Month: April 2025

The festival of Vaishakh Amavasya is being celebrated with great devotion and enthusiasm in Haridwar, drawing an enormous crowd of devotees. The Ganga ghats, including Har Ki Pauri, are bustling with people who have gathered from all over the country to take a holy dip in the Ganga.

Devotees believe that this sacred bath ensures peace in their lives and brings continued blessings from God. The significance of bathing in the Ganges on Vaishakh Amavasya has attracted thousands of people to Haridwar, where they also participate in charitable acts, pujas, and other rituals.

One of the devotees who came from Rajasthan’s Jodhpur, Monica, said, “I’ve come here to bathe in the Ganges during Vaishakh Amavasya. It’s a very special time, and I feel a lot of devotion. That’s why we’ve come to the Ganga ghat. Jai Ganga Maya! Vaishakh is a very important occasion for us in our Hindu religion, and it brings great joy.”

Devotee Suman said, “I’ve come here to bathe in the Ganges on Vaishakh Amavasya. A lot of people are excited and bathing here because it brings happiness, peace, and makes our ancestors happy. There are so many people, but the experience is wonderful. Bathing in the Ganges brings joy and peace, and I encourage everyone to come here.”

Another devotee from Meerut, Amit, said, “I’ve come from Meerut. We visit Haridwar every year on Vaishakh Amavasya. It feels great to see so many devotees here, all coming to bathe for the peace of their ancestors. It’s so peaceful here, and I’m happy to be part of this. I believe the Ganga bath brings peace and happiness to your family. I’m grateful for this experience.”

The devotees who come to Haridwar on Vaishakh Amavasya to take a bath in the Ganga believe that bathing in the Ganga on this occasion has special significance. They believe that bathing in Maa Ganga blesses everyone, fulfils their wishes, and grants salvation. (ANI)

The Intelligence Bureau (IB) has handed over the list of around 5000 Pakistani nationals living in the national capital to the Delhi police to ensure these people return home.

The visas of Pakistan nationals have been revoked in the wake of the recent directive of the centre, prompted by a recent terrorist attack on tourists in the Pahalgam district of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Foreign Regional Registration Office (FRRO) has shared the list with a special branch of the Delhi police, and it was further shared with the district concerned for further verification and identification.

The list includes the names of Hindu Pakistan nationals who have Long Term Visas (LTVs) and are exempted.

“The list has been handed over to the district concerned for verification, and asked the Pak nationals to return to their homeland. Central and North East districts have a high number of Pakistani nationals living in the area,” said a senior official.

The official added that a meeting was called over the matter and Delhi police has been instructed to take immediate action on the matter. Senior officers are monitoring the situation.

The officers of the special branch of the Delhi police and the Intelligence Bureau have been entrusted to collect information about these Pakistani nationals residing in Delhi and ask them to leave India at the earliest.

Another officer confirmed that they have two lists of 3000 and 2000 Pakistan nationals staying in Delhi. There are certain names that overlap, and it is subject to verification of their stay as many Pakistan nationals have already left.

On Friday, MHA issued an order regarding the revocation of visas of Pakistan nationals except Medical, Diplomatic and Long-Term visas, with effect from April 27, 2025. The existing medical visas shall also stand invalid after April 29, 2025.

The government later clarified that LTVs already granted to Hindu Pakistani nationals will remain valid.

According to estimates, around 900 people are living near Majnu Ka Tila and 600-700 near Signature Bridge. (ANI)

As the nation continues to mourn and cries of outrage echo across the country following the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, a wave of calls from world leaders poured in as heads of state and government reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing their condolences, condemning the act and pleading support to India in its efforts to counter terrorism.

US President Donald Trump called PM Modi and conveyed condolences over the loss of innocent lives, condemning the attack and expressing his full support to India in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

Vice President JD Vance also called PM Modi and reiterated the US’s support for India in the fight against terrorism.

“President Donald Trump called PM Narendra Modi and conveyed his deepest condolences at the loss of innocent lives in the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. President Trump strongly condemned the terror attack and expressed full support to India to bring to justice the perpetrators of this heinous attack. India and the United States stand together in the fight against terror,” the Ministry of External Affairs stated on X.

