Category: INDIA

Raipur/Sakti, April 16 (IANS) The death toll from the boiler explosion at the Vedanta Power Plant in Singhitarai village in Chhattisgarh’s Sakti district, has risen to 20 on Thursday, with 15 workers still battling injuries in hospitals.

The tragic incident, which took place on April 14, at 2:33 p.m., has sent shockwaves through the industrial belt of Chhattisgarh.

The massive blast in boiler ripped through the facility, instantly triggering panic and widespread devastation among workers on shift.

Local police, led by Station House Officer Rajesh Patel, rushed to the site and launched an on-ground investigation.

The injured were swiftly transported to multiple hospitals in Raigarh district, including Medical College Hospital, Apex Hospital, and Metro Hospital.

While medical teams fought to save lives, 20 workers ultimately succumbed to severe burn injuries and trauma.

A preliminary technical report from the Chief Boiler Inspector pointed to excessive fuel buildup inside the furnace, which caused dangerous pressure surges and displaced critical piping, leading to the catastrophic failure.

The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Sakti backed these findings, confirming fuel overload as the main trigger.

Further probes revealed serious lapses in maintenance and safety protocols by Vedanta Limited and its contractor NGSL.

Reports highlighted repeated negligence in equipment upkeep and failure to address pressure fluctuations, raising uncomfortable questions about corporate accountability in high-risk industrial operations.

Taking strong note of the evident violations, Superintendent of Police (SP) Praful Thakur ordered the registration of an FIR at Dabhara police station.

The case has been filed against Vedanta Director Anil Agarwal, Plant Manager Devendra Patel, and other officials under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita — 106(1), 289, and 3(5) — for causing death by negligence and endangering lives.

A dedicated Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by Additional SP Pankaj Patel and including Sub Divisional Police Officer Sumit Gupta, forensic expert Srishti Singh, and Station House Officer Rajesh Patel, has been formed to conduct a thorough probe with technical experts.

Authorities have promised stringent action and full support to the grieving families.

The accident has ignited widespread anger among labour unions and local communities, who are demanding stricter enforcement of industrial safety norms and swift justice.

As investigations intensify, this incident has once again spotlighted the urgent need for robust safety measures in India’s power sector to prevent such preventable tragedies.

–IANS

sktr/khz

Jaipur, April 16 (IANS) Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma met Union Minister of Jal Shakti Shri C.R. Paatil in New Delhi on Thursday during his visit to the national capital. ​

During the meeting, the two leaders held detailed, meaningful discussions on key water-related initiatives and projects in the State of Rajasthan.​

The discussions focused on the progress of the Ram Jal Setu Link Project, which aims to strengthen inter-basin water transfer and improve water availability in the state. ​

They also reviewed the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission, which aims to ensure safe, adequate drinking water for every rural household. ​

Emphasis was placed on expediting works under the scheme to achieve universal household tap water coverage in a time-bound manner.​

In addition, issues related to comprehensive water resource management in the state were discussed, including measures to improve water distribution efficiency, conserve water, and sustainably utilise available resources, particularly in Rajasthan’s water-scarce regions.​

The meeting underscored the continued cooperation between the government of Rajasthan and the Union government to address the state’s long-standing water challenges and accelerate ongoing projects in the sector.​

CM Sharma went to Delhi after attending a couple of programmes in Jaipur. He made his presence felt as the chief guest at a state-level programme held at the Rajasthan Police Academy (RPA) in Jaipur.​

Speaking on the occasion, CM Sharma said that the crime rate has reduced in the state in the last two years. He added that security and safety issues have been maintained in the state, and hence, investors are coming with confidence.​

“Cyber crimes and drug addiction have come up as major challenges; we need to think afresh in modern ways to tackle these challenges. Society should stand active to check such a menace,” he said. ​

The CM further stated that the state government is working to control crime with a vision of zero tolerance towards crime and corruption.​

He specified that the Anti-Narcotics Task Force has been set up to check the drug mafia, and the paper leak mafia has also been exposed and sent behind bars. ​

“Further, not even a paper has been leaked in our tenure,” he added. “We take pride in the vigilant sentinels of peace and security in the state,” the CM said.​

–IANS

arc/dan

Jaipur, April 16 (IANS) Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee President Govind Singh Dotasra on Thursday criticised the state government’s decision to remove four books from the school curriculum for the 2026-27 academic session.

