India

Guwahati, June 23 (IANS) The Indian Army’s Trishakti Corps has restored a crucial connectivity link between Siliguri and Mirik in North Bengal by constructing a 34-metre foot bridge across the Balason River at Dudhia after the existing bridge was washed away by incessant rainfall, officials said on Tuesday.

The temporary bridge was established following a requisition from the district administration to address the disruption caused by the collapse of the earlier structure, which had severed an important route used by local residents, commuters, and tourists.

According to defence officials, the newly erected footbridge has restored pedestrian movement across the river and reconnected several areas that had faced significant transportation challenges due to damage from heavy rains.

The bridge also provides access to important border crossing points, including Pashupati Phatak, and is expected to bring relief to people dependent on the route for daily travel and essential activities.

Officials said the Army acted swiftly after receiving the request from the civil administration, mobilising personnel and resources to restore connectivity as quickly as possible.

An Army official said the force remains committed to supporting civil administration and local communities whenever required, adding that the restoration of this vital link will ease daily movement, support tourism, and provide relief until a permanent solution is established.

The Army has also initiated efforts to establish a wider Bailey Bridge at the same location in the coming days. Once completed, the Bailey Bridge will facilitate vehicular movement and further strengthen connectivity between Siliguri and Mirik.

Defence authorities noted that the restoration of vehicular traffic is expected to provide a major boost to tourism in the region, which serves as a significant source of livelihood for many local residents. The route is frequently used by tourists travelling to the hill destinations of the Darjeeling district and adjoining areas.

Special attention has been paid to the structural stability and safety of the temporary footbridge. Necessary safeguards and security measures have been put in place to ensure pedestrian safety.

The initiative highlights the close coordination between the Indian Army, district administration, and local communities in responding to emergencies and restoring essential infrastructure following natural disasters.

--IANS

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New Delhi, June 23 (IANS) The Indian National Congress has announced a nationwide campaign titled “Chhatron Ki Goonj” (Students’ echo) to be held on June 25, 2026, with press conferences across major cities, demanding a complete overhaul of India’s education system.

The party has called for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, accusing him of symbolising the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government’s “lack of vision and dogmatic approach” to education.

In a press release issued by AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal, Congress alleged that over the past twelve years, the RSS-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government has pursued policies of privatisation, centralisation, and “Sanghification” of education, while failing to prepare India’s youth for the future.

The party argued that the crisis confronting the nation is not only one of unemployment but also of employability, with students ill-equipped to meet modern challenges.

The campaign will see senior Congress leaders addressing press conferences in 28 cities, including Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Bilaspur, Chandigarh, Chennai, Dehradun, Delhi, Guwahati, Gwalior, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Kolkata, Kota, Nagpur, Patna, Pune, Purnia, Ranchi, Rohtak, Sikar, Srinagar, Trivandrum, Vijayawada, Allahabad, and Meerut.

Leaders such as Satej Patil, Varsha Gaikwad, Pawan Khera, Rajeev Shukla, Priyank Kharge, Gaurav Gogoi, Supriya Shrinate, Kanhaiya Kumar, Imran Pratapgarhi, and Srinivas BV will spearhead the initiative in their respective regions.

Congress stated that these press conferences mark the beginning of a national conversation on building a modern, inclusive, and future-ready education system.

The party has invited students, teachers, parents, and concerned citizens to join the dialogue, emphasising that education must be restructured to meet the aspirations of India’s youth rather than being subjected to ideological control.

By placing education reform at the centre of its campaign, Congress aims to challenge the government’s record and mobilise public opinion in support of systemic change.

The demand for the Education Minister’s resignation underscores its intent to hold the government accountable for what it describes as years of neglect and mismanagement in the sector.

--IANS

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Kolkata, June 23 (IANS) After the dissolution of the Siliguri Municipal Corporation's (SMC) municipal board, IAS officer R. Vimala took charge as the new administrator of the civic body in north Bengal.

On Tuesday afternoon, she officially arrived at the municipal corporation office and started administrative work.

The West Bengal government on Monday evening deputed the IAS officer as the administrator for the Siliguri Municipal Corporation.

The move came within three days of veteran Trinamool Congress leader Gautam Deb resigning as the Siliguri Mayor.

R. Vimala, the Principal Secretary of the North Bengal Development department, is the new administrator at the SMC with immediate effect. Her appointment is for a tenure of six months.

Immediately after taking charge on Tuesday, R. Vimala made her priorities clear.

