Month: September 2025

Air India Express launched direct flights from Ahmedabad and Chandigarh, connecting directly to Bengaluru, on Monday.

It aims to enhance access from these cities to the country’s tech capital.

According to the release, the airline will operate twice-daily services from Chandigarh and daily services from Ahmedabad, with the Ahmedabad-Bengaluru service increasing to twice-daily from September 16, offering greater convenience for both business and leisure travellers.

This network expansion also includes upcoming services between Dehradun and Bengaluru, set to commence from September 15, as stated in the release.

The inaugural flight from Chandigarh, officiated by Aloke Singh, Managing Director of Air India Express, departed from Chandigarh Airport at 16:40 hours. The first flight from Ahmedabad to Bengaluru took off at 11:00 hours and arrived at 13:25 hours.

To commemorate this significant milestone, a celebratory event was organised at Chandigarh Airport, during which the first guest received a commemorative boarding pass as a token of recognition.

Speaking at the launch from Chandigarh Airport, Aloke Singh, Managing Director, Air India Express, said, “Our new routes from Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, and soon Dehradun to Bengaluru reflect our commitment to creating meaningful connections between state capitals and major metros. With thoughtfully curated fares including our cabin-bag only Xpress Lite fare, comfortable seats, hot meals onboard, and our unique ‘Tales of India’ aircraft liveries, we deliver a warm, distinctly Indian travel experience with every flight. This expansion is another step towards building our pan-India network serving leisure and business travellers with efficiency.”

With these new flights, guests from Ahmedabad can also access convenient one-stop connections via Bengaluru to 26 domestic destinations and three international destinations, while guests from Chandigarh can connect to 22 domestic destinations and Kathmandu. Bengaluru is the largest domestic hub of Air India Express, with over 405 weekly flights connecting 34 domestic destinations.

The airline’s new Boeing aircraft, VT-BXB, which has a livery inspired by Punjab’s Phulkari textile pattern, was deployed to operate the first flight from Chandigarh.

The airline has launched more than fifty such tail arts on its new aircraft as part of its ‘Tales of India’ initiative, which pays tribute to India’s vibrant artistic heritage. (ANI)

The Delhi High Court is set to pronounce judgements on the bail pleas of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and seven other individuals accused in the Delhi riots larger Conspiracy case of 2020.

The High Court had reserved its order on July 9 after hearing the arguements of counsel for the accused persons and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and special public prosecutor (SPP) Amit Prasad.

The division bench comprising Justice Navin Chawla and Shalinder Kaur is to pronounce the order on Tuesday.

While opposing the bail pleas on July 9, the Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta had submitted that in UAPA cases related to National security, bail cannot be granted on the ground of delay in trial.

On the other hand, the counsel for the accused had earlier argued that there was a long delay in the trial and even the charges had not been framed, and the matter was at the stage of arguements on charges.

SG Tushar Mehta, during his submissions, referred to an accused who had said that they are ready for riots, if we have to, to protest against CAA and NRC.

He had also referred to the portion of the speech where Sharjeel Imam had said that we can separate the chicken neck (North East) from the rest of India forever. If not forever, then for at least a month.

Sharjeel, during one of his alleged anti-CAA speeches, had also said that you are aware of the condition of muslims in Assam. Asam is of muslims, SG submitted.

It was also submitted that Sharjeel Imam, in his speech, had allegedly said that nothing would happen unless 100-200 people died.

It was further submitted that the conspiracy was to organise a chakka jam leading to violence during the visit of US President Donald Trump so that India can be defamed at the international level.

It was also stated that riots took place as per a conspiracy and were covered by the media.

He also referred to the statement of a protected witness who attended a meeting with Umar Khalid. This meeting was also attended by other accused persons.

SG further argued that all the accused are connected. SG also referred to a statement of protected witnesses, and one of the witnesses stated that there was a plan to dislocate or shut down the CCTV. The report related to this fact is enclosed in the charge sheet.

SG further referred to the use of a catapult to throw stones, bricks, and petrol bombs.

SG had said that these riots were financed by 5 accused, namely Tahir Hussain, Ishrat Jahan, Abdul Khalid Saifi, Shifa ur Rehman and Meeran Haider.

He had also submitted that Tahir Husain converted his white money into black money to finance the riots. It was also submitted that the accused persons were not onto protest, they were planning something else.

SG Mehta had also mentioned that the Delhi High Court denied bail to Umar Khalid and it had referred that it was a terrorist act.

The High Court is dealing with bail pleas of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Athar Khan, Abdul Khalid Saifi, Mohd. Saleem Khan, Shifa Ur Rehman, Meeran Haider, Gulfisha Fatima and Shadab Ahsmed. They had challenged the trial court orders dismissing their bail, citing the embargo under UAPA.