Dotasra said that the removal of books such as Rajasthan’s Freedom Movement and Gallantry Traditions (Class 9), History and Culture of Rajasthan (Class 10), Golden India After Independence (Class 11), and Golden India After Independence – Part 2 (Class 12) would result in students being exposed to a “half-truth”. He questioned the rationale behind removing these texts and asked whether the objection was to the narrative of nation-building.

“If there were factual inaccuracies, they could have been corrected. Removing the books entirely makes it clear that the intention is not reform, but erasure,” he said.

He alleged that the move reflects an attempt to influence the presentation of historical content, adding that it raises questions about the approach to curriculum changes.

Dotasra further questioned whether lessons on the freedom struggle, valour, and historical legacy were removed, and referred to the role of various leaders and movements in India’s independence and post-independence development.

He said that Golden India After Independence includes references to Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, including the development of democratic institutions and the establishment of institutions such as IITs, IIMs, AIIMS, DRDO, UGC, and the Planning Commission.

He also referred to the role of B. R. Ambedkar in framing the Constitution, which guarantees justice, equality, and reservation.

The Congress leader further cited the tenure of Indira Gandhi, referring to developments such as the 1971 war, bank nationalisation, and agricultural reforms, as well as contributions attributed to Rajiv Gandhi in areas such as technology, voting age reforms, and Panchayati Raj institutions.

Additionally, Dotasra referred to reforms introduced under former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, including the Right to Information, MGNREGA, Aadhaar, Right to Education, and Right to Food, which he said strengthened governance frameworks.

He also referred to past instances where, according to him, references to certain historical figures and events were removed from educational content.

Dotasra said the decision to remove the books raises concerns about the representation of historical developments in the curriculum.

–IANS

arc/pgh

Itanagar, April 16 (IANS) Arunachal Pradesh has become another northeastern state to initiate preliminary work for the Census of India 2027, with the process officially commencing on Thursday, officials said.

Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein actively participated in the exercise from Itanagar and Namsai, respectively.

In a social media post, the Chief Minister stated: “I took part in the self-enumeration phase of the houselisting and housing census under Census 2027, completing my own self-enumeration for the very first time through geo-tagging and digital mapping.”

He noted that the self-enumeration phase will remain open from April 16 to April 30, 2026, offering every household the opportunity to participate digitally and submit accurate information.

This phase will be followed by houselisting and housing census field operations from May 1 to May 30, 2026, during which designated enumerators will visit households to collect data, Khandu added.

“I urge every household to actively participate during the self-enumeration phase and extend full cooperation to enumerators during field visits. Please ensure that your information is complete and accurate,” the Chief Minister said.

Deputy Chief Minister Mein, in a post on his official X account, said: “As the statewide self-enumeration phase of Census 2027 begins today in Arunachal Pradesh, I participated in the process at my residence in Namsai, completing my enumeration digitally through geo-tagging and mapping for the first time.”

He described Census 2027 as a vital national exercise that supports development planning and enhances public service delivery through reliable data.

The self-enumeration phase will continue from April 16 to April 30, 2026, followed by field visits by enumerators from May 1 to May 30, 2026, Mein reiterated.

He appealed to all households to participate actively and support census officials.

“Providing accurate information will significantly contribute to better planning and inclusive growth for our state,” he said.

Mein also informed that he completed the process in the presence of Deputy Commissioner Namsai-cum-Principal Census Officer C.R. Khampa, Joint Director of Census (DCO Shillong) Utpal Sarma, along with other officials and census personnel.

“Let us all come together to fulfil this important national responsibility,” he added.

Meanwhile, earlier in the day in Mizoram, Governor General Vijay Kumar Singh (Retd) formally marked the launch of the intensive houselisting and housing census operations under Census 2027 at Lok Bhavan in Aizawl.

The Governor urged census field functionaries to carry out their duties with utmost dedication and sincerity, ensuring that no household is left out.

He emphasised the need to clearly explain the census process to individuals who may find it difficult to understand, so that every person and household is accurately enumerated.

Describing the initiative as India’s first-ever digital census, General Singh expressed confidence in its successful execution and called upon the public to extend full cooperation to census officials and enumerators.

