A tragic stampede during Puri's Rath Yatra resulted in three fatalities, prompting an investigation into crowd control. Simultaneously, the MEA refuted Pakistan's accusations of Indian involvement in the Waziristan bombing. In the US, Trump's economic package advanced in the Senate amidst Republican divisions, setting the stage for further debate and potential House vote.
A cloudburst in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi has caused significant damage, leaving workers missing and disrupting the Char Dham Yatra. The pilgrimage has been suspended for 24 hours due to heavy rain alerts and weather-related risks. Landslides have blocked the Badrinath and Yamunotri highways, stranding pilgrims and prompting urgent rescue operations by NDRF and SDRF teams.
A deadly stampede near the Gundicha Temple in Puri during the Rath Yatra festival resulted in three fatalities and over 50 injuries. The chaos, attributed to poor crowd management and unauthorized vehicles, drew sharp criticism and prompted a government investigation. Eyewitnesses reported confusion and inadequate response, while former CM Patnaik slammed the administration's incompetence following the tragedy.
Shashi Tharoor appears to diverge from Rahul Gandhi's criticism of the RSS, acknowledging the historical context of Golwalkar's preference for Manusmriti while suggesting the RSS has evolved. This comes amid growing tensions between Tharoor and the Congress leadership, highlighted by cryptic social media posts and differing views on PM Modi's diplomacy, leading to indirect rebukes from party leaders.
A political storm has erupted in Maharashtra over the mandatory introduction of Hindi in schools. Deputy CM Eknath Shinde criticized Shiv Sena (UBT) for their shifting stance, while leaders like Aaditya Thackeray and Sharad Pawar opposed the move, citing concerns about overburdening students and sidelining the mother tongue.
Saquib Nachan, a convicted terrorist with links to ISIS, died at Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi while undergoing treatment. Nachan, who was serving time in Tihar Jail, had been transferred to the hospital due to his deteriorating health. He was convicted for his involvement in the 2002-03 Mumbai bomb blasts and was allegedly involved in promoting ISIS activities in India.
A sculpture attributed to Rabindranath Tagore, believed to be dedicated to Kadambari Devi, fetched Rs 1.04 crore at a Kolkata auction. Additionally, a collection of 35 handwritten letters from Tagore to sociologist Dhurjati Prasad Mukerji sold for Rs 5.9 crore. The sculpture, 'The Heart,' created in 1883, holds immense historical and artistic value.
Indian Railways is considering expanding the list of acceptable documents for IRCTC account authentication beyond Aadhaar, potentially including PAN Card, driving license, and voter ID via Digilocker. This update, possibly announced on Monday, aims to streamline Tatkal ticket bookings, which serve around 2.2 lakh passengers daily. The decision follows a review meeting chaired by Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has vehemently rejected accusations from the Pakistan Army linking India to a deadly suicide bombing in North Waziristan that killed 16 soldiers. The MEA dismissed the claims as contemptible, despite the Pakistan Taliban faction claiming responsibility for the attack. The bombing, which involved an explosives-laden vehicle, also injured dozens and damaged nearby homes.
Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has openly criticized her party colleagues, Kalyan Banerjee and Madan Mitra, for their controversial remarks regarding the Kolkata law college gang-rape case, emphasizing that misogyny transcends party lines in India. The AITC swiftly disassociated itself from the leaders' comments, condemning them strongly.
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian on the ISS, shared his experience with PM Modi, emphasizing Earth's unity from space and its alignment with India's values. PM Modi lauded Shukla's journey as a catalyst for India's Gaganyaan mission and future space endeavors. Shukla highlighted ongoing scientific experiments and inspired India's youth to pursue their dreams.
TMC leader Madan Mitra sparked outrage by seemingly blaming the victim in the Kolkata law college gang-rape case, suggesting she shouldn't have gone to the college when it was closed. His remarks drew strong condemnation amid public anger over the incident, which has triggered political backlash and comparisons to past failures. Opposition parties demand accountability and justice.
An Air India flight to Chennai made an emergency landing in Mumbai. The reason was a burning smell in the cockpit. Another Air India Express flight from Delhi to Jammu returned due to a technical problem. An alternative aircraft was arranged for the Delhi-Jammu passengers. These incidents follow the recent Air India-171 flight crash in Ahmedabad.
Shashi Tharoor addressed speculation about his strained relationship with the Congress party, stating any issues would be discussed privately. This follows cryptic social media posts and remarks praising PM Modi's diplomacy, which drew criticism from within the party. Congress leaders indirectly rebuked Tharoor, questioning his loyalty, while Tharoor maintained his comments reflected national interest.
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma advocated for removing «secularism» and «socialism» from the Constitution's Preamble, echoing RSS's suggestion. He believes these terms, added during the Emergency, contradict India's principles of Sarva Dharma Sambhava and its economic vision. Sarma urged the government to eliminate these words, viewing them as legacies of the Emergency that Prime Minister Modi is working to erase.
PM Modi engaged in a cheerful video call with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, India's newest space traveller, congratulating him on his historic achievement. Shukla shared that he brought 'gajar ka halwa', 'moong dal ka halwa', and 'aam ras' to share India's culinary heritage with his international teammates, who thoroughly enjoyed the treats.
Vishwa Hindu Parishad issued a warning regarding potential attacks on Kanwariyas during the upcoming Kanwar Yatra. VHP emphasized the Yatra's significance for national unity. The organisation also advocated for stopping religious conversions. They reiterated the demand to free temples from government control. VHP highlighted Bharat's progress towards a Hindutva-based renaissance.
