VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html 21-year-old UP woman burnt alive by lover, his kin; dies at Delhi hospital with 90% burns Chinese court rules firms can’t lay off workers on AI grounds ‘Pehle Rohit bhai, phir Dhoni bhai … ‘: Suryakumar Yadav reveals story behind iconic pic – WATCH Adam Back again denies he is Satoshi, Bitcoin’s inventor ‘Raja Shivaji’ box office collection day 2 [Hindi]: Riteish Deshmukh’s film earns Rs 3.40 crore, pushes total past Rs 21 crore 30-year-old judge found dead at Delhi home ‘Timmy’ the stranded whale rescued, returned to North Sea ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ box office collections day 2: Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway film grows 5.3%; Crosses Rs 11 cr in India Babar Azam hits out at 90s Pakistan cricketers: ‘You are just fighting among yourselves’ May 03, 2026, 06:40 IST ‘Kara’ box office collections day 3: Dhanush film records 25.2% drop; Collects Rs 28.87 cr worldwide ‘In uniform you are in service’: Motorist who took on Maharashtra minister Girish Mahajan in traffic jam tells her story People show their mobile phones during the nationwide test of the new ‘Cell Broadcast Alert System’, in Patna on Saturday Phones shrieked. Screens flashed. A commuter lunged for an emergency chain. Theatre audiences froze. Patients gripped chairs. With tensions in West Asia already on edge, many feared the worst as confusion swept cities — before relief set in minutes later.Lakhs of users across India received a piercing “Extremely Severe Alert” around 11.45am Saturday, followed by a repeat minutes later — part of a nationwide test of a new cell broadcast-based disaster warning system.The message was blunt: no action required. The reaction was anything but. At a children’s play in Mumbai’s Prithvi Theatre, about 40 phones rang in unison, startling families queued for a performance. On a suburban train, one passenger tried to pull an emergency chain before others intervened.Phone sirens were annoying to some and scary to othersIn hospitals and clinics, alarms cut through consultations, leaving patients shaken.“I switched off my phone immediately thinking it was some bug,” said a Bandra resident. A visitor in Borivali recalled people freezing. “It was annoying to some and scary to others.”Across states, similar scenes played out. In Bhubaneswar, many feared hacking or a cyberattack before reading further.“I thought my phone was under attack, then felt relieved,” said a resident. In Bengaluru, users mistook it for a heatwave or earthquake warning before clarity emerged. In Lucknow, a pharmacist said several devices blared simultaneously, causing brief panic.In New Delhi, Kanika Sharma, 29, a private school teacher, said the sudden buzz during brunch initially triggered fears of global tensions before she realised it was a drill. “Tensions in West Asia were the first thing that came to my mind… this system can be useful in case of emergencies,” she said. Others flagged confusion over repeat alerts. Abhishek Dogra, 33, an IT professional from Jasola in southeast Delhi, said his entire family’s phones rang at once. “We were worried at first, then realised it was a test. It’s a good move, but test messages should be clearly marked,” he said.Authorities later confirmed it was a planned trial by National Disaster Management Authority and department of telecommunications, marking rollout of a real-time public warning system.Unlike SMS, cell broadcast technology pushes alerts simultaneously to all devices within a defined area, overriding silent and do-not-disturb settings.It requires no internet, apps or subscriptions.Alerts appear as full-screen pop-ups with a loud siren, temporarily halting other phone functions.The system, built on an indigenous platform known as SACHET and aligned with global alerting protocols, is already operational across all states and Union territories. Officials said it has enabled more than 134 billion SMS alerts so far in multiple languages for weather and disaster warnings.Saturday’s drill aimed to test reach, speed and public response. Messages were delivered in regional languages alongside English and Hindi to widen comprehension. Not all devices received alerts, highlighting gaps. Some users reported one phone ringing while another beside it stayed silent — a reminder of ongoing calibration. Officials said the system will be used for earthquakes, cyclones, floods, lightning and industrial hazards such as gas leaks. Geo-targeting will allow alerts tailored to specific districts or neighbourhoods.In Bihar, authorities are planning follow-up preparedness exercises, including blackout and civil defence drills later this month to build public familiarity. “It created awareness among people,” a senior official said.