“Vice President JD Vance called Prime Minister Narendra Modi and strongly condemned the dastardly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. He conveyed his deepest condolences on the loss of lives and reiterated that the United States stands with the people of India in this difficult hour. He expressed that the United States is ready to provide all assistance in the joint fight against terrorism. PM thanked Vice President Vance and President Trump for their messages of support and solidarity,” MEA further added.

Trump’s cabinet also condemned the attack, in which 26 innocent lives were lost. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Attorney General Pamela Bondi, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, Under Secretary of Defence Elbridge Colby, and others also condemned the terrorist and reaffirmed the US’s support for India.

President Mohamed Bin Zayed of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) also conveyed his condolences and expressed solidarity with India.

“President HH Mohamed Bin Zayed of UAE called PM Narendra Modi and conveyed condolences on the loss of lives in the barbaric terror attack on the Indian soil of Jammu & Kashmir. He strongly condemned the attack and expressed full solidarity and support with India. PM appreciated his sentiments and words of sympathy and support. Both leaders agreed that terrorism should be rejected in all its forms and manifestations. PM conveyed India’s strong resolve to bring the perpetrators of the heinous crime and their supporters to justice,” MEA stated on X.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also conveyed their solidarity with the victims’ families, offered condolences and extended support in counter-terrorism efforts.

“Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese called Prime Minister Narendra Modi and strongly condemned the dastardly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. He offered condolences on the loss of innocent lives and expressed solidarity with the people of India in this hour of grief. He extended all support in the fight against terrorism,” MEA posted on X.

“PM Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel called PM Narendra Modi and strongly condemned the terror attack on Indian soil. He expressed solidarity with the people of India, and the families of the victims. PM Modi shared the barbaric nature of the cross border terrorist attack and reiterated India’s firm resolve to bring the perpetrators and their supporters to justice,” MEA added.

French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also called upon PM Modi, extending support to India, expressing support and affirming cooperation on international platforms to combat terrorism.

“President Emmanuel Macron called Prime Minister Narendra Modi and conveyed his personal condolences on the brutal killing of innocent people in the heinous terror attack in the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. He strongly condemned the attack and expressed full support and solidarity with the people of India adding that this kind of barbarism is totally unacceptable. Prime Minister thanked him for his message of support and conveyed India’s strong resolve to bring the perpetrators to justice,” MEA stated.

“Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called Prime Minister Narendra Modi and strongly condemned the terrible terror attack on Indian soil. She conveyed her thoughts and prayers for the victims and wished a speedy recovery of those injured. She expressed full support of Italy in the fight against terrorism. PM Modi appreciated her call and the clear message of support against terrorism and those behind it. India and Italy will continue to work together including in international platforms to strengthen counter-terrorism efforts,” MEA added.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer also conveyed condolences and expressed support to India during this time, noting that terrorism cannot be justified.

“PM Shigeru Ishiba of Japan called PM Narendra Modi and expressed his deepest condolences at the loss of lives in the terror attack in the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. He said that terrorism cannot be justified. Both leaders emphasised that terrorism is a grave threat to humanity. Those who believe in democracy should stand united in the fight against terrorism. PM shared assessment of the cross-border terror attack and India’s resolve to deal with it firmly and decisively,” MEA stated on X.

“PM Keir Starmer of UK called PM Narendra Modi and conveyed his sincere condolences on the innocent lives lost in the heinous terror attack on Indian soil. He strongly condemned the barbaric terror attack and expressed that UK stands with the people of India in this hour of tragedy,” MEA added.

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Mauritius Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam also condemned the attack and reaffirmed their commitment to fight terrorism jointly with India.

PM Modi also conveyed his condolences on the death of the Nepali national in the attack.

“President Anura Kumara Disanayaka of Sri Lanka spoke with PM Narendra Modi and conveyed heartfelt condolences on the tragic loss of innocent lives in the terror attack on Indian soil in Pahalgam and unequivocally condemned the heinous act of terror. President Anura Kumara Disanayaka expressed Sri Lanka’s solidarity with India during this difficult time and reaffirmed the shared commitment to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” MEA noted on X.

