Bhubaneswar: At least seven people were killed and 14 others injured in a stampede near the Ashok Dham temple in Bihar’s Lakhisarai district, according to reports. The incident occurred at Ashok Dham Halt railway station, located a short distance from the temple, amid a heavy rush of devotees. Large numbers of pilgrims had gathered in…
Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s capital has reported its first COVID-19 case of the year, with a 50-year-old man from the Baramunda area testing positive, according to reports. The patient is currently undergoing treatment in the isolation ward of a hospital. The development comes nearly a month after Odisha reported another COVID-19 case, when a 54-year-old woman from…
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has decided to designate the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) as the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to strengthen the state’s disaster preparedness and emergency response capabilities. The decision was taken during a review meeting chaired by Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, where plans were discussed to enhance…
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government has directed that ‘Vande Mataram’ be sung before the National Anthem, ‘Jana Gana Mana,’ at all government functions and in government as well as government-aided schools across the state. The directive follows guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs on July 9. The School and Mass Education Department has…
Bhubaneswar: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from the Council of Ministers on July 25, 2026, marking a significant political development amid months of controversy surrounding alleged examination paper leaks and widespread student protests. The paper leak allegations, which initially sparked concern among students and parents, gradually evolved into a nationwide movement demanding greater accountability…
Bhubaneswar: A new study by the World Health Organisation (WHO) has revealed that one in five adolescents spends more than four hours each day on mobile phones, gaming, social media and other digital activities outside of schoolwork, highlighting growing concerns over excessive screen time among children. The findings are based on the WHO’s Health Behaviour…
Bhubaneswar: The Andhra Pradesh government has issued a statewide COVID-19 alert after two recent deaths and the detection of eight active cases, mainly in YSR Kadapa and Annamayya districts. One patient from Rajampeta in Annamayya district died on July 7, while the second fatality was reported from Kadapa. In response, health authorities have resumed COVID-19…
Bhubaneswar: A proposal to establish a National Commission for Men has reached Parliament after Ashok Kumar Mittal introduced the National Commission for Men Bill in the Rajya Sabha. The proposal cites the recent Ketan Agarwal case as a reminder that men can also become victims of crime and may require dedicated institutional support. According to…
Bhubaneswar: Authorities at Hirakud Dam have announced that the season’s first floodwater release will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 9, following a steady rise in the reservoir’s water level due to heavy rainfall in the upper catchment areas of the Mahanadi River basin. The controlled release is part of the dam’s routine monsoon…
Bhubaneswar: A 35-year-old man was swept away in an open stormwater drain near Vani Vihar during heavy rainfall on Saturday, prompting an intensive search and rescue operation by the fire services and police. The missing man has been identified as Anil Singh, a ragpicker who lived in the nearby Patharabanda slum. According to eyewitnesses, Singh…