(Inputs from New Delhi, Bengaluru, Lucknow, Patna, Bhubaneswar, Hyderabad)End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Reminder To Those Who Misuse State Power’: Pawan Khera Jabs Assam CM After SC Anticipatory BailUS Retains India on Special 301 Priority Watch List, Flags Patent Regime, Enforcement GapsCourt Rejects Nida Khan’s Anticipatory Bail in TCS Nashik Harassment and Conversion CaseCensus 2027 To Begin In UP From May 2026 With 5 Lakh Personnel, & Caste Data InclusionHome Minister Amit Shah Meets Sonam Wangchuk & Other Leaders in Leh Ahead Of TalksChhattisgarh IED Blast Kills 4 DRG Personnel During Defusal Operation Near Kanker-Narayanpur BorderIndia-Bound LPG Tanker Sarv Shakti On The Move Across Strait Of Hormuz: Why It Matters?Rae Bareli’s MCF Unveils First Vande Bharat Trainset, Boosting India’s Production CapacityDelhi Police Bust Inter-State Auto Theft Racket Spanning 5 States; 10 Arrested,31 Vehicles RecoveredIndia Tests Disaster Information System, Citizens Get ‘Extremely Severe Alert’ On Phones123Photostories’The Devil Wears Prada 2′: Emily Blunt’s most iconic momentsMorning affirmation at 5 am: Affirmations that help you hear yourselfFrom Samay Raina roasting Sunil Pal and Navjot Singh Sidhu to Kapil Sharma pulling Ranveer Allahbadia and Samay’s leg over the India’s Got Latent controversy—highlights from The Great Indian Kapil Show5 things to think about before breaking upBTS: Top 7 romantic songs to add to your playlistWest Bengal elections 2026: Key candidates and their declared assets ahead of resultsStop stretching like this: Common morning routine mistakes hurting your spineWhy curd turns sour faster in summer and how to control fermentation at homeYour feet may be revealing health problems you’re missingPink Guava vs white Guava: Which one is healthier and why it matters123Hot PicksAssam key constituenciesKerala key constituenciesPuducherry election resultsTamil Nadu constituenciesAjay Pal SharmaBengal Poll RecordHimanta Biswa SarmaTop TrendingUS Germany relationsBank Holiday MayVande Bharat expressLPG cylinder price hikeMumbai missing linkPetrol, Diesel, LPG priceCBSE Class 12th ResultNEET 2026: Exam-day guideBSE AP SSC Class 10th ResultIPL Orange Cap ‘Bhooth Bangla’ box office collection Day 16: Akshay Kumar’s film crosses Rs 215 crore mark globally amid ‘Raja Shivaji’ fever ‘My world is gone’: 3 of Delhi family return from Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur in coffins Emily Blunt’s most iconic moments Operation Sindoor: On Sindoor eve, Army releases list, satellite images of 7 Pakistan terror camps destroyed; Rajnath commends valour of soldiers ‘Raja Shivaji’ box office collection day 2 (Marathi): Riteish Deshmukh’s epic saga crosses Rs 15 crore mark Sagittarius Horoscope Today, May 3, 2026: Mercury makes communication messy for you today ‘Not yet paid a big enough price’: Donald Trump sceptical as Iran submits 14-point plan to end war ‘Patriot’ box office collections day 2: Mammootty’s action film drops 38.5% on Saturday; Earns Rs 50.23 cr worldwide File photo NEW DELHI: In a reaction to Congress LOP in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi’s opposition to the Greater Nicobar project , former IAF chief Air Chief Marshal R K S Bhadauria (retd) has said that the project is “important for India’s military footprint” in the area.Several defence veterans who have also voiced their support in favour of the island project.ACM Bhadauria (retd) has dismissed Congress’s criticism as misplaced and highlighted that the project is critically important for India’s national security, economic growth and military foothold. He emphasised its strategic location for monitoring the Malacca Strait, another chokepoint after Hormuz, in order to keep a check on China. Roughly, 80% of China’s oil imports and a significant portion of its overall cargo pass through this narrow waterway (Malacca Strait).With China’s increasing naval presence in the Indian Ocean Region, India needs to have a strong economic and military base in the Great Nicobar island.The Rs 92,000-crore Great Nicobar mega-infrastructure project comprises key infrastructure development such as a transshipment terminal, greenfield international airport, township, and power facilities, with limited forest diversion, compensatory afforestation, and no proposed displacement of indigenous communities.Bhadauria’s remarks came a day after Rahul Gandhi alleged that the Great Nicobar project at Campbell Bay was “one of the biggest scams and gravest crimes against the natural and tribal heritage of the country”.A bench of the National Green Tribunal on Feb 16 this year had cleared the way for the Great Nicobar project, noting that “considering the strategic importance” of it and “other relevant considerations”, “we do not find any good ground to interfere”. It had disposed of applications related to the environment clearance (EC) for the project, with a direction to authorities “to ensure full and strict compliance of EC conditions”.Reacting to the opposition to the project, ACM Bhadauria (retd) said, “It is crucial to understand this from a strategic perspective, specially in light of recent events, such as the ongoing conflict (in West Asia) and developments