West Bengal Minister Visits Indore to Learn About Cleanliness Models
Mumbai, August 21: West Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh has arrived in Indore to gather detailed information about the citys exemplary cleanliness records established by the Indore Municipal Corporation. Indore has consistently been recognized as Indias cleanest city for nearly eight consecutive years. Ghosh stated, Bengal has a BJP government. For the past 50 years, the ... Read more West Bengal Minister Visits Indore to Learn About Cleanliness Models
Trial by fire: On fire accidents in West Bengal
West Bengal should rebuild its crumbling, hazardous infrastructure
Will return later: Many from Bangladesh defer treatment
Right to dissent primary condition of democracy: Samik
JU Professors, Alumni Condemn Violence and Vandalism
JU ABVP chief among injured in hosp
30 retd jawans, 55 guards responsible for security of 15k on 58-acre campus
Battle of emblems: JU logo, designed by Nandalal, damaged in campus clash
Kajal resigns from zilla parishad post
Bengal STF arrests Siliguri man from Delhi over ISI-linked FICN network
Suvendu announces Rs 18L compensation for 2 deaths in flood-hit Sabang
Murder-bid FIR against 11 Left union students
Titumir Sabhagriha renamed Syama Prasad Bhavan in Barasat, sparks row
Amit Shah announces Cabinet decision to set up J-K High Court bench in Ladakh
New Delhi [India], August 20 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said the Union Cabinet, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has decided to set up a bench of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir in Ladakh. He said the move will improve access to justice for people living in remote areas of Ladakh by reducing the time required to avail legal services. In a post on X, Shah wrote, The Union Cabinet, under the leadership of the PM Shri @narendramodi Ji, has decided to set up a bench of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir in Ladakh. He said the government is committed to the overall development of Ladakh and ensuring constitutional safeguards for the Union Territory. This will significantly enhance access to justice for citizens living in remote areas of Ladakh by reducing the time required to avail themselves of the legal services they are entitled to. The Govt is fully committed to the all-round development of Ladakh and to ensuring constitutional safeguards, the post read. On August 5, 2019, the Centre abrogated Articles 370 and 35A, which granted special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. Following the move, the state was reorganised into two separate Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir, with a legislature and Ladakh, without a legislature. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved two significant infrastructure projects aimed at bolstering connectivity and economic growth. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) gave the green light to four major railway multitracking projects across West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu with an estimated cost of Rs 9,450 crore. Additionally, the Cabinet approved the upgradation of the Muzaffarpur-Sitamarhi-Sonbarsa section of NH-22 in Bihar to a four-lane standard, involving a capital investment of Rs 3,590.73 crore. (ANI)
2 injured in blast at illegal firecracker unit in Champahati
HC refuses to quash case against stone trader Tulu Mondal
Howrah police arrests ex-TMC councillor from UP
6-month-old baby goes missing from moving train, found alive on tracks
Explosion at Firecracker Factory in Champahati Injures Five
Kolkata, August 20: An explosion at a firecracker manufacturing unit in Champahati, located in the South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, injured five people on Thursday. Among the injured, two individuals are in critical condition; they have been identified as Padmarani Naskar (52) and Abbas Ghazi. According to police reports, all injured were initially ... Read more Explosion at Firecracker Factory in Champahati Injures Five
1,761 human deaths, 753 elephant deaths in Bengal in 25 years: Study
Tarakeswar civic body ex-chief arrested after weeks on run, granted bail
HC extends stay on demolition of Abhisheks Amtala office
Brahmaputra Infrastructure emerges L-1 for Rs 78-cr West Bengal project
Brahmaputra Infrastructure said it has been declared the lowest bidder (L-1) for a civil construction project worth Rs 78.09 crore in West Bengal.
Five injured in blast at firecracker factory in West Bengal
A blast occurred at a firecracker unit in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district. Five individuals sustained injuries following the explosion at the Champahati area factory. A subsequent fire engulfed the unit, producing thick smoke visible to locals. Fire brigade teams promptly arrived at the scene to manage the situation. An investigation is currently underway to determine the blast's exact cause.
5 injured in blast at firecracker factory in Bengal's South 24 Parganas
No fire exits, locked windows: How Kolkata's 'Mini Bangladesh' budget hotels house patients
100 days of governments in Keralam, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal
Here is a collection of articles from The Hindu as governments in Keralam, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal complete 100 days in power
Hotel lease-holder arrested, two detained after Kolkata hotel inferno kills nine
Of the nine, five are Bangladeshi nationals and one each from Bihar and West Bengal; two victims are yet to be indentified; the hotels owner, Bireshwar Mitra, is still absconding, said police.
