I Love Muhammad Row, Youth Attacked Over Lord Shiva Post, And Stone-pelting At Garba
The government of Gujarat has launched a massive demolition drive in Gujarats Dahegam municipality-based Bahiyal village of the Gandhinagar district of Gujarat, following the recent communal riots during Navratri. The riots broke out on 24th September following a controversial social media post, prompting stone pelted between two groups. Police then registered riot cases against close Continue reading I Love Muhammad Row, Youth Attacked Over Lord Shiva Post, And Stone-pelting At Garba The post I Love Muhammad Row, Youth Attacked Over Lord Shiva Post, And Stone-pelting At Garba appeared first on OurVoice | WeRIndia - Analysis & Opinion .
Gandhinagar rioters face the axe: 186 illegal shops demolished after navratri clash
Authorities in Gandhinagar have initiated a demolition drive targeting 186 illegal structures belonging to individuals involved in a stone-pelting incident during Navratri. The violence erupted in Bahiyal village following an objectionable social media post, leading to damage of shops and vehicles. Police had detained around 60 people, with over 200 implicated in the rioting.
Demolition underway of illegal properties in Gandhinagar
The police had detained nearly 60 persons for the clash and rioting that occurred in the village. More than 200 people were involved in the rioting, in which several vehicles and shops were damaged and some were set on fire, the police had said.
Illegal encroachment crackdown: Over 186 structures demolished in Gandhinagar's Bahiyal
AHMEDABAD: Former Gujarat Assembly Speaker and senior BJP leader Ramanlal Vora is once again embroiled in controversy after a screenshot of a WhatsApp chat allegedly linked to him went viral. The message, reportedly from a party group, referred to doing a Visavadar-wali, a phrase widely interpreted within BJP circles as an allusion to anti-party activity. The phrase refers to the Visavadar Assembly by-election, where the BJP had suffered defeat at the hands of the Aam Aadmi Party amid internal rifts and factionalism. The message was circulated in the context of the unfulfilled demand for the formation of Jadar taluka, sparking a political storm within the Sabarkantha unit of the BJP. As the controversy gained traction, Vora issued a clarification denying any disloyalty or negative remarks against the party. Vora admitted that the phone number and chat belonged to him, but maintained that the message was part of a conspiracy to defame him. I have never made any negative statements about the BJP. Since 2022, a false narrative has been running against me, and even a few within the BJP are behind it, he claimed. He further demanded that the state government should investigate the matter thoroughly and distinguish truth from falsehood. However, Vora did not explain how or by whom the message was circulated. This is not the first time the veteran leader has faced controversy. Earlier, party workers from Gandhinagar had accused him of illegally acquiring agricultural land despite not being a registered farmer, only to transfer the lands to his sons later. Several BJP members had called for a transparent probe into the alleged land deal. The repeated controversies surrounding Vora have raised questions within the party about internal discipline and factional politics, particularly at a time when the BJP is preparing for upcoming local and state-level electoral challenges.
Why does IITian dislike leaving office early? It's not due to workaholism or toxic workplace
An IIT Gandhinagar graduate in Gurugram sparked discussion by revealing he dislikes leaving office early to avoid city traffic. By adjusting his work hours, he reclaims mornings for personal growth, enhancing mental energy and productivity. He advocates for flexible schedules as an underrated hack to improve well-being and work performance.
Financial assets worth Rs 1.84 lakh crore lying unclaimed with banks, regulators: Sitharaman
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched a campaign in Gandhinagar. The initiative aims to return 1.84 lakh crore rupees in unclaimed financial assets. These funds are with banks and regulators. The three-month Apki Poonji, Apka Adhikar campaign will focus on awareness, access, and action. Officials will ensure rightful owners claim their money. The RBI's UDGAM portal will assist claimants.