in the Strait of Hormuz.Strategically, it is crucial to understand that this project will provide us with the capability to position ourselves just 150 km away from the Strait of Malacca. Our overall domain awareness, both in the air and maritime spheres, will receive a significant boost.”Giving an example of the Gulf crisis, Major General (Retd.) G S Rawat recently said, “We need to look at this (project) from an operational and strategic perspective, including its geographic alignment and maritime positioning. Recent global developments have shown how tactical choke points can be exploited, as seen around the Strait of Hormuz.Similarly, the Strait of Malacca holds even greater significance in terms of global trade and maritime movement… From an operational standpoint, controlling or having a strong presence near such routes enhances strategic leverage, surveillance capability and maritime security. This is where the importance of the Great Nicobar Project lies, as it strengthens India’s position in monitoring and responding to developments across these critical sea lanes.”Air Vice Marshal P K Srivastava (Retd) said, “Whenever the govt of India undertakes a project, it consults a wide range of expert advisors from different fields. Every project is prepared after taking opinions from specialists and conducting proper on-ground surveys of the area.Such projects are not designed sitting in Delhi alone—teams visit the site and assess all aspects.Any potential concerns or issues related to the Great Nicobar Island project would have already been carefully considered during the planning process.”Calling the project a major strategic and economic win for the country, Maj Gen Sinha (Retd) said, “In the maritime domain, the Great Nicobar project has created a stir in the country. Some people do not want the country to emerge in the world.”Cautioning about China’s moves, Lt Gen (Retd.) Rajeev Chaudhry, former DG of the Border Roads Organisation said, “If opposition leads to delays in the project—especially through international pressure citing environmental concerns—it can benefit China. Beijing is wary of such a project at Great Nicobar Island because it would enhance India’s surveillance over maritime trade and military movements in the region…China’s ‘String of Pearls’ strategy—through ports like Gwadar Port, Hambantota Port and Kyaukpyu Port—would be countered by a strong strategic and economic hub at Campbell Bay and Galathea Bay… Such opposition or negative narratives can inadvertently align with Chinese interests. This is an essential project that ideally should have been implemented much earlier.”End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Reminder To Those Who Misuse State Power’: Pawan Khera Jabs Assam CM After SC Anticipatory BailUS Retains India on Special 301 Priority Watch List, Flags Patent Regime, Enforcement GapsCourt Rejects Nida Khan’s Anticipatory Bail in TCS Nashik Harassment and Conversion CaseCensus 2027 To Begin In UP From May 2026 With 5 Lakh Personnel, & Caste Data InclusionHome Minister Amit Shah Meets Sonam Wangchuk & Other Leaders in Leh Ahead Of TalksChhattisgarh IED Blast Kills 4 DRG Personnel During Defusal Operation Near Kanker-Narayanpur BorderIndia-Bound LPG Tanker Sarv Shakti On The Move Across Strait Of Hormuz: Why It Matters?Rae Bareli’s MCF Unveils First Vande Bharat Trainset, Boosting India’s Production CapacityDelhi Police Bust Inter-State Auto Theft Racket Spanning 5 States; 10 Arrested,31 Vehicles RecoveredIndia Tests Disaster Information System, Citizens Get ‘Extremely Severe Alert’ On Phones123PhotostoriesFrom Samay Raina roasting Sunil Pal and Navjot Singh Sidhu to Kapil Sharma pulling Ranveer Allahbadia and Samay’s leg over the India’s Got Latent controversy—highlights from The Great Indian Kapil ShowBTS: Top 7 romantic songs to add to your playlistWest Bengal elections 2026: Key candidates and their declared assets ahead of resultsStop stretching like this: Common morning routine mistakes hurting your spineWhy curd turns sour faster in summer and how to control fermentation at homeYour feet may be revealing health problems you’re missingPink Guava vs white Guava: Which one is healthier and why it matters5 budget international trips under ₹50,000 from India this summer (with flights)Think you’re healthy? Hidden fatty liver disease is rising without symptomsHow to make Dhaba style Butter Chicken at home123Hot PicksAssam key constituenciesKerala key constituenciesPuducherry election resultsTamil Nadu constituenciesAjay Pal SharmaBengal Poll RecordHimanta Biswa SarmaTop TrendingUS Germany relationsBank Holiday MayVande Bharat expressLPG cylinder price hikeMumbai missing linkPetrol, Diesel, LPG priceCBSE Class 12th ResultNEET 2026: Exam-day guideBSE AP SSC Class 10th ResultIPL Orange Cap Scorpio Horoscope Today, May 3, 2026: This is one of your better days for saving and investment Army starts process to procure 159 modern bullet-proof troop carriers for Rashtriya Rifles in J&K, Ladakh In