Devangana Kalita, Natasha Narwal, and Asif Iqbal Tanha were granted regular bail by the Delhi High Court on June 15, 2021, after their appeals against the trial court order were allowed. The accused, Ishrat Jahan, was granted bail by the trial court.

This case pertains to the allegations of a larger Conspiracy for riots hatched by the accused persons.

In this case, 18 accused have been charged under UAPA, and 2 accused are absconding.

As per the Delhi police, 53 persons died and hundreds were injured in the North East Delhi Riots in February 2020. More than 700 FIRs were registered against several accused persons in different police stations of North East Delhi and other areas.

Delhi police have filed a charge sheet and supplementary charge sheets in a larger conspiracy case. This case is at the stage of arguements on charges. (ANI)

Torrential rains and surging floods have inundated vast areas of farmland and destroyed ready-to-harvest crops across Pakistan, raising concerns of a food crisis and rising inflation, Dawn reported. The UN and local farmers issued warnings on Monday over the scale of the damage.

The devastating floods, which hit northeastern Punjab–Pakistan’s largest province and primary food basket–last week, have submerged hundreds of villages, schools, and health centres. Livestock have been washed away, crops destroyed, and around 50 people have lost their lives, triggering widespread evacuations, Dawn reported.

Official figures indicate that more than 2 million people have been affected, with over 700,000 evacuated so far. Floodwaters are now moving south towards the Indus River, threatening to cause further destruction in Sindh in the coming days.

“This isn’t normal — yet it’s becoming the new normal. Monsoons, driven by climate change, now bring fear and devastation to communities across Pakistan,” Mo Yahya, the UN resident and humanitarian coordinator, said in a post on X after visiting the affected areas. “Flooded rice fields stretch as far as the eye can see. Farmers now face months without crops or income until the next planting season,” he added, posting a video from Hafizabad district.

He warned, “This is only the beginning — more intense rains are expected in the coming weeks. As the water flows further south, it will threaten more families with displacement and destruction. This is not just another natural disaster; this is climate change,” Dawn reported.

Echoing the warning, Waqar Ahmad, Secretary General of the Kisan Board of Pakistan, said the catastrophic floods have destroyed the three main crops–rice, sugarcane, and sesame — across Punjab. “Rice crop has particularly taken a toll as the floods have hit the major rice-producing districts,” Rizvi told Anadolu. He added that 70 per cent of the standing rice crop has been destroyed by the latest floods, Dawn reported.

Waheed Ahmad, head of the Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exports Association, further cautioned that the floods are likely to trigger food inflation, as large quantities of crops and vegetables across Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been destroyed. He urged the government to lift the levy on vegetable and fruit imports from Afghanistan and Iran to address potential shortages, as reported by Dawn. (ANI)

Actor Fardeen Khan’s latest post on Instagram is too cute and nostalgic.

During his recent vacation at an exotic location, Fardeen recreated a hook step from his popular song ‘Kahan Ho Tum’ from the blockbuster film ‘No Entry’.

Sharing a video of the adorable recreated moment with his daughter Diani and son Azarius, Fardeen on Instagram wrote, “I figured it was time to pass on the important stuff; the hook step from KAHA HO TUM. Some traditions simply cannot wait.”

The clip begins with visuals of Anil Kapoor and Fardeen Khan’s funny dance from the song, and then it features the cute moments of little Diani and Azarius recreating their dad’s hooksteps. Of course, Fardeen joined them for this fun moment.

Fardeen’s video with his children left netizens in awe.

“This is just so heartwarming to watch. The way you cherish and pass on such beautiful memories and traditions shows not only your fun side but also the bond you create for the next generation to treasure,” a social media user commented.

Filmmaker Zoya Akhtar dropped a laughing emoji in the comment section.

Fardeen shares daughter Diani and son Azarius with wife Natasha. The two got married in 2005.

Speaking of Fardeen’s film ‘No Entry’, it was released in theatres on August 26, 2005. Salman Khan, Lara Dutta Bhupathi, Celina Jaitly, and Esha Deol also played key roles in the comedy drama.

Now, the film’s sequel is also in the works, reportedly, with Diljit Dosanjh, Varun Dhawan, and Arjun Kapoor as the headliners. However, an official announcement regarding the cast is yet to be made. (ANI)

Bollywood celebrities are leaving no chance to soak in the festive vibes amid the ongoing Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. From welcoming lord Bappa home to engage in pandal hopping, film stars have been busy celebrating the festival with full gusto since August 26.

On Sunday, actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan stepped out in Mumbai for Ganpati darshan with daughter Aaradhya and her mother. Dressed in ethnic wear, the ladies looked extremely elegant as they offered prayers at Gaud Saraswat Brahmin (GSB) Ganeshotsav pandal.