AHMEDABAD: Jagdish Vishwakarma is all set to be elected unopposed as Gujarat BJP president, strengthening Ahmedabads grip on both the government and the party. His elevation, strategically timed ahead of local body polls, signals not only a caste-calibrated move to balance Patidar and OBC power but also sets the stage for a looming cabinet expansion under Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. The suspense over Gujarat BJPs leadership has ended with a decisive twist. Jagdish Vishwakarma, MLA from Nikol in Ahmedabad city, is set to be announced as the partys new state president. The announcement, overseen by Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, marks the culmination of a process that began on October 2 and concluded Friday, with Vishwakarma emerging as the sole candidate backed unanimously by 292 state council members. His elevation is no ordinary development. For the first time in years, both the government and the party organisation are controlled by leaders from the same city: Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel from Ghatlodia in West Ahmedabad, and Vishwakarma from Nikol in East Ahmedabad. This rare concentration of power cements Ahmedabads dominance over Gujarats twin power centres Gandhinagars corridors of governance and the BJPs political machinery. The timing is crucial. With municipal and panchayat elections slated for next year, the BJP has deliberately handed the reins to an OBC leader, balancing caste equations in a state where Patel represents the Patidar stronghold. Vishwakarmas rise is being read as a direct counter to Congress, which recently appointed OBC leader Amit Chavda as its state president, signaling a head-on battle for backward class votes. But the story doesnt end with his election. Speculation is rife that Vishwakarmas tenure as president could be short-lived, as he is tipped to join the cabinet in the imminent reshuffle. If inducted, he would have to step down from the organisational post, triggering yet another leadership adjustment inside the BJP. Party strategists, however, insist that the Patel-Vishwakarma duo represents the perfect mix of Patidar strength and OBC outreach a social engineering model that will define the BJPs grassroots strategy leading into the 2027 Assembly polls. For now, the leadership question may be settled, but the spotlight shifts immediately to Gandhinagar, where the much-awaited cabinet expansion is expected to redraw Gujarats political map in the coming weeks.
CBI arrests govt official for taking bribe of Rs 3.5 lakh
New Delhi, Oct 3: The CBI has arrested an official of Integrated Financial Advisor, Controller General of Defence Accounts, for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 3.5 lakh to clear a supply order for installation of CCTVs in an Air Force station, officials said on Friday. The owner of the CCTV company approached the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) claiming that Ashok Kumar Jadav, auditor/personnel of Integrated Financial Advisor (IFA), Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA), Gandhinagar (Gujarat) and an [] The post CBI arrests govt official for taking bribe of Rs 3.5 lakh appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Gujarat BJP to elect new state president on October 4
AHMEDABAD: After months of speculation and a year-long delay, the Gujarat BJP is finally set to elect its new state president. With the form-filling process beginning on 3 October and voting scheduled for 4 October, the suspense over caste and regional equations has intensified. Sources say the next president is likely to be an OBC leader, balancing against the Patidar chief minister and shaping the partys strategy ahead of local polls in December and the 2027 Assembly elections. The one-year-long uncertainty over the Gujarat BJPs state president has finally reached a decisive point. After prolonged deliberations, the party has officially announced the election schedule, ending months of speculation and backroom manoeuvring. According to the programme, forms will be filled on 3 October between 11 am and 2 pm, followed by verification from 3 pm to 4 pm. Candidates will have the option to withdraw between 5 pm and 5:30 pm. The next morning, voting will be conducted from 10 to 11 am on 4 October, with the counting and announcement of results by 11:30 am. This election holds unusual significance because of