Breaking News, July 3 | Highlights

 A tiny dead snake was allegedly found in a packet of mid-day meal meant for children at an `Anganwadi' or government-run nursery school in western Maharashtra's Sangli district. 

The alleged incident was reported by the parents of a child at Palus on Monday, said Anandi Bhosale, vice-president of the state Anganwadi workers' union, though district officials could not be contacted to confirm it.

Incessant rainfall has caused flooding at several places in Manipur's Imphal West and Imphal East districts after two major rivers breached embankments, prompting the evacuation of over 2,000 people, officials said on Wednesday. At least two people have drowned in Senapati River in Senapati district.

The state government declared a holiday for all government offices on Wednesday, while schools will remain closed till Thursday in view of the flood situation, they said. The Imphal river breached its embankment at Singjamei Oinam Thingel in Imphal West, and the Kongba river at Kongba Irong and parts of Keirao in Imphal East, a senior official said.

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued a press release of the appointment of Dr BN Gangadhar as the new Chairperson of the National Medical Commission.

Delhi Education Minister Atishi issues a show-cause notice to the Secretary of Education and the Directorate of Education for disobeying the Minister-in-charge order to halt the transfer of 5,000 teachers. Delhi Education Minister had in written order on 01.07.2024 directed that no teacher be transferred only because she/he has completed more than 10 years in a particular school. 

Fifteen waste processing facilities have been set up and over 600 workers deployed along the two routes of the Amarnath yatra in the south Kashmir Himalayas to achieve "zero-landfill" by ensuring a garbage-free sustainable pilgrimage, a senior government official said on Wednesday.

More than one lakh pilgrims have visited the cave shrine located at a height of 3,880 metre -- using the 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag and 14-km shorter but steep Baltal route in Ganderbal -- since the 52-day yatra began on June 29.

Hemant Soren on Wednesday evening staked claim to form the government before the Governor.  He has also asked for time to take the oath.

The Punjab Police has arrested 3 people in a ransom case of Rs 2 crores. The mastermind of the case was abroad while his associates lived in Punjab and they were demanding a ransom of Rs 2 crores from a person. SSP Bathinda Deepak Pareek said that the police are investigating the matter in depth.

Amid the floods in Assam, eleven animals, mostly hog deer, have drowned while 65 other animals have been rescued from floodwaters in Kaziranga National Park, an official said on Wednesday. Forty-two hog deer, two otters and sambars each and a Scops owl have been rescued, the official of the national park said.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief S Somnath said that the Gaganyaan Mission is on track. He said they are preparing for the mission of the unmanned vehicle by this year's end and also other test flights which are required to be completed this year."

Gangster Abu Salem has moved the Bombay High Court challenging a special court's order that last month rejected his application against the planned transfer from Taloja prison in Navi Mumbai to the Nashik Central Prison, claiming a threat to his life. Salem claimed the decision to shift him out of the Taloja facility, where he is serving life imprisonment in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, was a "conspiracy" to kill him as he is likely to be released in a few months.

Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday released a white paper on the Amravati capital region. 

According to sources, Hemant Soren may return to Jharkhand's government as the Chief Minister. He resigned following his arrest in an alleged land scam case in January this year. He was recently released from the jail after five months of incarceration.

CISF constable Kulwinder Kaur, who allegedly slapped BJP MP Kangana Ranaut, is still suspended and a departmental inquiry against her is still on, said CISF.

Excise 'scam': Delhi HC agrees to list for Friday Arvind Kejriwal's bail plea in corruption case lodged by CBI.

Arvind Kejriwal moves Delhi HC seeking bail in CBI's corruption case related to  excise policy 'scam'.

Madhya Pradesh Finance Minister Jagdish Devda presents state budget for 2024-25 in assembly amid ruckus by opposition.

 Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath meets the injured in the stampede incident, at Hathras government hospital.