–IANS

sc/pgh

Ahmedabad, April 16 (IANS) North Gujarat Postal Region has reported record revenue growth of 25.07 per cent in the financial year 2025-26, with total earnings rising to Rs 246.79 crore, officials said on Thursday.

Officials added that the achievement is driven by strong expansion across postal banking, insurance, parcel services and citizen-centric delivery systems.

According to data reviewed at a meeting in Ahmedabad, the growth was underpinned by broad-based performance across all seven operational verticals identified by Postal Directorate, with Post Office Savings Bank crossing the Rs 100-crore mark for the first time in the region at Rs 101 crore, reflecting a 3.06 per cent year-on-year increase.

Postal Life Insurance generated Rs 9.86 crore, up 28.68 per cent, while Rural Postal Life Insurance recorded Rs 6.57 crore, registering 15.78 per cent growth.

Parcel services emerged as a major growth driver, increasing to Rs 48.20 crore, a rise of 190.12 per cent, while mail operations contributed Rs 59.04 crore, up 21.17 per cent.

International mail services generated Rs 8.55 crore, and citizen-centric services accounted for Rs 13.47 crore, marking a growth of 23.74 per cent over the previous financial year.

Postmaster General Krishna Kumar Yadav said the performance reflected the department’s service delivery priorities.

“These achievements of the North Gujarat Region reflect the Department of Posts’ commitment to service quality, transparency, innovation and public service, while continuously working towards empowering all sections of society,” officials said.

The region also reported significant expansion in financial inclusion activities, with 8.84 lakh new Post Office Savings Bank accounts opened during the year, taking the total number of accounts to more than 43 lakh.

Ahmedabad City Division accounted for 2.94 lakh of these new accounts, the highest in the Gujarat Circle.

More than 26,000 individuals availed Postal Life Insurance and Rural Postal Life Insurance policies during the year.

In rural outreach, 1,110 villages were declared “Sampoorna Sukanya Samriddhi Gram”, 400 villages “Sampoorna Bachat Gram” and 791 villages “Sampoorna Bima Gram”, reflecting the expansion of savings and insurance coverage at village level.

Citizen service delivery also recorded growth, with 4.19 lakh Aadhaar-related services provided through post offices across the region.

Of these, 3.31 lakh were completed at counters and 88,000 were delivered through doorstep services under the Common Services Enabled Logistics Channel (CELC).

In addition, 68,702 passport applications were processed through Post Office Passport Seva Kendras.

Assistant Director V.M. Vhora said outreach activities were strengthened through organised events across the region.

“A total of 6,771 Dak Chaupals were organised across North Gujarat on various occasions, including National Postal Week, Independence Day and Republic Day, to ensure last-mile connectivity of postal services,” he added.

Assistant Director Alpesh Shah said the “Postal Warriors” initiative contributed to performance monitoring and service delivery improvements.

He said that all 1,905 Branch Post Offices in the region were designated as “Silver Postal Warrior”, 1,704 as “Gold Warrior”, 190 as “Diamond Warrior” and 48 as “Platinum Warrior”, based on performance indicators.

He added that the results reflected coordinated efforts of divisional and sub-divisional leadership along with postmasters and field staff across the region.

–IANS

mys/khz

Jaipur, April 16 (IANS) In a major action against corruption, the Rajasthan Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday caught Nadoti Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Kajal Meena, her Reader Dinesh Kumar Saini, and Senior Assistant Praveen Dhakad red-handed while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 60,000 in Karauli district.

During the operation, officials also recovered an additional Rs 4 lakh in cash, the source of which is under investigation.

According to ACB Director General of Police Govind Gupta, the action was carried out by the ACB’s Sawai Madhopur unit following a complaint alleging that the SDM, through her Reader, was demanding a bribe for issuing the final decree (Takasnama) related to the partition of the complainant’s land.

The complainant stated that an initial demand of Rs 1 lakh was made, which was later negotiated down to Rs 50,000. After receiving the complaint, the ACB conducted a confidential verification, during which the Reader allegedly demanded Rs 50,000 on behalf of the SDM and an additional Rs 10,000 for himself.

Acting on this, a trap was laid on April 16. The complainant was called to the SDM office in Nadoti, where the bribe amount of Rs 60,000 was handed over.

The money was first received by the Reader and subsequently passed on to Senior Assistant Praveen Dhakad.

