Stay updated with the latest Other news, articles, and insights from trusted sources. Explore in-depth coverage and expert analysis on Other topics.
JAMMU: The annual Amarnath Yatra remained suspended for the second consecutive day Friday, because of inclement weather, officials said.No fresh batch of pilgrims was allowed to set out from Jammu via the twin routes -- Baltal and Pahalgam -- for the holy cave shrine nestled in the Himalayas.This is the second suspension of this year's annual pilgrimage. Earlier, on July 17, it had been stopped temporarily due to heavy rains at the twin base camps in Kashmir.This year's Amarnath Yatra commenced on July 3 and will end on Aug 9, on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan.
Jammu, Jun 28 (PTI) Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat on Saturday reviewed the security arrangements and administrative preparedness for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra and impressed upon the implementation of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and proactive measures to mitigate risks and ensure the pilgrims' safety and security. He also directed officers to enhance surveillance and threat detection capabilities by utilizing advanced technologies and real-time monitoring. To take stock of the security arrangements and administrative preparedness for the upcom ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Nine construction workers went missing after a midnight cloudburst triggered a massive landslide on Saturday (June 28) in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district on Yamunotri National Highway. A joint search and rescue operation has been launched by multiple agencies, and the Chardham pilgrimage on the Yamunotri track has been suspended for the next 24 hours. Police and rescue team members informed that around 19 workers were trapped under a thick mass of sludge that slid down due to a cloudburst at midnight. The deluge of sludge and debris completely devastated the labour camp where w ...Read More >
Kanpur, January 27: Due to the massive influx of devotees for the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, Varanasi's District Magistrate in Uttar Pradesh has announced that all schools in the district will be closed from Monday, January 27, 2025, to Wednesday, February 5, 2025. The decision is aimed at ensuring the safety of students and managing traffic congestion caused by the large number of pilgrims arriving in Varanasi for the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025. Despite the school closures, online classes will continue as usual to maintain the academic schedule, News18 reported. This directive applies to all CBSE, ICSE ...Read More >
Katra, June 06: The Chamber of Tourism, Trade and Industry Katra (CTTIK) Friday extended heartfelt gratitude to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for inaugurating and flagging off the much-anticipated Vande Bharat Express on the Katra-Srinagar railway line. This significant milestone is hailed as a transformative development for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, promising enhanced connectivity, economic growth, and spiritual resurgence. In addition to launching the Vande Bharat service, the Prime Minister also inaugurated two of India's most remarkable engineering feats: the Chenab Rai ...Read More >
Jammu, June 26: One terrorist was killed on Thursday in an ongoing gunfight between the security forces and the terrorists in J&K's Udhampur district's Basantgarh area. Inspector General of Police (IGP), Jammu Zone, Bhim Sen Tuti said that four terrorists are believed to be trapped in the ongoing encounter. Speaking with reporters, the IGP said the contact with the terrorists was established around 8.30 a.m., but the weather is unfavourable. "The situation will become clear once the weather improves. As per our assessment, a group of four terrorists is holed up," he said. Earlier, the Army sa ...Read More >
Srinagar, June 26: The Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha on Thursday said that security measures have been strengthened to ensure the smooth conduct of the Amarnath Yatra this year. SInha acknowledged dip in the registration of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra pilgrims post the terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam in April this year. Addressing media persons at Raj Bhawan, Srinagar, Sinha said that registration dropped by around 10 percent, but maintained that ìthe numbers are now rising again.î ìPublic confidence is returning, and I am hopeful it will continue to grow. Befor ...Read More >
Ahead of Amarnath Yatra, a terrorist of Jaish -e-Mohammad (JeM) outfit was gunned down during an encounter between security forces and four terrorists in the Basantgarh area of Udhampur district on Thursday morning, army's Nagrota-based White Knight Corps stated on X. Earlier, a senior police officer said that acting on an intelligence input, a joint operation was launched by the police and the army in Basantgarh during which they came under intense fire, triggering a gunfight. Additional reinforcements were rushed to the area. Jammu zone IGP Bhim Sen Tuti said the encounter took place aroun ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: The government on Saturday extended the term of the chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) Ravi Agrawal by one year, an official notification said.The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the re-appointment of Agrawal, an IRS officer of the 1988 batch, as CBDT chairman for one year from July 1 this year to June 30, 2026, on contract basis.Agrawal took over as the CBDT chairman from Nitin Gupta in June 2024 after Gupta's extended tenure ended. Agrawal has been a member of CBDT. He was member administration and had served as DG investigation in Delhi. The gover ...Read More >
SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha visited the Nunwan and Chandanwari base camps, on Sunday and reviewed the arrangements for the holy pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath Ji, which is scheduled to begin from July 03. At Nunwan Base camp, the Lieutenant Governor inaugurated a foot overbridge for smooth movement of pilgrims. The new facility will ensure efficient security checks and reduce the waiting time for devotees. The Lieutenant Governor interacted with the administrative and security officials deputed for the holy Yatra, and took stock of the security arrangements and preparations of sta ...Read More >
