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Thiruvananthapuram: PWD officials who arrived for pruning of trees at Kuravankonam Junction on Tuesday were forced to cut down two trees following pressure from the shop owners in the junction. The trees used to provide good shade and were also a haunt for several birds at night. This is not an isolated incident. Trees are being cut in the name of pruning in several parts of the city without scientifically assessing their health.People with no knowledge about trees often misidentify them as unhealthy and at risk of falling, urging officials to cut back all the branches or the entire tree. This can result in the tree being trimmed down to a stump, often only 10 feet tall.The disaster management authority instructed officials to prune branches of trees that were at risk of falling due to the unusually strong winds accompanying monsoon rains. However, it is being done without expert supervision.As branches are cut indiscriminately, as has been done along the leafy Kowdiar-Vellayambalam and Vellayambalam-Vazhuthacaud stretch, the trees could lose their base and fall or die after a few years, said a forest department official.Anita Sharma of Tree Walk said that most of the pruning was equivalent to cutting. "The current pruning should have been done after identifying the risky trees using experts much before the monsoon started. We lost many rare trees too in the last few weeks. A small-leaved Mahogany at the Secretariat campus near YMCA is an example."The forest department, PWD and city corporation should come together and prepare a protocol to prune or cut trees, she said.In a letter to the district administration, a citizen's initiative stated, "In these times of unpredictable and uncertain extreme climate-related events, we fear that this indiscriminate loss of trees will lead to the intensification of the urban heat island effect."K Sujanapal of Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) said that pruning should be done based on the species. "Sharp cuts will lead to the death of the tree. Social forestry can be included to ensure that trees are protected."He said that not all trees will fall. "Some trees, especially those near roads, may fall due to factors like proximity to drains or digging and construction work that can damage or destroy their roots. Private property owners are cutting down trees out of anxiety after witnessing tree falls elsewhere or to improve visibility for their buildings. However, trees play a crucial role in maintaining the area's aesthetics."
Mumbai: In a major political development, former MLA Vijay Bhambale from the Sharad Pawar faction formally joined the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Deputy Chief Minister and National President Ajit Pawar. Bhambale, accompanied by a large group of office-bearers from various districts, was welcomed into the party during an event held at the Mahila Vikas Mandal Auditorium in Mumbai. Addressing the gathering, Ajit Pawar announced that he would embark on a statewide tour starting from Nandurbar after the conclusion of the monsoon session of the Maharashtra legislature. He emphasized the ...Read More >
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], July 2 (ANI): At least 51 people have lost their lives and 22 others are missing in Himachal Pradesh as torrential rains, flash floods, and landslides continue to wreak havoc across the state during the ongoing monsoon season, according to the latest official data. The State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), under the Department of Revenue, Government of Himachal Pradesh, released a cumulative damage assessment report on July 2, covering the period from June 20 to July 1. The report reveals significant damage to human lives, private properties, livestock, a ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 15 (PTI) YouTuber Samay Raina appeared before the National Commission for Women (NCW) in Delhi on Tuesday, months after he was summoned in connection with allegedly offensive and sexist content aired during his show "India's Got Latent", officials said. Raina was also among the five social media influencers who appeared before the Supreme Court in a case seeking action against them for ridiculing persons suffering from disabilities. Raina submitted his statement in response to the allegations to NCW officials. Officials said further steps will be considered after reviewing his ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar has written a strongly worded letter to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, criticising General Education Minister V Sivankutty for walking out of a function held at Raj Bhavan on June 19. The Governor described the incident as a breach of protocol and an insult to the constitutional office. The letter, dated June 26, refers to an awards ceremony for the Bharat Scouts and Guides, where Sivankutty -- who also serves as President of the Association's Kerala chapter -- objected to the presence of a garlanded portrait of Bharat Mata on the stage, ...Read More >
