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Nagpur: Diwali night was hectic for Nagpur's fire and emergency services department as firecrackers triggered a series of blaze calls across the city, keeping all fire stations on continuous duty. Out of 16 fire-related calls received in less than 10 hours, 11 were reported within a five-hour window on October 21 -- between 7pm and midnight -- stretching the city's firefighting network to its limits.The first call came around 7.05pm, marking the start of a long night for fire personnel. The blaze was reported inside the market committee office near Rahul Hotel in Ganeshpeth, and it took nearly half an hour to contain. Within minutes, another incident occurred when a car caught fire near Ganeshpeth police station, again due to firecrackers. The situation remained tense until around 11.40pm as a string of calls poured in from different parts of the city.Even October 22 began on a tense note, with five more fire calls received between midnight and 3am. NMC's Regional Disaster Main Management Control Room logged a total of 17 emergency calls -- 16 fire-related and one body recovery case -- between 7pm on October 21 and 4am on October 22.According to officials, at least seven of these fires were directly linked to firecracker mishaps, while others stemmed from short circuits or unidentified causes. Fortunately, no casualties or major injuries were reported, thanks to a swift and coordinated response by firefighting teams from multiple stations. The assessment of property damage is still underway. Preliminary inspections suggest that most fires were minor, causing limited damage to vehicles, garbage dumps, and temporary structures. However, in a few cases -- including the blaze near Aath Rasta Chowk and the house fire at Ayodhya Nagar -- the department is conducting detailed evaluations to determine the extent of material loss. A consolidated report on total damages is expected in the coming days.Chief fire officer Tushar Barahate personally supervised operations throughout the night. "We were responding to calls almost continuously from 7pm till early morning. Most incidents were caused by stray firecrackers landing on garbage heaps, parked vehicles, or temporary stalls," a senior officer said.Barahate said the department anticipated heavy workload during the festival and took precautionary steps in advance. All 123 fire personnel were put on continuous duty from October 20, with weekly offs and leaves cancelled till October 26 to maintain full deployment. The city's firefighting network currently includes 12 operational fire stations covering an area of 227 sq km.The night saw blazes reported from Omkar Nagar, Bhimsen Nagar, Ayodhya Nagar, and New Nandanvan, most linked to Diwali celebrations. At 8.46pm, a fire broke out inside a house on Ram Mandir Road in Ayodhya Nagar, prompting the dispatch of tenders from Sakkardara and Trimurti Nagar stations. By 9.20pm, a major fire near Reliance Store at Eight Rasta Chowk led to an all-station alert, with engines rushed from Narendra Nagar, Civil Lines, and Wathoda to prevent the flames from spreading.In another late-night incident, fires broke out near Jaripatka, Mahal, and Gittikhadan, mostly in garbage dumps and trees. At 1.51am, the control room received a call from Bidipeth about a person who fell into a well near Satpute Kirana Stores -- later confirmed as a body recovery case handled by Sakkardara station personnel. The final fire-related call was logged at 2.07am from Manas Chowk, Sitabuldi, marking the end of an intense eight-hour emergency stretch.Officials said that the simultaneous nature of calls posed a challenge for the department, forcing them to split manpower and vehicles strategically across zones. "Our teams had to move rapidly from one end of the city to another, often finishing one operation and immediately leaving for the next," an officer said.The department's summary report reflected the scale of the challenge -- 17 calls in just eight hours, nearly half of them caused by fireworks. Fire officials have once again appealed to citizens to follow safety measures while celebrating festivals."Most fires are preventable," an official said. "People should avoid bursting crackers near garbage piles, vehicles, or buildings, and ensure proper disposal of used fireworks. Even a small spark can turn dangerous in crowded or flammable areas."Officials credited quick coordination between all 12 fire stations -- including Cotton Market, Sakkardara, Narendra Nagar, Trimurti Nagar, Civil Lines, Sugat Nagar, Wathoda, and Lakadganj -- for preventing what could have been a disastrous Diwali night in Nagpur.BOXDiwali Night Fire Calls - Nagpur (Oct 21-22)| Type of Incident | No. of Calls | Cause / Reason | Remarks || ------------------------- | --------------------------- | ----------------------------- | ----------------------------- || Fires | 16 | 7 caused by firecrackers, 1 short circuit, 8 unknown causes | Swiftly contained by fire units || Body recovery | 1 | Person fell into well near Bidi Peth| Handled by Sakkardara station team || Total emergency calls | 17 | -- | Between 7 pm (Oct 21) and 4 am (Oct 22) || Major responding stations | Cotton Market, Sakkardara, Narendra Nagar, Trimurti Nagar, Civil Lines, Jaripatka, Lakadganj, Wathoda | -- | Multi-station coordination ensured rapid response || Fire personnel on duty | 123 | Full deployment; weekly offs & leaves cancelled (Oct 20-26) | Led by Chief Fire Officer Tushar Barahate || Operational fire stations | 12 | Covering 227 sq km | Attended all emergency calls across the city |
