Page 50 - Delhi

Material used in blast outside Delhi school resembles bomb, probe underway

A mysterious blast took place near a CRPF school in Prashant Vihar area in Delhi's Rohini on Sunday morning. No one was injured in the incident, officials of the Delhi Fire Services said. Fire engines, bomb squad a police forensic team have been rushed to the spot near the CRPF school, Sector 14, Rohini to ascertain the source of the loud blast. The wall of the school, nearby shops and a car received damage, police said. DFS officials said, "We received a call regarding a blast near the boundary wall of CRPF school at 7.50 am. We immediately rushed two fire engines to the spot. There was no fire and no one was injured due to the blast, so our vehicle returned." Senior police officers, including from the crime branch and the Special Cell, reached the spot. "Our forensic team and crime unit are at the spot to collect samples from the blast location. It could be a firecracker, but we are investigating the entire matter from all angles," a senior police officer said. Police said that

Delhi wakes up to a blanket of smog; AQI drops to 'very poor' in many areas

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts unfavourable weather will continue, keeping pollution levels high until at least Sunday

Delhi in red: Air quality dips further; many places log 'very poor' index

Delhi's neighbours Uttar Pradesh's Noida and Haryana's Gurugram also reeled from poor air quality levels. Delhi's Mundka logged one of the poorest AQIs at 377, which is very close to 'severe' mark

Electronic DLs, registration certificates may replace smart cards in Delhi

Delhi government is considering to replace the current smart card system on driving licenses and registration certificates with electronic versions that could be downloaded like Aadhaar cards, officials said on Wednesday. The new move would allow citizens to download and print their e-DL and e-RC in a format similar to the Aadhaar Card, featuring a unique ID and QR code that could be used by traffic police for verification, they said. A senior official of the Delhi Transport department said that the electronic documents could either be printed or accessed via apps like DigiLocker or mParivahan, offering citizens a convenient way to present their documents when required. In 2023-24, Delhi's transport department issued 1.6 lakh licenses and 6.69 lakh RCs as of May this year, and under the new plan, only e-DLs and e-RCs would be issued, he added. The downloadable PDF format, available on the Parivahan Sewa portal, would include a QR code to confirm authenticity, and links would also b

Our govts reducing stubble burning, BJP-ruled states doing nothing: AAP

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday alleged that central government data reveals that stubble burning in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh and Haryana are "major contributors" to air pollution in Delhi. The AAP governments in Delhi and Punjab are the only ones that are reducing pollution and providing relief to the people, party leader Jasmine Shah said in a statement on Wednesday. In the period between October 1-14, Shah claimed that in comparison to last year, there was a 27 per cent reduction in incidents of stubble burning in Punjab this year, while such incidents increased in BJP-ruled UP and Haryana. "From October 1 to 14, (according to) the data from the central government agency Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), 1,105 stubble burning incidents were reported in Punjab. This year, the number has reduced to 811, a 27 per cent decrease in stubble burning incidents in the state," he said. In Haryana, during the same period, there were 341 incidents last year, that increase

Delhi-Gujarat haul: Drugs brought from S America, purified in Ankleshwar

Amid a series of drug busts in Delhi and Gujarat, police here on Monday said that around 1,300 kg of narcotics was brought from countries in South America to a pharmaceutical company in Gujarat for purification before being supplied to the national capital. According to officials 1,289 kg of cocaine and 40 kg of hydroponic marijuana, worth more than Rs 13,000 crore, have been recovered from Delhi and Gujarat so far. The latest haul came on Sunday when a joint operation of Delhi and Gujarat Police seized at least 518 kilograms of cocaine worth around Rs 5000 crore from Gujarat's Ankleshwar, and arrested five people. The officials said the new seizure was connected to the recovery of 700 kilograms of cocaine in Delhi. A day after the latest recovery of cocaine from Avkar Drugs Limited Company in Gujarat's Ankleshwar, Delhi Police on Monday said the consignment was refined there by mixing chemical before being sent to Delhi. Of the five who were arrested from Gujarat, three -- Vijay