Gujarat, bouncers hired to watch screen addicts Libra Horoscope Today, May 3, 2026: This is one of your better days for saving and investment CBI arrests 2 for Rs 2,700 crore fraud after extradition from UAE Rohit Jain appointed as RBI deputy governor Virgo Horoscope Today, May 3, 2026: Keep your work stable and improve what already exists File photo NEW DELHI: Indian Railways on Saturday rolled out from Modern Coach Factory (MCF) at Raebareli the 100th Vande Bharat train, marking a major milestone in the journey that started in 2018 with only two such trains.Prior to induction of this 16-coach chair-car trainset into regular passenger service, the train will undergo oscillation trials to validate ride quality, safety parameters and dynamic performance.The production of these trains started at Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai and has now been extended to Rail Coach Factory (RCF) in Kapurthala and MCF in Raebareli.In an official release, the national transporter said the MCF-manufactured trainset incorporates notable engineering and performance enhancements aimed at improving reliability and safety. End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Reminder To Those Who Misuse State Power’: Pawan Khera Jabs Assam CM After SC Anticipatory BailUS Retains India on Special 301 Priority Watch List, Flags Patent Regime, Enforcement GapsCourt Rejects Nida Khan’s Anticipatory Bail in TCS Nashik Harassment and Conversion CaseCensus 2027 To Begin In UP From May 2026 With 5 Lakh Personnel, & Caste Data InclusionHome Minister Amit Shah Meets Sonam Wangchuk & Other Leaders in Leh Ahead Of TalksChhattisgarh IED Blast Kills 4 DRG Personnel During Defusal Operation Near Kanker-Narayanpur BorderIndia-Bound LPG Tanker Sarv Shakti On The Move Across Strait Of Hormuz: Why It Matters?Rae Bareli’s MCF Unveils First Vande Bharat Trainset, Boosting India’s Production CapacityDelhi Police Bust Inter-State Auto Theft Racket Spanning 5 States; 10 Arrested,31 Vehicles RecoveredIndia Tests Disaster Information System, Citizens Get ‘Extremely Severe Alert’ On Phones123PhotostoriesFrom Samay Raina roasting Sunil Pal and Navjot Singh Sidhu to Kapil Sharma pulling Ranveer Allahbadia and Samay’s leg over the India’s Got Latent controversy—highlights from The Great Indian Kapil ShowBTS: Top 7 romantic songs to add to your playlistWest Bengal elections 2026: Key candidates and their declared assets ahead of resultsStop stretching like this: Common morning routine mistakes hurting your spineWhy curd turns sour faster in summer and how to control fermentation at homeYour feet may be revealing health problems you’re missingPink Guava vs white Guava: Which one is healthier and why it matters5 budget international trips under ₹50,000 from India this summer (with flights)Think you’re healthy? Hidden fatty liver disease is rising without symptomsHow to make Dhaba style Butter Chicken at home123Hot PicksAssam key constituenciesKerala key constituenciesPuducherry election resultsTamil Nadu constituenciesAjay Pal SharmaBengal Poll RecordHimanta Biswa SarmaTop TrendingUS Germany relationsBank Holiday MayVande Bharat expressLPG cylinder price hikeMumbai missing linkPetrol, Diesel, LPG priceCBSE Class 12th ResultNEET 2026: Exam-day guideBSE AP SSC Class 10th ResultIPL Orange Cap Kotak eyes Deutsche Bank’s retail assets, drops out of race for IDBI File photo Sudesh Kumar, who played the protagonist of the tragic love story, ‘Saranga’ (1961), still remembered for its melancholic title track, who became a familiar face as supporting lead in money-spinning Southern productions like ‘Chhoti Bahen’ (1959), ‘Bharosa’ (1963) and ‘Khandan’ (1965), and who went on to produce absorbing thrillers like Uljhan (1975), passed away at his residence in Mumbai on Friday. He was 95.The actor was admitted to Breach Candy hospital following breathing issues on Monday. “At his request, we brought him back home on Thursday where we had set up a makeshift medical unit. But he breathed his last the next morning,” his wife Jaya Dhawan told TOI over phone.Born in 1931 in pre-independence India in frontier town Peshawar — also the birthplace of Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor and where Shah Rukh Khan gets his ancestry from — Sudesh’s family shifted to Bombay when he was young. “He graduated in science from Elphinstone College. His father wanted him to be a doctor,” Jaya said.But Kumar joined Prithviraj Kapoor’s theatre group. “They were also distant relatives,” she recalled. Among his early films was Prithviraj-directed, ‘Paisa’ (1957).His real name was Sudesh Dhawan. But the actor’s screen name kept changing. He was Sudesh in some, Soodesh Kumar in others and Sudesh Kumar in most. The actor initially got parts in low-budget costume dramas and devotionals before catching mainstream attention in the cameo of a doctor in Prasad Production’s superhit family drama, ‘Chhoti Bahen’ (1959). He was paired opposite Nanda playing the protagonist.In the Sixties, Sudesh found his feet