New Delhi [India], July 20 (ANI): Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury on Sunday expressed concern over the government inaction in bringing to justice the terrorists behind the April 22 Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 civilians, including a Nepali citizen. As the Parliament Monsoon session begins, Chowdhury stated that the INDIA bloc will raise this issue, demanding answers from the government. Speaking to ANI, Chowdhury said, The Parliament session is starting, so we have reached Delhi. We have not been able to see those who killed our countrymen in the terrorist attack in Pahalgam arrested yet. T ...Read More >
Moradabad (UP), Aug 1 (PTI) The Moradabad district administration has cancelled the allotment of a government bungalow granted to former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav. The Samajwadi Party (SP) has been asked to vacate the premises within 30 days. The bungalow, located in the posh Civil Lines area near the Police Training College (PTC II), was allotted to the SP patriarch 31 years ago. Spread across nearly 1,000 square meters on Nazul land, the property serves as the local SP office. District Magistrate Anuj Singh said the property is needed for housing officers and other ...Read More >
PATNA: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is all set to embark on 'Vote Adhikar Yatra' from Bihar's Rohtas district on August 17 to register a protest against how the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls was being conducted in the state. This comes at a time when the Opposition is ratcheting up its protest against the SIR and casting aspersions on the integrity of elections. AICC general secretary (organisation) and MP KC Venugopal held a meeting with the INDIA bloc leaders at Sasaram in Rohtas district on Wednesday and reviewed preparations for Rahul Gandhi's visit to Bi ...Read More >
Delhi Mall Fire Tragedy: A disturbing voice message from Kumar Dhirender Pratap, who was 25 years old and an aspirant for UPSC, has generated outrage as he passed away in a raging fire at Vishal Mega Mart, Karol Bagh. Stranded in a smoke-filled elevator, Pratap had left his last messages for his older brother at 6:51 pm, "Bhaiya ab saans phool raha. Kuch karo" (Brother, I am short of breath now. Do something). Pratap, a resident of Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh, had come back to Delhi only 48 hours ago to resume his preparation for civil services. A fire, reportedly due to a short circuit on the f ...Read More >
Hyderabad, July 18 (UNI) In view of the ongoing heavy rains in Hyderabad, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has directed all concerned departments to stay on high alert and ensure swift response to public grievances. The Chief Minister instructed officials from GHMC, HMDA, Water Works, Electricity, and Police departments to work in close coordination to prevent any rain-related disruptions. He also emphasised the need for immediate action in areas facing waterlogging, power outages, or other rain-induced issues. CM Revanth Reddy further directed the deployment of SDRF, NDRF, Hydra teams, and ot ...Read More >
New Delhi, Aug 28 (PTI) India's gains from importing discounted Russian oil are estimated to be just USD 2.5 billion per annum, significantly lower than the previously speculated range of USD 10-25 billion, a research report said on Thursday. Stopping Russian oil imports would force India, the world's third-largest oil importer and consumer, to rely on limited alternatives, potentially driving global crude prices up to USD 100 per barrel amid rising demand and tight supply. "Benefit from Russian oil imports is way less than exaggerated media numbers," brokerage CLSA said in a report. While ...Read More >
New Delhi, Sep 15 (UNI) Road Transport and Highways Minister, Nitin Gadkari today said that India has surpassed Japan to become the third-largest automobile market globally, and the government is targeting the number one position within the next five years. "All major global automobile brands are now present in India. Their focus has shifted from merely assembling to exporting vehicles from India to the world," Gadkari was quoted as saying in an official statement here. He unveiled an ambitious roadmap to position India as the world's leading hub for automobile manufacturing, green mobility, ...Read More >
Morena, December 10: An ex-serviceman allegedly killed his wife and then committed suicide by turning his licensed pistol on himself after a dispute in Madhya Pradesh's Morena city early Tuesday morning, police said. Before killing himself, he also aimed the gun at his two teenage sons while they were lying on a bed at home, but they managed to save themselves by running out of the house, an official said. Devendra Singh (45) retired as a hawaldar from the Army five years back and was financially sound, one of his sons said. Preliminary investigations suggested Singh had some dispute with his ...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 >