Chandigarh: Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday said the state govt was consistently working to provide better resources to the doctors and quality healthcare services to the citizens.He mentioned that medical colleges were being established in every district.While there were only six medical colleges in 2014, the number has now increased to 15, and nine new colleges are under construction. As a result, MBBS seats in the state increased from 700 in 2014 to 2,185, at present. The state govt aims to increase the MBBS seats to over 3,400 by 2029, said Saini.The CM was addressing a ...Read More >
Amritsar: BJP MP Nishikant Dubey from Jharkhand has claimed that Britain assisted India in executing the 1984 Operation Bluestar at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, stoking a new controversy.In a post on X on Monday, Dubey alleged that then PM Indira Gandhi "launched an attack on the Golden Temple in collaboration with Britain", with British Army officers present in Amritsar.He uploaded a classified British document, "Sikh Community", claiming that on Feb 23, 1984, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office mentioned in a letter that the Indian govt had sought British advice over a plan to remove Si ...Read More >
BHUBANESWAR: In a bid to promote rooftop and home gardening in five major cities of the state, deputy chief minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo on Tuesday flagged off a rath (campaign vehicle) to create awareness among the citizens on the urgent need to increase the green space in urban areas. Singh Deo said green space is fast reducing with rapid urbanisation across the state. Concrete buildings and roads are eating up green spaces in cities creating urban heat island effect. "This is a novel attempt by the government to encourage citizens to develop more greenery spaces through rooftop and ho ...Read More >
GUWAHATI: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has described China's mega dam project as a ticking "water bomb" and an existential threat to the people of the frontier state and their livelihoods. Speaking to a news outlet, Khandu said the dam was a matter of grave concern, noting that China is not a signatory to any international water treaty and cannot be trusted. "No one knows what China might do. It could even use this as a sort of water bomb," he said. The hydropower dam, expected to be the world's largest of its kind, will generate 60,000 MW of power. The project is coming up o ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Lieutenant governor VK Saxena has given his approval to the reconstitution of Delhi Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board, paving the way for govt to prepare a scheme to provide compensation to the construction workers who lost work due to the implementation of GRAP IV provisions. The board was not in place for the last couple of years. While giving his nod to its reconstitution, LG directed that immediate steps should be taken to implement Supreme Court directions to provide subsistence allowance to workers affected due to restrictions on construction activities be ...Read More >
New Delhi: Three Indian citizens vanished mysteriously in Tehran. Darkness closed in as hope seemed lost. A ruthless Pakistani gang with potential links to ISI snatched them away, casting a shadow of fear. But relentless Indian diplomats refused to back down. Against all odds, a daring rescue mission ignited. Now, the captives are free, and a chilling game of espionage comes to light. The Punjab-based trio - Amritpal Singh from Hoshiarpur, Jaspal Singh from SBS Nagar and Hushnapreet Singh from Sangrur - had landed in Iran on May 1. Promised a clandestine route to Australia via Dubai and Tehra ...Read More >
Kolkata, July 5 (SocialNews.XYZ) The West Bengal unit of BJP, under the leadership of its new State party President Samik Bhattacharya is making all efforts to ensure a political rally in the state, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing it, before Trinamool Congress's annual Martyrs' day rally in Kolkata on July 21. An insider from the state committee of BJP said that the week before July 21, the Prime Minister is scheduled to go for an election campaign in Bihar where the Assembly polls are scheduled later this year. "We are trying hard so that the Prime Minister can spare some time ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 12 (ANI): Delhi experienced a fresh spell of rain on Saturday, just two days after experiencing extensive waterlogging in several parts of the national capital. Multiple areas, including Pandit Pant Marg, RK Puram, and Barakhamba Road, saw rain today, giving a break from the humid weather. Earlier on July 10, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta expressed displeasure and concern over the waterlogging in various areas due to heavy rains in the national capital. She issued strict instructions to the officials of the concerned department to take effective steps to prevent waterlo ...Read More >
New Delhi: Alleging "blatant misuse" of agencies to defame its leaders, AAP on Thursday questioned why the first information report filed against former Delhi ministers Saurabh Bharadwaj and Satyendar Jain was being kept under wraps and "selective" press notes were being leaked to the media.Bharadwaj, who is Delhi AAP convener, alleged that only two former ministers were named in the case without any reasonable cause while all the officers of the health and public works departments, who were actually responsible for executing the hospital projects, were spared. "Is the FIR so baseless that BJP ...Read More >