becoming a regular in southern socials working with premium directors such as K Shankar (‘Bharosa’, 1963), Vasu Menon (‘Grahasti’, 1963), A Bhimsingh (‘Khandan’, 1965 and ‘Gopi’, 1970) and CV Sridhar (‘Dharti’, 1970). Old-timers would remember him twisting and turning with a step-perfect Mumtaz for the rock and roll track, “Aa dance karein, thoda romance karein.” “Khandan was one of his favourite films,” said Jaya.A more interesting role came in producer-director Vasant Joglekar’s critical and commercial success, ‘Aaj aur Kal’ (1963), set in princely state, pre-independence India. Sudesh enacted the role of a youthful Congress leader, also a humble coachman’s son, who seeks to draw people into the national movement and to whom the king’s younger daughter (Tanuja) is attracted to.He is remembered more for producer-director Dhirubhai Desai’s ‘Saranga’ (1961), where a prince falls in love with a commoner to a tragic outcome. Two of the film’s tracks, ‘Saranga teri yaad mein’ (singer: Mukesh, lyrics: Bharat Vyas, music: Sardar Malik) and ‘Haan deewana hoon main’ (same trio) became chartbusters finishing at No 9 and No 20 in the popular countdown show, Binaca Geetmala’s annual list. The title song has a combined view of over 2.5 million on YouTube underlining its timeless appeal. A heart-broken Sudesh walking through a leafless grove while lip syncing the number is part of old Bollywood’s unforgettable images.With dwindling meaningful screen presence, Sudesh adroitly shifted to producing movies in the 1970s. But before that he assisted Raj Khosla in ‘Do Badan (1966). As producer, his first venture was Man Mandir (1970), which had the unlikely pair of Sanjeev Kumar and Waheeda Rehman.Sudesh formed a fruitful director-producer combo with Raghunath Jhalani delivering two smart and modestly successful off-beat thrillers, Uljhan (again with Sanjeev Kumar) and Badalte Rishtey (with Jeetendra, Reena Roy and Rishi Kapoor) and box-office turkey, Jaan Hatheli Pe (1987).In 1982, he was married to Mumbai-bred Jaya Naik nee Dhawan, who had modelled for Vicco, Complan and Farex, among other products. They were neighbours who had first met outside the residence of popular lyricist Rajendra Krishan, a close friend of Sudesh.“He was full of life and energy even a year ago,” recalled Rajesh Duggal, the lyricist’s son. Jaya said that they had visited Southern temples in February. “Despite his age, he was remarkably fit. He never used a walking stick,” she said.The funeral was held at Shivaji Park crematorium on Friday.About the AuthorAvijit GhoshAvijit Ghosh is an associate editor with The Times of India. He is addicted to films, music, cricket and football—and not necessarily in that order. He is the author of Bandicoots in the Moonlight, Cinema Bhojpuri, 40 Retakes, and now, Up Campus, Down Campus, a novel set in 1980s JNU. He tweets from the handle @cinemawaleghoshRead MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Reminder To Those Who Misuse State Power’: Pawan Khera Jabs Assam CM After SC Anticipatory BailUS Retains India on Special 301 Priority Watch List, Flags Patent Regime, Enforcement GapsCourt Rejects Nida Khan’s Anticipatory Bail in TCS Nashik Harassment and Conversion CaseCensus 2027 To Begin In UP From May 2026 With 5 Lakh Personnel, & Caste Data InclusionHome Minister Amit Shah Meets Sonam Wangchuk & Other Leaders in Leh Ahead Of TalksChhattisgarh IED Blast Kills 4 DRG Personnel During Defusal Operation Near Kanker-Narayanpur BorderIndia-Bound LPG Tanker Sarv Shakti On The Move Across Strait Of Hormuz: Why It Matters?Rae Bareli’s MCF Unveils First Vande Bharat Trainset, Boosting India’s Production CapacityDelhi Police Bust Inter-State Auto Theft Racket Spanning 5 States; 10 Arrested,31 Vehicles RecoveredIndia Tests Disaster Information System, Citizens Get ‘Extremely Severe Alert’ On Phones123PhotostoriesFrom Samay Raina roasting Sunil Pal and Navjot Singh Sidhu to Kapil Sharma pulling Ranveer Allahbadia and Samay’s leg over the India’s Got Latent controversy—highlights from The Great Indian Kapil Show5 things to think about before breaking upBTS: Top 7 romantic songs to add to your playlistWest Bengal elections 2026: Key candidates and their declared assets ahead of resultsStop stretching like this: Common morning routine mistakes hurting your spineWhy curd turns sour faster in summer and how to control fermentation at homeYour feet may be revealing health problems you’re missingPink Guava vs white Guava: Which one is healthier and why it matters5 budget international trips under ₹50,000 from India this summer (with flights)Think you’re healthy? Hidden fatty liver disease is rising without symptoms123Hot PicksAssam key constituenciesKerala key constituenciesPuducherry election resultsTamil Nadu constituenciesAjay Pal SharmaBengal Poll RecordHimanta Biswa SarmaTop TrendingUS Germany relationsBank Holiday MayVande Bharat expressLPG cylinder price hikeMumbai missing linkPetrol, Diesel, LPG priceCBSE Class 12th ResultNEET 2026: Exam-day guideBSE AP