One person died and six were injured after a portion of the roof of the Delhi airport's Terminal-1 collapsed on cars, including taxis, amid heavy rain early Friday, leading to suspension of flight departures, according to officials. Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said he was monitoring the situation and the injured had been hospitalised. Speaking to the media he said, ".A section of the canopy which is outside of the airport has collapsed due to heavy rains. We express our condolence to the life that has been lost in this tragic incident, four people have also been injured. So we are taking care of them right now. We immediately sent the emergency response team, the fire safety team and also the CISF, NDRF teams. Everyone was available at the site and they have done thorough inspection so that no other casualties are there. So right now the situation is under control. The rest of the terminal building has been closed and everything is being thoroughly inspected so that there is no further untoward incident here..."
"I want to clarify that the building inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi is on the other side and the building that collapsed here is an old building and was opened in 2009," Naidu said.
The Central Bureau of Investigation Director has received a one-year extension, continuing in the role until May next year. The decision was made by a high-power committee comprising the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of India, and the Leader of Opposition.
The latest edition of Statecraft covers major geopolitical shifts as US President Donald Trump arrives in Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. The visit, occurring amid the ongoing West Asia conflict and the Strait of Hormuz blockade, focusses on trade, tariffs, and the Iran war.
In this episode of Newstrack, watch the exclusive interview of Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Ashok Lahiri as he decodes PM Modi's austerity push amid the escalating crisis in West Asia.
The central government has implemented austerity measures, including reducing ministerial convoys to two vehicles, in response to a looming fuel crisis driven by West Asian geopolitical tensions. While the ruling party frames this as a necessary fiscal step, opposition leaders have labeled the move tokenism, demanding a special parliamentary session to address the economic situation and rising oil prices. Simultaneously, the national currency has depreciated to an all-time low against the dollar, prompting calls from experts for fiscal consolidation and reduced political populism. Amidst these economic challenges, a major controversy has emerged regarding the national medical entrance examination. Investigations into an alleged paper leak and an interstate exam mafia have resulted in multiple arrests across several states, revealing potential political links. Education experts are now advocating for a complete overhaul of the testing system, suggesting decentralized, computer-based examinations to ensure future transparency. Transparency activists further urge the government to disclose fuel stock data to prevent public panic and hoarding during this period of economic instability.
