Highlights: Massive fire breaks out at chemical factory in Maharashtra's Palghar

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A massive fire broke out on Sunday in a chemical factory in Boisar-Tarapur MIDC in Palghar district of Maharashtra, officials said. The raging blaze at UK Aromatic and Chemical Company also engulfed an adjacent chemical unit in the Salwad Shivaji Nagar area. A firefighting operation is underway to douse the blaze, the officials said, adding that no report has been received so far about any injuries. A major disaster was averted as workers rushed out of the premises of the fire-ravaged UK Aromatic and Chemicals Factory, officials added. The cause of the blaze cannot be known immediately.  Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address the 117th episode of his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat' today at 11 am. In the previus episode PM Modi had remembered the legends and urged the youth to be politically active and participate in nation building. This will be the last 'Mann Ki Baat' for 2024, and the Prime Minister might give a quick review of the entire year. 

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi slammed the Congress party for playing politics over the last rites of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, despite the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government to ensure proper arrangements for his cremation at Delhi's Nigambodh Ghat. "There is no doubt that the late PM Dr Manmohan Singh was a most respectable personality. The Congress party started playing politics even after PM Modi's government did everything for his last rites and to pay last respects to him. It does not suit for any party to stoop to such a low level after the death of a (former) Prime Minister," Joshi said. 

South Korean emergency officials say that 47 people are dead after a plane caught fire during landing at an airport in the country's south. The fire engulfed the aircraft carrying 181 people when it skidded off the runway just after landing and struck a barrier. The country's emergency office said its landing gear appeared to have malfunctioned. The National Fire Agency says that a total of 47 people on board have been found dead as a result of the incident.

 

10:48 PM

Chhagan Bhujbal's exclusion from Maharashtra cabinet internal issue of NCP: Bharat Gogawale

Maharashtra EGS Minister and Shiv Sena leader Bharat Gogawale said on Sunday that Chhagan Bhujbal's exclusion from the cabinet is an internal issue of NCP and not of Mahayuti. He said it's the discretion of the Nationalist Congress Party to pick ministers like Shiv Sena and BJP. "Others can't comment on this issue. The exclusion of Bhujbal from the council of ministers is the issue of the NCP and not of the Mahayuti coalition," he told reporters. Bhujbal blamed NCP president and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar for not inducting him in the expanded cabinet of the BJP-led Government of which NCP and Shiv Sena are constituents.

10:30 PM

AB-PMJAY has reduced cancer patients' financial burden significantly: PM Modi

The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) has reduced the cancer patients' financial burden significantly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday. Modi highlighted the achievements made in the fight against malaria and cancer in the 117th episode of his 'Mann Ki Baat'. He said the success on this front has attracted the attention of the world today. On the fight against cancer, the prime minister talked about a study by Medical Journal Lancet according to which the chances of starting cancer treatment in time in India have increased significantly. Modi also emphasised the role of the Ayushman Bharat Yojana in ensuring timely treatment of cancer patients, within 30 days.

10:11 PM

Israeli airstrike near Syrian capital kills 11, says war monitor

An Israeli airstrike in the outskirts of Damascus on Sunday killed 11 people, according to a war monitor, as Israel continues to target Syrian weapons and military infrastructure even after the ouster of former President Bashar Assad. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the airstrike targeted a weapons depot that belonged to Assad's forces near the industrial town of Adra, northeast of the capital. The observatory said at least 11 people, mostly civilians, were killed.

9:59 PM

PAC jawan among 2 killed as car falls into gorge in Uttarakhand's Pauri

Two people, including a PAC jawan, were killed and another person was seriously injured on Sunday when the car they were travelling in fell into a gorge in Rikhnikhal block of this district. The car fell into a 150-metre-deep gorge near Bayela Malla village on the Rikhnikhal-Sidhkhal road, the district disaster management centre here said. Two persons, including the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) jawan, died on the spot, it said. The car which was being used as a government vehicle was going towards Rikhnikhal when the accident occurred.

9:44 PM

Bengal DGP writes to MEA on fake passport issue, requests Centre to strengthen verification process

West Bengal Director General of Police (DGP) Rajeev Kumar on Sunday said that he had written to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) urging a total overhauling of the verification and distribution of new passports to combat misuse. Kolkata Police recently unearthed a fake passport racket and arrested at least eight persons for their alleged involvement in it. Talking to reporters, the IPS officer said in the letter to the MEA, they also pointed out software issues and proposed the idea of superintendents of police personally conducting the verification process.

9:21 PM

Avalanche warning issued for Uttarakhand's Chamoli

The Defence Geoinformatics Research Establishment (DGRE), a laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), on Sunday issued an orange alert for an avalanche at an altitude of over 3,000 metres in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district over the next 24 hours. The alert is for a period of 24 hours from 5 pm on Sunday to 5 pm on Monday. Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority Joint Chief Executive Officer Mohammad Obaidullah Ansari wrote to the district magistrate of Chamoli and drew his attention to the DGRE's orange alert (level 3) for the area.

