Month: April 2025

The death toll in Bihar’s Nalanda district has risen to 23, following storm and rains wreaking havoc in the area, the District Magistrate said on Friday.

Earlier, the death toll reported in Nalanda was 22 following the devastating storm and rains.

21 people had died as a result of thunderstorms, with DM Shubhankar confirming to ANI that atleast 1 person died due to lightning while others died due to being buried at different places.

“23 people have died in Nalanda. Out of which one died due to lightning and others died due to being buried at different places,” the Nalanda DM Shashank Shubhankar told ANI.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has also directed compensation for the families of the victims, and a team has been sent to assess the crop and housing damage in the area.

“Action is being taken to compensate all the families as per the instructions of the Chief Minister, and most of the people have been given compensation. Along with this, the team has gone out to assess the crop damage and house damage,” the DM said.

He said that the work of restoring the 18 kilometres of Low-Tension lines (LT) and 200 electricity poles is ongoing and will be completed by this evening.

“There was a challenge to restore the power system because more than 18 kilometres of LT line and more than 300 electricity poles have been uprooted, so it is being restored… All the system will be normal by this evening,” he added.

A compensation of Rs 4 Lakh has been announced to the families of the deceased.

In addition to the loss of human lives, significant damage has also been reported to homes, livestock, and agricultural crops, DM Shubhankar stated, adding that officials will begin an assessment of property and crop damage on Friday, after which compensation for the same will be provided.

The powerful storm, which uprooted trees and brought down structures across the region, led to fatalities in multiple blocks of Nalanda.

According to the officials, a massive Peepal tree collapsed onto a temple in the Nagma village of the district, killing several people who had gathered to take shelter following the rain and storm. The villagers of the area have claimed a delay in giving them compensation of Rs 4 lakhs.

“Compensation has not been received, nothing has been received. Someone had come to meet us; some officers from the government came to the police and identified them. They took our aadhar cards for identifying the deceased,” said one of the villagers in Nagma.

A total of 80 people have lost their lives following storms in different regions of Bihar.

Bihar’s Minister of Disaster Management, Vijay Kumar Mandal, said that the government is taking the matter really seriously.

Mandal told ANI, “So far, the death toll stands at 80…Chief Minister has announced compensation, we are providing Rs 4 Lakhs each to the bereaved families. People have suffered losses to thunderstorm and rain, farmers too have suffered losses. We are making arrangements for that too. The government is very serious about this, and we will work on it.” (ANI)

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday staged a protest against the Waqf (Amendment) Act and said that the Act is not acceptable to Muslims and is against Muslims.

PDP leader Mohammad Iqbal Trumboo said that the party is opposing the Waqf (Amendment) Act.

“We are opposing the Waqf (Amendment) Act… We are taking this fight to the streets so that the Supreme Court and the Central government know that

this Act is not acceptable to Muslims and is against Muslims,” Trumboo told ANI.

PDP leader Abdul Qayoom said that the Waqf (Amendment) Bill has been passed in the parliament without any discussions.

“PDP is against the act, and there is no need for the act…They have taken away our lands, mosques and graveyards…Kashmiris are standing in support of every Muslim of the nation,” Qayoom told ANI.

Earlier, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Mehbooba Mufti criticized Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the BJP over the Waqf Amendment Act, saying that the BJP is attacking the “Muslims left, right, and centre.”

“The drama created by the ruling party in the assembly from the last three days, and what we saw in the Tulip Garden, is shameful. The BJP is attacking the Muslims of the country left, right, and centre. By welcoming and entertaining Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, the CM has sent a message to all Muslims of the country that the J&K government supports the Waqf Amendment…,” Mufti told reporters.

On April 5, President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which Parliament passed during the budget session.

The Rajya Sabha passed the Bill on April 4 with 128 votes in favour and 95 against, while the Lok Sabha cleared the bill after a lengthy debate, with 288 members voting in favour and 232 opposing it.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, seeks to focus on improving the management of waqf properties, empowering relevant stakeholders to this, improving the efficiency of survey, registration, and case disposal processes, and developing waqf properties. (ANI)

Uttar Pradesh is witnessing a remarkable transformation where religious tourism is driving both economic growth and employment. From the spiritual vibrance of Kashi, the abode of Lord Shiva, to the divine aura of Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Ram, faith-based destinations are now emerging as thriving centers of opportunity, providing livelihoods to lakhs and revitalizing the local economy.

