India

Chandigarh, Dec 22 (IANS) Two people were found dead as the 23-hour rescue operation involving the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Indian Army, besides civil authorities, to locate missing people trapped in a collapsed four-storey building in Punjab’s Mohali ended on Sunday.

The body of a male was recovered on Sunday, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Damandeep Kaur said, adding the victim has been identified as Abhishek Dhanwal, hailing from Haryana's Ambala. Earlier, a woman, identified as Drishti Verma, 20, from Himachal Pradesh, died in the incident.

Officiating Deputy Commissioner Viraj S. Tidke along with Senior Superintendent of Police Deepak Pareek, told the media the search and rescue operation to evacuate the trapped people whose exact number was not ascertained initially, got a boost when a critically injured woman was rescued from the wreckage.

After that, the operation continued the entire night and onwards till 4.30 pm on Sunday when it was made clear by the NDRF that there was no more possibility of any person being trapped under the debris.

Tidke said the debris had been checked by the NDRF thoroughly before declaring the operation over.

He said that a total of 600 NDRF, Army, and police personnel were roped in for the round-the-clock operation. He said about 140 NDRF team members, 167 from the Army’s 57 Engineers Regiment, over 300 local police personnel and the rest from allied departments were involved in the operation.

During the operation, requisite machinery was provided to the NDRF in addition to what they already had.

He said that a magisterial probe had been ordered in this incident to fix the responsibility. SDM Damandeep Kaur has been entrusted with the probe and she has been asked to submit the report within three weeks.

The whole operation was monitored by the district civil and police officials till its completion. Deputy Inspector General Harcharan Singh Bhullar, Additional Deputy Commissioner Anmol Singh Dhaliwal, and Superintendent of Police Jyoti Yadav Bains were present at the site of the operation.

According to officials, people were buried under the debris when the structure of a gym collapsed owing to digging in an adjacent building’s basement in Sector 77.

The police have booked and arrested the building owners -- Parwinder Singh and Gagandeep Singh, charging them with culpable homicide.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had spoken with the district administration about the ongoing rescue works and directed us to make all possible efforts to rescue the victims. Also, Member of Parliament Malvinder Singh Kang and local MLA Kulwant Singh were at the site on Saturday to oversee the rescue work.

Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav also took stock of the rescue work and directed the local police to ensure the safety of victims at all costs.

--IANS

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Mahakumbh Nagar, Dec 22 (IANS) The Prayagraj Mela Authority is making extensive preparations to ensure a clean and green environment for devotees and pilgrims from India and abroad, who will be visiting Mahakumbh 2025.

A slew of advanced equipment are set to be deployed before commencement of the fair, at an estimated expenditure of Rs 45-50 lakh. The equipment includes 10 manual walk-behind sweeping machines and 2 battery-operated vacuum-type litter pickers.

This initiative aims to not only maintain cleanliness in the Mahakumbh but also provide a clean and green environment for all devotees.

A compact manual sweeping machine will be deployed to clean the paved ghats, footpaths, roads and various public places within the fair area, enhancing the convenience and experience for devotees, tourists, and bathers from India and abroad.

This eco-friendly equipment operates without fuel or electricity and helps in reducing its environmental impact.

Being manually operated, it cleans effectively without raising dust, and its ergonomic design ensures comfort during use.

In addition, a battery-operated vacuum-type litter picker will be deployed in the fair area for efficient cleaning.

This garbage collection machine is a battery-operated, ride-on and walk-along power-suction vacuum designed to pick up litter and debris.

The purchase of these cleaning equipment for the fair area is expected to cost around Rs 45-50 lakh, the amount that will be borne by the Prayagraj Mela Authority. Their purchase was recently approved in a board meeting of the Authority.

Akanksha Rana, Special Executive Officer of the Mela stated that special attention is being given to cleanliness as per the directives of the Chief Minister. These state-of-the-art machines are being introduced to empower sanitation workers.

"The equipment will be delivered before the fair begins, and the necessary training for their operation will be completed in time," she said.