During the operation, the ACB team confirmed the alleged involvement of the SDM through a recorded mobile conversation in which she is said to have consented to the bribe transaction.

Soon after, the accused were apprehended red-handed.

A search of the bag used to carry the bribe money led to the recovery of an additional Rs 4 lakh, the source of which is currently under investigation.

The trap was executed under the supervision of ACB Deputy Inspector General Dr Rameshwar Singh and led by Additional Superintendent of Police Gyan Singh Chaudhary of the Sawai Madhopur unit.

Further proceedings are being conducted under the supervision of Additional Director General Smita Srivastava and Inspector General S. Parimala.

The ACB has stated that a case will be registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act, and further investigation is underway to determine the source of the recovered cash and the extent of involvement of the accused.

–IANS

arc/pgh

Jaipur, April 16 (IANS) In a significant step towards environmental conservation while respecting local traditions, the Rajasthan government on Thursday has undertaken a major initiative to reserve ‘Oran’ (sacred groves) land in Jaisalmer district to maintain ecological balance in the desert region.

‘Oran’ refers to a centuries-old system rooted in socio-religious beliefs, where local communities protect sacred groves by refraining from harming trees or natural resources within these areas.

Cutting trees or using axes in such zones is traditionally prohibited, allowing these ecosystems to remain naturally preserved over generations.

These sacred landscapes represent a unique confluence of faith and conservation.

Under this initiative, a total of 3,666.2139 hectares of land has been reserved across various villages in Jaisalmer district for ‘Oran’ purposes.

In Ramgarh tehsil, 124.9502 hectares have been reserved in Dilawar Ka Gaon, 1,084.8043 hectares in Kuchhdi, and 583.9876 hectares in Poonamnagar. In Fatehgarh tehsil, 952.2752 hectares in Bhimsar and 96.7716 hectares in Binjota have been designated as ‘Oran’ areas.

Additionally, in Jaisalmer tehsil, land has been reserved in Mokla village across three blocks measuring 187.364 hectares, 256.2511 hectares, and 253.4034 hectares, along with 126.4065 hectares in Birma Kanod.

The state government is also in the process of reserving additional land for ‘Oran’ conservation.

This includes 1,457.4991 hectares in Mokla village (Jaisalmer tehsil), 225.03 hectares in Askandra village and 229.5067 hectares in Didhu village (Nachna tehsil), and 333.9165 hectares in Mohanagarh Barani/Pannodharay village.

The term ‘Oran’ is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Aranya’, meaning an untouched forest. These areas are not only a reflection of ancient cultural and religious traditions but also play a crucial role in preventing desertification and preserving biodiversity in arid regions.

The initiative is expected to strengthen conservation efforts in Jaisalmer while protecting traditional sites of faith and enhancing greenery and biodiversity across the desert landscape.

–IANS

arc/khz

Jaipur, April 16 (IANS) Senior Congress leader and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday asserted that the Congress has always been a strong supporter of women’s reservation, stating that the vision dates back to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, who pioneered the inclusion of women in grassroots democracy.

In a statement, Gehlot said the credit for bringing lakhs of women into political leadership over the past 25–30 years goes to Rajiv Gandhi and the Congress, which introduced reservation for women in Panchayati Raj institutions and local bodies.

“It was Rajiv Gandhi’s dream to empower women politically, and that vision transformed rural governance across the country,” he said.

Criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the former Rajasthan CM said that acknowledging Rajiv Gandhi’s contribution and the efforts made during the UPA government would have helped create a positive atmosphere in Parliament.

“If the Prime Minister had recognised these contributions, it could have fostered better coordination between the treasury benches and the Opposition. Instead, he attempted to mislead the nation by suggesting that Congress and other Opposition parties are against women’s reservation, which is far from the truth,” he added.

Gehlot emphasised that there is broad consensus across political parties in support of women’s reservation.

“No one is opposing women’s reservation. However, concerns are being raised about the possibility of pushing delimitation under its cover. On such a crucial issue, it is important to ask whether all states, including southern states, and key stakeholders were consulted,” he said.

He further questioned whether the Prime Minister had engaged with the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, to build consensus on the matter.

“This was an opportunity to unite all sides on a historic reform, but it was not utilised constructively,” he remarked.