Hyderabad: A reactor blast at a chemical unit in Hyderabad led to a massive fire accident. It claimed several lives and left over 20 workers injured. The explosion occurred at Seegachi Chemicals which is located in the Pasamailaram industrial zone in Patancheru area. After the blast, multiple fire engines and ambulances were deployed for rescue operations. Witnesses reported seeing thick plumes of smoke billowing from the chemical plant. Authorities fear the death toll might rise as search efforts continue in the gutted facility. Initial reports suspect multiple fatalities. In the fire ac ...Read More >
Delhi schools faced repeated bomb threats, causing panic. Delhi Police are investigating, finding the emails hard to trace due to encryption. Senders used VPNs and the dark web for anonymity. Directorate of Education issued safety guidelines. Schools increased security measures. Police are exploring all possible angles, including terror links. Parents expressed fear and anxiety over the disruptions. A fresh wave of bomb threats targeting schools and colleges has kept Delhi Police on its toes as ...Read More >
Ajmer (Rajasthan) [India], July 20 (ANI): Following incessant heavy rainfall for two consecutive days, the Anasagar Chaupati area in Ajmer was waterlogged on Sunday morning. As the lake overflowed, the residential areas bore the brunt. Traffic movement on the route has been halted; only large vehicles are permitted to move here, while small vehicles and two-wheelers are not being allowed. Earlier, the Ana Sagar lake in Rajasthan Ajmer overflowed on Saturday morning, following incessant rain, which caused waterlogging. Due to this, the road connecting Bajrang Garh to the market has been clos ...Read More >
Patna: Outpatient and elective services at AIIMS-Patna were brought to a standstill on Friday as over 600 resident doctors boycotted work following a violent altercation involving Sheohar MLA Chetan Anand. Emergency services also experienced partial disruption. In response to the incident, which took place on the night of July 30, the AIIMS-Patna administration has constituted a fact-finding committee to determine the sequence of events and recommend appropriate action.The confrontation between A ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta took to X on Wednesday to address the attack on her during a public hearing at her Civil Lines camp office earlier in the day.In her statement in Hindi, Gupta said the assault "was not just an attack on me, but a cowardly attempt on our resolve to serve Delhi and work for the welfare of the public." She added that she was initially in shock but is now recovering and urged well-wishers not to visit her, promising to return to her duties soon. "Naturally, I was in shock after this attack, but I am now feeling better. I request all my well-wishers not t ...Read More >
An FIR has been launched against the accused behind the attack on Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta at her official residence in Civil Lines area during a 'Jan Sunwai' programme. The case has been lodged under Section 109(1) (attempt to murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has been lodged at Civil Lines police station, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Raja Banthia said. Soon after the attack, the police arrested the accused, Sakriya Rajeshbhai Khimjibhai, a 41-year-old resident of R ...Read More >
Lawyers in Delhi district courts will extend their strike through Thursday and Friday in response to a notification issued by the Lieutenant Governor (LG). The notification permits police to present evidence virtually from police stations. Advocates have been abstaining from work for five days, and a demonstration is planned outside LG House on Friday to protest the notification. The lawyers' strike in Delhi district courts will continue on Thursday and Friday to protest against a notification i ...Read More >
Bareilly (Uttar Pradesh) [India], September 13 (ANI): Two unidentified people opened fire at Bollywood actor Disha Patani's residence at Civil Lines, Bareilly, during the wee hours of Friday. SSP Bareilly, Anurag Arya, confirmed the incident, stating that two motorbike-borne individuals arrived at the actor's residence and opened fire around 3:30 am. Also Read | 'Heer Express' Movie Review: Outdated Storytelling Derails Divita Juneja and Prit Kamani's Family Drama (LatestLY Exclusive). "We rec ...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 >
New Delhi, July 5: A massive fire that erupted at a Vishal Mega Mart outlet in Delhi's Karol Bagh area on Saturday, claimed the lives of two men, according to police sources. The incident occurred at a four-storey commercial building located on Padam Singh Road, with the blaze primarily concentrated on the second floor. The fire was first reported at approximately 6:44 P.M. on Friday, prompting a swift response from emergency services. At least 15 fire tenders were deployed to the site to control the flames and carry out rescue operations. Despite their efforts, two fatalities were confirmed d ...Read More >
Jammu- Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday reviewed the ongoing restoration work of the historic Mubarak Mandi complex, which was the power centre of the Dogra kings in Jammu, and stressed on enhancing its heritage appeal. The Mubarak Mandi Complex is one of Jammu's most significant architectural heritage sites and is envisioned as a comprehensive cultural centre, housing museums, conference venues and heritage hospitality services. Accompanied by Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani and MLA Yudhvir Sethi during the visit, the chief minister was briefed in detail on the multi-phas ...Read More >
