Bhubaneswar: A massive fire broke out at the fish market near Press Chhak in Cuttack during the early hours of Monday, completely destroying the market and causing extensive damage to nearby establishments, including a branch of Bank of India. According to reports, the blaze erupted around 2:30 a.m. and rapidly spread through the fish market,…
BHUBANESWAR: In a first for Odisha, researchers will cultivate a range of exotic and colourful coconut varieties sourced from different parts of the world as part of a scientific study aimed at evaluating their suitability for the state’s climatic conditions. The research initiative is being undertaken by the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology and…
BHUBANESWAR: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a notice to Wonderla Holidays Limited in connection with allegations of forest land encroachment and violations of environmental regulations linked to its amusement park project in Odisha. The tribunal has also served notices to several government departments and officials, including the Chief Secretary of Odisha, seeking responses…
Bhubaneswar: The Orissa High Court has ruled that candidates appearing for NEET cannot claim “dual educational privileges” by combining academic credentials from different educational boards to secure eligibility benefits for MBBS admissions. The court dismissed a petition filed by a candidate who sought to combine marks obtained from the Odisha State Board and the National…
Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has revised its forecast for the 2026 Southwest Monsoon season, predicting that India is likely to receive rainfall amounting to 90 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA). The forecast was issued as part of the weather agency’s second outlook for the Southwest Monsoon. The revised estimate is…
BHUBANESWAR: An expert appraisal panel of the Union Environment Ministry has recommended environmental clearance for Vedanta Limited’s proposed bauxite mining project in the Sijimali region of Odisha, subject to a series of conditions and regulatory approvals. The panel has stipulated that mining activities cannot be undertaken on 709.72 hectares of forest land until Stage-II forest…
BHUBANESWAR: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) will install six High Wind Speed Recorders (HWSR) along the coastline of Odisha to improve the measurement of extreme wind speeds during cyclones and severe storm events. Officials said the advanced instruments will be installed in six coastal districts — Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak and Balasore. The initiative…
BHUBANESWAR: As the scorching summer gradually gives way to the monsoon, Odisha is preparing for two of its most cherished cultural celebrations—Raja Parba and Ratha Yatra—marking the beginning of what many consider the state’s most vibrant and festive period of the year. The season begins with the celebration of Raja Parba, a unique festival that…
Bhubaneswar: The Government of India has advised Indian citizens to avoid all non-essential travel to Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan until further notice in view of the evolving Ebola outbreak situation in the region. The advisory also urged Indian nationals currently residing in or travelling to these countries to strictly follow…
Bhubaneswar: The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of the “Scheme for Assistance in Ration Transport and Handling-Income with Automation in Public Distribution System” (SARTHAK PDS) as an umbrella scheme aimed at strengthening and modernising India’s public distribution network. The scheme focuses on improving food grain transportation, enhancing support for fair price shops and accelerating…