The main challenge for her now is to deal with the problem of waterlogging in various wards and neighbourhoods of Siliguri city due to continuous rains.

R. Vimala told media persons, "Our first goal will be to ensure that civic services are not disrupted in any way."

She also said that she has already held a meeting with the officials of the concerned departments regarding the current monsoon situation.

Discussions were held on the drainage system problems in the Siliguri city.

According to R. Vimala, urgent steps will be taken to resolve the waterlogging and drainage problems quickly.

On this day, SMC Commissioner Ashwini Roy, officers of various departments and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Coordinators were present to welcome the new SMC administrator.

Upon reaching the Municipal Corporation, Roy welcomed the new SMC administrator with flowers, following which a BJP delegation led by the Leader of the Opposition in SMC, Amit Jain, paid a courtesy call on the SMC administrator.

Leader of Opposition Amit Jain said, "I went to pay a courtesy call on the administrator madam. We had a detailed discussion on the current situation of the city and talked about important issues like water storage, roads and drainage system. She is an experienced administrator. We hope that we will get her cooperation in the development of the city in the coming days."

Sources said that the board of administrators will work in consultation with all the public representatives and councillors of the Siliguri city, including former Mayor Gautam Deb.

Their goal now is to quickly resolve several problems and accelerate development projects.

Recently, due to the resignation of Mayor Gautam Deb, the municipal board of SMC was dissolved.

Therefore, the state government decided to appoint an administrator to keep the administrative work running and ensure services to the people.

--IANS

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New Delhi, June 23 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday thanked Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of Qatar, for his phone call and condolences on the loss of lives of Indian nationals in the accident at Ras Laffan Industrial City in Qatar.

“I thank His Highness the Amir of Qatar for his phone call and condolences on the loss of lives of Indian nationals in the tragic accident at Ras Laffan Industrial City in Qatar. We both share the grief of the families who have lost their loved ones and pray for the speedy recovery of those injured,” PM Modi wrote on X.

He added that India and Qatar remain steadfast in their commitment to ensure the safety and well-being of citizens and stand in solidarity with each other.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it is coordinating with local authorities to identify and repatriate the mortal remains of the 12 Indian nationals who lost their lives in the explosion at Ras Laffan Industrial City on Sunday night.

“Very unfortunate death of 12 Indian nationals. Several others also died of other nationalities, but we lost 12 of our nationals in the tragedy in the Ras Laffan gas field, where an explosion happened. Several other people have also been injured. I am told that some 66 people are injured across nationalities. We do not know exactly how many of them are Indian nationals, but all those people who are injured are safe,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a weekly media briefing.

He added that the MEA was talking to local authorities for identification and transportation of the mortal remains to India, and was also in touch with the family members of those who died in the accident.

Earlier in the day, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar expressed deep sorrow over the deaths and injuries caused by the explosion, including those involving Indian nationals.

“Deeply saddened by the loss of lives and injuries, including those of Indian nationals, in the explosion at Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial City. As further details emerge, our Embassy continues to be in touch with Qatari authorities and is reaching out to render assistance to the families of Indian nationals affected by this tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families,” EAM Jaishankar posted on X.

--IANS

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Bhubaneswar, June 23 (IANS) The Commissionerate Police has arrested a 38-year-old man on charges of sexually abusing a minor student in Bhubaneswar, said a police official on Tuesday.

The accused was identified as Niranjan Mishra of the Mancheswar police station area of Bhubaneswar city. The victim, an undergraduate student at a local college, allegedly came into contact with the accused, who runs a coaching centre in the Saheed Nagar area of the city, a couple of months ago.

According to the complaint, Mishra allegedly established a relationship with the minor girl and induced her to believe they were married by applying sindoor on her forehead at a temple. Thereafter, they lived together in his house. Following a dispute, the victim approached the police and lodged a complaint.

Acting on the complaint, the Bhubaneswar Mahila Police Station launched an investigation and registered a case (178/26) under various sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

He was arrested on Tuesday and forwarded to court, which later sent him to judicial custody.

It is pertinent to mention that the alleged deterioration of the law-and-order situation, as well as a significant increase in cases of violence against women, has triggered massive outrage against the state government, with opposition parties holding it responsible for the rise.

Notably, in another case of sexual abuse, two persons were arrested earlier this month for allegedly raping a woman at a beauty parlour in Bhubaneswar on the pretext of providing her a job.