“Prime Minister of Nepal Mr KP Sharma Oli called Prime Minister Narendra Modi to strongly condemn the heinous terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir and offered his sincere condolences on the loss of precious lives. PM Narendra Modi also conveyed his condolences on the death of a young Nepali national in the terror attack and underlined that India remains committed to bringing the perpetrators of the brutal terror attack to justice. India and Nepal stand together in the fight against terrorism,” MEA stated.

“Prime Minister of Mauritius Dr Navin Ramgoolam called Prime Minister Narendra Modi and offered his deepest condolences on the senseless killing of innocent people in the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. He strongly condemned the cowardly terror attack. He expressed support and solidarity with the people of India in this hour of grief and stated that the two countries remain united in the fight against terror,” MEA added.

Meanwhile, King Abdullah II of Jordan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Elsisi also conveyed condolences and said terrorism should be rejected in all its forms, reiterating their support to India.

“HM King Abdullah II of Jordan called PM Narendra Modi and strongly condemned the ghastly terror attack. He conveyed sincere condolences at the loss of innocent lives. He said that terrorism should be rejected in all its forms and manifestations and there can be no justification. PM thanked HM King Abdullah (II) for his message of solidarity and shared the sentiments of the people of India to take firm action against the perpetrators and those behind this heinous attack,” MEA stated.

“President of Egypt Abdel Fattah Elsisi called Prime Minister Narendra Modi and conveyed his sincere condolences on the loss of precious lives in the ghastly terror attack on Indian soil. He strongly condemned the terror attack. President Sisi reiterated that Egypt stands shoulder to shoulder with India in the fight against terrorism. PM briefed President Al Sisi about the cross-border terror attack, and thanked him for his support and solidarity,” it further mentioned.

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also conveyed condolences and support towards India. PM Modi also expressed his condolences for the recent incident in Bandar Abbas in Iran, where at least 14 people were killed and 750 others were injured following a massive explosion.

“PM Dick Schoof of Netherlands called PM Narendra Modi and conveyed condolences on the tragic and inhuman cross border terror attack in Pahalgam, India. He strongly condemned the cowardly act and rejected terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. PM Modi thanked PM for his words of support and solidarity and conveyed that India looks forward to closely working with Netherlands to strengthen the global fight against terrorism,” MEA stated on X.

“President Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran called PM Narendra Modi and strongly condemned the terror attack in the Indian Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir and conveyed his condolences for the victims. Both leaders agreed that there could be no justification for such acts of terror and all those who believe in humanity must stand together in the fight against terrorism. PM shared the anger and anguish of the people of India and their resolve to deal with those behind the terror attack and their supporters firmly and decisively. PM also conveyed his condolences for the loss of lives in the explosion in Bandar Abbas today and wished speedy recovery for those injured,” MEA stated.

Prime Minister Modi thanked all the leaders for their messages and reaffirmed India’s commitment to bringing the perpetrators and their supporters to justice, who were part of one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in the valley since the 2019 Pulwama strike in which 40 CRPF jawans were killed. (ANI)

BJP leader CR Kesavan has called Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah “spineless” after the Congress leader said that he was not in favour of “war” with Pakistan and cited a “security lapse” in the recent deadly terror attack in which 26 people were killed in Pahalgam.

The BJP leader contrasted the statements of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with those of Siddaramaiah. “On one hand Rahul Gandhi says we are with the central government and whatever action the government takes we will support it. And here you have Mr. Siddaramaiah. He’s a chief minister of a state, He’s a senior leader of the Congress Party. He speaks like a Pakistan apologist.”

Kesavan on Saturday accused the Congress of soft-pedaling on Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, stating, “As spineless statement exposes how the Congress Party soft pedals on Pakistan sponsored terrorism. It also reveals how the Congress leadership continues to adopt a weak and toothless approach to Pakistan-sponsored terror activities.”

He went on to claim that the recent attack in Pahalgam was clearly a “Pakistan backed Islamic terror attack,” and demanded clarification from Congress regarding its stance.

“And the Congress leadership now has to clarify its stand. Because is the Congress Party playing a double game? Is the Congress Party running with the hares and hunting with the hounds?” Kesavan asked.

