VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html 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 In 1978, James Dyson’s frustration with a clogging vacuum led to the formation of Dyson | Taurus Horoscope Today, May 3, 2026: Avoid lending money today, even to close friends ‘Green card holders lied’: Four foreigners charged in New Jersey for illegally voting in federal election File photo Bengal’s electoral outcome will now be decided on 293 seats after EC cancelled Saturday the April 29 polling in south Kolkata’s Falta constituency, citing “electoral offences and subversion of the democratic process”.A repoll has been scheduled for May 21, with counting on May 24.This is first time in Bengal where a full assembly constituency will go to the polls after the declaration of results. In India, only Bihar had the precedence. EC said an inquiry into complaints found widespread tampering of EVMs at multiple booths.EC: Button tampering voids Falta mandateButtons were defaced with black masking tape and ink, affecting 60 of 285 polling stations — 21% of the constituency. These booths accounted for 53,967 voters (22.8% of the 2.36 lakh electorate).“This compromised the integrity of recorded votes and made it impossible to ascertain the mandate,” EC said, adding gaps in video footage meant similar tampering elsewhere in Falta could not be ruled out.Tension flared Saturday in Hasimnagar, a locality within Falta along the Hooghly river corridor, where villagers alleged threats from associates of TMC candidate Jahangir Khan. Police observer Ajaypal Sharma, a DIG overseeing Diamond Harbour subdivision on the city’s southern fringe, rushed to the area as residents complained of inaction.Security was stepped up with deployment of state police and central forces. EC later ordered the arrest of two of Khan’s aides, Izrafil Chokdar and Sujauddin Sheikh. The countermanding removes Falta from Monday’s count, tightening focus on the remaining seats that will determine the next govt.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 Phones123PhotostoriesBTS: 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 home’The Devil Wears Prada 2′: Sydney Sweeney to Anna Wintour, stars who were cut from the runway drama123Hot 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 In 1969, Donald Fisher’s trouble finding the right jeans fit led to the formation of Gap | Aries Horoscope Today, May 3, 2026: Don’t combine emotions with spending 2 academics to be part of Niti Aayog File photo NEW DELHI: When the assembly election results are declared on Monday, at least $26 million — almost Rs 247 crore — will be paid out to those who managed to predict the winners correctly on Polymarket, the American prediction market platform.The bets opened in Dec last year and picked up pace as results draw closer.As of Saturday, the pool is almost entirely driven by bets on the Tamil Nadu election outcome. More than $20m is to be paid out when its results are declared. There’s more than $5m riding on the West Bengal election, almost $400,000 on the Kerala election, $180,000 on the Assam election, and almost $19,000 on the Puducherry election.And what do they predict? For Tamil Nadu, the odds are overwhelmingly in favour of DMK (88%). For West Bengal, Trinamool has a narrow edge in these bets (53%). In Kerala, most of the money is on Congress (75%), which has largely been in the lead except for a few swaps in the lead with CPM since the beginning of April. In Assam, the money is almost entirely on BJP (98%). And in Puducherry, almost entirely on the AINRC-led NDA alliance (86%).Indian law doesn’t allow prediction markets to operate within India. But because Polymarket is decentralised and crypto-based, it is technically possible for Indian users to use VPN and crypto to place bets on outcomes. India is the world’s largest cryptocurrency user.Earlier this month, Forbes reported that some anonymous Polymarket wallets seemed to be winning unusually often on earnings markets for companies audited by a single global consultancy firm. The wallets had India-coded names like “Kaleenbhaiya” (a character from the series Mirzapur), the report said.Prediction platforms rise on crowd wisdomPrediction markets thrive in the US. Polymarket is just one prediction market. The oldest online prediction market — Iowa Electronic Markets — has been around since 1988. There’s the US-regulated Kalshi, the academically rooted PredictIt, and community-created Manifold, among others.The idea is that collective wisdom might capture something that expert analysis can’t — simply because it’s from a pool of people with beliefs strong enough to place money on it. And it’s serious money. The biggest all-time winner on Polymarket made profits of $22m with 18 correct predictions, the largest of which came from a bet on Trump becoming US president which got them $8.3m.Prediction markets have often been accurate about future events, and have been found to be helpful with planning. A store chain in the US, for instance, used prediction market insights to determine everything from demand to when it should open the store. Obviously, they can also go wrong. For instance, in 2016, they badly misread Brexit and Donald Trump’s victory.Prediction market platforms say that, unlike a betting site, it involves people betting against each other — and not the “house”, with fixed odds set by the platform. Regulators say that the difference doesn’t really matter.In India, the same model was called opinion trading but some of the biggest platforms — Probo, Better Opinions, MPL Opinio, and TradeX have shut down.How does Polymarket work? Like a stock market for predictions for which the outcome is a neat yes or no.The platform’s markets team creates a “market” for the question, and sets down rules — how it will be resolved, when, and so on. These are carefully phrased to avoid disputes, with specific deadlines and clarifying grey areas.When there are multiple possibilities — like these assembly elections — Polymarket creates an “event” within which many separate markets, each specific to a possible yes-or-no outcome, operate. Like will BJP