Kolkata: The Kolkata Traffic Police is facing a new challenge in managing vehicle parking for the upcoming Shahid Diwas rally on Monday, as persistent rainfall threatens to render designated parking fields unusable. The fresh spell of rain on Friday, with more occasional rain predicted even on Saturday, has left cops worried as they believe the Maidan area can be filled with slush.The traffic department, which initially planned to utilise various fields across the city for parking buses and cars of parade attendees, is now frantically searching for alternative solutions on the main roads, stre ...Read More >
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], August 3 (ANI): In a major crackdown on narcotics smuggling, officers of the Airport Commissionerate, Mumbai Customs Zone-III, have seized 14.738 kgs of suspected NDPS hydroponic weed (marijuana) valued at approximately Rs 14.73 crore during operations on Sunday. The seizures were made across Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMI), resulting in the arrest of one passenger, as stated in the press release. The passenger was arrested under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. Based on specific intel, ...Read More >
New Delhi: Traffic in central Delhi will be affected on Thursday as the traffic police has issued an advisory due to the Janmashtami and Tazia processions.According to police, the traffic movement in Paharganj is likely to be affected from 1.30pm in view of the shobha yatra for Janmashtami and the Tazia procession.The Janmashtami procession will start from Mandir Shri Banke Bihari Ji in Paharganj's Sangatrasan Bazar and pass through Desh Bandhu Gupta Road, Chuna Mandi, Main Bazar, Munja Chowk and Arakashan Road. The Tazia procession will start from Ajmeri Gate and proceed through Pul Paharganj ...Read More >
Bengaluru: For millions of people, the sudden, sharp pain of tooth due to sensitivity can turn a sip of cold water into a jolt. Now, researchers at Indian Institute of Science (IISc), in collaboration with Bengaluru-based deep-tech startup Theranautilus, have engineered "CalBots" - magnetic nanobots that can seal the problem at its source.As per IISc, CalBots are 400-nanometre particles loaded with a calcium silicate-based bioceramic formula, designed to travel 500 micrometres deep inside dentinal tubules, the tiny tunnels in the tooth that lead to nerve endings. Guided by an external magnetic ...Read More >
Mumbai, June 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday debunked all allegations made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi about rigging and match-fixing in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections. In his articles titled 'Those Rejected by the People Deny the Mandate', published in the same three newspapers where Gandhi's write-ups appeared, CM Fadnavis advised the Congress MP to "accept defeat, introspect on where you went wrong, why your connect with the people is lacking, and what needs to be done." He taunted Gandhi, saying that the latter was preparing excuses for "defeats ...Read More >
New Delhi: A firefighter was injured after a massive fire broke out at a building in North Delhi's Sadar Bazar on Saturday afternoon.According to officials, the incident was reported at 3:49 pm. A total of 27 fire tenders and over 100 firefighters rushed to the spot, located in the Main Market of Sadar Bazar.The fire reportedly started on the first floor of the building and quickly spread to three upper floors. The area, known for its dense crowds and congested lanes, posed additional challenges for firefighting efforts.The injured firefighter is identified as Yogender, who is posted at the Sa ...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 >
Hyderabad: A massive fire broke out at a rubber manufacturing unit in the Katedan industrial area on Thursday. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported. Due to the intensity of the fire, thick plumes of smoke were seen billowing from the building, causing panic among nearby industrial workers. According to fire officials, the fire erupted at a unit involved in producing car mats and other rubber-based products. On receiving the alert, five fire tenders from nearby fire stations rushed to the spot and began firefighting operations. After an hour of firefighting the fire was doused. The ...Read More >
Gurgaon: A fire broke out in the early hours of Thursday at a warehouse in Bhora Kalan village near Chainpura. Upon receiving information about the incident, fire tenders from Pataudi, Manesar, Sector 29 and Farrukhnagar rushed to the spot. No injuries were reported. However, cotton material was destroyed.The warehouse, spanning 3,000 square metres, is owned by Chetna Enterprises. According to fire officials, a fire call was received at Manesar fire station at 12.20am."A total of 10 fire engines were immediately deployed, and after approximately five hours of intense efforts, the blaze was bro ...Read More >
The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Friday conducted "Exercise Suraksha Chakra" -- a mock drill across Delhi to gauge the Earthquake and Chemical Hazard preparedness of emergency services across the capital. The exercise with a simulated earthquake was conducted at 55 locations, including schools, hospitals, industrial areas, markets, government offices, metro infrastructure, and vulnerable urban settlements. Advertisement According to the official document, the drill focused on validating the Incident Re ...Read More >