Kesavan continued to question the official position of Congress, asserting, “So what is the official stand of the Congress leadership? Is it the cowardly statement of Siddaramaiah or Rahul Gandhi’s statement? First the Congress Party needs to clarify this.”

The BJP leader accused the party of failing to act during previous terror attacks under their rule.

“One will never forget the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, again Pakistan based. And how you know the Congress party didn’t even retaliate to the attack. In fact they didn’t even revoke the most favored nation status of Pakistan after the 26/11 attacks,” he said.

Kesavan further pointed to the actions of Prime Minister Modi in contrast to Congress, saying, “And only you know it was Modiji. After the Pulwama strikes in 2019, Modi revoked the most favoured nation status. That is the history of the Congress party.”

The BJP leader also recalled comments from Congress leaders that downplayed Pakistan’s role in terrorism.

“And when 26/11 happened, the leader of opposition in the Maharashtra assembly of the Congress party gave a clean to the terrorist Kasab saying Hemant Karkare was not killed by Kasab. And then you had people like Sam Patroda, the mentor of Rahul Gandhi. And what a shocking statement he made referring to 26/11. Sam Pitroda said eight people came and did something and you don’t jump on a nation meaning Pakistan. Shameful statements,” Kesavan said.

He called on the Congress leadership to clarify its stance, saying, “This is how you know Congress leadership gave a clean chit to Pakistan. And now, the same you know, Congress leaders trying to have a soft approach to Pakistan is surfacing. It’s time Rahul Gandhi and the Congress leadership either they disown the statement of Siddaramaiah and they need to clarify and explain what is the official stand of the Congress Party to this murderous massacre of Indians and Hindus by Pakistan-based terrorists.”

On Saturday, Karanataka Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, called for strengthening security in the Kashmir valley to ensure peace.

“There has been a security lapse in this incident. We are not in favour of war. Steps should be taken to tighten security measures in the Kashmir region. The central government should increase security to ensure peace in Kashmir,” Siddaramaiah told reporters here.

The Karnataka CM stated that his government would take steps to ensure that Pakistani nationals residing in the state are sent back as per the instructions of the central government.

“Steps will be taken to send back Pakistani citizens as per the instructions of the central government. Information will be obtained about the number of Pakistanis in various cities of the state,” Siddaramaiah said.

The country remains in mourning over the shocking death of 26 people in the terrorist attack in the Pahalgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, which also left many injured.

India has taken strong countermeasures against Pakistan for its support of cross-border terrorism.

The government has temporarily suspended the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan. This decision was made at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) held on April 23, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and attended by Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. (ANI)

FBI Director Kash Patel on Sunday offered condolences to all the victims of the recent terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam and affirmed the “full support” of the US to the Indian government.

Patel stated that the Pahalgam attack is a reminder of the constant threats that the world faces from the evil of terrorism.

In a post on X, Patel stated, “The FBI sends our condolences to all the victims of the recent terrorist attack in Kashmir — and will continue offering our full support to the Indian government. This is a reminder of the constant threats our world faces from the evils of terrorism. Pray for those affected. Thank you to the men and women of law enforcement who answer the call in moments like these.”

As many as 26 people were killed in India, and several others were injured after terrorists attacked tourists at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam on April 22.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump held a telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday and offered his condolences at the loss of lives in the terror attack. Trump condemned the terror attack in Pahalgam and expressed full support to India to bring to justice the perpetrators of this “heinous attack.”

In a post on X, the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, stated, “President Donald Trump @realDonaldTrump @POTUS called PM @narendramodi and conveyed his deepest condolences at the loss of innocent lives in the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. President Trump strongly condemned the terror attack and expressed full support to India to bring to justice the perpetrators of this heinous attack. India and the United States stand together in the fight against terror.”

US Vice President JD Vance also called Prime Minister Narendra Modi and strongly condemned the dastardly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. He conveyed his deepest condolences on the loss of lives and reiterated that the United States stands with the people of India in this difficult hour. PM Modi thanked Vance and Trump for their messages of support and solidarity.