ABVP, Left-wing students clash at Kolkata's Jadavpur University; several injured | VIDEO
Tensions erupted at the Jadavpur University in West Bengal's capital Kolkata following a clash between supporters and members of Left-wing organisations and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), causing injuries to several students.
ABVP, Left-leaning student groups clash on Jadavpur University campus; several injured
Former Trinamool Leader Uttam Kundu Arrested in West Bengal
Kolkata, August 20: The police in West Bengals Hooghly district have arrested Uttam Kundu, the former head of the Tarakeswar Municipality. Authorities reported that Kundu had been on the run for some time. Uttam Kundu is currently associated with the Ritabrata Banerjee faction of the Trinamool Congress. He faces multiple charges, including corruption and extortion. ... Read more Former Trinamool Leader Uttam Kundu Arrested in West Bengal
West Bengal Court issues arrest warrant against TMC MP Mahua Moitra for repeated non-appearance
A court in West Bengals Nadia district on Wednesday issued an arrest warrant against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra after she repeatedly failed to appear before it in an alleged hate speech case despite being served summons. The 3rd Judicial Magistrate at Krishnanagar directed immediate issuance of the warrant and fixed August 28, 2026, for [] The post West Bengal Court issues arrest warrant against TMC MP Mahua Moitra for repeated non-appearance appeared first on India Legal .
Citizenship Rules 2026: District collectors empowered to grant citizenship
The Union Home Ministry has authorised district collectors in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh to process and grant citizenship through registration or naturalisation to eligible applicants
The MHA order is significant as the amendments to the CAA Rules, which first came into effect on March 11, 2024, have been notified after the BJP came to power in West Bengal this year
Bengal CM Adhikari thanks PM Modi for approval of crucial railway project
Kolkata, Aug 20 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the approval of a crucial railway line project connecting Kharagpur in the state with Bhadrak in neighbouring Odisha. I convey my sincere gratitude to the Union Cabinet chaired by the Honble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji for []
Kolkata hotel fire: Leaseholder of Hotel Shikha Inn Abu Zafar arrested
District collectors in six border states, J-K and Ladakh empowered to grant citizenship
New Delhi, Aug 20: The Union home ministry on Wednesday authorised district collectors in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, West Bengal, Assam and Tripura (except tribal areas), and Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh to grant naturalised citizenship to fit and proper applicants ordinarily residing in these regions. The government notified the Citizenship (Third Amendment) Rules 2026 on Wednesday, granting district collectors in these states and UTs the authority to process citizenship-seeking applications for egistration or naturalisation. . The district collectors in these states will replace the Empowered Committees and Designated Officers that previously held these powers. In the gazette notification, the Home Ministry has authorised district collectors in these areas to eceive, scrutinise, and dispose of such applications in accordance with the laid-down parameters. The new rules apply to citizenship-seeking applicants ordinarily residing in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, West Bengal, Assam, and Tripura, as well as the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. In Assam and Tripura, the rules specifically exclude tribal areas. The new rules designate the district collector as the competent authority to receive requests for registration or naturalisation electronically. The government has directed that all applications currently pending with those committees or District Level Committees in the specified regions be immediately transferred to the relevant collector. Upon submission, the system will generate an automated acknowledgement. The collector will then verify all submitted documents and conduct any inquiries necessary to determine the applicant's suitability. The Collector shall verify the documents submitted by the applicant, along with the application, conduct such enquiry as he considers necessary for ascertaining the suitability of the applicant, administer the oath of allegiance as specified in the Second Schedule to the Act and satisfy himself regarding the eligibility of the applicant under section 6B, the notification said. If the collector is satisfied that an applicant is a fit and proper person, they are authorised to grant Indian citizenship directly. As part of the final steps, the collector must administer the oath of allegiance as prescribed by the Act. However, the new rules maintain strict requirements for applicants to appear in person. In case an applicant fails to appear in person to subscribe the application and take the oath of allegiance despite giving reasonable opportunities, the Collector shall reject the application, said the notified rules. The government has also rescinded previous orders except as respects things done or omitted to be done before such rescission.
