DELHI (national capital territory)

New Delhi: The meticulous planning behind the Delhi blast is slowly coming to light. Investigators have recovered WhatsApp chats from Dr. Adil Ahmad Rather, a key conspirator, revealing that he was desperately seeking money before the attack. Authorities believe these funds were being collected to execute the bombing. Desperate Financial RequestsBefore the blast shook the capital, Dr. Adil was reportedly sending WhatsApp messages to multiple contacts, pleading for money. According to investigations, these messages were deleted after the attack but have now been successfully recovered by agencies. The chats reveal details of Adil’s financial situation. News-18 reports that the terrorist showed restlessness and urgency in his messages, repeatedly asking for funds, including requests fo...

New Delhi: Preparations have begun to construct a mini cable-stayed bridge over the Ghazipur Drain to ease traffic in East Delhi. Officials from the Irrigation and Flood Control Department have stated that the five bridges on Swami Dayanand Marg, from Shahdara Flyover to Kadkadi Mor, have become extremely old and dilapidated. In view of their poor condition, plans have been drawn up to replace them with modern bridges. Mini Cable Bridge Near Kadkadi MorThe new bridge will connect East Delhi colonies near Kadkadi Mor, including Kadkarduma, Anand Vihar Bus Terminal, Jagriti Enclave, and Preet Vihar, facilitating smoother traffic movement. The Bikram Singh Colony bridge will also be rebuilt and widened from two lanes to three lanes. Across this 3.5–4 km stretch, there are four to five brid...

New Delhi: The backbone of Delhi’s fire safety system—the Fire Brigade—is currently facing a severe manpower crisis. Sources reveal that out of 90 Station Officer posts in the Delhi Fire Service, nearly 65 have been vacant for years, leaving just 25 officers to manage 68 fire stations across the city. Vacancies Since 2012Of the 65 vacant posts, 45 are direct recruitment positions, which have remained unfilled for over a decade. These posts are to be filled through UPSC examinations, but no recruitment has taken place since 2012. Even in 2014, a vacancy notice was issued but was canceled immediately. The reasons for this prolonged delay remain unclear. The remaining 20 posts are promotion-based, but no eligible officers are available for promotion, leaving these positions vacant as we...

New Delhi: In a bid to control the growing stray dog population, the Dog Committee has recommended the establishment of sterilization centers and feeding zones in every ward. Ward-Level Centers and Feeding ZonesDuring the meeting, committee members, along with Education Committee Chair Yogesh Verma, expressed concern over the rapid increase in stray dogs despite ongoing sterilization efforts. They emphasized the need for a system-wide approach to effectively manage the population. The six-member committee proposed that: Each ward should have a sterilization center. Designated feeding zones should be established in every ward. Veterinary officers and sanitary inspectors should be empowered to penalize individuals who feed dogs outside authorized zones, violate MCD guidelines...

New Delhi: In the sexual abuse case involving 17 students of Shri Sharada Institute of Indian Management, located in Vasant Kunj, the police have filed a 1,077-page chargesheet at the Patiala House Court. Chaitanyanand Saraswati and four others have been named as accused. The chargesheet lists 43 witnesses. The court has scheduled the next hearing for Thursday. Accused and ChargesBased on the investigation, the accused—Chaitanyanand Saraswati, Bhavana Kapil, Shweta, and Kajal—face multiple charges, including: Sexual harassment (BNS 75-2) Causing injury to dignity (BNS 79) Intimidation for giving false statement (BNS 232) Threats to cause death or grievous injury (BNS 351-3) Destroying evidence in a life imprisonment case (BNS 238-b) Prisoner’s Safety MeasuresEarlier,...

New Delhi: Residents of East Delhi can look forward to 24-hour water supply from the Ganga starting June or July next year. The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) is laying a new 20-kilometer, 1500 mm pipeline from the Bhagirathi Water Treatment Plant to Shahdara, Greater Kailash, and Lajpat Nagar’s water supply zones. About 60% of the work has already been completed, with the remaining expected to finish by next June. Project Cost and UpgradesThe total estimated cost of the project is around ₹272 crore, of which approximately ₹147.8 crore has already been spent. The new pipeline replaces the old 1200 mm lines that were 35–40 years old, prone to leaks, and insufficient to meet the growing water demand of Delhi’s population. The upgraded pipeline will ensure reduced wastage and reliable supply to mil...

New Delhi: The stubble-burning season is almost over, bringing a notable drop in pollution levels across northern India. This year, incidents of crop residue burning have declined in Punjab and Haryana, while Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh witnessed an increase compared to previous years. Stubble Pollution Shows DeclineIn Madhya Pradesh, stubble-burning patterns remained largely unchanged. According to the Decision Support System (DSS), stubble-related pollution peaked at 22.4% on 12 November, the highest this season. By Wednesday, the figure had dropped sharply to just 0.8%, marking a consistent decline since 18 November. Government Steps to Curb PollutionKurinji Kamath, Program Lead at the Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW), noted that northern state governments have bee...

New Delhi: Delhi is all set to get a 53-kilometer cycling corridor along the Yamuna River, a project aimed at promoting green mobility, tourism, and public health. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta recently reviewed the progress of the Yamuna Cycling Corridor project in a meeting with senior officials from DDA and the state government. Three-Phase ProjectThe corridor will be constructed in three phases over three years. The first phase will stretch from the old Yamuna railway bridge to NH-24, the second phase from NH-24 to Kalindi Kunj Yamuna Biodiversity Park, and the third phase from Wazirabad Yamuna Barrage back to the old railway bridge. The corridor will run along both banks of the Yamuna, offering cyclists a scenic and eco-friendly route. Clearances and ApprovalsOfficials confirmed th...

New Delhi: In a dramatic early morning operation, Delhi Police conducted an encounter resulting in the arrest of Ankit, a notorious gangster associated with the Bhau gang. The incident unfolded on a city street, and visuals from the scene show over ten police personnel present, highlighting the seriousness of the operation. Encounter DetailsAnkit, who sustained injuries during the encounter, was taken into police custody. Authorities believe that his interrogation could reveal crucial information about gang activities. Videos from the scene show a motorcycle lying on the road, with Delhi Police and FSL teams nearby, underlining the intensity of the operation. Bhau Gang’s BackgroundThe Bhau gang traces its roots to Himanshu Bhau, a resident of Ritouli village in Rohtak district, Harya...

New Delhi: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is set to play a significant role in India’s Parliament, potentially transforming the way members communicate across languages. Sources have revealed to Maharashtra Times that many MPs in the Lok Sabha now deliver spontaneous speeches rather than reading prepared statements. This shift had earlier delayed the introduction of AI-assisted translation in the Rajya Sabha. However, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has now given the green light for using AI in the Simultaneous Interpretation Service (SIS). AI to Support Real-Time TranslationCurrently, every seat in the Parliament galleries is equipped with small earpieces, allowing MPs to hear speeches in Hindi, English, and multiple regional languages through simultaneous interpretation. The plan now is to i...