--IANS

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Govindpuri, Dec 22 (IANS) With Delhi Chief Minister Atishi again nominated as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate for the Kalkaji seat in the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, residents of the area are voicing their concerns about the state of local infrastructure and public services.

IANS spoke to several residents of the Kalkaji Assembly area, who shared mixed views on Atishi’s five-year tenure and the government’s performance.

Brajesh Kumar, a resident of Govindpuri, noted that while some work has been done over the past five years, much more remains to be addressed. He pointed out the unresolved issue of the road in Gali No 2, which remains in poor condition and makes it difficult for children and two-wheeler drivers.

"Arvind Kejriwal had promised that roads would be pothole-free within a month, but these promises have turned out to be false. Due to the broken roads, accidents are frequent here. We also face water shortages in summer, and rising electricity bills are a concern. The government should focus on development work, not just free services. I urge Atishi and the local MLA to get the broken roads fixed," he said.

Hemant Sahni, another local, highlighted the issue of broken roads following sewer line installations. Despite multiple complaints to the local councillor, he said no action has been taken.

"The cleanliness system is poor, and stray animals are a constant problem," Sahni added.

Vidish Kaushik echoed similar concerns, citing frequent accidents caused by stray animals. He reminded that then Chief Minister Kejriwal had promised shelter homes for stray animals when his government took over the MCD, but the promise remains unfulfilled.

An elderly Kalkaji resident shared frustrations about the state of cleanliness and infrastructure.

"As elections approach, everyone comes asking for votes, but no one does any work. Garbage stays in the streets all day, and stray animals roam freely too. This creates significant problems for pedestrians, and many have been injured. Water supply is erratic, sometimes coming late at night. Who will wait for water till 1 a.m. in the winter?" he said.

As the election season nears, these concerns continue to shape the local mood, with many residents hoping for improvements in infrastructure and public services in the coming time.

--IANS

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Ranchi, Dec 22 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday launched its statewide membership drive, Sangathan Mahaparv, in Jharkhand at 5,628 centres across the state, where a large number of people joined the party.

Hundreds of new members were also registered online at each centre.

BJP state President Babulal Marandi participated in the event at Khoro village in his Dhanwar Assembly constituency. In his remarks on the occasion, he said the public response is overwhelming. "People are enthusiastic about the campaign, which aims to strengthen the party's grassroots presence," he added.

State convener of the membership drive, Rakesh Prasad, expressed satisfaction over the turnout, stating, "A large number of people reached every centre on the very first day of Sangathan Mahaparv. This overwhelming response reflects the faith people have in the BJP’s policies."

Prasad added that the BJP received over 84 lakh votes in this year’s Lok Sabha elections and more than 59 lakh votes in the state Assembly elections, stressing the party's growing support in Jharkhand.

As part of the campaign, BJP workers will engage with people at the grassroots level by visiting villages and households to enrol lakhs of new members.

The drive saw participation from top leaders and office bearers across the state. BJP’s state Working President Dr Ravindra Kumar Ray attended the event at Panchamba in Giridih district, while state General Secretary, Organisation, Karmveer Singh was present in Harmu, Ranchi.

Other prominent leaders, including Rajya Sabha MP Pradeep Kumar Verma, MP Aditya Prasad Sahu, and Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi, also actively participated at various centres.

Annapurna Devi, who renewed her party membership by using the BJP’s toll-free number, appealed to supporters and well-wishers to join the campaign. She emphasised the importance of public participation in strengthening the organization.

The BJP has made it convenient for people to join the party through both online and offline methods. Membership can be obtained via the party's toll-free number or through the NaMo app.

--IANS

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Giridih, Dec 22 (IANS) Public anger erupted in the Mufassil police station area of Jharkhand's Giridih district on Sunday following the brutal murder of Damodar Gop, a resident of Kabirbad village.

Hundreds of villagers gheraoed the Mufassil police station, demanding capital punishment for the accused. They also blocked the main road outside the police station for nearly two hours leading to a massive jam.

The incident occurred on Saturday evening when a group of youths attacked Gop with knives near his home. He succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Dhanbad.

