Category: India

A search operation is still going on to find a seven-year-old boy who went missing after a Navy boat crashed into a ferry off the coast of Mumbai. The accident happened two days ago, and officials say the number of deaths is now 14. A body of a 43-year-old man was found on Thursday.

The Navy is investigating this tragic event, which is one of the worst accidents in the area. A helicopter and boats from the Navy and Coast Guard are searching for missing people. Out of 113 passengers on board the two boats, 14 people lost their lives, while 98 were rescued, including two who were hurt.

The Navy boat had six people on it, and only two survived. The accident happened when the Navy boat lost control and hit the passenger ferry called “Neel Kamal.” This ferry was carrying more than 100 passengers and was on its way to Elephanta Island, a popular tourist spot known for its ancient caves.

Documents from the Maharashtra Maritime Board showed that the ferry had permission to carry only 84 passengers and 6 crew members, meaning it was overloaded. Police have filed a case against the driver of the Navy boat. The charges are about causing death by negligence and unsafe navigation.

The damaged Navy boat is with the Navy now, and the police will use it for the investigation when needed. The ruined passenger ferry has been moved to a wharf in south Mumbai called Bhaucha Dhakka.

A terrible accident happened on the Jaipur-Ajmer highway on Friday morning. A gas tanker collided with several vehicles, causing a huge fire that killed seven people and injured over 35 others. More than 30 vehicles caught fire, sending thick black smoke into the sky. Eyewitnesses saw the flames from nearly a kilometer away.

Ambulances and fire trucks quickly rushed to the scene. One school van driver, who was picking up students, shared a shocking story of seeing a man on fire. Officials from Rajasthan’s health department confirmed the deaths and injuries. The police are concerned that some people may have been trapped in their vehicles and could not escape.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar visited the SMS Hospital, where the injured were taken. Sharma spoke to doctors, ensuring everyone received the best care possible. He also visited the accident site and chatted with police officers. In a message on social media, he expressed his sadness over the tragedy and promised swift medical help.

Police officials, including Jaipur Commissioner Biju George Joseph, arrived at the highway to manage the situation. Minister Khimsar said many injured people are in critical condition, and all doctors were called in to help. They even opened an extra ward in the hospital for more patients. Some victims received first aid at nearby hospitals.

An official report stated that a sleeper bus was behind the gas tanker during the crash. They are still trying to find out more about the passengers on board. Crews are working to clear the burnt vehicles off the highway to reopen it.

Many leaders, including Chief Minister Sharma and former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, expressed their condolences. Police reported that it was tough to control the fire at first, and fire teams struggled to reach the scene. Luckily, three nearby petrol stations were not harmed.

To assist victims’ families, a district administration team is at the hospital. For anyone needing information, Jaipur Police has set up helpline numbers: 9166347551, 8764688431, and 7300363636.

Today in Haryana, the temperature is a pleasant 17.81 °C. The forecast shows that temperatures will range from a low of 9.96 °C to a high of 22.97 °C. Don’t worry about the weather being too humid, as the relative humidity is only 27%. There’s a decent wind blowing at 27 km/h, so it might feel cooler outside.

The sun rose early today, at 7:14 AM, and will set later at 5:32 PM. If you’re making plans, it looks like the sky will be clear and sunny. Don’t forget your sunscreen and sunglasses to enjoy the sunny day!

Looking ahead to tomorrow, December 21, 2024, the weather is expected to be similar, with a low of 10.09 °C and a high of 22.39 °C. Humidity will drop a little to 18%, so it should feel quite dry.

However, be careful! The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Haryana today is at 283, which is considered poor. Kids and those with breathing issues, like asthma, should stay indoors. Everyone else should also try to limit outdoor activities to stay safe. Keeping an eye on the AQI can help you plan your day better.

Stay safe and enjoy the beautiful weather!

The Banke Behari temple in Vrindavan has a message for visitors: please dress properly when you come to pray. The temple administration is asking people not to wear half pants, mini skirts, night suits, torn jeans, or leather belts. They want to keep the temple special, as it is a place of worship, not a place for casual dress.