Delhi sees 55% spike in malaria cases this year so far, no deaths recorded

The national capital has reported a huge jump in malaria cases this year so far, with infections jumping nearly 55 per cent compared to the corresponding period last year. The city has, however, not recorded any malaria-related deaths so far, according to official data. According to Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) data for the period from January 1 to October 5, this year marks the highest number of malaria cases in the corresponding period in last five years with 511 confirmed infections. A total of 329 cases were reported during the same period in 2023, 153 in 2022, 127 in 2021, and 189 in 2020. While there have been no deaths attributed to malaria in Delhi this year, this contrasts with previous years when one fatality was reported each in 2020, 2022, and 2023. The data also highlights that the highest caseload was recorded in September every year since 2020; this year, there were 193 cases in September, compared to 106 reported in August. In the current month, up to the

Delhi govt to prepare 1,000 'model ghats' for Chhath Puja: CM Atishi

The Delhi government will set up 1000 "model ghats" for the Purvanchali festival Chhath across the city, Chief Minister Atishi said on Monday. The ghats will be constructed in each of the 70 assembly constituencies to facilitate Chhath Puja performed by lakhs of devotees in Delhi, she said. In a high-level meeting, the chief minister instructed officials to coordinate with Chhath Puja committees and incorporate their suggestions while making preparations for the festival including lighting, clean water, toilets, tents, security at the ghats, said a Delhi government statement. She assured that the Delhi government is committed to ensuring that the festival is celebrated without any inconvenience, it said. The ghats will have clean water, tents, electricity, toilets, security, medical facilities, power backup, CCTV cameras, and other necessary arrangements, the statement said. Atishi also instructed officials to pay special attention to cleanliness at the 'ghats'. The chief ministe

Grap stage 1 kicks in as Delhi registers 2nd consecutive day of 'poor' AQI

The Centre's air pollution control panel for Delhi-NCR on Monday directed state governments in the region to implement the first stage of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) as the capital's air quality was in the 'poor' category for the second consecutive day. The Stage I of GRAP, a set of winter-specific anti-pollution measures, focuses on controlling pollution through dust mitigation at construction sites, proper waste management, and regular road cleaning. It mandates strict checks on polluting vehicles, better traffic management, and emission controls in industries, power plants, and brick kilns. The first stage also bans open burning of waste, limits the use of diesel generators, and prohibits the use of coal or firewood in eateries. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi's 24-hour average air quality index stood at 234 (poor category) as of 4 pm on Monday. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)'s Sub-Committee, tasked with implementing GR

Atishi meets PM Modi, seeks cooperation of Centre's in Delhi's development

Atishi took oath as Delhi Chief Minister in September following resignation of Arvind Kejriwal. Atishi became the third woman Chief Minister of Delhi, following Sushma Swaraj and Sheila Dikshit

Air India Mumbai-New York flight diverted to Delhi after bomb threat

A New York-bound Air India plane carrying 239 passengers from Mumbai was diverted to the national capital early morning on Monday due to a bomb threat, according to officials. Police said following standard security protocols, a thorough inspection was conducted and no suspicious item was found inside the aircraft. "Flight AI 119 operating from Mumbai to JFK on October 14 received a specific security alert and on instructions of the government's security regulatory committee, (it) was diverted to Delhi," Air India said in a statement. "Staff on ground are working to minimise the inconvenience caused to our guests by this unexpected disruption, it said. All 258 people onboard the aircraft have disembarked and are currently undergoing security procedures. Once the security protocols are completed, the passengers will be moved to hotels, it added. There were 239 passengers and 19 crew members onboard the plane. The flight has been rescheduled and will now depart for New York from De

Consumer affairs minister slams air purifier firms for false claims

Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Monday criticised air purifier manufacturers for making false claims about their products, and called for increased consumer awareness ahead of winter when air pollution worsens in Delhi due to crop stubble burning in neighbouring states. Addressing an event commemorating World Standards Day, Joshi expressed concern over misleading marketing tactics adopted by some air purifier companies. "Discussion on air pollution has begun. Looking at Air Quality Index (AQI) on mobiles, people out of fear, go and buy air purifiers. Air purifiers make such false claims. ...We see air purifiers and so much is written but nothing is there in it. There is just a fan in it, yet claims are still made," the minister stated. Joshi called for a collaborative approach involving the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the consumer affairs ministry and consumers to address the issue. While praising the BIS for their "exceptionally wonderful job" in recent years, the

Air India Mumbai-New York flight diverted to Delhi after bomb threat

According to Delhi Police, the aircraft is currently stationed at the IGI Airport, and all standard safety protocols are being diligently followed to ensure the safety of passengers

