Bhubaneswar, Oct 25 – The India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed on Friday morning that the landfall process of the severe cyclonic storm Dana has been completed. The system took approximately eight and a half hours to fully make its way onto the landmass.

According to the IMD’s hourly bulletin, the landfall process commenced around 12:05 AM on Thursday and concluded at approximately 8:30 AM on Friday. When it made landfall, Cyclone Dana hit with wind speeds reaching 110 km/h but has since weakened and transformed into a cyclonic storm.

As of now, the cyclone is located about 50 km north-northwest of Dhamra and 30 km northeast of Bhadrak town. The maximum sustained wind speeds around the center of the cyclone are reported to be between 80 km/h and 90 km/h, with gusts reaching up to 100 km/h.

The IMD predicts that the cyclone will continue to move northwest across northern Odisha and gradually weaken into a deep depression within the next six hours. The situation is being closely monitored using the Doppler weather radar located in Paradip.

Srinagar, Oct 24: A CCTV image of a Pheran-clad terrorist, allegedly linked to the Gagangir attack in Jammu and Kashmir, has surfaced, though investigators are still determining whether the AK-47-wielding individual was involved in the October 20 assault that claimed seven lives, including six non-local laborers.

The footage shows the suspect entering what is believed to be a prefabricated hut at the Gagangir tunnel construction site, where the deadly attack occurred, according to official sources. However, security officials are working to verify the authenticity of the image.

One puzzling detail is the date stamp on the screen grab, which shows “January 27″—a discrepancy that sources suggest could be due to a settings or technical error. Additionally, the terrorist’s rifle has a distinctive blue marking on the muzzle, similar to those reportedly used in attacks on security forces in the Pir Panjal region, roughly 200 kilometers from Gagangir.

The individual in the footage is not covering his face, despite survivors’ claims that the attackers had concealed their identities. Investigators are cautious about drawing conclusions too soon, with a senior police official emphasizing that commenting prematurely could compromise the ongoing investigation.

Ranchi, Oct 24 – Parts of Jharkhand are expected to witness heavy to very heavy rainfall starting Thursday night due to the impact of cyclonic storm ‘Dana,’ according to an official from the Meteorological Department.

An ‘orange’ alert has been issued for the Kolhan region, which includes the districts of West Singhbhum, Seraikela-Kharswan, and East Singhbhum, indicating possible rainfall ranging from 115 mm to 204 mm within 24 hours on Friday, the official stated.

In addition to heavy rainfall, the region could experience thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds reaching speeds of up to 60 kmph, according to Abhishek Anand, head of the Ranchi Meteorological Centre.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that Cyclone ‘Dana’ is expected to make landfall between Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamra Port in Odisha early Friday, with wind speeds likely to reach up to 120 kmph. As of 2:30 am Wednesday, the cyclone was located 280 km southeast of Paradip in Odisha and 370 km south-southeast of Sagar Island in West Bengal, the IMD bulletin said.

Six teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed in Jamshedpur and Chaibasa, with two additional teams on standby in Ranchi, to address any emergencies that may arise, an official added.

Other areas in central Jharkhand, such as Ranchi, Khunti, Lohardaga, Gumla, and Ramgarh, are also expected to receive heavy rainfall on Friday, according to Anand.

“Light to moderate rainfall is likely in many parts of the state on Thursday, with the Kolhan division expected to be hit hardest by the cyclonic system,” he said.

The inclement weather may also impact political activities in the run-up to the Jharkhand Assembly elections, scheduled for two phases—November 13 and November 20—with the vote counting on November 23. The nomination process for the first phase is set to conclude on October 25, while nominations for the second phase will be accepted until October 29.

NEW DELHI, Oct 24: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday lauded the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) on its Raising Day, honoring the force for its unwavering commitment to safeguarding India’s border with China.

In a post on X, Modi wrote, “Raising Day greetings to ITBP Himveers and their families. This force stands tall as a symbol of valour and dedication, protecting us in some of the most challenging terrains and harsh climatic conditions.”

The prime minister also praised the ITBP’s role in disaster response, highlighting the pride the force instills in the nation through its rescue operations during natural calamities.

The ITBP, established in the wake of the 1962 Sino-Indian conflict, has a strength of around 90,000 personnel. The force is primarily tasked with guarding the 3,488 km Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China while also playing a crucial role in internal security and disaster management efforts.

In a separate post, Modi welcomed the government’s decision to confer classical language status on Pali, expressing gratitude to scholars and monks who participated in a discussion on Pali hosted by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) in Colombo. “Glad that the Indian Government’s decision of conferring Classical Language status on Pali has ignited joy among those who believe in the thoughts of Bhagwan Buddha,” Modi said.

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Oct 24 – As the Shiv Sena (UBT) prepares for the November 20 Maharashtra assembly elections, its three MLAs in the Marathwada region are actively campaigning to raise awareness about their new symbol, the ‘mashaal’ (flaming torch), while also addressing pressing farmers’ issues.

In the previous 2019 Maharashtra assembly elections, the undivided Shiv Sena secured 12 seats in Marathwada. Following the party split in June 2022, three MLAs—Udaysingh Rajput (Kannad), Kailas Patil (Dharashiv-Kalamb), and Dr. Rahul Patil (Parbhani)—aligned with the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and are now contesting in the upcoming polls.

The split occurred when a faction of MLAs led by Eknath Shinde revolted against Thackeray, who was then serving as chief minister. Subsequently, the Thackeray-led faction was allotted the ‘mashaal’ symbol, while Shinde’s group retained the original ‘bow and arrow’ symbol.

In an interview with PTI, Rajput emphasized the importance of Thackeray’s positive image among the electorate, largely due to his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We are now aggressively working to spread awareness about our symbol ‘mashaal’ in Kannad,” he stated, adding that he would also highlight farmers’ grievances throughout his campaign. He noted that his political opponents are struggling to find a candidate to run against him.

Dr. Rahul Patil remarked on the absence of the ruling BJP’s support, asserting, “This government is corrupt, and we are working diligently to inform the public about these issues.” He pointed out that soybean purchasing remains a critical concern in his constituency, where the crop is cultivated on approximately 2.80 lakh hectares, yet there are only eight purchase centers. “If this continues, it will take a decade to purchase all the soybean produced in my constituency,” he cautioned, insisting that farmers’ issues could lead to the downfall of the ruling parties.

Kailas Patil also criticized the previous alliance with the BJP, stating, “They were with our undivided party only on paper, and their leaders actively worked against us.” He highlighted the significance of raising awareness about their symbol among constituents, particularly as the BJP is no longer associated with them, even nominally.

Patil echoed concerns regarding the insufficient number of soybean purchase centers, lamenting that crop prices are being driven down at private centers. As the election campaign intensifies, the Shiv Sena (UBT) aims to leverage both their new symbol and farmers’ issues to regain voter support in the region.