“Vice President @VP @JDVance called Prime Minister @narendramodi and strongly condemned the dastardly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. He conveyed his deepest condolences on the loss of lives and reiterated that the United States stands with the people of India in this difficult hour. He expressed that the United States is ready to provide all assistance in the joint fight against terrorism. PM thanked Vice President Vance and President Trump for their messages of support and solidarity,” Jaiswal posted on X.

Following the terror attack, the Central government announced several diplomatic measures, such as closing the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari, suspending the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) for Pakistani nationals, giving them 40 hours to return to their country, and reducing the number of officers in the High Commissions on both sides.

India also halted the Indus Waters Treaty signed in 1960 in the wake of the Pahalgam attack. The Indus Waters Treaty was signed in 1960, following nine years of negotiations between India and Pakistan, with the assistance of the World Bank, which is also a signatory to the treaty. (ANI)

In a recent interview, rapper Ye (formerly Kanye West) expressed his wish that he had children with Paris Hilton instead of Kim Kardashian.

The rapper, who has four children with Kardashian, believes that having kids with Hilton would have brought him greater success and wealth, as per Billboard.

During the interview, Ye compared Kardashian’s relationship with Hilton, her former employer, to his own relationship with the late Virgil Abloh.

“Kim was like the Virgil,” he said, adding, “Kim was like Paris Hilton’s Virgil,” as quoted by Billboard.

Ye believes that Hilton had the vision, while Kardashian was more of a protegee.

Ye and Kardashian were married from 2014 to 2022 and have four children together: North, Saint, Chicago, and Psalm.

Ye’s comments come amid his current marriage to Bianca Censori, whom he married in 2022.

Hilton, on the other hand, has two children with her husband, Carter Reum.

Ye’s recent comments are just the latest in a series of controversies surrounding the rapper.

He has faced criticism for his antisemitic rants and public feuds with peers like Kendrick Lamar and Tyler, the Creator.

Despite this, Ye is teasing a new album, titled ‘Cuck’ or ‘WW3’, which will feature lyrics written by rapper Dave Blunts. (ANI)

Local farmers in a border village in Amritsar district have said that they have started harvesting their ripe crops in fields across the fence as the gates guarded by border force could be closed in the coming days.

A local farmer reported that an announcement was made from the local Gurudwara, urging farmers to harvest their crops within a few days and also prepare ‘tudi’ for their cattle.

“Our land is beyond the fence. We have been urged to harvest our crops in two-three days as gates might close. The border force is very cooperative with us, but we request a little more time so we can complete our work,” he said.

Referring to the announcement from the local Gurudwara, he said it had stated that farmers whose lands are beyond the fence guarded by BSF and whose crops are ready for harvest, should do so in the next few days, as the gates would be closed.

Another local farmer said they will try to harvest the crop as early as possible and added that they will request for a little more time.

Referring to the Pahalgam terror attack, he said Pakistan has been creating trouble for India and there is a need to put a stop to this.

The terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on tourists killed 26 people. The government has said that the terrorists responsible for the terror attack and the conspirators behind it will face severe punishment. Opposition parties have expressed their full support for the government in any action against perpetrators of the terror attack.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) met on April 23 was briefed in detail on the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. The CCS condemned the attack in the strongest terms and expressed its deepest condolences to the families of the victims and hoped for the early recovery of the injured.

In the briefing to the CCS, the cross-border linkages of the terrorist attack were brought out. It was noted that this attack came in the wake of the successful holding of elections in the Union Territory and its steady progress towards economic growth and development.

As part of measures to send a strong message to Pakistan for its support to cross-border terrorism, the government has decided to hold the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 in abeyance until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism. India has also decided to close the integrated Attari Check Post, announced visa curbs, apart from a reduction in mission strength in the two countries. (ANI)

Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has launched restoration works on a war footing in north Sikkim following massive landslides triggered by a cloudburst and incessant rains, enabling partial road connectivity for the evacuation of over 1,000 stranded tourists.

According to an official release, the devastating rainfall, which recorded up to 130 mm on April 24, caused severe damage to roads leading to major tourist destinations such as Lachen, Lachung, Gomra, the Valley of Flowers, and Zero Point.

The deluge triggered multiple landslides and formation breaches, severely hampering road infrastructure crucial to Sikkim’s tourism-dependent economy.