9 die in Kolkata hotel fire; Bengal minister says Bangladeshis among those dead
At least nine people, including a four-year-old child, died and six were injured in an early Wednesday fire at a dingy five-storey building on Mirza Galib Street in central Kolkata that housed several hotels, 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. According to a senior official, 80 people have been rescued from the five-storey building. Speaking to PTI, Fire Department Minister Kaushik Chowdhury said the identities of those killed are yet to be established. The deceased include both Indians and Bangladeshi nationals, he said after visiting the site. We are trying to establish their identities. The situation inside this building is very bad. There are several hotels inside this building. I am shocked to see what was going on here, Chowdhury said. Asked about the cause of the fire, the minister said that it could be because of a short circuit. But a forensic examination would reveal what led to the blaze, he said.. The building management did not comply with basic safety and construction norms. It is alleged that there were several irregularities in the functioning of the hotel, the minister added. The injured have been taken to a nearby hospital. 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, but the building is very, very hot. The cooling process is underway, he added. West Bengal Fire Department headquarters is located close to the hotel building.. Another police officer said the building owner is currently absconding. A case is being registered at the New Market police station, with police initiating proceedings against the owner, he said, adding that police have begun raids at the owners residence as part of efforts to trace him. An investigation is underway to determine the circumstances that led to the fire and whether safety regulations were violated. According to the Chief Ministers Office, CM Suvendu Adhikari is likely to visit the site of the fire.
Mysterious Death of Elderly Woman in Asansol Leads to Police Custody of Son and Daughter-in-Law
Asansol, August 20: A suspicious death of an elderly woman occurred in Asansol, West Bengal, on Wednesday. The police have taken her younger son and daughter-in-law into custody for questioning amid suspicions of murder. The incident took place in the Kalipahari area of the Asansol South police station jurisdiction. The deceased has been identified as ... Read more Mysterious Death of Elderly Woman in Asansol Leads to Police Custody of Son and Daughter-in-Law
At least 5 from Bangladesh among 9 who choke to death in sleep in central Kolkata lodge fire
Tragic Hotel Fire in Kolkata: A Result of Negligence, Claims Chief Minister
Kolkata, August 20: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari sharply criticized the previous Trinamool Congress government led by Mamata Banerjee following a tragic hotel fire on Mirza Ghalib Street in central Kolkata. The incident has claimed the lives of nine individuals so far. In a social media post on Wednesday, the Chief Minister attributed this ... Read more Tragic Hotel Fire in Kolkata: A Result of Negligence, Claims Chief Minister
No KMC building panel meet in 6 months, over 300 city realty projects stuck
Shopping day ends in nightmare as fire claims Bdeshi scribes family
E Kol school shut day after snakebite, student safe
Family runs another hotel nearby, owner at large
ATC fire at Kolkata airport exposes lack of backup control facility
Fire tragedy latest blow to Mini Bangladesh
State drops after-hours census duty order for schoolteachers
Islampur lawyers save HC documents, huddle on terrace before rescue
Its a free-for-all on Free School Street, where violations exceed rules
Dad saves son, escapes from burning building after going back to retrieve passports
30-min wait on parapet our longest half an hour, says couple
UP duo jumps 15ft from 2nd floor, cheats death
KOZYNAP Accelerates Retail Expansion with Fully Customized Sleep Solutions
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], August 19: Building on its rapidly expanding retail and hospitality presence, KOZYNAP, one of East India's fastest emerging mattress brands, is now entering its next phase of growth, strengthening its manufacturing ecosystem while expanding its footprint across India and preparing to enter newer international markets.
Fire Brigade HQ 40m Away, Response Takes 1 Min But Alls Lost Before Help Arrives
On First Job, JKhand Teen Only Staffer To Die In Hotel Fire
Dhaka calling Kolkata: Phone calls from home wake up Bangladeshi guests to news of tragedy
Kolkata hospitals stand by Bangla patients
Bengal cabinet moves to unlock land for industrial units
State drops after-hours census duty orderfor school teachers
Greater Logistics Efficiency: PM Modi On New Railway, Highway Projects
PM Modi said a major boost has been given to railway infrastructure and connectivity across Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
Rs 2 lakh aid given to kin of 5 killed in
Shillong, Aug 19:The State government on Wednesday handed over Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia each to the families of five Meghalaya residents who died in a hotel fire near Tarapith Temple in West Bengal. The cheques were given by Border Areas Development Minister Brening A. Sangma at the victims residence in Dalu, West Garo Hills, in [] The post Rs 2 lakh aid given to kin of 5 killed inWest Bengal hotel fire first appeared on Highland Post .
5-member fire audit panel, SIT formed
Malda hospital worker alleges rape by supervisor
Court issues arrest warrant against Mahua Moitra
Bengal police constable results put on hold till Sep 30 by Calcutta high court over EWS quota row
The minister said the government was investing in integrated civic systems and modern infrastructure.