SSC Class 10th ResultIPL Orange Cap Leo Horoscope Today, May 3, 2026: Venus supports warmth, but Saturn wants maturity Prasoon Joshi appointed as Prasar Bharati chairman Indian-origin Meenu Batra released from ICE custody after months; had been living US for 35 years File photo KOLKATA: Ahead of the May 4 counting of votes for the assembly elections, Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee Saturday trashed exit poll results, saying they were conducted to “manipulate the stock market,” and told party colleagues in a virtual address that Trinamool “is winning and winning by 200-plus seats.”Banerjee urged counting agents not to leave their tables even for a minute without a replacement and advised them not to be anxious if postal ballot results initially go against the party.She and Trinamool national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee alleged that “BJP was using the Election Commission” and that party workers and supporters were being selectively targeted. The CM said she would reward workers who had “withstood these attacks fearlessly and fought back”.Trinamool Congress also released a list of party seniors deputed to coordinate with ground workers on the counting day. Abhishek will oversee South 24 Parganas.Meanwhile, Bengal’s leader of opposition Suvendu Adhikari called on all political parties to maintain peace ahead of the counting, urging them to accept the people’s mandate and avoid a repeat of the post-poll violence that followed the 2021 elections.“Let there be peace in Bengal. The election is over and every political party should take part in the counting. Whatever rivalry existed during the polls should end now,” Adhikari said on Friday evening as he emerged from an EVM strongroom after a visit.Invoking the 2021 violence, in which BJP claims 300 of its workers were killed, he said: “No neta is hurt in violence — I have CRPF security, Mamata ji has police protection and a bulletproof car. It is the common man and ordinary worker who suffers. We should now cooperate with EC, central forces and state police.”BJP spokesperson Debjit Sarkar alleged that “outsiders” had been brought into the city and were staying at hotels ahead of counting.About the AuthorRohit KhannaRohit Khanna covers sectors like government finance, economy, industry and issues related to financial crime.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Reminder To Those Who Misuse State Power’: Pawan Khera Jabs Assam CM After SC Anticipatory BailUS Retains India on Special 301 Priority Watch List, Flags Patent Regime, Enforcement GapsCourt Rejects Nida Khan’s Anticipatory Bail in TCS Nashik Harassment and Conversion CaseCensus 2027 To Begin In UP From May 2026 With 5 Lakh Personnel, & Caste Data InclusionHome Minister Amit Shah Meets Sonam Wangchuk & Other Leaders in Leh Ahead Of TalksChhattisgarh IED Blast Kills 4 DRG Personnel During Defusal Operation Near Kanker-Narayanpur BorderIndia-Bound LPG Tanker Sarv Shakti On The Move Across Strait Of Hormuz: Why It Matters?Rae Bareli’s MCF Unveils First Vande Bharat Trainset, Boosting India’s Production CapacityDelhi Police Bust Inter-State Auto Theft Racket Spanning 5 States; 10 Arrested,31 Vehicles RecoveredIndia Tests Disaster Information System, Citizens Get ‘Extremely Severe Alert’ On Phones123PhotostoriesFrom Samay Raina roasting Sunil Pal and Navjot Singh Sidhu to Kapil Sharma pulling Ranveer Allahbadia and Samay’s leg over the India’s Got Latent controversy—highlights from The Great Indian Kapil ShowBTS: Top 7 romantic songs to add to your playlistWest Bengal elections 2026: Key candidates and their declared assets ahead of resultsStop stretching like this: Common morning routine mistakes hurting your spineWhy curd turns sour faster in summer and how to control fermentation at homeYour feet may be revealing health problems you’re missingPink Guava vs white Guava: Which one is healthier and why it matters5 budget international trips under ₹50,000 from India this summer (with flights)Think you’re healthy? Hidden fatty liver disease is rising without symptomsHow to make Dhaba style Butter Chicken at home123Hot PicksAssam key constituenciesKerala key constituenciesPuducherry election resultsTamil Nadu constituenciesAjay Pal SharmaBengal Poll RecordHimanta Biswa SarmaTop TrendingUS Germany relationsBank Holiday MayVande Bharat expressLPG cylinder price hikeMumbai missing linkPetrol, Diesel, LPG priceCBSE Class 12th ResultNEET 2026: Exam-day guideBSE AP SSC Class 10th ResultIPL Orange Cap Two FIRs against defector MP Sandeep Pathak? Punjab cops won’t say Woman charged after killing Indian-origin schoolgirl in London car crash after initially being dropped of all charges File photo KOLKATA: Ahead of the May 4 counting of votes for the assembly elections, key rivals Trinamool and BJP in Bengal sparred and flagged incidents of ‘lax security and blacked-out CCTV footage’ at EVM strongrooms on Saturday.Tension flared at Barasat Govt College in North 24 Parganas district on Saturday after