Afternoon Rallies, Rain Choke Kolkata Traffic
Blazing entrance, locked exit: Guests climb down 47-ft tree & pipes to escape
Russa Road Building Balcony Collapses, Man Dies
50-100 mm Rain In 24 Hours Across Kolkata
BJP Yuva Morcha neta in food payment dispute