Under Project Swastik, BRO personnel have been working around the clock in harsh and inclement weather to restore critical links. Despite facing a formation breach of approximately 70 metres on the road to Lachen, efforts are underway on a war footing to reconnect the area.

Meanwhile, Project Swastik teams achieved a significant breakthrough by reopening the road towards Lachung for one-way movement of light vehicles by the evening of April 26.

The restored connectivity is expected to facilitate the safe evacuation of more than 1,000 stranded tourists from Lachung and Lachen via Donkyala Pass.

With the prolonged monsoon season setting in early, BRO workers continue to strengthen damaged road infrastructure and undertake crucial surfacing work to ensure safer and more durable connectivity.

Their dedicated and selfless efforts, despite relentless rains and challenging terrain, have garnered widespread appreciation from local communities.

Road infrastructure remains vital for the economic and tourism growth of Sikkim, and the swift action by BRO has reaffirmed its commitment to aiding the region during critical times.

A massive landslide hit Munshithang on the Lachen-Chungthang road and Lema/Bob on the Lachung-Chungthang road in North Sikkim. The region is experiencing continuous heavy rainfall, which has made the roads inaccessible at night.

Although the road to Chungthang is open, the heavy rain has made nighttime travel unsafe. As a result, permits for North Sikkim will not be issued on Sunday, and all previously issued advanced permits have been deemed cancelled.

Sonam Dechu Bhutia, Superintendent of Police, Mangan district, north Sikkim, announced the cancellation of permits due to the challenging weather conditions and roadblocks caused by the landslide.

“A massive landslide has occurred at Munshithang on the Lachen-Chungthang road and at Lema/Bob on the Lachung-Chungthang road. Further, it has been raining continuously in north Sikkim. The road to Chungthang is open, but due to heavy rain, it cannot be accessed at night. Hence, permits for north Sikkim will not be issued tomorrow, and all the advanced permits issued are deemed cancelled,” said Bhutia.

The landslides have affected critical routes connecting tourist destinations such as Lachen, Lachung, and Yumthang in North Sikkim, areas that are popular among visitors during the spring and summer seasons.

Authorities cautioned tourists and residents against travelling on these routes due to the high risk of further landslides and road collapses. (ANI)

At least 516 people were injured on Saturday in a massive explosion and fire at the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas, more than 1,000km south of capital Tehran, according to officials and state media, Al Jazeera reported.

Iran’s state media on Saturday reported a “massive explosion” at Shahid Rajaei, the country’s largest commercial port located in Hormozgan province on Iran’s southern coast, as per Al Jazeera.

Those who were injured were transferred to nearby medical centres.

Iranian state television said initial reports indicate negligence in the storage of flammable materials at the site, while Tehran Times reported that the explosion of several containers was the initial cause of the blast.

Mehrdad Hassanzadeh, Director of Hormozgan province’s crisis management organisation, told state television that the injured have been transferred to medical facilities, as per Al Jazeera.

He said that safety officials had previously visited the site of the incident, and issued safety warnings.

National Iranian Oil Products Refining and Distribution Company issued a statement following the blast, saying oil facilities in the area were not affected by the blast.

“The explosion and fire in Shahid Rajaei Port have no connection to refineries, fuel tanks, distribution complexes and oil pipelines related to this company,” the company said.

Earlier, Hormozgan Ports and Maritime Administration official Esmaeil Malekizadeh said the explosion took place near the Shahid Rajaei port dock.

Several people were seen around the area attending to the injured and checking the damage to the properties.

Shahid Rajaei port mainly handles container traffic and also has oil tanks and other petrochemical facilities.

In May 2020, Israel was accused of launching a major cyberattack on the same port, causing transport chaos for days after crashing the facility’s computer system.

The blast comes at a sensitive time as Iranian officials continue to engage in talks with United States officials on a possible new nuclear deal, Al Jazeera reported. (ANI)

In a significant development amid heightened security concerns following the recent terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, intelligence agencies have compiled a list of 14 local terrorists actively operating in the Union Territory.

According to sources, these individuals, aged between 20 to 40 years, are actively aiding foreign terrorists from Pakistan by providing logistical and ground-level support.