win Bengal? Will the DMK win TN? And so on.Once the market is live, users can buy “Yes” or “No” shares from each other.A single share on Polymarket is priced between $0 and $1, and the price directly represents what the market believes is the probability of that outcome. So, if a “Yes” share on the bet is priced at 75 cents, it means market believes there’s a 75% chance of it happening.People can cash out at any point by selling their shares at whatever the price is at that point. And prices go up and down by the same logic as the stock market — how many people are willing to place money on which outcome.At the predetermined deadline, the market is “resolved” — those with the correct prediction get $1 for each of their shares, and everyone else loses their money. If someone bought their shares at a lower price — when the odds were lower — they stand to gain more than someone who bought in when the prices — and so, the odds — were higher.For instance, one user, “orangexyz”, has bought more than 80,000 shares for TVK winning the highest number of seats in Tamil Nadu — at a little under 11 cents a share. In a scenario in which TVK does indeed end up winning the most seats, the user would make more than nine times of what they put in.On the other hand, the top holder betting on DMK winning, “Asphaleios”, has a little less than 28,000 shares — bought at about 87 cents. If DMK does end up getting the most seats, they would make a modest profit of 15% or so.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosUS 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 PhonesIndia May Rethink Conventional Missile Strategy As Global Conflicts Redefine Warfare: Defence Secy123PhotostoriesBTS: 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 home’The Devil Wears Prada 2′: Sydney Sweeney to Anna Wintour, stars who were cut from the runway drama123Hot 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 West Bengal elections: Both central, state officers at counting centres, Election Commission tells Supreme Court After giving away billions to charity, MacKenzie Scott says, ‘small acts of kindness matter’ French proverb of the day: “Truth is more valuable if it takes you a few years to find it” — why time, patience, and experience shape real understanding New propulsion system to boost submarines’ staying power under water almost ready: DRDO chief Firing outside Salman Khan’s Galaxy Apartments case: ‘It was an attempt to kill him,’ says bodyguard in court Horoscope Today: Daily astrological predictions for May 3, 2026 File photo SRINAGAR: Gulmarg’s glittering slopes, once blanketed for months, now flicker between white and bare. Seasons shrink. Thaws bite. People ask: Where are the snows of yesteryear? Future of India’s premier ski resort looks increasingly like it’s skating on thin ice — and govt is racing to keep it from sliding off course.Plans are moving fast. Artificial snow. Synthetic slopes. A full rethink of how skiing survives in a warming Kashmir.Push comes from a hard truth. CM Omar Abdullah, who also handles tourism, warned last Dec that erratic snowfall could turn Gulmarg’s skiing legacy into memory. Europe already leans heavily on artificial snow. Japan has reimagined infrastructure. Kashmir cannot afford to get out over its skis, he had said.Goal is blunt: cut reliance on natural snowfall and stretch skiing into a four-season activity.J&K Cable Car Corporation Ltd has invited bids to bring in consultants for a detailed project report and tender documents for an artificial snow-making system at Kongdori, a bowl-shaped valley about 4.5km from Gulmarg bus station. Deadline for submissions: May 2.A parallel tender seeks plans for an all-weather artificial ski surface, expansion of drag-lift slopes and installation of a covered “magic carpet” — a conveyor-belt-like lift that gently carries skiers, beginners and even snow tubes uphill without the need for poles or harnesses. That bid closes May 13.Official documents outline a technical deep dive before any rollout — meteorological, hydrological, topographical, and geotechnical studies to map viability. Foreign firms can join, but only through Indian-registered offices or partnerships led by domestic companies.On ground, changes could be sweeping. Existing drag-lift slope — narrow, single-use, snow-dependent — would be widened and segmented into lanes for skiers, snowboarders and snow tubers, separated by certified safety nets. Synthetic turf would allow gliding even when snow refuses to fall. Covered conveyor would move crowds efficiently, cutting queues and easing access for novices.Numbers are telling. Gulmarg once boasted 100–120 skiable days a year, steady snow from Dec through March. Past decade-and-a-half has rewritten the script — late snowfall, mid-season melts, thinning snow base at lower altitudes, early shutdowns.Tourism economy feels the squeeze. Ski schools shorten schedules. Hotels hedge bets. Adventure operators juggle uncertainty.Artificial snowmaking offers buffer — machines that spray fine water droplets into cold air to crystallize into snow, building and maintaining a skiable base. Synthetic surfaces extend usability beyond winter, ensuring slopes don’t sit idle.Still, stakes remain high. Costs, environmental balance, water use, and long-term climate trends will shape success. Technology can buy time — not rewrite weather. Gulmarg’s slopes may yet hold. But a question lingers in cold mountain air — not just how to ski, but how long winter itself will stay.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosCourt 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 PhonesIndia May Rethink Conventional Missile Strategy As Global Conflicts Redefine Warfare: Defence SecyPune: 4-Year-Old Girl Allegedly Sexually Assaulted and Murdered by 65 Year-Old-Man in Bhor123PhotostoriesBTS: 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 home’The Devil Wears Prada 2′: Sydney Sweeney to Anna Wintour, stars who were cut from the runway drama123Hot 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 IPL 2026: ‘We are keeping it simple’- Ruturaj Gaikwad eyes playoff push after big win vs MI