the caste and regional balancing act the BJP leadership has been struggling with for nine months. While Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel hails from the Patidar community and represents Ghatlodia in central Gujarat, outgoing state president C.R. Patil represents South Gujarat. That makes it almost certain, insiders say, that the new president will be chosen from the OBC community, most likely from Saurashtra or North Gujarat. The importance of this exercise is not merely symbolic. With local body elections scheduled in December and the 2027 Assembly polls on the horizon, the new state president will carry the responsibility of ensuring a united front while managing the factional pulls of leaders like Amit Shah, Anandiben Patel, and C.R. Patil, each of whom commands significant influence within Gujarat BJP. Meanwhile, the political buzz at Kamalam, the party headquarters in Gandhinagar, has reached fever pitch. Preparations are underway, with a pavilion being built, as leaders and workers keenly debate caste equations and ideological leanings. Since the chief minister is a Patidar, the consensus is that the presidents chair is reserved for an OBC leader, a move aimed at electoral arithmetic and broader social outreach. Adding to the intrigue is the role of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Traditionally watchful, the RSS has been unusually assertive this time. At the 25 August Kamalam meeting held to plan Prime Minister Narendra Modis birthday Seva Pakhwada, RSS Gujarat Prant Karyavah Shailesh Patel was seen alongside BJP MLAs, MPs, and office-bearers, the first such joint appearance in years. Sources suggest that the Sangh is keen on a president with a clear ideological grounding, further complicating the already delicate selection process. The political shadow of Anandiben Patel, now Governor of Uttar Pradesh, also looms large. Her recent Gujarat visit, including a stop at Khodaldham in Kagwad, Rajkot, is being read as significant. Sources claim she met several state leaders and may have conveyed the ground mood to the national leadership, shaping the final choice of president. For the BJP, the stakes could not be higher. The party knows that in Gujarat, where caste and regional identity can tilt the political balance, the choice of the next state president will decide not just the December civic polls but also lay the foundation for the 2027 Assembly battle.
Gujarat man dies in custody two weeks after arrest for 'leaking' sensitive documents to journalist
AHMEDABAD: Nishidh Jani, a Gujarat Maritime Board clerk arrested for allegedly leaking sensitive documents to journalist Mahesh Langa, died in hospital after his health collapsed inside Sabarmati jail. His sudden death amid corruption and GST scam allegations linking him to Langa has raised serious questions. Jani died under mysterious circumstances just two weeks after his arrest in a sensitive document leak case tied to Langa. Already suffering from a lung-related ailment, he was lodged in Sabarmati Central Prison when his health deteriorated late Monday night. According to Gandhinagar SP Ravi Teja Vasamsetty, jail officials rushed Jani to the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, where doctors declared him dead during treatment. The police officer confirmed that Jani had long struggled with lung problems, but his sudden collapse while in custody has drawn attention. Janis arrest was directly linked to the October 2024 case against Langa after Gandhinagar police recovered confidential Gujarat Maritime Board documents during a raid at the latter's residence. At the time, Langa had already been arrested by the Ahmedabad crime branch in connection with a Goods and Services Tax scam, deepening suspicions of a larger corruption nexus. Following the GMBs official complaint, police registered a separate case of document theft and corruption. Investigators soon identified Jani as the insider who allegedly passed the sensitive files to Langa. He was arrested two weeks ago under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita provisions of theft and the Prevention of Corruption Act. While Langa continues to face multiple probes, Janis abrupt death has now cast a shadow on the entire investigation. With the key accused gone, questions linger over how deep the leak network ran inside the Gujarat Maritime Board and whether more names could tumble out.