The accused, a 51-year-old beauty parlour owner and his 52-year-old staff member, were apprehended after the woman lodged a complaint at Khandagiri police station. Meanwhile, recurring incidents of mob violence in different parts of the state have also become a major cause of concern for the government.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Jun 23 (IANS) Congress MP Akhilesh Prasad Singh on Tuesday launched a sharp critique of his party’s internal strategy, linking its poor electoral performance in Bihar to misguided leadership decisions and warning against the growing perception of Congress as a minority-centric party.

Singh, who once served as Bihar Congress president, recalled that his removal from the post marked a turning point in the party’s decline. “I was the president of Bihar at that time. Shahnawaz Alam became AICC secretary, and the first thing he did was remove me from office. If I had remained in that position, the Congress would not have been limited to just five or six seats,” he asserted.

Positioning himself as a seasoned political figure, Singh said he understood Bihar’s complexities better than those parachuted into leadership roles. “Salman Saheb knows me well. He understands the states. But those who have nothing to give and take from the politics of the people are made in charge of Bihar,” he remarked, underscoring his frustration with the appointment of non-political individuals to crucial posts.

Turning his attention to minority representation, Singh accused the party of failing to safeguard its traditional support base. He pointed to Kerala and Assam as examples where Congress miscalculated, leading to significant losses.

“We couldn’t think that minorities could lose less than 30 seats in Assam. The situation left us with only 18–20, and of those, 18 belonged to Congress,” he said.

Singh warned that a dangerous narrative was being constructed nationwide; “A narrative is being created that Congress is the party of minorities. They are not to be taken or given by Hindus. If someone wins a seat in West Bengal, it is projected as minority representation. This narrative is being spread across India.”

He argued that the party’s reliance on non-political appointees was eroding its credibility and effectiveness. “If the right people are given responsibility, the performance of Congress in Bihar will be somewhat better,” Singh concluded, stressing that the party’s revival depended on empowering leaders with genuine political grounding.

His remarks reflect growing unease within Congress ranks, as the party struggles to counter both electoral setbacks and the perception of being confined to minority politics.

--IANS

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New Delhi, June 23 (IANS) Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday met US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, and discussed ways to finalise a balanced and mutually beneficial trade agreement (BTA).

In a post on X, Goyal said India and the United States share a strong and growing economic partnership.

“We had productive discussions on advancing negotiations towards a balanced and mutually beneficial trade agreement, in line with the Joint Statement of 7 February 2026,” the minister posted.

He further stated that India remains committed to working constructively with the United States to further deepen economic ties and create new opportunities for growth and innovation.

India and the United States are moving decisively towards finalising a bilateral trade agreement that could unlock new economic opportunities and deepen bilateral economic ties.

Earlier in the day, Gor welcomed USTR Greer who arrived here for key trade talks with Goyal.

"Welcome to India, @USTradeRep Ambassador Greer! Great to have you here as we drive forward our ambitious trade agenda. We are moving decisively toward finalizing a strong bilateral trade agreement that will unlock new economic opportunities for both countries and significantly deepen the U.S.-India economic partnership," Gor said in a post on X.

Greer's visit comes at a crucial stage in the ongoing negotiations between India and Washington on the proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA).

On Monday, Gor had announced that several meetings were lined up between Greer and Goyal to advance the proposed agreement.

The ministerial-level engagement follows chief negotiator-level talks held here earlier this month as both sides work towards concluding an interim trade arrangement that is expected to pave the way for a broader bilateral trade pact.

Goyal has previously expressed confidence that India and the US are moving towards resolving outstanding issues and could conclude the first phase of the agreement by the middle of next month.

The negotiations have gained significance ahead of the July 24 expiry of the 10 per cent temporary tariff imposed by the US on its trading partners.

—IANS

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Bhubaneswar, June 23 (IANS) The Odisha Vigilance continues its crackdown on corrupt government officials in the state as the agency on Tuesday carried out simultaneous house searches at multiple locations linked to the Executive Engineer of CADA (Command Area Development Authority), Sambalpur Division, on charges of possession of assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.

“On the allegation of possession of assets disproportionate to the known sources of income, simultaneous house searches were conducted on the properties of Padmalochan Nayak, Executive Engineer, CADA, Sambalpur Division, Sambalpur on June 23 at seven places in Sambalpur, Kataka, Baleshwar, and Malkangiri districts,” said a senior official.

The places where the searches were carried out include Nayak’s rented residential house at Dhanupali in Sambalpur district, residential triple-storeyed buildings at Bidyadharpur in Kataka district and at Mukhalis under Basta Police Station area in Baleshwar District, etc.