Umesh Saraswat, the deputy manager of the temple, said, “We hope everyone will wear decent clothes to show respect when they come to offer prayers.” A large banner on the street leading to the temple also reminds visitors to dress appropriately.

Other temples in the Braj region have similar rules. For example, last year, the Kailash Temple in Agra asked women to wear sarees or salwar kameez and men to wear dhotis or kurtas. The Radha Rani Temple in Barsana also requested that people avoid wearing skirts and torn jeans. The Gilahraj Hanuman Temple in Aligarh has similar dress codes as well.

Following these guidelines helps everyone enjoy a respectful and peaceful visit to the temple.

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Mayawati spoke out against Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday. She said his comments in the Rajya Sabha about Dr. BR Ambedkar, the creator of India’s Constitution, were disrespectful and hurtful. Mayawati demanded that Amit Shah apologize for his words.

During a recent press conference in Lucknow, Mayawati expressed her discontent, stating that many of Ambedkar’s followers across India are upset with Shah’s remarks. She mentioned, “Shah’s words have offended Baba Saheb’s dignity and many people are angry. If he doesn’t take back what he said and apologize, his followers will remember this just like they remember the Congress’s wrongdoings against Ambedkar.”

Earlier this week, while discussing the Constitution in the Rajya Sabha, Amit Shah remarked that the Congress party uses Ambedkar’s name too often. He said, “It’s become a trend to repeat ‘Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar.’ If they had invoked God’s name that many times, they’d surely find a place in heaven.”

In response, Amit Shah later said that Congress misunderstood his comments. He also pointed out that Ambedkar was not awarded the Bharat Ratna during previous Congress governments, but it was given to him by a government supported by the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1990.

Earlier today, MPs from the opposition party, led by Rahul Gandhi, protested on the Parliament grounds. The BJP also held a protest against what they called an insult to the Dalit leader by Congress.

On Thursday, BJP MP Anurag Thakur went to the police to complain about Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition. This came after a protest in Parliament got out of hand, injuring two BJP MPs. Thakur said they accused Gandhi of assault, incitement, and even trying to murder them.

While talking to reporters in New Delhi, Thakur explained the situation. He said, “We filed the complaint because of an incident outside Makar Dwar. BJP MPs were protesting peacefully, and we detailed what happened.” He mentioned they included serious charges under several laws, saying that one of them (Section 109) is about trying to commit murder and another (Section 117) is for causing serious harm.

This complaint followed a big clash between BJP and Congress MPs, who were blocking each other from entering Parliament. Two BJP members, Pratap Chandra Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput, got hurt during the fight and are now in the hospital getting treated.

Dr. Ajay Shukla, the medical superintendent at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, shared updates about their conditions. Both men are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) because they suffered head injuries. Sarangi, who is 69 years old, had heavy bleeding and needed stitches for a deep cut. Meanwhile, Rajput had fainted but is now conscious; however, he still feels dizzy and anxious.

In Parliament on Thursday morning, there were protests from both the ruling and opposition parties. BJP MPs were upset with the Congress for disrespecting BR Ambedkar’s legacy. Meanwhile, Congress MPs led by Rahul Gandhi were demanding that Amit Shah resign because of his comments about BR Ambedkar during a speech.

The situation escalated quickly, leading to heated arguments and protests, which caused both houses of Parliament to pause their work on Wednesday.

Vikram Misri, India’s Foreign Secretary, is set to visit Mauritius from December 20 to 22. This visit aims to boost the friendship between India and Mauritius after the recent election of Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam. The Indian government values its relationship with Mauritius as part of its plan for growth and cooperation with African countries.

This trip will be the first high-level meeting since Ramgoolam’s new government took office last month. Both countries share a long history and work together in many areas. The visit is a chance to improve ties even further.

Additionally, Ramgoolam has been negotiating with the UK about the Chagos Islands, which Mauritius wants back. In October, the UK agreed to return the islands but wanted to keep control of Diego Garcia, a strategic military base, for at least 99 years. Ramgoolam recently said that the deal needs to change because it doesn’t offer enough benefits for Mauritius. He is open to reaching a new agreement with the UK.

India has welcomed the UK’s decision to return the Chagos Islands, supporting Mauritius’s claim to the territory. The final agreement will involve legal details that still need to be worked out.