The identified operatives are reportedly affiliated with three major Pakistan-backed terror outfits: Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). Among them, three are associated with Hizbul Mujahideen, eight with LeT, and three with JeM.

Sources revealed the names of these individuals as: Adil Rehman Dentoo (21), Asif Ahmed Sheikh (28), Ahsan Ahmed Sheikh (23), Haris Nazir (20), Aamir Nazir Wani (20), Yawar Ahmed Bhat, Asif Ahmed Khanday (24), Naseer Ahmed Wani (21), Shahid Ahmed Kutay (27), Aamir Ahmed Dar, Adnan Safi Dar, Zubair Ahmed Wani (39), Haroon Rashid Ganai (32), and Zakir Ahmed Ganie (29).

Dentoo joined LeT in 2021 and is actively working as the Sopore district commander of the banned outfit. Asif Ahmed Sheikh, a terrorist of JeM, is the district commander of Awantipora and has been continuously involved in terrorist activities since 2022. Ahsan Ahmed Sheikh is active in Pulwama as an LeT terrorist and has been involved in terrorist activities continuously since 2023. Haris Nazir is terrorist from Pulwama and active in LeT since 2023 while Aamir Nazir Wani is also an active terrorist in Pulwama linked to JeM since 2024. Yawar Ahmed Bhat is also completely active in Pulwama and is associated with JeM since 2024.

Asif Ahmed Khanday is terrorist from Shopian district in Jammu and Kashmir and he joined Hizbul Mujahideen in July 2015, and is currently an active member of the terror group aiding Pakistani terrorists. Naseer Ahmed Wani is also actively involved in terrorist activities in Shopian since 2019 as an active member of LeT significantly aiding Pakistani terrorists. Shahid Ahmed Kutay, another active terrorist in Shopian, is linked with LeT and its proxy group The Resistance Front (TRF) since 2023.

Aamir Ahmed Dar, also active in Shopian since 2023, is working with LeT and play a major role as an aide to foreign terrorists. Adnan Safi Dar, who is another active terrorist from Shopian district, is working jointly for LeT and TRF since 2024, and acts as a conduit for information from Pakistani handlers to terrorists.

Zubair Ahmed Wani alias Abu Ubaida alias Usman, is the Chief Operational Commander of Hizbul Mujahideen in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir. He is categorized as an A+ active terrorist and significantly aids other terrorists and has been implicated multiple times in attacks on security forces since 2018.

Haroon Rashid Ganai, an active Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist also from Anantnag, is on the search radar of security forces . He had earlier traveled to Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) where he received training during 2018. He reportedly came back to South Kashmir recently. However, Zubair Ahmed Gani, a major terrorist from Kulgam district in Jammu and Kashmir, is associated with LeT and continuously involved in attacks on security forces and targeted killings.

The identification of these local terror aides comes as agencies intensify efforts to dismantle the support networks facilitating cross-border terrorism. The April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 tourists were gunned down by terrorists, including three belongs to Pakistan, has reignited concerns over the growing nexus between foreign terrorists and local recruits.

Security forces have launched coordinated operations across South Kashmir, particularly in Anantnag and Pulwama districts, where many of the listed individuals are believed to be operating. Senior officials indicate that these names are part of a larger intelligence dossier being used to pre-empt further attacks and disrupt terror logistics in the Valley.

The agencies are engaged in finding links of these 14 terrorists with the five terrorists who attacked on the 26 tourists in the Baisaran picturesque meadow, near the popular tourist town of Pahalgam around 2 PM on April 22.

The release of the list of these 14 local active terrorists is a move followed as investigators identified five terrorists involved in the deadly attack, including three Pakistani nationals. The authorities had earlier also released three sketches of these Pakistani terrorists–Asif Fauji, Suleman Shah and Abu Talha. The other two Valley based operatives were identified as Adil Guri and Ahsan. A bounty of Rs 20 lakh on each has aso been announced.

The NIA along with other agencies are currently assisting to Jammu and Kashmir Police in the overall investigation as Pakistan-based terror outfit LeT ‘s proxy TRF has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The NIA team is expected to conduct a thorough assessment of the attack site, collect forensic evidence, and help in identifying those responsible for the carnage. (ANI)