A 25-year-old survivor, Sonu Pal, recounts the tragic stampede at a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata where his mother died. The incident, which occurred on Saturday evening during a sudden downpour, claimed 19 lives and injured 25 others. Relatives of the victims are demanding accountability from authorities and organisers for the poor crowd management.
'In India, an MBA from a top college would have better opportunities as compared to an MTech from top colleges,' says rediffGURU Patrick D'souza.
A man in Valappad, Kerala, allegedly murdered his 24-year-old wife, Vismaya, and their four-year-old son, Dhakshin, in the early hours of Thursday. The accused, Vijeesh (44), reportedly committed the murders due to suspicion of his wife's infidelity before attempting suicide. He is currently hospitalised, and police are investigating the case.
A tempo travller carrying around 23 passengers veered off the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway and plunged into a 15-feet-deep drain in Kota, Rajasthan, on Saturday morning. The accident resulted in eight fatalities and 15 injuries, with driver drowsiness suspected as the cause. Most passengers were extended family members from Madhya Pradesh on a pilgrimage.
Indian swimmer Himanshu Nandal won a bronze medal in the men's 400m freestyle S11 event at the Asian Para Games on Tuesday. Nandal, who is visually impaired, clocked 5 minutes and 10.91 seconds. Another Indian swimmer, Ravi Karthik Budigina, finished fifth in the men's 400m freestyle S13, having previously won a silver on Monday.
A 28-year-old woman died and her 30-year-old husband is in critical condition after they allegedly consumed poison following a family dispute in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, on Monday. Police are investigating the incident, and the couple has a young child.
A 33-year-old man, Dalip Singh, wanted in a 2011 case concerning the alleged forced labour of two minor children at a Delhi hotel, has been apprehended from Morena district in Madhya Pradesh. He was caught on Monday after evading court proceedings for a non-bailable warrant issued on August 17 this year.
Coursera found that nearly 94 per cent of employers of professionals who took micro-credential courses on the platform said these professionals could command higher salaries than their peers.
The father of a doctor who was raped and murdered has questioned the CBI after former RG Kar Medical College and Hospital principal Sandip Ghosh received bail from the Supreme Court in a financial irregularities case. Ghosh was previously granted bail in the rape-murder case in December 2024 due to the CBI's failure to file a chargesheet. Doctors and the victim's family are criticising the CBI's handling of the investigations, alleging incompetence and delays.
Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, the outgoing IAF chief, flew his final sortie aboard an HJT-16 Kiran Mk-1 trainer aircraft at the Air Force Academy in Hyderabad, bringing his distinguished flying career full circle. The flight was particularly special as he flew with his first flying instructor, Wing Commander V S Kochar (retd), marking an emotional reunion and a tribute to his journey. He is set to superannuate on October 31.
'...because of the character, how it was to be portrayed, the speech, the scenes.' 'There was a physicality involved because he was a TB patient who eventually had cancer and passed away.'
Lokayukta Police in Indore raided a head constable and his associates, uncovering properties worth approximately Rs 29.73 crore. The head constable, Firoz Khan, is accused of using his position to acquire disproportionate assets, significantly exceeding his legitimate income over 24 years of service. The investigation has identified 33 immovable properties, vehicles, bank accounts, and links to private companies.
A 19-year-old B.Com student, Yogesh, was allegedly stabbed to death in Bengaluru following a quarrel between two groups outside his college. Police are investigating the incident, with four to five suspects involved, though only one has been identified so far.
Two foreign nationals, a man from Ghana and a woman from Uzbekistan, were arrested in Greater Noida on Monday for alleged drug-trafficking. Police recovered 920 grams of MDMA, valued at approximately Rs 1 crore, and seized a scooter used for the illicit trade. Efforts are underway to apprehend a third individual involved in preparing the MDMA.
Families of the 19 victims of the Kolkata Durga Puja stampede are grappling with immense grief, unable to partake in the festivities. Many recount the tragic night, highlighting alleged lapses in crowd control and inadequate police presence at the Chorbagan pandal. Survivors share harrowing experiences of losing loved ones in the crush.
Following a tragic stampede at the Chorebagan Durga Puja in north Kolkata that killed 19 and injured 24, police have detained 12 people, including event organisers. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has promised strict action against those responsible for crowd mismanagement and announced an SIT investigation into the incident.
Indian para table tennis players Bhavina Patel, Prachi, and Sonalben have advanced to the semifinals of the Asian Para Games in Nagoya, guaranteeing at least three bronze medals for the country. Bhavina Patel won her Class 4-5 quarterfinal, Prachi secured a historic medal in Class 6, and Sonalben triumphed in Class 3, showcasing India's strong performance in the sport.
In Rediff's series on modern marriages, Pratik, 36, tells Rediff's Divya Nair how the difficult decision to stay away from both sets of parents, among other things, helped strengthen their marriage.
A stampede at a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata on Saturday evening resulted in 19 deaths and 25 injuries. The Chief Minister announced compensation and a SIT probe, while officials have been detained and crowd-pulling pujas advised to close.
Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta police raids have uncovered 46 immovable properties worth an estimated Rs 64 crore allegedly linked to head constable Firoz Khan, his family, and associates. The properties, including houses and land, far exceed his legitimate income over 24 years of service, prompting an ongoing investigation under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Police in Kozhikode, Keralam, arrested a 38-year-old man, Muhammad Shafi, with 600.21 grams of MDMA from a lodge. Shafi was allegedly involved in drug peddling, procuring the banned substance from other states and selling it locally. Authorities are investigating the source of the large quantity of MDMA.