The official further stated that seven teams of Odisha Vigilance, led by four Deputy Superintendents of Police, 13 Inspectors, seven Assistant Sub Inspectors, and other supporting staff, conducted the search on the strength of Search Warrants issued by the Court of Special Judge, Vigilance, Sambalpur.

During the house searches, the anti-corruption sleuths found Nayak and his family members in possession of assets worth crores including three buildings including a multi storeyed building in Kataka, 18 valuable plots including five in Bhubaneswar, three in Kataka, six in Korei area of Jajpur district, three in Basta of Baleshwar district and one in Delanga of Puri district, gold ornaments and house hold articles worth around Rs 20 lakh, cash Rs 3.45 lakh along with some foreign currency notes of Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bahrain and USA, three four wheelers, two JCBs, one tractor, one trailer, etc.

“Nayak is suspected to have made visits to Sri Lanka multiple times and engaged in gambling activities, which is being verified,” the official added.

The vigilance sources also revealed that the accused Executive Engineer is being examined to ascertain the source of the assets unearthed during the searches. The police suspect that more assets are likely to be unearthed as the searches are still on.

--IANS

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Kolkata, June 23 (IANS) El Nino may result in decreased fish catch in the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea, the first bulletin on the event released by the Indian National Centre For Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) said on Tuesday.

The INCOIS started releasing specialised El Nino bulletins to highlight the possible impacts of the ongoing system on the maritime sectors.

The first specialised bulletin was released by Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, BJP Member of Parliament from Telangana's Chevella.

The El Nino event continues to develop and is expected to peak in the winter season (November 2026 to January 2027), the bulletin has confirmed.

As a result, the sea surface temperature in the Indian Ocean will be higher than normal until April/May 2027.

"The marine ecosystem in the northern Indian Ocean (both Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal) is likely to be under thermal stress in the coming months, especially during March-May 2027.

This can lead to increased bleaching of coral reefs, more episodes of marine heat waves and reduction in the fish catch (particularly sardine and mackerel species) due to migration of fish stock to suitable habitats or due to decrease in the recruitment," the bulletin says.

It has also been forecast that the fish may not reach the desired sizes due to changes in the marine environmental conditions related to the developing El Nino.

"The sea state in the Bay of Bengal will remain rough during the monsoon season and there are chances for increased coastal erosion and flooding in the east coast of India," the bulletin said.

The sea state in the Arabian Sea and west coast is likely to be calmer than usual which can increase the window for operations of various marine sectors.

Coastal erosion and inundation is likely to be less in the west coast during the ongoing monsoon season, it adds.

Maritime operators have been advised by INCOIS to closely follow the alerts, warnings and advisories issued by it from time to time.

The next specialised bulletin will be issued in the second week of July 2026.

--IANS

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Guwahati, June 23 (IANS) Assam Minister Pijush Hazarika on Tuesday alleged that certain "anti-development forces" were attempting to create disturbances in the state and tarnish its image, following reports that the proposed visit of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to Guwahati next month is unlikely to materialise.

Speaking to reporters here, Hazarika said some individuals and groups were unhappy with Assam's rapid economic progress and were trying to obstruct investment opportunities and developmental initiatives in the state.

"Assam has witnessed unprecedented development in recent years. However, there are some people who do not want to see the state prosper. They are trying to create disturbances and spread negativity, which ultimately harms Assam and its people," the Minister added.

Referring to reports that the India-Japan summit is now likely to be held in New Delhi instead of Guwahati, Hazarika said attempts were being made to politicise the issue and project it as a setback for the state.

The Minister added that the shift in venue was linked to logistical considerations and should not be interpreted as a reflection on Assam's ability to host international events.

Hazarika also said Assam has emerged as a major destination for foreign investment, particularly in sectors such as semiconductors, electronics manufacturing, infrastructure and advanced technology.

He noted that Japanese investors and industry leaders have shown increasing interest in the state following a series of policy reforms and investment promotion initiatives undertaken by the Assam government.

"Any loss arising out of disruptions or attempts to create an atmosphere of uncertainty will not affect any individual political leader. It will affect the people of Assam and the state's future prospects," he said.

The Minister urged all sections of society to work collectively to safeguard Assam's development trajectory and avoid actions that could damage investor confidence.

Reports on Tuesday suggested that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's July 1-3 visit to India may now be confined to New Delhi due to scheduling and logistical constraints, despite earlier discussions on holding the annual India-Japan summit in Guwahati.

The summit is expected to focus on trade, investment, infrastructure, economic security and strategic cooperation between the two countries.

--IANS

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