Kolkata: A two-member National Commission for Women team on Sunday visited the south Kolkata law college where a student was allegedly gang-raped last week.The team, accompanied by a videographer, was initially denied entry and asked to produce a formal order. After an hour-long discussion at the college entrance, the team, led by Archana Majumdar, was allowed in under two conditions -- no access to the crime scene and no videography permitted.The visit lasted 10 minutes. "We were denied access to the crime scene and other floors. I will include this in my report," said Majumdar, who was the f ...Read More >
A cloudburst near Barkot-Yamunotri road in Uttarkashi has caused significant damage to a hotel construction site, leaving several workers missing as rescue operations are underway. Separately, heavy rainfall has blocked the Badrinath-Rishikesh highway, disrupting pilgrimage travel. Chief Minister Dhami has advised caution and urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel due to the adverse weather forecast.A cloudburst in Baligarh, along the Barkot-Yamunotri road in Uttarkashi district, caused sign ...Read More >
New Delhi: The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is probing from all angles, including sabotage, in the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad that killed 274 people on board and on the ground last month, Minister of State (MoS) For Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said. Mohol said the black box of the Air India flight AI 171 that has been recovered is in AAIB's custody and will not be outside the country for a thorough assessment. The MoS was speaking at the Pune chapter of the Emerging Business Conclave. "It (plane crash) was an unfortunate incident. The AAIB has begun a full investig ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 18 (PTI) The Pakistan high commission on Wednesday said it issued 84 visas to Indian pilgrims to visit the Shree Katas Raj temples in Punjab province's Chakwal district. The group has been given visas to visit the Katas Raj temples from December 19 to 25. The temples are also known as Qila Katas. It is a complex of several Hindu temples connected to one another by walkways. Under the provision of a bilateral protocol on visits to religious shrines, Sikh and Hindu pilgrims from India visit Pakistan every year.Pakistani pilgrims also visit India every year under the protocol. ...Read More >
New Delhi, June 7 (SocialNews.XYZ) In a major boost to connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir, regular services of the Vande Bharat Express between Srinagar and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra commence on Saturday. The Northern Railway has confirmed that the semi-high-speed trains will operate six days a week, significantly reducing the travel time between Kashmir Valley and the prominent pilgrimage hub in Katra. This development marks a transformative step in the region's transport infrastructure. The new Vande Bharat service will cut the travel time between Srinagar and Katra to just three hours, ...Read More >
Over 331,000 devotees have already registered for the Amarnath Yatra, commencing on July 3 and concluding on August 9, 2025. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha chaired a meeting to review preparations, focusing on essential amenities and safety measures along the Pahalgam and Baltal routes. The board discussed enhancing facilities, lodging, and services for a hassle-free pilgrimage. SRINAGAR: More than 3,31,000 devotees have registered so far for this year's Amarnath Yatra, which is set to begin on ...Read More >
Srinagar: Lieutenant governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, on Thursday said that the Pahalgam attack has impacted tourism and the number of registrations for the Amarnath yatra has fallen 10% so far, compared to last year. Speaking to the media in Srinagar, he said elaborate security arrangements have been put in place to ensure a smooth yatra and urged all pilgrims to ensure that they move in a security convoy - right from Lakhanpur in Jammu to the holy cave in Kashmir. The LG was hopeful of an increase in the number of yatris. The duration of the yatra, starting from July 3, has been ...Read More >
Jammu, Jun 28 (PTI) Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat on Saturday reviewed the security arrangements and administrative preparedness for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra and impressed upon the implementation of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and proactive measures to mitigate risks and ensure the pilgrims' safety and security. He also directed officers to enhance surveillance and threat detection capabilities by utilizing advanced technologies and real-time monitoring. Also Read | Long-Awaited Relief for Retired Government Employees? 8th Pay Commission May ...Read More >
Srinagar, Jun 29 (PTI) Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha visited the Nunwan and Chandanwari base camps on Sunday to review the arrangements for the annual Amarnath pilgrimage, which is scheduled to begin from July 3. At the Nunwan base camp, the LG inaugurated a foot overbridge for smooth movement of the pilgrims. The new facility will ensure efficient security checks and reduce the waiting time for the devotees, an official spokesperson said. Sinha interacted with administrative and security officials deputed for the Amarnath Yatra, and took stock of the security arrang ...Read More >
Jammu, Jun 29 (PTI) Police set up a number of checkpoints on Sunday to bolster security arrangements in Jammu district and carry out daily anti-sabotage checks ahead of the Amarnath Yatra, which is scheduled to start from July 3. The 38-day annual pilgrimage is scheduled to start on July 3 from the twin routes -- the traditional 48-kilometre Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the shorter but steeper 14-kilometre Baltal route in Ganderbal district -- leading to the 3,880-metre-high Amarnath cave shrine. The first batch of pilgrims will leave for Kashmir from the Jammu-based Bhagwati Nagar ...Read More >