From teacher to trickster: Gujarat police nab car scam kingpin in Mumbai
AHMEDABAD: A fraudster who rocked Gujarats online car market with a Rs 73 lakh fraud has finally landed in police net. Junagadh police nabbed the fraudster from Dahisar, Mumbai, after a high-tech chase across states. For three years, he duped car buyers and sellers on apps like OLX and CAR-24, trapping victims in 31 cases across 11 districts of Gujarat. The accused, Piyush Maheshbhai Patel (39), a resident of Visnagar, Mehsana, Gujarat was caught from Dahisar, Mumbai, after an intensive three-day surveillance operation. The story broke from Junagadh, where on September 25, 2025, a resident filed a complaint at the A-Division Police Station. The fraudster, posing as Dhaval Patel from CAR-24, trapped a local doctor by offering an inflated price for his Swift and luring him with a Brezza in return. Once the deal was set for just Rs 2.25 lakh through Angadiya payment, the scammer switched off his phone and vanished. The victims complaint led SP Subodh Odedara to order immediate action. PI and his team tracked the fraudsters digital trail, discovering he was operating from Mumbai. Using local intelligence, officers lay in wait inside a Mumbai salon for three days before finally nabbing the accused in Dahisar. Police interrogation peeled back Patels web of deceit. A former schoolteacher and car showroom worker, debt drove him into crime. His modus operandi was chillingly systematic: he would scan car-sale ads on OLX, pose as a CAR-24 agent, and bait owners with high offers. At the same time, he would tempt dealers in nearby cities with quick-sale cars at throwaway prices. Once both sides were convinced, Patel collected payments through Angadiya, then switched off his mobile and re-emerged with a new number and a new name. Patels aliases ranged from Dhawal, Arpit, Hardik, Sanjay, Rajendra Panchal, Jaimin, Hemala carousel of fake identities that helped him cheat buyers and sellers of 42 cars in three years. The confession is staggering: 31 cases registered in 11 districts, including Ahmedabad (6 cases), Gandhinagar, Bharuch, Botad, Banaskantha, Rajkot, and Kutch, with a total fraud of Rs 73.30 lakh. Earlier, he had already duped victims of nearly Rs 1 crore. From Patels possession, police seized a Samsung Galaxy A-35, 13 SIM cards, 3 blank HDFC cheques, and fraud-linked materials. His record reveals he turned Gujarats car market into his hunting ground, repeatedly exploiting digital platforms with surgical precision. The police have now tightened the investigation to identify possible accomplices and recover the looted money.
Hindu groups have responded with 'I Love Mahadev'and 'I Love Mahakaal'banners
BJP Functionaries Booked for Unlawful Protest in Bengaluru
The protest, which continued till 1 pm, saw BJP workers, including Gandhinagar BJP Mandal President Karunakar Yadav, Pradeep, Jayaram and others raising slogans against the government.
Communal clashes in Gandhinagar over WhatsApp status, 60 detained
The conflict erupted over a WhatsApp status message referencing an ongoingsocial media trend on the declarations I love Muhammad or I love Mahadev
Violence erupts in Gujarat village over social media post; shops vandalised, 60 detained
Violence broke out in Bahiyal village of Gandhinagar district late on Wednesday night following an objectionable social media post, the police said on Thursday. According to officials, a group of people allegedly vandalised several shops and vehicles and pelted stones, prompting the police to detain around 60 persons in connection with the incident. Four shops and five to six vehicles were damaged in the attack, Gandhinagar Superintendent of Police Ravi Teja Vasamsetty told reporters. The violence was reportedly triggered by a social media post made by a Hindu man referencing the ongoing trend I love Muhammad, which angered members of the minority community, the SP said. At around 11 pm on Wednesday, a group allegedly broke the shutters of a shop belonging to the person who had uploaded the WhatsApp status. Goods were taken from the shop and set on fire, the official said. The group later hurled stones on Hindu areas. Stones were pelted at the group from Hindu areas aswell, the official added. Heavy police deployment has been made in the area, and the situation is now under control. No details of injuries were immediately available. (With inputs from PTI)
Gujarat killer gunned down by police during 'escape bid' at murder scene reconstruction
AHMEDABAD: The psycho killer who brutally stabbed a youth to death and attacked a young woman near Gandhinagars Ambapur Narmada Canal in Gujarat was gunned down by police during a dramatic encounter on Wednesday evening. The accused, Vipul Parmar, who had stabbed 22-year-old Vaibhav Manwani to death and injured a young woman during a brutal robbery, turned violent during the murder scene reconstruction, attempting to snatch a police revolver and injuring three officers before being shot dead. According to Gandhinagar Range IG Virendra Yadav, Parmar was handcuffed and being escorted by LCB PI Diwan Singh Wala and PI H.P. Parmar when he lunged at PSI Patadia, snatched his revolver, and opened fire. Head Constable Rajendra Singh was shot in the left hand as chaos erupted. Parmar then fired at police vehicles, shattering a front windshield and hitting another door, while attempting to flee through the canals service road. The police responded immediately, with PI Diwan Singh and PI H.P. Parmar firing back and fatally shooting