Highlighting the Congress’s legacy of women’s empowerment, Gehlot noted that the party had enabled the country to have its first woman Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, and first woman President, Pratibha Patil. He also cited the example of Meira Kumar serving as Lok Sabha Speaker.

“In contrast, the BJP has never had a woman as its national president,” he said.

–IANS

arc/pgh

Jaipur, April 16 (IANS) Gyan Shakti Think Tank (GSTT), under the aegis of Sapta Shakti Command, organised an insightful discussion on the book ‘Redlines Redrawn: Operation Sindoor and India’s New Normal’ at Jaipur Military Station on Thursday.​

The seminar witnessed participation from a large number of serving and retired defence personnel, academicians, and students from prominent universities and schools in Jaipur, said officials on Thursday.​

The distinguished panel featured three of the four authors of the book, Major General (Dr) Bipin Bakshi (Retd), former Ambassador Anil Trigunayat, and Brigadier Akhilesh Bhargava (Retd), who shared their perspectives and insights on the subject. ​

The speakers provided a detailed account of the 88-hour Operation Sindoor and its implications for India’s evolving strategic doctrines. ​

They also elaborated on all eight chapters of the book, explaining how India demonstrated its strategic resolve to impose higher costs on Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.​

The session included an engaging interactive segment, with attendees actively participating in a question-and-answer discussion with the panellists. Since its inaugural seminar in November 2024, the Gyan Shakti Think Tank has held 11 seminars on diverse and contemporary topics, including book discussions such as this one. ​

The platform aims to foster intellectual engagement on strategic and defence-related issues and serves as a forum for meaningful dialogue between veterans, experts, and young scholars.​

In his closing remarks, Lieutenant General P.S. Shekhawat, Chief of Staff, Sapta Shakti Command, complimented the authors for their work and appreciated their comprehensive analysis of Operation Sindoor.

He thanked the speakers for providing valuable insights into the political, military, and diplomatic dimensions that shaped the operation.​

–IANS

arc/dan

​

Bhopal, April 16 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Thursday said the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’ will mark a transformative step towards empowering women in governance.

“Today is an important day in the history of India’s democracy. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, discussions have begun on the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. This will open new doors of leadership for women in democratic institutions,” CM Yadav said while addressing a public gathering in Seoni district on Thursday.

Describing women as the backbone of nation-building, he added: “Women are not only creators of life but also the real architects of the nation’s progress. A developed India cannot be imagined without their strength, struggle and success.”

He underlined that political empowerment must go hand in hand with economic and infrastructure development.

On the occasion, Yadav noted that Madhya Pradesh already provides 50 per cent reservation for women in local and urban bodies. He also pointed out several beneficiary schemes aimed at empowering women, including the Ladli Behna Yojana, under which more than Rs 55,000 crore has been transferred so far to over 1.25 crore women beneficiaries.

The Chief Minister was addressing a ceremonial event during which he laid the foundation stone for the upgradation of the Narmadapuram–Timarni State Highway-67, a 72-km-long road project worth Rs 972 crore.

On the development front, Yadav termed the Narmadapuram–Timarni highway project a “game changer”, saying it would strengthen connectivity to Indore and Ujjain and accelerate regional growth.

He also announced an irrigation project at Hathnapur village on the Narmada river, expected to benefit over 10,000 farmers across 40 villages.

Other key announcements included road and bridge projects, school infrastructure expansion, and civic upgrades in Seoni-Malwa.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav will inaugurate the five-day ‘Ekatma Parv’ (Festival of Unity) on Friday at Omkareshwar in Khandwa district, bringing together saints, scholars, and artists from across India and abroad.​

According to an official statement, the festival is being organised at Ekatma Dham on Mandhata Hill, associated with Adi Shankaracharya, the proponent of Advaita Vedanta. Scheduled for Vaishakh Shukla Panchami, the event aims to spread the message of unity through a blend of spiritual, intellectual, and cultural activities.​

During the inaugural programme, the Chief Minister will open the ‘Advaita Lok’ and ‘Akshar Brahma’ exhibitions and participate in Vedic rituals. Prominent spiritual leaders, including Swami Sadanand Saraswati, will be present on the occasion. Nivedita Bhide and Swami Shardanand Saraswati are also expected to attend.​

–IANS

pd/pgh