Imphal, June 29 (UNI) A series of successful operations carried out by Manipur Police and security forces during the last 24 hours led to the arrest of several individuals involved in vehicle theft, insurgent activity, and the recovery of a significant cache of arms and ammunition. Police arrested a vehicle lifter identified as Syed Riyaj from his residence at Lilong Chaobok in Thoubal District. The arrest was made under Lilong Police Station. Authorities seized a blue two wheeler without registration number, along with a key and an Aadhaar card believed to be linked to the suspect. In a s ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: BJP MP Kangana Ranaut has come under fire from the Congress for what the party called an "insensitive" response during her visit to flood-affected areas in her Mandi constituency in Himachal Pradesh. The backlash was sparked by a video shared by the Congress in which Ranaut, while commenting on disaster relief, said, "Whether it's disaster relief or the disaster itself -- I don't have any official cabinet. I have my two brothers who are always with me. That's my cabinet. So, it's just these two."The Congress criticised Ranaut for allegedly treating the situation lightly. "In Mandi, ...Read More >
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], July 7 (ANI): Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday said that disasters pose the biggest challenges for the future and combating the adverse effects of climate change is a 'pressing concern' for humanity. While presiding over the 9th meeting of the State Disaster Management Authority, the Chief Minister expressed serious concern over the rising incidents of cloud bursts in the State and said that the matter had also been raised with the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah. The Chief Minister stated that over the past few days, Mandi di ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 9 (ANI): Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai, on Tuesday welcomed the decision of the Bihar cabinet to constitute a Youth Commission for the betterment of young people in the state. Speaking to ANI, MoS Rai said that this decision will prove beneficial in providing more employment opportunities to the youth of Bihar and making them self-reliant. The formation of the Youth Commission is important and historic in the direction of making the youth of Bihar self-reliant and capable of moving forward towards development and progress, the minister said. ...Read More >
Pune: State Election Commission (SEC) will use the July 1, 2025, updated legislative assembly voters' list for the upcoming local body elections with chairperson Dinesh Waghmare directing district collectors and municipal commissioners to begin preparations based on the updated voter rolls during video conferences on Thursday and Friday.Elections are due for 29 municipal corporations, 290 nagar panchayats and parishads, 32 zilla parishads, and 336 panchayat samitis, as their terms have expired. "There is no separate voters' list for local body polls. The Election Commission of India (ECI)'s up ...Read More >
Patna: While the monsoon brings respite from the heat, the threat of vector-borne diseases also increases during this time of the year.According to official data, so far 62 dengue cases have been registered in Patna district, along with seven chikungunya. Health experts have warned people to remain cautious as the peak season is just ahead.Officials said of the total 62 dengue cases, the majority were from the capital. When asked about the steps being taken by the department as cases are expected to increase with each passing day, Patna civil surgeon Dr Avinash Kumar Singh said they were on al ...Read More >
New Delhi: The death sentence of Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya, who was sentenced to death in Yemen, has been postponed for the time being. She was to be executed by shooting today, July 16. According to media reports, activist groups and influential religious leaders intervened in the matter, after which the death sentence of Nimisha Priya was postponed. Earlier, many efforts were also made at the diplomatic level to save Nimisha from the death penalty. There is also news that the victim's family has not yet agreed to clemency or blood money. As a last-ditch effort to save her, Kanthapuram A. ...Read More >
Gurgaon: Two days after a law student died and his friend suffered critical injuries when a car knocked them down as they stood near railing on the service lane of Delhi-Jaipur highway in the early hours of Tuesday, a civil engineer was arrested on Thursday.Mohit (31), an employee of a private company in the city, told police that he got drowsy while driving. He is staying at a PG facility in Sector 14.The student who died, Harsh Singhal (25), was a resident of Om Nagar colony. His friend Abhishek Kumar (23), who is from Shanti Nagar in Sector 11, is undergoing treatment at a private hospital ...Read More >
