Bhubaneswar

Rain lashed several parts of Odisha, including the state's capital Bhubaneswar, on Wednesday as severe cyclone 'Montha' weakened into a cyclonic storm and was moving through neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, IMD said. Several incidents of landslides, uprooting of trees, and damage to houses have been reported from various districts, an official at the Special Relief Commissioner's office said. Light-to-moderate rain with wind speed ranging from 30 kmph to 40 kmph was recorded across the coastal belt, including Khurda, Cuttack, Puri, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur districts, in the state, the IMD bulletin said. The maximum of 105 mm rainfall has been recorded in Mayurbhanj district, followed by 93.5 mm in Balasore, 90 mm in Khurda and 74.4 mm in Chandbali, the bulletin issued by the India Meteorological Centre (IMD) said. With the severe cyclone 'Montha' losing strength after its landfall on Tuesday evening in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, the Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centr

Odisha govt to set up a 1,000-acre semiconductor cluster near Bhubaneswar airport, housing SiCSem and 3D Glass units; foundation stone for SiCSem to be laid in October

The Cabinet approved a ₹8,308 crore, six-lane Bhubaneswar Bypass in Odisha; stretching 110.9 km, it connects major cities, highways, ports and will boost traffic flow and growth

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said that his government is making efforts to develop four more cities, apart from Bhubaneswar, as digital hubs and enabling the youths to equip themselves with AI, cybersecurity and several other emerging technologies. He also said the government is keen to bring development of the IT and electronics sector to Cuttack, Rourkela, Sambalpur and Berhampur. The state government has signed four MoUs for research, running the O-chip programme, strengthening technical collaboration and startup networks in the state, an official said. An MoU was signed between the Department of Electronics & IT and IIT Bhubaneswar for research, pilot projects, policy inputs, and innovation ecosystem development during a two-day programme here, he said. Another agreement was inked between the state-owned Odisha Computer Application Centre and Semiconductor Fabless Accelerator Lab (SFAL) to run the O-chip programme, he said. The programme aims at creating an ...

The airline cited abnormal cabin temperatures on the ground as the reason behind the cancellation

A nursing officer at AIIMS Bhubaneswar was arrested for "sexually harassing" a woman attendant at the medical facility, police said on Tuesday. Accused nursing officer Nanu Ram Choudhury was booked under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, after a complaint was lodged against him at the Khandagiri Police Station in the city, a senior officer said. On Monday, the woman attendant at AIIMS Bhubaneswar had alleged that she was sexually harassed and attempts were made to outrage her modesty by the male nursing officer. Immediately after the registration of the FIR, all the employees, including the woman attendant, of various outsourcing agencies engaged in AIIMS Bhubaneswar, started a demonstration outside the main gate of the hospital, seeking action against the accused. They suspended the protest after the accused was arrested, the officer said. The woman, in her complaint, claimed that the nursing officer called her to a doctor's chamber around 1 am on Sunday and abused

A "minor technical snag" was detected in an IndiGo flight from Indore to Bhubaneswar carrying 140 persons, due to which it took off about an hour late from its scheduled time on Monday, the airport officials here said. Pilots of the IndiGo flight number '6E 6332' noticed a technical snag when the plane was heading towards the runway for take-off, Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport director Vipin Kant Seth told PTI. The plane was brought back to the apron. After engineers rectified the "minor technical snag", the flight left for its destination, he said. "Passengers were not de-boarded during the repair work," Seth said, without giving specific details of the technical glitch. Another airport official said IndiGo's Indore-Bhubaneswar flight was scheduled to take off at 9 am on Monday but could depart at 10.16 am after the necessary repairs. There were 140 persons on board the plane, the official said. The apron is part of an airport where the aircraft are parked, refuelled, maintained

As BJD president and Leader of Opposition in Odisha Assembly, Naveen Patnaik will undergo an operation for cervical arthritis at a private hospital in Mumbai on Sunday, a large number of party leaders and workers gathered at various temples and offered prayers for his successful surgery. A large number of senior BJD leaders and party workers gathered at Lingaraj Temple here, Baba Jhadeswar temple in Balasore district, Shiv temple at Hinjilicut and Budhi Thakurani at Berhampur in Ganjam district this morning and offered prayers for the former chief minister's successful surgery and healthy recovery. The regional party leaders and workers offered 'dipa dana' (earthen lamps) and 'puja' (worship) at Lingaraj temple here. "We all are gathered here to offer mass 'puja' and 'dipa dana' as our beloved leader Naveen Patnaik is undergoing a medical procedure today. We pray before Lord Lingaraj for his healthy recovery," said BJD vice president Debi Prasad Mishra. BJD leader and Bhubaneswar .

Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee in Odisha's Puri has written to the ISKCON, urging it to ensure that Lord Jagannath's ceremonial bathing rituals and the Rath Yatra across the world are performed on the specific date sanctioned by scriptures and not to violate traditions. Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb of Puri, the chairman of the committee, expressed displeasure over some of the ISKCON temples across the world performing the sacred bathing rituals ('Snana Yatra') and the Rath Yatra on various dates, and alleged that such practices "violate the scriptures and the Hindu calendar". In a letter to Shree Govardhan Das Prabhu, chairman of ISKCON Governing Body Commission, Mayapur, Deb said, I request your good self to ensure that no ISKCON temple or centre anywhere in the world performs the 'Snana Yatra' or 'Ratha Yatra' of Lord Shree Jagannath on a date/tithi not sanctioned by scriptures and traditions." Deb also claimed that the temples of the ISKCON authorities outside Ind

The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday said it is "deeply saddened" over the death of a Nepalese student of the KIIT University in Bhubaneswar. The ministry said it has been in constant touch with the Odisha government since it knew about the "tragic incident". The body of the 18-year-old B. Tech computer science student from Nepal was recovered from her hostel room at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) on Thursday evening, police said. The state government has extended full support to the family of the deceased, and a thorough enquiry is currently being conducted by the Odisha police, it said. "We are deeply saddened by the tragic demise of a Nepali student of KIIT University, Bhubaneswar," the MEA said. "We extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family during this difficult time," it added in a statement. This is the second such case at the institute this year. Prakriti Lamsal, another Nepalese student, died by suicide on February 16.