the CCTV monitoring display reportedly went dark for 17 minutes. Suspecting deliberate tampering, TMC workers and candidates staged a protest. EC officials rushed to the spot, after which the display started functioning.According to the complaint, CCTV monitors at the strongroom, where EVMs from the Barasat, Habra, Ashoknagar, and Deganga constituencies are stored, went completely blank between 8:05 am and 8:22 am. Trinamool demanded that the full footage of the period be made available and that strict action be taken against whoever turned off the monitor.TMC Ashoknagar candidate Narayan Goswami said: “The ARO showed me footage sent to the magistrate where the cameras were operational. But if someone switched off the TV, EC should have taken immediate action. We need to know what happened.”Additional returning officer Abhijit Das said: “We received information that the feed was not visible. By 8:20am, the SDO had arrived. It was found that the external monitor had been powered off. Once switched on, the feed resumed… It appears the switch was turned off from the outside. An investigation is underway.”Meanwhile, BJP flagged two such incidents: one in Salt Lake and another in Burdwan.BJP’s Bidhannagar candidate Sharadwat Mukherjee said the strongroom at Bidhannagar was supposed to be opened on Saturday. He alleged it was actually opened multiple times on Friday without official notification. He contacted the returning officer.CPM candidate Soumyajit Raha said a complaint had also been lodged with EC.BJP’s Amit Malviya alleged on X: “At UIT, an attempt was made by a TMC goon to scale the compound walls and gain access to a strongroom housing EVMs. The incident was flagged by BJP candidate Sanjay Das, raising serious concerns about the intent behind such actions. This is no ordinary facility; it contains EVMs from five crucial constituencies — Bardhaman Uttar, Bardhaman Dakshin, Galsi, Ausgram, and Bhatar.”In Kolkata, Trinamool’s Shyampukur candidate Shashi Panja visited the strongroom at Netaji Indoor Stadium on Saturday, where, she said, the guards initially stopped her, saying those already inside must exit first. She said she was only allowed to enter after clarification from the police. She also flagged the lack of CCTVs in the strongroom, claiming officials told her that cameras would be installed “shortly”.“When the postal ballot trunks of seven constituencies arrived, there was no representative of any political party here,” she said.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Reminder To Those Who Misuse State Power’: Pawan Khera Jabs Assam CM After SC Anticipatory BailUS Retains India on Special 301 Priority Watch List, Flags Patent Regime, Enforcement GapsCourt Rejects Nida Khan’s Anticipatory Bail in TCS Nashik Harassment and Conversion CaseCensus 2027 To Begin In UP From May 2026 With 5 Lakh Personnel, & Caste Data InclusionHome Minister Amit Shah Meets Sonam Wangchuk & Other Leaders in Leh Ahead Of TalksChhattisgarh IED Blast Kills 4 DRG Personnel During Defusal Operation Near Kanker-Narayanpur BorderIndia-Bound LPG Tanker Sarv Shakti On The Move Across Strait Of Hormuz: Why It Matters?Rae Bareli’s MCF Unveils First Vande Bharat Trainset, Boosting India’s Production CapacityDelhi Police Bust Inter-State Auto Theft Racket Spanning 5 States; 10 Arrested,31 Vehicles RecoveredIndia Tests Disaster Information System, Citizens Get ‘Extremely Severe Alert’ On Phones123PhotostoriesFrom Samay Raina roasting Sunil Pal and Navjot Singh Sidhu to Kapil Sharma pulling Ranveer Allahbadia and Samay’s leg over the India’s Got Latent controversy—highlights from The Great Indian Kapil ShowBTS: Top 7 romantic songs to add to your playlistWest Bengal elections 2026: Key candidates and their declared assets ahead of resultsStop stretching like this: Common morning routine mistakes hurting your spineWhy curd turns sour faster in summer and how to control fermentation at homeYour feet may be revealing health problems you’re missingPink Guava vs white Guava: Which one is healthier and why it matters5 budget international trips under ₹50,000 from India this summer (with flights)Think you’re healthy? Hidden fatty liver disease is rising without symptomsHow to make Dhaba style Butter Chicken at home123Hot PicksAssam key constituenciesKerala key constituenciesPuducherry election resultsTamil Nadu constituenciesAjay Pal SharmaBengal Poll RecordHimanta Biswa SarmaTop TrendingUS Germany relationsBank Holiday MayVande Bharat expressLPG cylinder price hikeMumbai missing linkPetrol, Diesel, LPG priceCBSE Class 12th ResultNEET 2026: Exam-day guideBSE AP SSC Class 10th ResultIPL Orange Cap Cancer Horoscope Today, May 3, 2026: Saturn helps you stay steady, and Mercury improves planning Election Commission releases final data: 4.88 crore people voted in Tamil Nadu Indian-origin man in critical condition after saving sister in Australia restaurant fire: ’70 per cent burns all over his body’ Mukesh Khanna on being single at 67: ‘The woman I’m destined to marry