DELHI (national capital territory)

New Delhi: Delhi’s pollution levels remain alarming as the Air Quality Index (AQI) once again crossed 350 on Friday. Although stronger winds during the afternoon offered brief relief, several areas in the capital recorded AQI levels above 400, raising health concerns for residents. Air Quality OverviewAccording to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s AQI was 369 on Friday, with a morning peak of 381 at 9 AM. Afternoon winds helped slightly reduce pollution levels, but the overall air quality remains in the “very poor” category. Hotspots Across the CapitalSeveral localities recorded critically high AQI levels, including: Rohini: 418 RK Puram: 416 Punjabi Bagh: 408 Nehru Nagar: 415 Mundka: 417 Jahangirpuri: 409 Dwarka Sector-8: 419 Ashok Vihar: 4...

New Delhi: Despite an early start to winter this year, Delhi has experienced neither fog nor significant cold. Residents have even felt warmth in the afternoon sun, raising questions about the city’s unusual weather patterns. Experts say that winter in Delhi is normally influenced by two factors: rainfall and fog. Both have been largely absent this November. Weather DataOn Friday, the maximum temperature in Delhi was recorded at 25.9°C, slightly below the seasonal average by 0.1°C. The minimum temperature was 11.1°C, which is 2.2°C lower than normal. Humidity levels ranged between 46% and 100%. Fog Missing This SeasonTypically, Delhi experiences fog on 12 days in November, 19 days in December, and 21 days in January, along with about 6 mm of rainfall in November. However, this year, ...

New Delhi: Delhi continues to grapple with severe air pollution, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) remaining in the “very poor” category for the 15th consecutive day. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded an AQI of 338 at 7 AM on Saturday, a slight improvement from Friday’s 385, but still indicative of unhealthy air conditions for the city’s residents. The 24-hour average AQI on Friday stood at 369, reflecting persistently high pollution levels throughout November. Pollution Adds to Winter ConcernsExperts warn that air quality is unlikely to improve significantly in the coming week, as weather conditions are inhibiting the dispersion of pollutants. Stagnant air is causing smoke and dust to linger near the ground, leaving residents with little relief. Meteorologists and air ...

New Delhi: Campaigning for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) by-elections in 12 wards came to a halt on Friday evening, ahead of polling scheduled for 30 November. The Election Commission has officially enforced the silence period, during which no political campaigning is permitted. Final Day of CampaigningOn the last day of campaigning, all political parties held public meetings and roadshows across the 12 wards to reach out to voters. However, following the close of campaign activities on Friday evening, the silence period came into effect and will continue until the conclusion of polling. Silence Period and Dry Day RulesThe State Election Commission has barred the publication of opinion polls until the evening of polling day. Additionally, a dry day has been enforced in Del...

New Delhi: Delhi Police have arrested Bandhu Mann Singh Sekhon, who provided logistical support to shooters involved in the firing incidents at comedian Kapil Sharma’s ‘Caps Café’ in Canada. Arrest in LudhianaSekhon, 28, was apprehended in Ludhiana. Police recovered a PX-3 pistol (Made in China), eight cartridges, and a Fortuner vehicle from his possession. Sekhon is also linked to a 2019 murder case in Ludhiana. Investigation LeadsAccording to DCP (Crime) Sanjeev Yadav, during questioning of other syndicate members — Mandeep Singh and Dalwinder Kumar, arrested on 19 November in Rohini with foreign weapons — it was revealed that a pistol had been delivered to Sekhon in Ludhiana. The weapon was traced to an illegal arms supply network linked to gangster Sonu Khatri, operating from the...

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has clarified that any marriage conducted in violation of the Hindu Marriage Act (HMA) is legally invalid. The court rejected an appeal by a woman who sought to recognize her second marriage based on the Jat community custom of “Panchayati divorce.” Case BackgroundThe appeal was heard by a bench comprising Justice Anil Kshetrapal and Justice Harish Vaidyanathan. The woman had challenged a Family Court decision dated 7 June 2024, which declared her second marriage invalid under Section 5(1) and Section 11 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. These provisions state that if either party is already married to a living spouse, any subsequent marriage is legally null and void. Legal Questions ConsideredThe High Court examined two key questions: Whether the a...

New Delhi: The death toll in the Red Fort bomb blast has risen to 11. Forensic analysis has now confirmed that three body parts recovered from the scene belong to terrorist Dr. Umar. DNA matching with a sample from his mother confirmed the identity. The body of Dr. Umar remains in the mortuary and has not yet been claimed by his family for the funeral. Victim Count and Identification ProcessEarlier, the identities of nine victims—including Ashok Kumar, Pankaj Saini, Mohsin Malik, Noman Ansari, Dinesh Kumar Mishra, Lokesh Agrawal, Aman Kataria, Jumma, and Lukman—were confirmed. Subsequently, Bilal and Vinay Pathak succumbed to their injuries, bringing the total number of fatalities to 11. Three remaining body parts in the mortuary have now been verified as Dr. Umar’s by forensic experts....

With campaigning now concluded, all eyes are on the crucial Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) by-elections scheduled for 30 November. For the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, this marks the first major challenge barely months after it stormed back to power in Delhi, winning 48 out of 70 assembly seats—its first state government in the capital in 27 years. The results, to be declared on 3 December, will signal whether the BJP has succeeded in rebuilding its influence within the MCD, an institution it once controlled for three consecutive terms until the Aam Aadmi Party unseated it in the 2022 civic elections. A Prestige Battle for BJP Of the 12 wards where by-elections are being held, nine were originally held by the BJP and three by AAP. For the BJP, the outcome is not just numer...

New Delhi:In a significant breakthrough aimed at combating mosquito-borne diseases like dengue, malaria and chikungunya, researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi have developed a special detergent that not only cleans clothes but also provides a protective mosquito-repellent coating. The research team has already filed a patent application for this innovative technology. How the Technology WorksAccording to the IIT Delhi research team, the newly developed detergent functions just like any regular laundry detergent. However, after washing, it forms a unique “repellent coating” on the fabric. This coating prevents mosquitoes from landing on the clothes, thereby reducing the risk of mosquito bites. The team claims that this coating is more durable than body spray...