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Rajasthan
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Rajasthan on Tuesday, during which he will dedicate to the nation India's first greenfield integrated refinery-cum-petrochemical complex at Pachpadra in Balotra. This landmark project, with an investment of more than Rs 79,450 crore, represents a significant milestone in India's energy and petrochemical sector, an official statement said. The prime minister will also address a public gathering on the occasion. The nine million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) greenfield refinery-cum-petrochemical complex has been developed as a joint venture between Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and the government of Rajasthan. The state-of-the-art complex integrates refining and petrochemical production, with a petrochemical capacity of 2.4 MMTPA. The refinery features a high Nelson Complexity Index of 17.0 and petrochemical yields exceeding 26 per cent, aligning with global benchmarks for efficiency and sustainability. The project is expect
Medical services in private hospitals across Rajasthan took a hit on Tuesday as doctors went on a strike following the arrest of a hospital director in Jaipur. Responding to a call by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Rajasthan Chapter, private hospitals and nursing homes went on a strike from 8 am on April 14 to 8 am on April 15. In Jaipur, private hospitals remained shut for OPD services since morning. Patients who were already admitted, however, received treatment. The impact was visible across small and large private hospitals. Some hospitals even suspended emergency services. Authorities strengthened arrangements in government hospitals in view of the strike. In several hospitals, notices were put up informing patients about the suspension of OPD services for the day. Some patients who reached hospitals were seen making enquiries before leaving for government hospitals. "The protest is part of a symbolic strike, and doctors have indicated that further agitation may follo
Five children, including two siblings, have died within five days from a mysterious illness in Rajasthan's Salumber district, officials said on Wednesday. The children, aged between two and four years, reportedly developed symptoms such as fever and vomiting and died within 24 hours, they said. The cases were reported from Lalpura and Ghata villages in the Lasadiya sub-division, where health department teams have been deployed to collect samples and monitor the situation. Officials identified the deceased as Deepak (4), his brother Laxman (3), and Seema (4) from Lalpura village, and Rahul (4) and Kajal (2) from Ghata village. Eight other children are currently undergoing treatment at hospitals in Salumber and Udaipur, officials said. Additional District Magistrate Dinesh Rai Sapela said screening of residents was carried out in the affected villages, which have over 560 households. "Medical teams have conducted screening and any person showing symptoms will receive treatment," he
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Rajasthan on April 21 to inaugurate a refinery at Pachpadra in Barmer district, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma has announced. "It is a matter of pride that the prime minister will visit Rajasthan to inaugurate the Pachpadra refinery," Chief Minister Bhananlal Sharma said on X late Tuesday night. The Greenfield Refinery-cum-Petrochemical Complex at Barmer was set up by HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Limited, which is a joint venture between the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited and the Government of Rajasthan, with 74 per cent and 26 per cent stakes respectively. The complex has a capacity of 9 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA), including 2.4 MMTPA of petrochemical products. Sharma said the refinery will play a key role in boosting the economy of the Marwar region as well as the entire state and will open new employment opportunities for the youth. The project would prove a "lifeline" for economic growth in Rajasthan, he said, extending
Amid heightened geopolitical tensions and uncertainty in global oil markets, Oil India Ltd has significantly ramped up crude production from Rajasthan's Thar desert, achieving a record output of 1,202 barrels per day from the Jodhpur sandstone formation, officials said. The state-run company has increased production by around 70 per cent compared to last year's 705 barrels per day, marking a major milestone in efforts to boost domestic output and strengthen energy security. Officials said the crude oil produced in the Baghewala field in Jaisalmer is transported by tankers to Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) facilities in Mehsana, Gujarat, from where it is sent via pipeline to the Koyali refinery operated by Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL). In the financial year 2025-26, Oil India's Rajasthan field recorded an annual production of 43,773 metric tonnes of crude oil, up from 32,787 metric tonnes in the previous year, reflecting strong growth driven by technological advancements
The ongoing conflict in West Asia has started to impact exporters in the Bikaner region, with shipments of popular food items, such as bhujia, papad and spices to Gulf and European countries facing severe disruptions, traders said. Bikaner, known for its namkeen industry, exports large quantities of snacks, spices and other products to countries in the Gulf region and Europe. However, exporters said, the war has led to delays, rising freight costs and container shortages, affecting exports and imports. Ashish Agarwal, a namkeen trader associated with the Bhikharam group, said escalating input and logistics costs are hurting the industry. "Freight charges have increased sharply due to the war, and raw material prices are also rising. The cost of edible oil has gone up by around 20 per cent in the last one month, which is directly impacting production," he said. Exporters said container movement has slowed significantly, with shipments that earlier took around 30 days now taking up
Hundreds of residents of the Sushilpura area here have fallen ill over the last week, allegedly due to sewage contamination of the drinking water supply, sparking a health scare. Several residents have reported similar symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pain, nausea, and fever, with children and the elderly among the worst affected. Locals claim the crisis has impacted nearly every household, forcing many to rely on water tankers or buy packaged drinking water. Pooran Mal Kumawat, a resident, said his family has been unwell for several days. "We have all been suffering from diarrhoea and weakness. My wife even had to take injections," he said. Another resident, Janki Saini, said the situation has become increasingly difficult. "All three of my children are suffering from stomach pain and fever, and we are arranging water from outside," she said. Jagdish Sahu, who has spent thousands of rupees on medical treatment so far, highlighted the financial burden caused by the ..