Nagpur: Despite aggressive promotion of electric vehicles (EVs) under green energy initiatives, Nagpur district continues to grapple with a critical shortage of charging infrastructure. According to official data, there is just one EV charging station for every 515 electric vehicles in the district.The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL), which is the sole authority for providing power connections to EV charging points, revealed that 151 charging stations have been set up so far across the district and many of them are private and not available to public. Of these, ...Read More >
Agartala: Tripura Finance Minister Pranajit Singha Roy has urged the 16th Finance Commission to consider a 20% allocation for forestry and ecology, stressing their critical role in maintaining the state's environmental balance and economic sustainability. He was addressing a high-level meeting in New Delhi focused on the developmental challenges of the Northeastern states. Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge! Representing Tripura, Singha Roy called for robust financial backing to bridge infrastructure and development gaps, particularly in the Tripu ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 10 (ANI): Delhi is experiencing incessant rainfall since Wednesday causing water logging in several areas including Bindapur in Uttam Nagar, where roads are submerged under water. The water logging has made the day to day activities of residents difficult. The rains lashed parts of Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) on Wednesday, bringing relief from days of intense heat. Waterlogging was witnessed in several parts of Delhi. Traffic also came to a standstill in many parts of the national capital following the heavy rainfall. Aam Aadmi Party ( AAP) Delhi Pres ...Read More >
Haridwar: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Sakshi Maharaj on Sunday demanded that hotel, dhaba and eatery owners on the Kanwar Yatra routes should display their names and identities on boards outside their business establishments. The owners, who hide their identities under fake names, on the Kanwar Yatra routes should not be spared, he told reporters here. "Tampering with faith of the Hindu devotees during the Kanwar Yatra will not be tolerated," said the Unnao MP. The food shops on the Kanwar Yatra routes should have a board outside with the names of their owners clearly written on them, h ...Read More >
Mumbai: Senior BJP leader Ravindra Chavan is all set to become the next Maharashtra BJP chief as he filed his nomination for the post of party's state president on Monday. Mr. Chavan presented the nomination forms to Union Minister Kiran Rijiju, who has been appointed as a central observer for the elections by the BJP. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and outgoing party chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule were present on this occasion. With no other nomination being filed for the post, Mr. Chavan is certain to become the next state president of Maharashtra BJP, said party leaders. The ...Read More >
ISLAMABAD: Indian Deputy Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Rahul R Singh Friday claimed China used the four-day Pakistan-India conflict in May like a "live lab" to test various weapon systems and was providing all possible support to Islamabad in line with its ancient military strategy of killing the adversary with a "borrowed knife". The senior Indian military officer claimed while Pakistan was the "front face", with China extending all possible support to its all-weather ally, Turkiye was also playing a major role by supplying military hardware to Islamabad, adding that India was actually dealing w ...Read More >
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], July 10 (ANI): Amid ongoing devastation caused by heavy rainfall and flash floods in Himachal Pradesh, the state's Revenue, Horticulture and Tribal Development Minister Jagat Singh Negi on Wednesday announced the government's decision to shift the flood-affected College of Horticulture and Forestry from Thunag in Mandi district to Sundernagar, citing massive infrastructure damage and safety concerns. Addressing the media, Negi said that keeping in mind the studies and safety of students, the flood-hit college has been relocated to a safer location in Sundern ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: In a dramatic turn of events, Canadian PM Mark Carney called PM Modi and invited him for the G7 summit that begins eight days from now at Kananaskis in Alberta. Modi accepted the invitation and said he was looking forward to meeting him at the summit.The announcement by Modi on X followed almost a week of suspense over his participation because of a lack of invitation, drawing barbs from the opposition about his possible exclusion from the summit. India is not a member of G7 but Modi has been invited for all summits since 2019. Modi congratulated Carney on his poll win and thanked h ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Himachal Pradesh has recorded 51 deaths and 22 missing persons due to torrential rains, flash floods, and landslides during the ongoing monsoon season from June 20 to July 1, according to the State Emergency Operation Centre's latest damage assessment report. The natural disasters have caused extensive damage to private properties, livestock, and public infrastructure across the state's 12 districts.The SEOC report detailed that Mandi district was the worst affected with 10 deaths and all 34 missing persons primarily due to flash floods and cloudbursts. Additionally, 103 people have ...Read More >