The Mahakumbh in Tirtharaj Prayagraj was a shining example of this. While the government had projected a turnout of 35 to 40 crore devotees and tourists over the one-and-a-half-month-long event–the largest religious gathering in the world–more than 66 crore people participated.

Many of them not only visited Prayagraj but also extended their journey to other spiritual sites such as Kashi, Ayodhya, Shringverpur (where Nishadraj helped Lord Ram cross the Ganga), Chitrakoot (where Ram spent significant time during his exile), and Vindhyachal (home to the revered Maa Jagdamba temple).

Recognizing the immense potential of these spiritual destinations, the Yogi government has consistently invested in infrastructure, safety, and visitor-friendly amenities.

The result is clear. Uttar Pradesh has been setting new records in tourism year after year. Since 2022, it has held the top position in the country for domestic tourist arrivals. Government data reveals that in 2017, the state welcomed 24 crore tourists. By 2024, that number had soared to 65 crore–an extraordinary increase of 41 crore in just eight years. And with the Mahakumbh in 2025, all signs point to another historic milestone. Tourist footfall may reach one billion, setting a new spiritual and economic vibrancy benchmark in India’s heartland.

According to a Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi Chamber of Commerce report, over 60% of domestic travel in India is to religious destinations. Religious tourism not only drives economic growth but also fosters cultural exchange. To fully harness its potential, ensuring world-class infrastructure, seamless road and air connectivity, robust security, and quality services for visitors is essential. The Uttar Pradesh government is actively and seriously working on all these fronts.

This transformation didn’t happen overnight. The foundation was laid when Yogi Adityanath assumed office as Chief Minister in March 2017. At a time when political leaders avoided even mentioning Ayodhya, Yogi Adityanath made repeated visits to the city. Each visit brought with it major development announcements. The grand Deepotsav, organized on the eve of Diwali, rekindled national and global interest in Ayodhya.

Following the Supreme Court’s historic verdict on the Ram Mandir and the commencement of construction at Ram Janmabhoomi, the Modi government at the Centre and the Yogi government in the state began extensive development work to transform Ayodhya.

The Chief Minister has publicly declared his vision to make Ayodhya the most beautiful tourist city in the world–and work toward that vision is progressing rapidly. The same focused development approach is being applied to Kashi, Prayagraj, and the Braj region.

The connection between Ram and livelihood is profound–they go hand in hand. The BJP sharpened the Ram Mandir movement and made it a key pillar of cultural nationalism. When the Supreme Court’s verdict paved the way for Ram Lalla’s grand temple after a 500-year-long wait, the BJP was in power at both the Centre and Uttar Pradesh. Adding to this was the spiritual and political leadership of Yogi Adityanath, the Peethadheeshwar of the Gorakshapeeth in Gorakhpur–a spiritual center deeply tied to the Ram Mandir movement for nearly a century. (ANI)

Due to recent weather fluctuations over the past 24 hours, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an Orange Alert for thunderstorms, lightning, and hailstorm in four districts of Himachal Pradesh, while Yellow Alerts have been issued for four other districts.

According to weather reports, Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti, Mandi, Shimla, and Hamirpur witnessed thunderstorms and lightning accompanied by light to moderate rainfall in the last 24 hours. In terms of rainfall amount, Gohar in the Mandi district recorded the highest rainfall at 19 mm, followed by Pandokhar in Mandi with 14 mm. Other areas received light showers. Hailstorm activity was also recorded in Banjar (Kullu), Sundernagar (Mandi), and some parts of the Shimla district.

Just a few days ago, Sundernagar, Bhuntar, and Dharamshala experienced heatwave conditions, which now seem to have eased due to the recent rainfall.

As of Friday, thunderstorm and lightning activity was reported in Chamba, Kangra, Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Solan, and Shimla districts, with light morning rain recorded in several areas. Temperatures have dropped by 3 to 5 degrees Celsius compared to the previous day, bringing them closer to seasonal averages.

IMD officials expect this weather activity to continue throughout the day. There is a high chance of hailstorms, particularly in the Kullu, Mandi, Kangra, and Chamba districts. Thunderstorms and lightning are also likely in these regions.