On Hathras Stampede accident, SP MP Awadhesh Singh said, "The incident is heart-wrenching... The government is responsible for this. It looks as if the government has not carried out their responsibilities well. This is the negligence of the administration and the police. Such a huge event was going to take place, there should have been proper arrangements. We hope that the government will work to save the lives of those who are injured... This should be taken seriously and a high-level inquiry should be ordered. The bereaved families should be given financial assistance...

PIL in SC seeks appointment of expert panel to probe Hathras stampede which claimed 121 lives.

On Hathras stampede, Samajwadi Party chief & MP Akhilesh Yadav says, " It is a very painful incident. We are saddened by this incident. The Uttar Pradesh government and administration are fully responsible for this incident. The loss of lives in this incident is due to the negligence of the government. Some injured persons died due to lack of proper treatment. The BJP govt is responsible for this incident...This is not the first incident where negligence was seen. SOPs for large gatherings should be made to ensure that such incidents do not occur again"

Hathras Stampede: UP CM Yogi Adityanath takes stock of the situation at the Hathras Police lines.

Karnataka: State BJP chief BY Vijayendra and party workers detained by police during the party's protest demanding CBI inquiry and CM Siddaramaiah's resignation over MUDA (Mysuru Urban Development Authority) alleged irregularities case.

BJP workers hold a protest in Delhi against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's remarks in Lok Sabha.

Tamil Nadu: DMK workers hold a protest in Chennai over the NEET-UG issue.

Madhya Pradesh Finance Minister Jagdish Devda offers prayers ahead of presenting the state budget.

Bihar deputy CM & BJP state president Samrat Choudhary takes a holy dip in river Saryu, in Ayodhya. There he devoted his turban as well.

Uttar Pradesh: Railway authorities used water pumps to drain out the rainwater accumulated on the railway tracks at Moradabad railway station.

BSE Sensex touches the 80,000 mark for the first time, trading at all-time high.

Waterlogging in parts of Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad city due to continuous rainfall since today morning.

Uttar Pradesh: Death toll in Hathras incident rises to 121 and 28 injured, as per the  Office of the Relief Commissioner.

Uttar Pradesh: Forensic experts along with a dog squad collect evidence at the incident site in Hathras, where a stampede took place yesterday, claiming the lives of 116 people.

Hathras stampede: Advocate Gaurav Dwivedi files a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Allahabad High Court demanding a CBI inquiry into the Hathras Stampede accident.

Hathras Stampede: 21 bodies have been taken to Agra Hospital for postmortem.

Hathras Stampede: An elderly woman, Urmila Devi, searching for her granddaughter at Etah Hospital, recalls what happened at the incident site. "As soon as the 'satsang' concluded, people started to rush outside. There was a huge crowd. I have been searching for my 16-year-old granddaughter from one hospital to another.  People were responsible for the stampede, they started to push each other while trying to leave," said Urmila Devi.

 Srinagar: Another batch of Amarnath Yatra pilgrims departs on the fifth day from Pantha Chowk Yatra base camp for Baltal and Pahalgam routes amid high security.

Uttarakhand: The Badrinath National Highway is blocked near Paagalnala due to debris, said Uttarakhand Police.

Uttar Pradesh: Visuals from Ram Kutir Charitable Trust in ​​Mainpuri district.

Hathras stampede: FIR registered under sections 105, 110, 126(2), 223 and 238 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 against one Devprakash Madhukar referred to as 'Mukhya Sewadar' and other organisers of the religious event where the stampede occurred.

Uttar Pradesh: The Forensic Team arrives at the incident site in Hathras, where a stampede took place yesterday, claiming the lives of 116 people.

Hathras stampede: BJP MP from Hathras Anoop Pradhan meets victims at district hospital.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is likely to visit Hathras today where a stampede at a religious congregation killed 116 people.

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma inspected flood-affected areas in Golaghat and reviewed the situation in Kaziranga.