Around half a dozen senior KIIT officials on Thursday appeared before the Odisha government's high-level committee probing the death allegedly by suicide of a 20-year-old Nepalese B Tech student Prakriti Lamsal and the subsequent unrest on the campus. The Higher Education department had summoned the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology's (KIIT) chief proctor P K Patnaik, director Sanhita Mishra, Internal Committee chief Ipsita Satpathy, assistant director Smarika Pati and others to appear before the high-level committee. The three-member committee headed by Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Satyabrata Sahu, heard the views of the KIIT officials and inquired about whether the deceased foreign student (Nepalese girl) had made any complaint of harassment before the private varsity's International Relations Office (IRO) as alleged by other Nepalese students. Earlier, on February 21, KIIT founder Achyuta Samanta and seven other top officials of the varsity had appeared before the .

CBI has scrutinised 27 individuals, including permanent staff. Crucial documents related to recruitment procedures were seized by the investigation agency

Odisha's flagship global investors' summit is in its fourth edition and the first under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-run state government

Cognizant CEO Ravi Kumar S met Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday to discuss the development of the American IT firm's biggest campus in India in the state, a statement said. At the meeting, Majhi said the state government would allot land in Bhubaneswar city for development of the Cognizant campus and provide all support, it said. "Both discussed on developing Cognizant campus in Bhubaneswar as its biggest centre in India," it added. Ravi Kumar S, who is of Odisha origin, was in Bhubaneswar to attend the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention. He expressed happiness over the growth of the firm's existing centre in Bhubaneswar, and exuded confidence that it would grow further in the next five years, the statement said. The CM sought his cooperation for bringing more investments in the IT sector in Odisha, and he assured all help, it said. Majhi congratulated him for his success and the Pravasi Bhartiya Samman being conferred on him.

PM Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu are scheduled to arrive in Bhubaneswar on January 8 and January 9, respectively, to attend the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, being held in Odisha for the first time. On Saturday, chief secretary reviewed the state's preparedness for the event and issued directions to all departments concerned to ensure flawless arrangements for dignitaries. According to the official schedule, "The PM will reach Bhubaneswar airport by a special IAF aircraft at 8 pm on January 8 from Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. He will spend the night at Raj Bhavan." It added, "PM Modi will attend the event's inaugural meet at 10 AM on January 9 at Janata Maidan here. He is scheduled to leave the city around 11.55 AM." President Murmu's flight is scheduled to arrive around 4:35 PM, the statement said. "President Murmu is scheduled to reach the event's convention venue at 11:40 AM on Friday. She will meet Trinidad and Tobago President Christine Carla Kangaloo at the

He said the government has decided to take up 54 programmes under the cooperative sector

Odisha has ranked second in the country for maximum increase in green cover inside recorded forest area, according to the latest India State of Forest Report-2023. Published biennially by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) since 1987, the report, which was released by Union forest minister Bhupender Yadav on Saturday, provides a detailed assessment of the nation's forest and tree resources. According to the report, Odisha reported an increase of 118.17 sq km of forest inside the recorded forest area, while Mizoram was at the top position with an increase of 192.92 sq km. Karnataka recorded an increase of 93.14 sq km of forest, West Bengal (64.79 sq km), and neighbouring Jharkhand's growth was 52.72 sq km. In combined forest and tree cover, the state recorded a growth of 558.57 sq km and secured third position in the country. Chhattisgarh topped the list with an increase of 684 sq km, followed by Uttar Pradesh (559.19 sq km). Rajasthan was in fourth position with a 394 sq km rise, th

Air India Express on Tuesday announced the launch of four new routes from Bhubaneswar as a part of the airline's expansion plan in eastern India. These services will connect the Odisha capital to Jaipur, Lucknow, Kochi and Patna, the airline said in a statement. This expansion reinforces Bhubaneswar's connectivity to key regional and cultural centres across India, it said. The services to Jaipur and Kochi will commence on January 3, 2025, followed by the launch of flights to Lucknow on January 4 and Patna on January 15, the statement said. Bookings are now open. The Bhubaneswar-Jaipur flight will operate four days a week - Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, while the Bhubaneswar-Kochi and Bhubaneswar-Patna flights will operate daily. The Bhubaneswar-Lucknow flights will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Additionally, the airline showcased Odisha's cultural heritage with its 'Ikat livery', beautifully displayed on one of its newest aircraft, the airline statement

According to the Prime Minister's Office, the three-day conference, being held from November 29 to December 1

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the all India conference of director generals/inspector generals of police in Bhubaneswar for two days starting Saturday. The Prime Minister's Office said the three-day conference, which begins on Friday, will include deliberations on critical components of national security, including counter terrorism, Left Wing Extremism, coastal security, new criminal laws and narcotics. The conference, it said, will provide an interactive platform for senior police professionals and security administrators in the country to freely discuss and debate diverse national security-related issues besides various operational, infrastructural and welfare-related problems faced by police. Its deliberations will include formulation and sharing of professional practices and processes in tackling challenges relating to crime control, and law and order management, besides internal security threats. The statement noted Modi has encouraged organising the annual confere