The Delhi High Court has permitted the termination of a 31-week pregnancy for a 16-year-old sexual assault victim, citing that it would not be appropriate to burden the minor with childbirth and raising a child. The court recognised the termination as a human right affecting the victim's dignified existence and directed the state to cover medical expenses, ensuring foetal tissue preservation for DNA testing and offering adoption if the child is born alive.
A panel supported by Congress MLC Satej Patil has won the election for the Kolhapur District Cooperative Milk Producers' Union (Gokul Dairy), defeating the Mahayuti-backed group led by NCP minister Hasan Mushrif. This victory marks a setback for the ruling Mahayuti alliance in western Maharashtra and gives the Patil-backed panel control of the influential cooperative's board.
Police in Palakkad have taken five people into custody in connection with the suspected murder of an unidentified man found near Moolathara dam. The deceased is believed to be a beggar, and the incident is being investigated as a possible mob lynching.
Infosys CEO Salil Parekh stated on Tuesday that the company's AI services, currently contributing over 8% of revenue, are growing rapidly and could account for almost half of its work within two to three years. He highlighted the strong demand for AI services, the company's hiring and training efforts for graduates in AI, and discussed potential risks like infrastructure challenges and societal backlash.
Jailed Aam Aadmi Party MLA Chaitar Vasava was granted one-day temporary bail by the Gujarat High Court after his stepbrother was hospitalised following a suicide attempt. The MLA's stepbrother, Shantilal Vasava, consumed poison on October 12 and is in critical condition. Chaitar Vasava had initially sought bail for an examination but changed his plea to care for his stepbrother. He was previously sentenced to seven years in jail for extortion and assault.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) is conducting Joint CSIR-UGC NET, a national-level examination to determine the eligibility of Indian candidates for various academic and research opportunities at Indian universities and colleges through the computer based test (CBT) mode. These include the junior research fellowship (JRF), appointment as an assistant professor, eligibility for both assistant professor positions and PhD admission and admission to PhD programmes.
Imran Ahmed Khan, who studied at the Government College of Engineering, Amravati (2002 batch) and is currently employed with Aramco, had this advice to share with today's students.
Rohan Bopanna, India's former world number one doubles player, has been excluded from the AITA's Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOM) roster. This exclusion is due to his failure to meet the mandatory one-year retirement criterion, as he announced his professional retirement on November 1, 2025, just shy of the October 16, 2026, deadline for the roster. Despite inquiring about his eligibility and receiving initial assurance, his continued participation on the Pro ATP tour until October 2025 meant he was still considered active.
West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari said an announcement by the organisers of the community Durga Puja at Chorbagan off Chittaranjan Avenue in north Kolkata led to a rush among the revellers, causing the "painful incident"
Rajasthan Police's Special Operations Group has arrested four more foreign-trained medical graduates for allegedly using forged Foreign Medical Graduate (FMG) screening certificates to secure internships and registration. This brings the total arrests in the case to 33, including 28 medical graduates, former RMC officials, and middlemen. The accused reportedly paid between Rs 27 lakh and Rs 30 lakh for the fake documents and secured internships at government medical colleges. Investigators suspect over 100 beneficiaries in the racket.
Mizoram police have successfully recovered over Rs 1 crore for cybercrime victims this year and arrested nine alleged cybercriminals. The state has also established a dedicated State Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (S4C) to enhance its efforts in detection, investigation, and public awareness against cybercrime.
A police constable, Ajit Kumar, was shot dead by liquor smugglers in Nalanda district of Bihar on Wednesday night during a chase. He was part of an Excise Department team attempting to intercept a liquor-laden truck. Kumar succumbed to his injuries in Patna, and a manhunt has been launched for the culprits.
Six professors from Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University (SRTMU) in Nanded have secured a patent for a 'Handheld Script Translation Device'. This innovation aims to overcome language barriers caused by different writing systems, allowing users to understand scripts they are unfamiliar with, even if they know the language. The device is expected to particularly benefit Marathi readers and researchers by making historical and cultural texts more accessible.
Madhya Pradesh's Lokayukta police raided 15 premises linked to head constable Firoz Khan in Indore and Dewas, uncovering assets worth Rs 6.27 crore. This amount is more than three times his legitimate income over 24 years of service. Khan is accused of misusing his position in property dealings, and an FIR has been registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act, with a woman associate also named as an accused.
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has announced that its new Executive Council will be elected on December 5, with Sanjay Kumar Srivastava appointed as the returning officer. The electoral process, which includes elections for the Athletes' Commission on November 3 and selection of Sportspersons of Merit (SOMs), will adhere to national sports governance acts and the amended IOA Constitution. The new council will serve a four-year term (2026-2030), with current President PT Usha highlighting the importance of good governance as India eyes hosting the 2036 Olympic Games.
State-run power major NTPC has partnered with the Mizoram government to establish an archery academy in Lengpui, Mamit district, at an estimated cost of Rs 13.28 crore. The project, part of NTPC's CSR initiatives, aims to provide professional training and infrastructure for aspiring archers over three years, with the Mizoram State Sports Council responsible for its operation.
A 52-year-old woman was allegedly beaten to death by her neighbours in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, on Sunday, suspected of practising witchcraft. Police are investigating the incident, and an FIR is expected after the victim's son submits a written complaint.
Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the BRICS Traditional and Indigenous Sports Demonstration Games 2026 in Ahmedabad, emphasising the role of traditional sports in reflecting cultural identity and fostering international cooperation. The one-day event, hosted by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, brought together delegations from BRICS and partner countries to showcase indigenous sporting practices like Mallakhamb, Yogasana, and Kalaripayattu from India, alongside Wushu from China and Sambo from Russia. Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi also highlighted India's rich sporting heritage and proposed initiatives for global promotion and preservation of traditional sports.