exists—when destiny brings us together, it will happen’ Gemini Horoscope Today, May 3, 2026: Married Geminis keep things cordial with their spouse Jaipur court grants divorce, cites wife’s social media conduct as ‘mental cruelty’ Government notifies FDI changes on China funds Anita Advani: Relationship with Rajesh Khanna ‘was not a mistake’; ‘no regrets, I’d repeat it—it’s about who you wake up with’ In 1886, John Stith Pemberton’s pursuit of a nerve tonic led to Coca-Cola being formed | India successfully conducts 2nd test of long-range hypersonic anti-ship missile with 1500km range, 10 Mach speed off Odisha coast Authorities said the search would go on till all passengers were accounted for JABALPUR/BHOPAL: Ignored wind warnings came under sharp scrutiny after the death toll in the Bargi dam cruise disaster rose to 11 on Saturday, with rescuers retrieving two more bodies — both children — from the reservoir in central MP.The sinking has become a wellspring of criticism after officials revealed that the cruise, operated by MP Tourism, was launched on Thursday evening despite forecasts of winds touching 50kmph — far above the 25-30kmph ceiling recommended for water sports. Wind speeds were later estimated to have surged to nearly 74kmph.Safety practices elsewhere in the state appeared to dovetail with those guidelines. Water sports at Lower Lake in Bhopal were suspended the same day due to strong wind alerts. National water sports coach Mayank Thakur said he hedged a bit below official thresholds, halting operations even at 20-22kmph. “The life of every single athlete is precious,” he said.Prashant Kushwaha, linked to International Canoe Federation, underscored that no warnings from meteorological authorities were taken lightly. “If wind speeds exceed safety standards, we prohibit launching of boats,” he said.Accounts from within the tourism department alleged a pattern of neglect. An employee said weather inputs were often not consulted before launching boats.Attempts to reach senior officials drew no response.The latest victims, identified as Viraj Soni (4) and Tamil (5), were pulled out of the reservoir at Bargi Dam.Six members of the Soni family from Darhai village had been on board the ship. Four survived. The body of Viraj’s mother, Nisha, was found earlier. Tamil had been on the cruise with his father and cousin. Both are still missing.Bargi sub-divisional police officer Anjul Ayank Mishra confirmed the recoveries, taking the toll to eight women and three children.Four people remain missing as search operations entered a third day. More than 200 personnel from police, SDRF, NDRF and the Army continued combing the waters, battling strong winds and poor visibility.Investigators said 43 people boarded the cruise, according to CCTV footage at the entry point. Twenty-eight were rescued the same night. Rescue teams retrieved four bodies on Thursday, and five and two the following days.Authorities said the search would continue until all passengers were accounted for.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Reminder To Those Who Misuse State Power’: Pawan Khera Jabs Assam CM After SC Anticipatory BailUS Retains India on Special 301 Priority Watch List, Flags Patent Regime, Enforcement GapsCourt Rejects Nida Khan’s Anticipatory Bail in TCS Nashik Harassment and Conversion CaseCensus 2027 To Begin In UP From May 2026 With 5 Lakh Personnel, & Caste Data InclusionHome Minister Amit Shah Meets Sonam Wangchuk & Other Leaders in Leh Ahead Of TalksChhattisgarh IED Blast Kills 4 DRG Personnel During Defusal Operation Near Kanker-Narayanpur BorderIndia-Bound LPG Tanker Sarv Shakti On The Move Across Strait Of Hormuz: Why It Matters?Rae Bareli’s MCF Unveils First Vande Bharat Trainset, Boosting India’s Production CapacityDelhi Police Bust Inter-State Auto Theft Racket Spanning 5 States; 10 Arrested,31 Vehicles RecoveredIndia Tests Disaster Information System, Citizens Get ‘Extremely Severe Alert’ On Phones123Photostories5 things to think about before breaking upBTS: Top 7 romantic songs to add to your playlistWest Bengal elections 2026: Key candidates and their declared assets ahead of resultsStop stretching like this: Common morning routine mistakes hurting your spineWhy curd turns sour faster in summer and how to control fermentation at homeYour feet may be revealing health problems you’re missingPink Guava vs white Guava: Which one is healthier and why it matters5 budget international trips under ₹50,000 from India this summer (with flights)Think you’re healthy? Hidden fatty liver disease is rising without symptomsHow to make Dhaba style Butter Chicken at home123Hot PicksAssam key constituenciesKerala key constituenciesPuducherry election resultsTamil Nadu constituenciesAjay Pal SharmaBengal Poll RecordHimanta Biswa SarmaTop TrendingUS Germany relationsBank Holiday MayVande Bharat expressLPG cylinder price hikeMumbai missing linkPetrol, Diesel, LPG priceCBSE Class 12th ResultNEET 2026: Exam-day guideBSE AP SSC Class 10th ResultIPL Orange Cap