According to sources, the confrontation began earlier that day when blasting work was being carried out in the mines near Kabirbad village. Gop, along with mining company workers, asked a group of youths on motorbikes to leave the area for safety reasons. This led to a heated argument.

About 30 minutes later, a group of 8-10 youths returned and attacked Gop with knives. Following the attack, villagers apprehended two of the assailants and handed them over to the police.

Acting swiftly, the police conducted raids overnight, leading to the arrest of five more suspects, including the main accused.

The primary suspect, who allegedly stabbed Gop in the stomach, was arrested, and the weapon used in the crime was recovered.

Police revealed that the main accused has a criminal history and was recently released on bail in another case. SDPO Jeetwahan Oraon said that efforts are going on to locate other individuals involved in the attack.

On Sunday morning, the news of Gop's death triggered widespread outrage. Residents demanded a fast-track trial and the death penalty for the culprits. Senior police officers intervened to pacify the agitated crowd and managed to clear the roadblock.

Dumri MLA Jairam Mahato visited the scene and urged police officials to ensure strict legal action against the accused. He assured the public that justice would be served promptly.

--IANS

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Kolkata, Dec 22 (IANS) The Defence Ministry has praised the Army's swift action in tackling a massive fire that broke out in a slum here on December 21, saying the blaze could have led to catastrophic results had the Army personnel not responded swiftly.

The fire had broken out beneath the Durgapur Bridge, adjacent to the B.P. Poddar Hospital and railway tracks of the Sealdah-Budge Budge section.

"Demonstrating exceptional valour and efficiency, personnel of the 121 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army), Garhwal Rifles, successfully averted a major disaster in New Alipore, Kolkata, on Saturday. The fire posed a significant threat to lives and critical infrastructure in the area. Responding to the crisis, the battalion immediately deployed its Quick Reaction Team (QRT), equipped with firefighting tools, an ambulance, and three water bowsers. Their rapid mobilisation played a crucial role in containing the flames, which were fanned by strong northwesterly winds," a Defence Ministry spokesperson in Kolkata said.

According to him, the unit worked tirelessly alongside personnel of the state fire services and local authorities, ensuring a coordinated effort that minimised damage and prevented the fire from spreading to nearby critical areas, including the Hospital.

"One of the battalion’s notable contributions was its provision of water from the unit’s resources to support fire trucks, reducing refill times and enhancing the efficiency of firefighting operations. Troops also assisted in accessing narrow by-lanes by carrying heavy hoses, ensuring firefighting efforts reached the most challenging locations," he said.

In addition to firefighting, the soldiers engaged with the affected community, offering reassurance and assistance during the crisis. Their presence brought a sense of safety and comfort to those impacted.

"This exemplary effort underscores the vital role of the Indian Army in disaster management and public welfare. The swift and selfless actions of the 121 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army), Garhwal Rifles, have been widely praised, reflecting the Army's enduring commitment to safeguarding the nation and its people during emergencies," the spokesperson added.

​--IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 22 (IANS) The Delhi High Court has ordered the Consortium of National Law Universities to revise the results of the CLAT (Common Law Admission Test)-2025 examination.

"The errors in Question Nos 14 and 100 are demonstrably clear and shutting a blind eye to the same would be injustice to the petitioner albeit this court is conscious of the fact that it may impact the result of other candidates," a bench of Justice Jyoti Singh said as it ordered the revision of merit list.

The bench also ordered that since option ‘C’ of Question 14 has been held to be the correct answer, the benefit will extend to all other candidates who have opted for option ‘C’, adding that Question No.100 will be excluded as advised by the expert committee.

Question No. 100 deserves to be excluded in light of the fact that the question setter has not even provided the correct answer as one of the options, the high court said.

The petitioner, Aditya Singh, a minor, challenged the answer key declared for CLAT-2025 for admission to five-year law courses conducted by the National Law Universities (NLUs) in the academic session 2025-26.