“Thunderstorms, lightning, and hailstorms are likely in parts of Himachal Pradesh. An Orange Alert has been issued for districts with more intense activity, while Yellow Alerts are in place for areas expecting moderate weather events. People are advised to stay indoors during severe weather,” IMD scientist Sandeep Kumar Sharma said.

The Orange Alert remains in place for Kullu, Mandi, Kangra, and Chamba, while a Yellow Alert has been issued for Una, Bilaspur, Sirmaur, Solan, and Hamirpur.

Strong winds may also accompany the thunderstorm activity in these areas.

Looking ahead, on April 12, thunderstorms are expected in Kangra, Mandi, Sirmaur, and Shimla, with continued alerts in place for these middle hill districts. Temperature is expected to dip again on April 12, remaining close to seasonal normal levels. However, from April 13 to April 16, the weather is expected to remain clear across the state, bringing a brief respite.

In Shimla, the temperature has fallen below 25°C due to hailstorms and rain over the past 24 hours, with an overall drop of 4 to 5 degrees reported in several areas. (ANI)

Delhi Capitals (DC) wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul entered the top 10 run-getters in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Thursday, overtaking the current Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper Ajinkya Rahane and former Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik.

Rahul made this upward movement in charts during his side’s IPL 2025 clash against RCB at his home ground of M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday. During a tough run-chase of 164 runs in which DC was restricted to 58/4, he played a free-flowing, aggressive and 360-degree knock of 93* in 53 balls, with seven fours and three sixes. His runs came at a strike rate of 175.47.

Ever since his IPL debut in 2013, KL has scored 4,868 runs in 135 matches and 126 innings at an average of 46.36 and a strike rate of 135.67. He has also made four centuries and 39 fifties, with a best score of 132*. He is the 10th-highest run-getter in league’s history. The pinnacle of his batting in the IPL came in 2020, when he won the Orange Cap for most runs with Punjab Kings (PBKS), scoring 670 runs in 14 matches and innings at an average of 55.83 and a strike rate of 129.34, with a century and five fifties.

The right-hander is known to boast of an incredible record against RCB, a team which he represented in the 2013 and 2016 seasons, scoring 741 runs in 17 matches and 16 innings against them at an average of 74.10, with a strike rate of 147.31. He has scored a century and four fifties against RCB, with the best score of 132*.

In successful IPL run-chases, Rahul holds a record to behold and is in a league of his own, with 1,208 runs in 25 successful chases, at an average of 71.05, strike rate of 148.58 and 15 half-centuries, with his best score being 98*.

Of the 56 batters who have aggregated at least 500 runs in successful IPL chases, only David Miller has a higher average (1037 runs at 103.70).

After opting to bowl first, Delhi Capitals, led by the spin attack of Kuldeep Yadav (2/17) and Vipraj Nigam (2/18), restricted the home side to 163/7 in their 20 overs, with standout knocks played by Phil Salt (37 in 17 balls, with four boundaries and three sixes) and Tim David (37* in 20 balls, with two fours and four sixes). This happened despite a powerful 61-run stand between Salt and Virat Kohli (22 in 14 balls, with a four and two sixes),

Delhi Capitals were then reduced to 58/4, but Rahul, along with Tristan Stubbs, showed resistance as they compiled an unbeaten stand of 111 runs for the fifth wicket to take their team to a clinical win. Rahul played an unbeaten knock of 93 off 53, consisting of seven fours and six sixes, while Stubbs scored 38* off 23, with four boundaries and a six, in the team’s fourth win.

DC is at the second place with four wins in all of their four matches, while RCB sits in fourth spot with three wins in five matches and two losses.

KL secured the ‘Player of the Match’ award. (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and inaugurated various development projects worth over Rs 3,880 crore in Varanasi on Friday.

PM Modi was felicitated by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath as he reached the venue in his parliamentary constituency.

Speaking at an event in Varanasi, CM Yogi said that Kashi was also a witness to the grand organisation of the Maha Kumbh 2025.

“Following victories in assembly polls in Haryana, Maharashtra and Delhi, and the successful organisation of Maha Kumbh, the Prime Minister has arrived here in Kashi today. Kashi was also a witness to the grand organisation of the Maha Kumbh. In the last 11 years under PM Modi’s leadership, devotees were excited to visit the new Kashi. During the 45-day (Maha Kumbh), over 3 crore devotees offered prayers at Kashi Vishwanath Temple,” CM Yogi said.