Parmar. Emergency services were immediately informed, and 108 paramedics declared him dead on the spot. Three policemen were injured in the exchange, with Rajendra Singh currently undergoing treatment at Apollo Hospital. This dramatic shootout was the culmination of a four-day manhunt. The shocking incident began on September 20 at 1:15 am, when Vaibhav and his female friend were sitting in a car near the canal celebrating a birthday. Vipul, roaming the area with robbery on his mind, ambushed the couple on a deserted stretch near Ambapur Canal Bridge. When Vaibhav resisted, Parmar stabbed him multiple times, killing him on the spot. The young woman was also brutally attacked and remains under treatment at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. Parmar fled with their car, cash, and valuables, but abandoned the vehicle shortly after it broke down. Following the murder, Parmar evaded police, taunting them while moving between Challa and Dehgam areas. With mounting pressure, the Ahmedabad Crime Branch joined the hunt and tracked him to Manda Dungar, Rajkot, where he was arrested on September 23. Interrogation revealed that Parmar was mentally unstable and prone to violent outbursts when provoked. On Wednesday, Parmar was brought back to the crime scene for reconstruction, but his violent attempt to escape turned into Gandhinagars first-ever police encounter, ending his reign of terror. The deceaseds body was taken to Gandhinagar Civil Hospital, where the area was sealed off for a detailed panchnama. Today, a panel postmortem will be conducted in the presence of FSL experts, with the entire procedure being videographed to determine the exact sequence of gunfire. Forensic tests will also confirm how many rounds Parmar fired and how many were fired by the police in retaliation. IG Virendra Yadav clarified that the victims family was not present during the reconstruction, and Parmars relatives have been informed. As news of the encounter spread, locals who had been living in fear finally breathed a sigh of relief, marking the end of a chilling saga that began with a birthday celebration but ended in bloodshed and justice.
Two Groups Clash In Gujarat During Garba Over Online Post; Vehicles, Shop Damaged
A dispute over a social media post led to clashes in Gandhinagar, injuring several and damaging vehicles. Police vehicles were also attacked.
Gujarat model: Bulldozers for Dalits, poor, free land for crony capitalists, alleges Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi has accused the BJP government in Gujarat of targeting Dalits, backward classes, and the poor with bulldozers, citing the demolition of 400 homes in Gandhinagar's Pethapur slum. He alleges the BJP favors crony capitalists by providing them with land for free, while dispossessing vulnerable communities.
Gujarat model: Bulldozers for Dalits, poor, free land for crony capitalists, alleges Rahul
New Delhi, Sep 24 (PTI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the ruling BJP in Gujarat on Wednesday of using bulldozers against Dalits, backwards and the poor, while giving thousands of acres of land to crony capitalists for free. He highlighted the razing of 400 houses in Gandhinagars Pethapur slum and dubbed it as the Gujarat model that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wants to implement across the country. Gandhi also shared a video of the razed houses on X. The leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha said the BJP clearly knows that it cannot come to power through the
IPR Gandhinagar team proposes roadmap for Indias fusion power plans
Controlled fusion can only happen in extreme conditions, the kinds that exist inside stars. There are currently two popular ways to achieve this: inertial confinement and magnetic confinement. India is already invested in the magnetic confinement technique as a member of the ITER project, which is building a reactor in France
India Will Be Among Top 10 Countries On Global Innovation Index In Next 3 Years: Amit Shah
Gandhinagar, Sep 23: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said Indias ranking on the Global Innovation Index has gone up from 91 to 38 in the last decade, and expressed confidence that it would secure a position among the top 10 in the next three years. The Startup India campaign launched under Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership has started showing results as India now has the third largest startup ecosystem globally, and has made the countrys youth job creators [] The post India Will Be Among Top 10 Countries On Global Innovation Index In Next 3 Years: Amit Shah appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
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PM Modi undertakes aerial survey of Dholera Special Investment Region near Ahmedabad
The Dholera Special Investment Region is around 100 km south of Ahmedabad and 134 km from State capital Gandhinagar
Gandhinagar civic body begins demolition of 700 illegal structures along the Sabarmati river
About 150 houses and shops have been razed
Gujarat court issues notices to two journalists on Adani Group's defamation plaint
Adani Group has filed criminal defamation complaints against journalist Abhisar Sharma and blogger Raju Parulekar, leading to court notices for their appearance on September 20. The complaints, filed in Gandhinagar, accuse Sharma and Parulekar of disseminating false and defamatory content aimed at tarnishing the conglomerate's reputation through a YouTube video and social media posts.