With a score of 87 marks, the petitioner contended that he would get admission in one of the NLUs with his present ranking, but he aspired to better his rank so as to get admission in the top 3 NLUs of the country.

The petitioner added that he is likely to achieve a higher score of 93.25, which will improve his existing rank if the alleged errors are rectified.

On the other hand, the Consortium of NLUs urged the court to not interfere in the examination process, as a robust internal check mechanism was in place and the final result had been published with all due care and deliberation and on the recommendation of two Expert Committees comprising of experts and luminaries in the field.

In its judgment, the Delhi HC said that there is no absolute proscription against a court examining a challenge to the answer key in an examination process, even if there is an expert opinion before the court.

"Most certainly, courts must exercise restraint in interfering in academic matters, including those pertaining to examination. (T)he law does not commend a total 'hands-off' approach and in exceptional cases where questions are found to be demonstrably wrong, the resultant injustice to a candidate must be redressed and undone," it added.

In relation to a question, the high court opined that while attempting a comprehension passage in a language test, a candidate is not required to examine the terms or expressions used in the sentences on the touchstone of legal reasoning, applying statutory provisions or articles of Constitution of India or judicial precedents.

Partly allowing the petitioner’s plea, it ordered the Consortium of National Law Universities to award marks to him for Question No.14 in accordance with the scheme of marking and upheld the decision to exclude Question No. 100.

--IANS

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Kheda, Dec 22 (IANS) The Ayushman Bharat PM-Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) has emerged as a lifeline for the economically disadvantaged, offering free healthcare to millions across India. Launched by the government in 2018, the scheme has brought substantial relief to those unable to afford costly treatments.

Under this ambitious initiative, families are entitled to health coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh annually, and can receive treatment at any registered hospital in the country. This includes both serious and non-serious medical conditions, ensuring a wide range of healthcare needs are addressed without any financial burden.

One such success story comes from Kapadwanj in Gujarat's Kheda district.

Amar Bhai Solanki, the head of a household, was diagnosed with stones in both kidneys. The cost of private treatment was unaffordable for his family, with the surgery for one kidney alone priced at nearly Rs 1 lakh. However, with the help of the Ayushman Bharat card, Solanki and his family sought treatment at IK DRC in Ahmedabad. His first surgery was successful, and the second is scheduled soon. The family is overjoyed with the progress and grateful for the support provided by the scheme.

Talking to IANS, family member Bharat Singh Solanki said, "Accessing treatment in private hospitals was extremely challenging due to the high costs. However, with the Ayushman Bharat card, things have become much easier for people like us. We are now receiving top-quality medical care. I would like to thank the PM Modi government for this initiative."

The AB PM-JAY, which currently covers 12 crore families, has been a significant welfare initiative of the Modi government. The scope of the scheme has steadily expanded, now including senior citizens above 70 years, regardless of income. In addition, healthcare benefits are also available to over 37 lakh ASHAs and their families. This expansion ensures that the most vulnerable sections of society continue to benefit from quality healthcare, marking the scheme as a milestone in India’s healthcare system.

--IANS

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Srinagar, Dec 22 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir’s Department of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FCSCA) has strongly refuted reports about the cancellation of BPL ration cards, terming them “totally fabricated” and “based on false assumptions”.

There were reports on social media, particularly of a video, wherein it has been alleged that “…the Government has issued an order cancelling around 1.5 lakh Below Poverty Line ration cards affecting a huge number of beneficiaries and putting their families in distress …”

As per a statement issued by the Department, no such order has been issued. Besides, it has rebutted the claims that the figure being quoted in the said video does not even match the actual deletion figure of 1.27 lakh cited in media reports for having been reported to the parliament recently with regard to fake and duplicate ration card deletions in Jammu and Kashmir since 2013. These are in fact the deletions carried out in the past, over 10 years in J&K as a part of reforms pursued by the Central Government across the country.

"The document added that elimination of bogus/duplicate ration cards and beneficiaries is an essential requirement under Targeted PDS Control Order of Government of India, which is now being established through technology interventions like Aadhaar seeding, eKYC and through field verification," the statement added.