This is the first visit of the Prime Minister to Varanasi after the completion of 8 years of CM Yogi-Adityanath-led UP Government.

In line with his commitment to infrastructure development, particularly enhancing road connectivity in Varanasi, he inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for various road projects in the region.

Furthermore, PM Modi laid the foundation stone for a road bridge between Varanasi Ring Road and Sarnath, flyovers at Bhikharipur and Manduadih crossings of the city and a highway underpass road tunnel on NH-31 at the Varanasi International Airport worth over Rs 980 crore.

The Prime Minister inaugurated two 400 KV and one 220 KV transmission substations and associated transmission lines in the Jaunpur, Chandauli, and Ghazipur districts of the Varanasi division, worth over Rs 1,045 crore.

He also laid the foundation stone of a 220 KV transmission substation at Chaukaghat, Varanasi, a 132 KV transmission substation in Ghazipur and an augmentation of the Varanasi city electricity distribution system worth over Rs 775 crore.

The Prime Minister inaugurated a Transit Hostel at the Police Line and barracks at the PAC Ramnagar Campus to improve security personnel’s facilities.

He also laid the foundation stone of new administrative buildings at various police stations and a residential hostel in Police Line.

The PM also inaugurated projects, including a Government Polytechnic College at Pindra, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Government College at the village Barki, 356 rural libraries, and 100 Anganwadi centres.

He also laid the foundation stone for the renovation of 77 primary school buildings under the Smart City Mission and the construction of a new building for Kasturba Gandhi School at Cholapur, Varanasi.

To promote sports infrastructure in the city, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for a synthetic hockey turf with floodlights and a spectator gallery at Uday Pratap College and a mini stadium at Shivpur.

PM Modi also inaugurated the redevelopment of Samne Ghat and Shastri Ghat at the Ganga River, 130 rural drinking water schemes under the Jal Jeevan Mission worth over Rs 345 crore, the improvement of six municipal wards of Varanasi, and landscaping and sculpture installations at various sites of Varanasi.

The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for MSME Unity Mall for artisans, infrastructure development works of Transport Nagar Scheme at Mohansarai, 1 MW solar power plant at WTP Bhelupur, Community halls in 40 Gram panchayats and beautification of various parks in Varanasi.

PM Modi also handed over Ayushman Vay Vandana cards to senior citizens for the first time in over 70 years. He also presented Geographical Indication (GI) certificates to various local items and products, including tabla, painting, thandai, and tiranga barfi, among others.

The Prime Minister also transferred over Rs 105 crore in bonuses to milk suppliers of Uttar Pradesh associated with Banas Dairy. (ANI)

By Ravi Jalhotra

Following the successful extradition of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana from the United States, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) faced a major challenge: keeping the entire transit operation under wraps due to credible threats from Pakistan-based terror groups.

Acting swiftly, a special team comprising senior NIA officials and NSG commandos departed from Los Angeles on a specially designated aircraft. To ensure Rana’s safety–and prevent any self-harm–one NIA official reportedly held his hand throughout the journey.

During the flight, elite intelligence personnel, air traffic control units, and commandos monitored the aircraft in real time, ensuring seamless coordination between Indian and U.S. agencies. The high-value extradition was handled with the utmost secrecy and precision.

According to sources, the plane made a refuelling halt before its final leg. It landed in Delhi later in the afternoon on Thursday.

In Delhi, extraordinary security protocols were enforced. As Rana was brought from Palam Air Base, Delhi Police’s security wing staff were asked to submit their mobile phones to prevent any leaks or unauthorized communication.

To avoid media glare, Rana was taken out of the airport through an alternate gate and transported in a non-transparent jail van. He was subsequently produced in court, where strict restrictions on cameras and mobile devices were in place.

‘Operation Rana’ is being seen as a significant intelligence and diplomatic victory, showcasing deep coordination and high-level security execution.

The 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused Tahawwur Rana will remain in the custody of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for 18 days, where he will be questioned in detail about the “complete conspiracy” behind the deadly 2008 attacks, said the agency.