Hindi should be language of science, judiciary, and police: Amit Shah
GANDHINAGAR: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said there was no conflict between Hindi and other Indian languages, and stressed that it should not just serve as a spoken tongue but must also become a language of science, technology, the judiciary, and police. Addressing the inaugural session of the 5th Akhil Bharatiya Rajbhasha Sammelan, Shah said Indians must preserve their languages and make them immortal, urging parents to speak to children in their mother tongue. There is no conflict between Hindi and other Indian languages. Learned men like Dayanand Saraswati, Mahatma Gandhi, KM Munshi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and many others accepted Hindi and promoted it. Gujarat, where Gujarati and Hindi have coexisted, is an excellent example of the development of both languages, he said. The Union minister said, Hindi is not just a spoken language or a language of administration. Hindi should also be the language of science, technology, justice and police. When all these works are done in Indian languages, then the connection with the public is automatically established. Shah said that while Sanskrit has given us he Ganga of knowledge, and Hindi has taken this knowledge to every home, and that knowledge has reached every person through our local languages. He said parents must always speak to children in their mother tongues. This is very important for the child's future, as many psychologists and educationists have confirmed that a child thinks in his mother tongue. As soon as you impose a language other than the mother tongue on a child, 25 to 30 per cent of his mind's capacity will be spent in translating it, Shah said. He further said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has worked to strengthen local languages through various types of technology, and the Home Ministry has created Bhartiya Bhasha Anubhag (Indian languages department), which will promote Hindi and other languages. For this, we are using science and technology a lot, he said. Shah said that Hindi has a place in education in Gujarat, a development which was made possible due to leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Dayanand Saraswati, etc, who urged people to communicate with each other and promote Hindi in every state. As a result of this, a child from Gujarat can go anywhere in the country, do business and get acceptance, he said. He pointed out that Bahubhashi Anuvad Sarthi is being used for translations powered by advanced technology. By training this software, we will keep enriching it further, and in the coming days, the citizens of a country will be able to communicate in their own language through this, he said. He said that one cannot aspire for independence and self-respect if the language of communication is not one's own. The Hindi Shabd Sindhu, which started with 51,000 words, has now crossed 7 lakh words, and by 2029, it will become the largest dictionary among all languages in the world, Shah said. I assure you that by 2029, this Hindi Shabd Sindu will become the largest dictionary among all languages of the world. Through this dictionary, we have also made Hindi flexible. Many Hindi scholars insist that Hindi should be Sanskrit-rich. No one has any objection to this. But the empty space has to be filled with Indian languages. Only then will Hindi feel familiar to all the people of India. And Hindi can be made a spoken language only when it becomes flexible, he said. We have to make many such changes with time. Those who do not change with time become history. I believe that our language is history, it is the present as well as the future. And that is why the use of the experiment with Shabd Sindhu is to make Hindi very useful, flexible and useful for the masses, he said.
'Respect All Indian Languages': Amit Shah's Hindi Diwas Message From Gujarat Summit
Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed the 5th Akhil Bhartiya Rajbhasha Sammelan on Hindi Diwas 2025 in Gujrat's Gandhinagar.