9:04 PM

Around 2.5 crore devotees likely to visit Ayodhya between Jan 13-Feb 12 after attending Maha Kumbh

Authorities in Ayodhya are preparing for an influx of devotees during January and February, as many people visiting the Maha Kumbh-2025 in Prayagraj are also likely to come to the temple town to seek blessings of Ram Lalla. According to the Ayodhya Municipal Corporation, around 2.5 crore devotees are likely to visit the town from January 13 to February 12. Authorities of the civic body are also expecting a footfall of about three to five lakh devotees in the temple town on the New Year's Day.

8:25 PM

Karnataka contractor death: Case registered against 6, including minister Priyank Kharge's close aide

A case has been registered against the close aide of Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge, Raju Kapanur and five others in connection with hatching a conspiracy to kill BJP MLA Basavaraj Mattimadu and other leaders, police said on Sunday. The case was registered based on a suicide note by a civil contractor, Sachin Panchal, who had mentioned that the Congress leaders had connived to kill Mattimadu, Siddalinga Swami of Andola Math, BJP leaders Manikanth Rathod and Chandu Patil.

8:15 PM

There is no development but destruction under BJP govt in UP, says Akhilesh Yadav

Launching a scathing attack on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday said there is no development but destruction under the present regime. The former chief minister said the BJP government is making Uttar Pradesh number one in borrowing and debt. Escalating his attack, Yadav said the treasury has been emptied. Speaking to reporters at Dr Ram Manohar Lohia auditorium at the party office, the Samajwadi Party chief accused the government of cheating the farmers.

7:48 PM

Protests held against abolition of nine Rajasthan districts

Protests broke out on Sunday in the nine Rajasthan districts abolished by the BJP government.. The state government on Saturday decided to dissolve nine of the 17 districts created by the previous Congress dispensation, saying they were neither practical nor in public interest. Three new divisions were also dissolved in a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma. The state will now only have seven divisions and 41 districts. The nine districts abolished are Anupgarh, Dudu, Gangapur City, Jaipur Rural, Jodhpur Rural, Kekri, Neem Ka Thana, Sanchore and Shahpura.

7:37 PM

4 die after inhaling toxic gas at chemical unit in Gujarat; firm to pay Rs 30 lakh ex gratia

Four workers died after inhaling toxic fumes following a gas leak at a chemical plant at Dahej in Gujarat's Bharuch district, police said on Sunday. The company said all four were given immediate medical care but could not be saved. It has announced Rs 30 lakh ex gratia to the kin of each victim. A company employee and three contractual workers fell unconscious after poisonous fumes leaked from a pipe at a production unit of the Gujarat Fluorochemicals Limited (GFL) on Saturday night, Dahej police station inspector BM Patidar said. They were rushed to a private hospital where all four of them died, he said.

7:27 PM

Former PM Manmohan Singh was India's man of destiny: G P Hinduja

Late Manmohan Singh was India's man of destiny and the country owes much to the former prime minister, who played an integral role in bringing India from nuclear isolation to the mainstream of global nuclear nations, Hinduja Group Chairman G P Hinduja said on Sunday. In a tribute to Singh, who passed away on Thursday, Hinduja said he was a colossus among economists. "He was India's man of destiny when the country on the brink of bankruptcy needed someone to take charge. His clear vision to revive the nation demonstrated through an epoch-making budget in 1991, marked a turning point unlike any other on the road to liberalisation," Hinduja said in a statement.

7:21 PM

BJP accuses AAP of trying to register 'illegal voters' in Delhi

The BJP on Sunday accused the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP of trying to register "illegal voters", fearing defeat in the Delhi Assembly polls.The BJP's city unit chief Virendra Sachdeva said in a press conference that his party would not allow "fake votes" to be cast in Delhi. "We have provided multiple pieces of evidence but Kejriwal is merely attempting to cover up his 'wrongdoings' by creating confusion among the people," he charged.

7:06 PM

PM Modi highlights ayurveda's growing global resonance in 'Mann ki Baat'

In the 117th episode of his monthly radio broadcast "Mann ki Baat", Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the growing global resonance of ayurveda, citing the inspiring work being done in Paraguay. "There is a country in South America called Paraguay. The number of Indians living there would not be more than 1,000. A wonderful effort is being made in Paraguay. At the Indian embassy in Paraguay, Erica Huber offers ayurveda consultation. A large number of local people are reaching out to her to get ayurveda-based advice," the prime minister said.

6:56 PM

Sabarimala temple to reopen for makaravilakku festival on Dec 30

The Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple will reopen on Monday for this year's makaravilakku festival, the temple authorities said. The temple will be opened at 4 pm by Melshanthi S Arun Kumar Namboothiri, in the presence of the head priest, Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru. Pilgrims can ascend the sacred 18 steps for darshan after the Melshanthi performs the ceremonial lighting of the fire at the fireplace (aazhi) in the sanctum.