Srinagar- Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said foreign countries were told clearly during the post-Operation Sindoor diplomatic outreach that in case of a fresh provocation, India would repeat its action. Speaking at a discussion at the Ahmedabad Management Association, Tharoor said Indian delegations which visited foreign countries in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor managed to convey that India acted with restraint and responsibility. "In other places, we actually were able to get some very high-placed people to say not only that they respected and supported India's right of self- ...Read More >
New Delhi, December 5: Uttar Pradesh's Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh expressed confidence that Mahakumbh 2025 will play a pivotal role in showcasing India's rich cultural heritage and Sanatan traditions globally. Speaking on the progress of preparations, he told IANS, "The arrangements for Mahakumbh are progressing in full swing. We are committed to welcoming all devotees, irrespective of their origin -- whether from different states of India or other countries. We aim to host them with unmatched arrangements that combine magnificence, divinity, and cultural vibrancy." "This gran ...Read More >
Digha: A day after Rath Yatra, the festive fervour continues in Digha as the seaside town is now gearing up to host Ulta Rath or the return journey of the deities from the 'Masir Bari' or the old Jagannath temple. On July 5 -- the Ulta Rath day -- hotels are hoping for fresh tourist influx. Though the deities are currently in Masir Bari, a large queue of devotees visited the newly-constructed Jagannath temple on Saturday. They offered prayers to the stone idol permanently installed there. It is the wooden idols of Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra that have taken the chairot rides. Bipradash Cha ...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, Jun 29 (PTI) The Congress on Sunday attacked the Centre and Rajasthan governments over the reported plan to redraw the boundaries of the Sariska Tiger Reserve for the reactivation of over 50 mining operations, saying the move would be "ecologically devastating". The opposition party also said that with the Rajasthan and Union environment ministers both being from Alwar, this "double engine" cannot be supporting such a move. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh shared on X a media report which claimed that a plan to redraw the boundaries of Rajasthan's ...Read More >
Srinagar: With the annual Amarnath Yatra set to commence on July 3, Director General of Police (DGP) Jammu and Kashmir, Nalin Prabhat has directed all security agencies to take proactive and preventive measures to counter any potential threats. He emphasised strict adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and robust coordination among forces to ensure a peaceful and safe pilgrimage. Chairing a high-level security review meeting in Jammu, DGP Prabhat said dismantling terror networks and maintaining a vigilant security grid throughout the 38-day pilgrimage was a top priority. "We must ...Read More >
Jammu, Jun 30 (PTI) Ahead of the Amarnath Yatra, the token distribution centre for offline registration of the pilgrims was operationalised here on Monday, even as the authorities successfully conducted a dry run of the arrangements along the Jammu-Srinagar national highway, officials said. The 38-day pilgrimage to the 3,880-metre-high holy cave shrine of Amarnath will commence from the twin tracks -- the traditional 48-km-long Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the 14-km shorter but steeper Baltal route in Ganderbal district -- on July 3. The first batch of pilgrims will leave f ...Read More >
Thousands of pilgrims, including foreigners, congregated in Digha, West Bengal, for the Rath Yatra festival. The Chief Minister, along with cabinet members, initiated the chariot procession of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra. Rituals commenced in the morning with 'Pahandi Vijay' at the newly-built Jagannath Dham Temple, followed by the idols being placed on the chariots amid devotional chants and festivities.Thousands gathered from different parts of the state to attend the Rath Yatra fe ...Read More >
SRINAGAR, June 28: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today held a meeting with the members of civil society organisations, religious leaders, elected representatives, trade and business community and discussed the arrangements for forthcoming Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp Chief Minister Omar Abdullah; Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo; Special Director General (Coordination), PHQ, SJM Gillani; Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor and CEO, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, Dr Mandeep K Bhandari; Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Vijay Bidhuri; Administrative ...Read More >
New Delhi: On this day in 2024, India defeated South Africa by 7 runs and lifted the T20 World Cup title at the Kensington Oval in Barbados. India posted a 177-run target for the Proteas in 20 overs after opting to bat first. Virat Kohli smashed 76 runs off 59 balls with the help of six boundaries and two maximums. Axar Patel also batted brilliantly and scored 47 runs off 31 balls, hitting four maximums and one boundary in his sensational knock. Chasing the target of 177 runs, Bumrah provided India their first breakthrough when he removed Reeza Hendricks in the second over of the run-chase, ...Read More >
Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand) [India], June 29 (ANI): A severe landslide caused by heavy rainfall struck a labour camp at Silai Band on the Yamunotri Highway on Sunday, resulting in nine workers missing while ten others were rescued. Officials confirmed that a 10-12 meter stretch of the highway was completely washed away, severely disrupting road connectivity and delaying immediate rescue operations. Also Read | Puri Temple Stampede: Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi Seeks Forgiveness From Jagannath Devotees, Tender Apology for Stampede During Jagannath Rath Yatra. According to officials, teams from ...Read More >