AHMEDABAD: Despite massive cess collections meant to uplift construction workers, Gujarats welfare machinery has failed to deliver, says report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) on Welfare of Building and Other Construction Workers. Only 32 per cent of released funds were utilised, while 13 of 31 welfare schemes were shut down, leaving thousands without pensions, housing support, or food assistance. Meanwhile, municipal bodies sat on crores of rupees in unaccounted cess, exposing a complete breakdown in accountability. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report on the Welfare of Building and Other Construction Workers for the period ending March 2022 was tabled in the Gujarat Assembly on Wednesday. Even the funds released to the Board were grossly underutilized. Against Rs 2,544.81 crore sanctioned, only Rs 808.49 crore (32%) was spent between 2006 and 2023. Rs 782.03 crore on welfare schemes and a meager Rs 26.46 crore on administration. A staggering Rs 1,736.32 crore remained unspent as of March 2023, even as construction workers struggled for basic welfare. Welfare schemes themselves collapsed under mismanagement. Of the 31 schemes active between 2017-22, 13 schemes (42%) were either discontinued or put on hold. The Old Age Pension Scheme, a lifeline for aging workers, has been frozen since May 2019, leaving thousands without financial support. The Shramik Annapurna Yojana, which provides subsidized meals, operated in only nine districts out of Gujarats 33 during 2017-22. Even by June 2024, it covered just 19 districts, excluding nearly half the state. Housing schemes performed even worse. Under the Nanajee Deshmukh Awas Yojana and Housing Subsidy Scheme, only 37 workers received benefits in five years, with zero beneficiaries under the Housing Subsidy Scheme. Meanwhile, workers continued to live in precarious, unsafe conditions. Audit scrutiny revealed delays, unjustified rejections, and exclusion of eligible workers across multiple welfare schemes. In October 2020, the Board released Rs 52 crore to seven municipal corporations under the Corona Surakhsha Kavach Yojana to provide protective measures during the pandemic. But by March 2023, Rs 36 crore remained unaccounted for, and no steps were taken to recover Rs 12.50 crore of unutilized grants from three corporations. Cess collection itself was riddled with irregularities. Though the state revised cess rates in September 2013 to 1% of actual construction costs, auditors found non-compliance and delays across five districts. Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation failed to deposit Rs 72.06 crore collected between March 2021 and March 2022. Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation had never separately accounted for cess collections since its inception in 2010. Following audit pressure, it finally deposited 27.52 crore for 2018-23, but only in September 2024. In 20 units across five districts, cess deposits were delayed by one to 16 months, violating rules. Meanwhile, inspections, though increasing from 799 in 2017 to 3,378 in 2022, were still inadequate. At least 2,146 registered establishments 15% of total were never inspected, allowing unsafe practices to flourish unchecked. Even flagship programs showed mixed results. The Dhanvantari Aarogya Rath Yojana, launched in 2013 to provide free on-site medical care, was widely appreciated. In a beneficiary survey, all 50 surveyed workers confirmed receiving treatment, and 35 of 42 received free prescribed medicines. However, this success stood in stark contrast to the widespread failure of other schemes. The audits final finding is damning: Gujarats construction welfare system has become a black hole of unspent funds, stalled schemes, and neglected workers. While nearly Rs 4,800 crore in cess collections flowed into government accounts over 17 years, only a fraction reached the workers it was meant to protect a glaring indictment of systemic apathy and mismanagement.