"As a result of accelerated Aadhaar seeding, pursued by the Department, huge duplication of ration cards and beneficiaries was established leading to deletion of such ration cards and beneficiaries over the years. At the same time, bringing the left-out eligible beneficiaries under the PDS cover has also been seriously pursued by the Department, and this effort has also led to the addition of 8.6 lakh eligible beneficiaries to PDS in J&K since shifting to a dependable Ration Card Management System in September 2022," it said.

"Further, it is clarified that only order issued by the Department in the recent past in the context of PDS seeks inclusion of children born during years 2011 to 2016 in their family ration cards so that additional benefits flow to these beneficiaries and households as per eligibility under PDS,” the statement said.

The Department has also issued explicit orders for prompt inclusion of any eligible beneficiary still left out under PDS, wherever reported. As a result of these efforts, the number of beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), who are provided free food grains every month, has gone up from 66.37 lakh to 66.59 lakh during the last three months.

Additionally, the Department has also pursued, in a mission mode, the inclusion of left-out JK registrants on the e-Shram Portal so that none such registrant who is eligible under PDS for free or subsidised food grains, remains uncovered.

A mammoth exercise for matching nearly 34.80 lakh such registrants in J&K was carried out in coordination with NIC and every registrant who remained unmatched with the PDS database was approached by the Department of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs and Labour & Employment Department for securing their inclusion. Of these, nearly 34.40 lakh registrants are presently availing benefits under PDS or other schemes, and the remaining 40000, could not either be traced by the Department or they refused to share their details and documents, despite making efforts in coordination with respective district administrations.

A spokesman of the Department said it is making arrangements for providing free food grains every month to 66.59 lakh beneficiaries under NFSA and for providing highly subsidised food grains to another group of 31.81 lakh beneficiaries in the Non-Priority Households category, which implies that 98.40 lakh people are presently benefitted under PDS every month in J&K.

The spokesman further said that technological interventions like Aadhar seeding, e-PDS etc. are aimed at securing the marginalised communities their due share in ration distribution and this would remain a priority of the Department so that eligible beneficiaries benefit under the Targeted Public Distribution System and undeserving are weeded out.

--IANS

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Chennai, Dec 22 (IANS) The DMK on Sunday passed a resolution condemning Union Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks on B. R. Ambedkar.

The resolution was passed during the executive committee meeting, convened at the party headquarters, Anna Arivalayam, in Chennai.

The meeting presided over by DMK President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin, also strongly opposed the proposed 'One Nation, One Election' Bill.

Additionally, a resolution was passed against the proposed tungsten mining project in the Madurai district.

Around 1,000 party functionaries attended the meeting, including key DMK leaders such as General Secretary Duraimurugan, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, Treasurer T. R. Baalu, Principal Secretary K. N. Nehru, Organising Secretary R. S. Bharathi, MP Kanimozhi, and other senior members.

As part of its strategy for the upcoming 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, the DMK has set an ambitious target of winning 200 out of the 234 Assembly seats.

To achieve this, the party has asked its members to intensify efforts to promote the welfare schemes implemented under Chief Minister Stalin's leadership.

The DMK has deployed full-time representatives for every Assembly constituency, reporting directly to an election cell operating from the party's state headquarters.

This election cell is headed by Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, who also leads the party's youth wing.

Senior leaders, including Organising Secretary R. S. Bharathi and ministers Thangam Thenarasu, E. V. Velu, and K. N. Nehru, are members of the election cell.

These full-time representatives are tasked with engaging the public and highlighting the transformative impact of the state government's welfare schemes at the grassroots level.

Currently, the DMK holds 133 seats in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, supported by allies such as the Congress (18), VCK (4), CPI (2), and CPI-M (2), bringing the alliance's total to 159 seats.

In the previous elections, the DMK-led alliance secured an impressive 45.38 per cent vote share. With the appointment of full-time constituency coordinators and close monitoring by senior leaders, including Udhayanidhi Stalin, the party is gearing up for a robust campaign to consolidate its position in the state.

--IANS

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