Delhi's air quality turns 'poor' after Dussehra, likely to improve soon

Delhi's air quality worsened to the 'poor' category on Sunday, the day after Dussehra, with the Centre deciding to closely monitor the situation before taking anti-air pollution measures under Stage 1 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). Effigies of demon king Ravana, his brother Kumbhakarna and son Meghnad packed with firecrackers went up in flames at open grounds in the national capital during Dussehra celebrations on Saturday. Delhi's 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 224 on Sunday, according to the 4 pm AQI bulletin from the Central Pollution Control Board. The Commission for Air Quality (CAQM) Sub-Committee reviewed the current air quality and weather forecasts from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), according to a statement. It said Delhi's air pollution had already started declining, dropping to 222 by 5 pm, and is expected to decline further. The IMD/IITM forecast also predicts air quality

Delhi govt identifies sites for Durga idol immersion for devotees' safety

The Delhi government has identified multiple sites across the city for Durga idol immersion to ensure safe and coordinated process for the devotees. In compliance with environmental regulations, idol immersion in rivers, including the Sahibi River, is strictly prohibited,an official statement said. The Delhi government announced comprehensive plans for Durga idol immersion. With directives issued to Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) a month in advance, the government has identified 31 immersion sites across the city, an official statement said. SDMs will conduct inspections of these sites in collaboration with the concerned departments ensuring that all necessary arrangements are in place, the statement read. The Delhi government has asked everyone to adhere to the guidelines and maintain cleanliness at the sites. "In a meeting chaired by the Additional District Magistrate (ADM) of West Delhi on October 10, the Delhi government outlined comprehensive plans for Durga Pooja idol ...

'Ram Rajya' means education, healthcare for all: Kejriwal at Ramleela

AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal invoked "Ram Rajya" on Friday and said that no child should remain uneducated and no one should be denied healthcare in the country. Attending a Ramleela in East Delhi's Mayur Vihar, he said the Aam Aadmi Party is following the "principles of Ram Rajya" to serve the people Delhi. The former Delhi chief minister said Lord Rama's ideals of justice, equality, and service should be emulated by all. "We should take lessons from Lord Ram's life, which reflects the essence of Indian and Hindu culture. It is crucial that we pass this cultural heritage to our children by ensuring they watch events like Ramleela," he said. According to the vision of "Ram Rajya" no child should remain uneducated, nor should anyone be denied healthcare for lack of money, Kejriwal said.

AAP to appoint 11 volunteers for every booth to oversee voting in Delhi

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) plans to appoint 11 dedicated volunteers for every booth to oversee voting during the upcoming assembly polls in Delhi. These volunteers will also carry forward Arvind Kejriwal's message and the achievements of the AAP government, the AAP said in a statement on Friday. In a meeting held at the party headquarters here, AAP's National General Secretary (Organisation) and Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak took stock of the party's readiness for the poll and urged volunteers to remain resolute in their efforts to serve the people of Delhi, it said. "The AAP is fully prepared for the upcoming elections, and we will not rest until Arvind Kejriwal is re-elected as Chief Minister," Pathak said. As the elections approach, the party plans to deploy 11 volunteers at every booth, who will act as "soldiers on the ground", he added. According to the statement, Pathak also cautioned the party workers against falling into any BJP conspiracy, and focus solely on the welfare o

Delhi DoE issues advisory against misleading promises of edtech companies

The Delhi Directorate of Education (DoE) has issued an advisory to protect students and parents from the misleading promises of ed-tech companies. According to the advisory issued on Tuesday, the ed-tech companies lure students and parents with extravagant promises, often leading them to incur loans at excessive interest rates, risking their financial stability. The DoE said these companies use syllabi and teaching methodologies which are not regulated by NCERT, SCERT and any other educational body. According to the directorate, many of these firms repackage freely available educational content, market it as exclusive, and employ aggressive marketing strategies and social media campaigns. The DoE emphasised the strength of Delhi's educational system, which is designed to support learners' mental, emotional, social, and psychological well-being. It also directed all government and private schools to raise awareness among students about the importance of regular attendance and makin

Atishi 'removed' from Delhi CM's residence: How is official house allotted

The bitter blame game over the occupation of the Flagstaff Road bungalow between the AAP, BJP, and Delhi LG's office erupted after former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal vacated the residence last week

Delhi to Kashmir in 13 hours: Vande Bharat sleeper to Srinagar announced

Indian Railways has announced the Delhi-Srinagar Vande Bharat train that will cover over 800 km in 13 hours. The train will depart at 19:00 hrs from Delhi to reach Srinagar at 08:00 hrs