In one of the viral clips, the ‘Guru’ star could be seen protecting Aaradhya as they made their way through the crowd to seek Lord Ganesha’s blessings.

Several pictures of Aishwarya’s Ganpati darshan were shared on Instagram of Gaud Saraswat Brahmin (GSB) Ganeshotsav pandal. Check it out

Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as Vinayak Chaturthi or Vinayak Chavithi, is a festival that marks the worship of Lord Ganesha as the god of new beginnings and remover of obstacles. The festival culminates on Anantha Chaturdashi and is celebrated with decorated homes and pandals, prayers, music, and vibrant processions.

On the work front, Aishwarya was last seen in Ponniyin Selvan: Part 2 and has not yet announced her next project. Earlier this year, she made a remarkable appearance at Cannes 2025. Honouring Indian roots, she wore a custom-made piece from Gaurav Gupta Couture. The body-fitted gown was hand-embroidered in shades of silver, gold, charcoal, and black. She completed her look with a Banarasi brocade cape, handwoven in Varanasi.

The cape stood out not just for its rich texture but also because it was inscribed with a Sanskrit shloka from the Bhagavad Gita. (ANI)

Punjab is reeling under the impact of severe floods triggered by incessant rains, with large-scale devastation reported across the state.

According to Punjab Revenue, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management Minister S. Hardeep Singh Mundian, the floods have affected more than 2.56 lakh people across 12 districts, displacing thousands and causing heavy losses to human lives, property, agriculture, and livestock.

The Minister stated that, so far, 15,688 people have been evacuated from flood-hit areas, with the highest numbers reported from Gurdaspur (5,549), Ferozepur (3,321), Fazilka (2,049), Amritsar (1,700), Pathankot (1,139), and Hoshiarpur (1,052). To provide immediate relief, the state government has set up 129 relief camps, sheltering 7,144 people. Ferozepur accounts for the maximum with 3,987 inmates, followed by Fazilka (1,201), Hoshiarpur (478), Pathankot (411), and Gurdaspur (424).

So far, 1,044 villages have been affected, with Gurdaspur alone accounting for 321 villages, followed by Kapurthala (115), Hoshiarpur (94), Amritsar (88), and Pathankot (82). The worst-hit district is Gurdaspur, where nearly 1.45 lakh people have been impacted. Amritsar (35,000), Ferozepur (24,015), and Fazilka (21,562) are also among the districts most severely affected.

To aid relief and rescue operations, the state has mobilised multiple agencies. The NDRF has deployed 20 teams, while the Army, Navy, and Air Force have stationed 10 columns with 8 on standby, along with engineer units. Over 35 helicopters are engaged in rescue missions, supported by 114 boats and one state helicopter. BSF units have also been deployed in the affected border areas.

The disaster has claimed 29 human lives between August 1 and September 1. Pathankot reported the highest toll of six deaths, while three each were recorded in Amritsar, Barnala, Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana, and Mansa. Other districts reporting casualties include Bathinda (1), Gurdaspur (1), Patiala (1), Rupnagar (3), SAS Nagar (1), and Sangrur (1). In addition, three people remain missing in Pathankot.

Punjab’s agrarian economy has suffered a major blow with 94,061 hectares of crops damaged. Amritsar (23,000 hectares), Mansa (17,005 hectares), Kapurthala (14,934 hectares), Tarn Taran (11,883 hectares), and Ferozepur (11,232 hectares) are among the worst-affected areas. Smaller crop losses have been reported from several other districts.

Minister Mundian said the government has activated medical teams and relief distribution channels, though the full extent of livestock and infrastructure losses will only be known after the waters recede. He assured that the Bhagwant Singh Mann-led government is committed to providing both immediate relief and long-term rehabilitation.

The Punjab Chief Minister, Bhagwant Mann, visited the flood-hit Miani village on Monday and interacted with people living in the relief camp set up at the Government High School.

District administrations have been instructed to expedite damage assessments so that timely compensation can be extended to affected families. (ANI)

Versatile actor Manoj Bajpayee has reunited with director Ram Gopal Varma after nearly three decades for the horror comedy ‘Police Station Mein Bhoot’.

Taking to his X handle, Manoj Bajpayee announced that the shooting of the film began today. He expressed his happiness at reuniting with director Ram Gopal Varma after ‘Satya’ and called it a “full circle” moment in his life.

“SHOOT BEGINS. From Satya to now. Some journeys are meant to come full circle. Thrilled to reunite with @RGVzoomIn after nearly three decades for our new horror comedy Police Station Mein Bhoot. This one is special,” wrote Manoj Bajpayee.

Manoj Bajpayee previously collaborated with Ram Gopal Varma on the critically acclaimed film ‘Satya’.

