Times of India

Despite the stampede the previous day, over 2 crore devotees continued to participate in the Maha Kumbh, bathing at Sangam on Thursday. The administration maintained shuttle services to ease the movement, ensuring minimal inconvenience. Devotees expressed unwavering faith, attributing their journey to the divine call of mother Ganga.

Indian Railways successfully operated 364 outward trains from Prayagraj to accommodate around 12 lakh pilgrims, complemented by 77 inward trains. Amid the Maha Kumbh event, over 1,900 special trains have been deployed, with top railway officials ensuring smooth operations and coordination with state authorities.

Hundreds of pilgrims were left stranded without transportation, food, or shelter after a stampede at Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj caused chaos. Traffic curbs and overcrowded roads compounded the situation, leading many to sleep in the open and go without meals for extended periods.

A PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court alleging that a special VIP arrangement at Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj may have contributed to a deadly stampede. The petition highlights the need for the Centre and states to ensure the safety of devotees at religious gatherings and minimize VIP treatment to avoid future incidents.

Congress MP from Sitapur, Rakesh Rathore, has been arrested on rape charges following a complaint by a woman. The high court had rejected his anticipatory bail plea and directed him to surrender. The woman alleges the MP sexually assaulted her on the pretext of marriage and threatened her into silence.

Political discussions have intensified as BJP minister Chandrakant Patil expressed his optimism for a Shiv Sena (UBT)-BJP reunion at a recent wedding event. Patil's sentiment echoes among Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders, despite past political differences and the influence of leaders like Amit Shah on their alliance.

Maharashtra has decided to remove eggs and sugar from the midday meal menu for classes 1 to 8, following the pattern of other BJP-governed states. This move has been criticized by opposition members, who believe that the government's revised menu, which includes 'egg pulao' and nachni sattu, is not in the best interest of schoolchildren.

Rahul Gandhi criticized Congress for not effectively protecting the interests of Dalits and backward classes since the 1990s, resulting in loss of support. He believed this allowed the rise of RSS and BJP. Gandhi emphasized the need for internal reforms to regain the confidence of marginalized communities.

An international study has cautioned that the growing number of hydroelectric projects near glacier lakes in the Himalayas increases risks of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF). The 2023 flood that destroyed Sikkim's Teesta III project underscores the vulnerability of Himalayan hydropower infrastructure to extreme natural events exacerbated by climate change.

Union road transport minister Nitin Gadkari highlighted the impact of social media in exposing government shortcomings, emphasizing the need for quick resolution of road quality issues. He advocated for the mandatory adoption of Automated and Intelligent Machine-Aided Construction technology in highway projects to enhance efficiency and transparency.

A 40-year-old home guard, Suresh Kumar, was arrested in Bengaluru for barging into a rented home of college girls, misbehaving with one, and extorting ₹5,000 from a male collegemate. He falsely claimed to be a crime branch officer and coerced the students, leading to his arrest by the police.

The Uttarakhand state government clarified that a religious certificate is necessary only for live-in relationships classified as 'prohibited' under Schedule 1 of the UCC Act. Non-prohibited relationships require basic documents like proof of residence and Aadhaar. Inter-caste or inter-faith marriages remain unaffected.

Indian astronaut Gp Capt Shubhanshu Shukla, set to be the pilot for Axiom Space’s Ax-4 mission in 2025, shares insights from his training. He emphasizes its distributed and complex nature and its value for India’s Gaganyaan mission. Shukla will capture ISS experiences for Indian citizens and plans to take culturally significant items aboard the mission.

Tulsi Gabbard, Donald Trump's nominee for Director of National Intelligence, faced sharp questioning from lawmakers during her Senate confirmation hearing on Thursday. A key issue was her past support for Edward Snowden, the former NSA contractor who exposed US surveillance programmes and fled to Russia. She said she would not recommend a pardon for Snowden, whom she had earlier called 'brave'.

The 2025 Champions Trophy will omit the pre-tournament captains' photo-op due to varying team arrival schedules, including late arrivals of England and Australia. Consequently, India's captain, Rohit Sharma, will remain in Dubai with the team. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will host an event in Lahore prior to the tournament's commencement on February 19.