West Bengal Hotel Fire: Official Suspended for Safety Clearance After Tragic Incident
Kolkata, August 19: An official from the fire department has been suspended following a tragic fire incident at the Bideshini hotel in Tarapith, Birbhum district, which resulted in the deaths of nine people. Fire Station Officer Abhay Chaudhary had granted clearance to the hotels fire fighting system after conducting an inspection. In response to this ... Read more West Bengal Hotel Fire: Official Suspended for Safety Clearance After Tragic Incident
Massive fire at Kolkata hotel: 9 people, including 5 Bangladeshi nationals, killed
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari ordered the formation of a five-member special investigation team (SIT) immediately to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into this incident
Centre clears 9,450 crore for 410-km rail projects across four states
Four multitracking projects across West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu will add nearly 410 km to the railway network and ease congestion
Bengaluru bye bye: Bangladeshi journalists final post emerges after Kolkata fire kills family
No Respect For Court: Arrest Warrant Against Mahua Moitra In Hate Speech Case
A West Bengal court has issued an arrest warrant against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra for allegedly failing to comply with repeated summons in a hate speech case. The case relates to remarks she made at a news conference in Nadia in August 2025 while discussing infiltration along the India-Bangladesh border. The 3rd Judicial Magistrate at Krishnanagar directed that the warrants execution report be submitted on August 28. The court noted Moitras repeated non-compliance with summons and her lawyers statement that she would not appear, citing fears of heckling outside the court. Moitra has maintained that her remarks were figurative and denied any intention to encourage violence.
WB may separate land, industry policies to boost investments: MoS Industry
The West Bengal government is likely to come out with separate policies for land and industry to attract investments in the state, a minister said on Wednesday. The proposed industry policy will incorporate measures to boost exports, he said. Export policy will be a part of the industry policy, but the land policy will be separate, state Industry Minister Tapas Roy told PTI on the sidelines of the BigMint India Ferrous Week 2026 conference. Roy heads a group of ministers (GoM) examining these policies. The proposed separation of the land policy from the industrial one marks a shift from the perception that industrial land issues would be addressed as part of the upcoming industry policy. Land availability has been one of the key issues discussed by the state government and industry stakeholders as Bengal seeks to attract fresh investments and expand its industrial base. The government has been examining alternative approaches to making land easily available for industry, includ
Border security top focus of Shahs 3-day Siliguri visit
ISI-linked spy ring probe: STF makes 4th arrest
Bengal court issues arrest warrant against Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra in hate speech case
Kolkata, Aug 19 (IANS) A court in West Bengals Krishnanagar issued an arrest warrant against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra in a case of controversial comments regarding the Indian Army on Wednesday. It is alleged that Mahua did not appear in court despite being summoned several times in this case. That is why an arrest []
Railway projects worth 9,450 crore approved across West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh
The projects are expected to ease congestion, improve passenger and freight connectivity, and expand rail capacity across key eastern and southern corridors.
Cabinet approves 4 multitracking projects across West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Wednesday approved four Railway Ministry projects costing about Rs 9,450 crore. The projects encompass a cumulative length of 410 km across Odisha, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, also approved upgradation of the Muzaffarpur-Sitamarhi-Sonbarsa section of NH-22 in Bihar to four-lane standard, at an estimated cost of Rs 3,590.73 crore.It holds significant strategic and economic relevance because it integrates with Bihar's expanding National Highway network.
Kolkata hotel fire: Nine killed, SIT formed to probe blaze
A Kolkata hotel fire on Mirza Ghalib Street killed nine people, including a child, and saw around 60 others rescued. Kolkata Police has formed an SIT to probe the blaze, while the West Bengal government plans checks on hotel permits and fire licences
It was like a horror movie: Kolkata hotel fire survivors recount night of terror
Centre approves major railway expansion projects worth Rs 9,450
The Centre has approved four major multitracking railway projects worth Rs 9,450crore, including KatakaParadeep and BhadrakHaridaspur lines. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the projects expanding the Indian Railways network by about 410km across eight districts in Odisha, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. The [] The post Centre approves major railway expansion projects worth Rs 9,450crore, boosting Odishas connectivity appeared first on Pragativadi I Latest Odisha News in English I Breaking News .
West Bengal poised for industrial expansion with cluster-led strategy: PHDCCI
A new industry report highlights manufacturing clusters, export infrastructure and sector-focused investments as key drivers of future growth.
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
Bengal STF arrests third associate in suspected ISI case
West Bengal Police STF has arrested Zafar Sams alias Sunny, the third alleged local associate of Pakistani national Wahab Alam, who was arrested earlier this month over suspected links with Pakistans ISI