Apart from Bajpayee, the film also starred JD Chakravarthy, Urmila Matondkar and Paresh Rawal in lead roles. The movie was released in 1998.

In the film, Manoj donned the role of an honest policeman who fearlessly stood up against the injustice around him.

Manoj Bajpayee is expected to don the role of a cop again in Ram Gopal Varma’s directorial. However, in contrast to their previous collaboration, their latest venture is set to be a horror comedy.

Bajpayee will next be seen in the OTT film ‘Inspector Zende’, alongside Jim Sarbh in the lead role. It will stream on Netflix.

In this movie, too, the actor dons the role of a cop. It wll stream from September 5, 2025. (ANI)

As the 16 day Voter Adhikar Yatra concluded in Patna, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader affirmed that the people of Bihar want change and will give a befitting reply to the NDA government in the upcoming elections.

He also welcomed the support received during the yatra stating the people of Bihar have “woken up” and will dethrone the current state government.

“This yatra was very historic and we are getting immense support. The public has woken up and will oust these dishonest people from power. Those who killed democracy will be given a befitting reply,” Tejashwi Yadav told ANI.

earlier, Tejashwi Yadav took a swipe at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, stating that the people will decide whether they want a “duplicate” CM or an “original” CM.

He further called the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government a “copy cat”, mentioning that they don’t have any vision for Bihar.

“Whatever we said, this (NDA) ‘copycat’ government is doing… This government can copy, but it cannot bring vision or new thinking… Therefore, you people have to decide whether you want a duplicate Chief Minister or an original Chief Minister,” Tejashwi Yadav said while addressing a gathering on the concluding day of Voter Adhikar Yatra.

The RJD leader further alleged that the Union Government is setting up industries in Gujarat, but wants to win elections in Bihar. He stressed that the double-engine government in Bihar is involved in corruption and crime.

“They (BJP) will set up factories in Gujarat but want victory in Bihar. Is this going to happen? …The double-engine government running in Bihar has one engine involved in crime and the other in corruption. The names of many people are being deleted from the voter list. You need to protect your votes. Many fake votes are also being added in a very clever manner. Those who are creating trouble in Bihar have to be given a befitting reply,” he said.

The 16-day Voter Adhikar Yatra organised under the leadership of Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi concluded in Patna on Monday. The main agenda of the yatra was to oppose the Special Intensive Revision being conducted by Election Commission of India in Bihar and also to justify the recent “vote chori” allegations made by Rahul Gandhi on ECI.

The 16-day yatra, taken out by Rahul Gandhi to highlight the alleged case of ‘vote chori’ (vote theft) by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the alleged irregularities in the voter list by the Election Commission of India (ECI), concludes in Patna today.

The rally began on August 18, with Rahul Gandhi and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav riding together in Sasaram. From there, the rally spanned across 25 districts, to Aurangabad, Gayaji, Siwan, and others.

Multiple INDIA bloc leaders have attended the yatra at various points. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, CPI(ML) General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi, and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin have joined the rally.

Other chief ministers, including Karnataka Chief Minister Siddharamaiah, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu, and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, also participated in the yatra. (ANI)

The 2025 monsoon season has left a trail of devastation in Himachal Pradesh, with 320 lives lost and total damage estimated at over ₹3 lakh crore, according to the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA).

Of the total fatalities since June 20, 166 were caused by rain-related incidents such as landslides, flash floods, cloudbursts, drowning, electrocution, lightning, and other weather-related hazards. Another 154 people were killed in road accidents during the same period.

District-wise data shows that Mandi (51 deaths), Kangra (49 deaths), and Shimla (29 deaths) are among the worst-hit. Rain-related deaths were highest in Mandi (29), followed by Kangra (30) and Chamba (14). Road accident deaths were most reported in Chamba (22), Mandi (22), and Kangra (19).

The scale of loss of property is staggering — 1,280 houses fully damaged, 27,640 houses partially damaged, and heavy destruction to both private and public assets.

Public property losses include PWD works, water supply schemes, power infrastructure, health, and education facilities. Agriculture and horticulture have suffered extensive damage, with crop losses valued at ₹1,70,757.50 lakh and horticulture losses at ₹1,07,043.50 lakh.

Animal husbandry has also been hit, with 1,885 animal deaths and over 25,755 poultry birds lost. The SDMA report notes that damage to power infrastructure alone amounts to ₹14,39.30 lakh, while rural and urban development sectors have collectively lost over ₹2,456 crore.

Authorities warn that continued rainfall could trigger more landslides and road blockages, urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel and stay alert to weather advisories. Restoration and relief operations are ongoing, but many areas remain cut off due to persistent landslides and damaged bridges. (ANI)