The anti-terror agency has presented compelling evidence, including emails sent by 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused Tahawwur Rana, to justify his police custody. The agency informed the court that custodial interrogation is crucial to uncovering a sinister plot. Investigators will also examine Rana’s role in orchestrating the deadly terror attacks. (ANI)

Indian stock markets opened sharply higher on Friday, following a strong rally in the US markets on Wednesday.

The surge came after US President Donald Trump announced a 90-day postponement of reciprocal tariffs for 75 countries, including India, amid an escalating trade war with China.

The BSE Sensex jumped 1,061.26 points to open at 74,941.53, while the NSE Nifty climbed 354.90 points, starting the day at 22,754.05. The sharp uptick in Indian equities reflected improved investor sentiment after the temporary easing of global trade tensions.

Ajay Bagga, banking and market expert, explained, “Indian markets will open with a gap up largely due to the Wednesday US market surge following the Trump reciprocal tariffs postponement for 90 days. However, the Thursday fall in the US markets led to a fall in the Gift Nifty as well. Hence, versus a 700 plus rally on Wednesday, on Friday morning, the Gift Nifty premium to the domestic Nifty future close of Wednesday afternoon is down to 400 points, Si positive open but momentum is reduced.”

He added, “With Monday again being an Indian market holiday, positions will be reduced this afternoon. So a gap-up open could end with a flattish Indian market. The US dollar index falling to 100 levels ( DXY) is positive for EM flows eventually, but the sentiment is fragile and frayed. So, caution is advised. Gold has seen sustained inflows as safe haven buying has gone into gold, Japanese yen and Swiss Franc.”

The midweek rally in US markets came after President Trump announced an immediate increase in tariffs on Chinese goods to 125 per cent, in response to China’s decision to hike its tariffs on US goods from 34 per cent to 84 per cent, effective April 10.

At the same time, Trump announced a 90-day pause on imposing higher tariffs on 75 countries engaged in trade negotiations with the US, including India.

However, the optimism was short-lived. US markets reversed course on Thursday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling 1,014 points and the Nasdaq dropping by 4.5 per cent. The continued uncertainty surrounding global trade policy weighed heavily on investor sentiment.

Amid rising market volatility, gold prices in India surged to an all-time high of Rs91,500 per 10 grams as investors turned to safe-haven assets. The Japanese yen and Swiss franc also saw increased inflows.

The US Dollar Index (DXY) fell to 100, which could eventually benefit emerging markets, but analysts warned that sentiment remains fragile.

On the corporate front, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) reported earnings below market expectations, leading several brokerages to slash their target prices for the IT giant.

Adding to the global concerns, a White House official confirmed that China’s average tariff rate would rise to 145 per cent, further intensifying trade tensions.

With uncertainty looming large, experts are advising investors to proceed with caution despite the short-term rally in equities. (ANI)

The trailer for RajKummar Rao and Wamiqa Gabbi’s starrer romantic-comedy ‘Bhool Chuk Maaf’ has finally been released.

Makers took to their Instagram account on Thursday to share trailer for the rom-com giving fans what they can expect from the movie.

The two-minute, fifty-second trailer shows RajKummar as Ranjan, a man in love with Titli, played by Wamiqa. The clip opens with a police officer suggesting they get married before eloping again. However, Ranjan must secure a government job in two months to win over Titli’s family. The later part of the trailer shows the couple getting trapped in a time loop, stuck living their haldi ceremony over and over.

Along with the trailer, RajKummar added a caption that read, “Titli hai Ranjan ka pyaar; par haldi par atka hai uska sansaar. Toh dekhne zaroor aaiyega inki kahaani with parivaar.

Get ready for a bhasad wali shaadi where everything goes wrong…”

Take a look

Directed and written by Karan Sharma, Bhool Chuk Maaf marks the first on-screen pairing of RajKummar Rao and Wamiqa Gabbi. The film is presented by Dinesh Vijan’s Maddock Films along with Amazon MGM Studios. It will release in theatres on May 9.

Apart from Bhool Chuk Maaf, RajKummar Rao also has Maalik in his kitty. The film is produced by Kumar Taurani under the Tips Films banner and Jay Shewakramani’s Northern Lights Films. It will be released theatrically on June 20 later this year. (ANI)