Live news: Series of lapses led to Gujarat bridge tragedy, say cops

Live news updates: Yadav overtook Pakistan opener Mohammad Rizwan to become just the second Indian player to hold the top T20I batter ranking

Live news updates: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the inaugural session of Invest Karnataka 2022, the Global Investors Meet of the state, today at 10 am. According to the official press release, the meeting aims to attract prospective investors and set up development agenda for the next decade. The three-day programme, being held from November 2 to November 4 in Bengaluru, would witness more than 80 speaker sessions.

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and veteran Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan Tuesday slammed the Maharashtra government over the relocation of several projects from Maharashtra to other states. While speaking to ANI Prithviraj Chavan alleged that interference from the Central Government and political instability caused investors to move out of Maharashtra state.

The Congress will bring a non-BJP government at the Centre under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge said on Tuesday in his maiden public address after becoming Congress President. Joining the Bharat Jodo Yatra here for the first time after being elected to the top party post, Kharge launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying poll schedule for the Himachal Pradesh was announced but not for Gujarat so that the PM can inaugurate many more bridges like the one that collapsed in Gujarat's Morbi.

11:25 PM

Morbi bridge collapse was an 'act of God': Accused tells Gujarat court

A manager of the Oreva group, one of the nine persons arrested in connection with collapse of a suspension bridge in Gujarat's Morbi town, sought relief from a local court claiming the tragedy which has claimed 135 lives was an "act of God", the prosecution said on Wednesday. Chief Judicial Magistrate M J Khan had on Tuesday remanded four of the arrested accused -- two managers of the Oreva group and two sub-contractors who had repaired the ill-fated bridge -- in police custody till Saturday (Novenber 5).

11:01 PM

Punjab witnessed 3,634 farm fires today, highest so far

Punjab witnessed 3,634 farm fires today, highest number of stubble burning incidents so far this season, according to data from Punjab Remote Sensing Centre.

10:58 PM

Vehicles contributed half of PM 2.5 pollution in Delhi around Diwali: Report

During Diwali week (October 21-26) over half of PM 2.5 pollution from local sources in Delhi is contributed by vehicular emission, said the latest assessment by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

 

The report said that when pollution concentrations from all sources -- local, NCR and beyond -- are added, Delhi's vehicles account for nearly 17 per cent of total PM2.5 concentration. But, according to CSE's indicative data, vehicles' daily share of pollution varied between 49.3 per cent and 53 per cent during the week of Diwali.

10:03 PM

India's civil aviation sector likely to log 400 million passengers in next 7-10 years: Scindia

9:52 PM

If possible work from home and avoid taking out private vehicles: Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai

9:40 PM

Pollution is a problem of entire North India: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal

"Pollution is a problem of entire North India. UP, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is almost equal everywhere. Did Delhi-Punjab spread pollution all over the country? Why is the PM not calling a meeting of all states on this? The centre is not helping the farmers, only filing FIRs against them. They rejected our proposal on tackling stubble burning. There is only politics going on about this, no one is talking about the solution," Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said to reporters.

9:36 PM

Environment minister calls Delhi "gas chamber"

"As of today, Punjab, a state run by the AAP government, has seen an over 19% rise in farm fires over 2021. Haryana has seen a 30.6% drop. Just today, Punjab saw 3,634 fires. There is no doubt over who has turned Delhi into a gas chamber," tweeted Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav. 

9:26 PM

Farm fires' share in Delhi's pollution rises to 32% today, highest in 2022

The share of stubble burning in Delhi PM2.5 pollution rose to 32 per cent on Wednesday, the highest this year so far, amid raging farm fires in Punjab and favourable conditions for transport of emissions to Delhi-NCR.
 

The Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) reported 3,634 farm fires in Punjab on Wednesday, the highest this year so far.

 

The number stood at 1,842 on Tuesday, 2,131 on Monday, 1,761 on Sunday, 1,898 on Saturday and 2,067 on Friday. SAFAR, a forecasting agency under the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences, said the share of stubble burning in Delhi's PM2.5 pollution increased to 32 per cent due to favourable transport-level wind speed.

8:45 PM

No confirmation yet if India-made cough syrup killed 70 kids: Gambia govt

There is no confirmation yet if toxic cough syrup caused acute kidney injury in 70 children and killed them, a Gambia government official said. Indian government officials questioned the administration of cough syrup to the kids given the fact that they were suffering from diarrhoea.

7:28 PM

Pigs seen licking soiled utensils outside 'Indira Rasoi Yojana' in Bharatpur, organisers contract revoked

7:20 PM

Congress & BJP workers clash at Bishalgarh constituency

7:07 PM

Delhi air quality remains in 'very poor' category

6:59 PM

Defence Minister interacted with senior hierarchy of Indian Navy, as part of Naval Commanders' Conference

5:44 PM

Want all Cong leaders to maintain discipline: Gehlot after Pilot's remarks

Shortly after Rajasthan former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot raised eyebrows over Prime Minister Narendra Modi "praise" for Ashok Gehlot, the chief minister on Wednesday urged his party leaders to "maintain discipline" and refrain from making political statements.

 

Earlier in the day, Pilot cautioned that Modi's remarks for Gehlot should not be taken lightly and also nudged his party to end the "state of indecision" over the chief minister's post. He also pushed the party for action against the Rajasthan leaders who led a show of strength for Gehlot in September, boycotting a Congress Legislature Party meeting.

 

"AICC general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal has asked not to give statements. We, too, want all leaders to maintain discipline," Gehlot told reporters during his Alwar visit.

5:27 PM

Today is a big day for thousands of slum dwellers: PM Modi