Gujarat scam complaints pile up, just Rs 7.5 crore recovered out of Rs 402 crore
AHMEDABAD: On Day 1 of the Gujarat Assembly session, Congress MLA Jignesh Mevani grilled the state government on scam complaints under the Gujarat Protection of Interest of Deposits Act-2003. The Home Department revealed 81 complaints were filed in the past two years, with a staggering Rs 402.21 crore trapped. To recover the money, the state seized and auctioned properties of two companies, but only Rs 7.53 crore has been returned to duped investors so far leaving a massive gap still unresolved. The monsoon session of the Gujarat Assembly opened with a storm on Monday, as Congress MLA Jignesh Mevani dropped the bombshell on the state government. On Day 1, Mevani asked the Home Department about the fraudulent Ponzi schemes and scam companies that duped thousands of investors across Gujarat. In his query, Mevani demanded details on how many complaints were filed under the Gujarat Protection of Interest of Deposits Act, 2003, how much public money is stuck, and how much has actually been recovered. The governments reply shocked the House as 81 complaints were lodged in the past two years, trapping a staggering Rs 402.21 crore of investors' money. Despite this massive figure, action was taken against only two companies, with seized assets auctioned off. The recovery? A meagre Rs 7.53 crore returned to investors. This revelation comes against the backdrop of two mega scams that rocked Gujarat in the last two years. In 2024, Bhupendrasinh Zala, CEO of BZ Group, allegedly pulled off a Rs 6,000-crore Ponzi scam by luring over 14,000 investors with promises of double returns in three years and lucrative monthly payouts. Gandhinagar CID Crime teams raided multiple locations across Sabarkantha, Vadodara, Gandhinagar, and Rajasthan, uncovering transactions worth Rs 175 crore linked to the group. BZ Financial Services, at the scam's core, was found to be completely unauthorised. As the BZ scandal was still unfolding, 2025 brought another crypto-fueled scam, this time in Rajkot. A company named Blockora duped 8,000 investors, including 40 from Rajkot alone, siphoning off Rs 300 crore. The scheme promised daily returns of Rs 4,000 on an initial investment of Rs 4.25 lakh. Investors were pushed to buy a fake cryptocurrency called TABC, only for the companys founders and partners to vanish overnight.
Gujarat on red alert as IMD warns of torrential rains for two days
AHMEDABAD: Gujarat is bracing for two days of torrential rains as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red alerts for several districts. The state government has swung into action, deploying 12 NDRF and 20 SDRF teams across the state, while urging citizens to stay safe, especially during Ganesh Visarjan celebrations and the GPSC examination scheduled for tomorrow. As dark clouds loom over the state, Chief Secretary Pankaj Joshi convened an emergency review meeting at the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC), Gandhinagar, on Saturday, to assess preparedness. With heavy rainfall predicted on September 6 and 7, the IMD has sounded red alerts for Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, Aravalli, Mehsana, and Surendranagar districts on Saturday, and in Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, Mehsana, and Kutch for Sunday. Meanwhile, orange alerts have been issued in Patan, Gandhinagar, Morbi, Rajkot, and Botad. During the high-level meeting, attended by Additional Chief Secretary Jayanti Ravi and Relief Commissioner Alok Kumar Pandey, district collectors were directed via video conference to stay on high alert. Joshi ordered round-the-clock presence of officials at district headquarters and directed them to monitor water levels in dams, release excess water when needed, and warn low-lying villages in advance. With large crowds expected for Ganesh Visarjan, the Chief Secretary emphasised strict crowd management near immersion sites. Ensure safe immersion by keeping people away from dangerous water bodies, Joshi instructed, highlighting the dual challenge of heavy rains and mass gatherings. The upcoming GPSC examination also came under focus, with orders issued to strengthen security and maintain vigilance at all exam centers. Meanwhile, NDRF and SDRF deployment will be reinforced in red-alert districts, and an additional NDRF team has been kept on standby in Vadodara. The review also saw coordination with multiple departments, including Animal Husbandry, Agriculture, Energy, Health, Panchayat, Urban Development, Irrigation, and Roads, to ensure readiness for any emergency situation. So far, Gujarat has received 98% of its seasonal average rainfall, and the next 48 hours could prove crucial as authorities race to prevent floods, ensure public safety, and maintain order amid natures fury.
Gujarat on high alert as IMD predicts extreme rainfall; red alert in six districts
AHMEDABAD: Gujarat is bracing for two days of torrential rains as the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red alerts for several districts. The state government has swung into action, deploying 12 NDRF and 20 SDRF teams across the state, while urging citizens to stay safe, especially during Ganesh Visarjan celebrations and the GPSC examination scheduled for tomorrow. Chief Secretary Pankaj Joshi convened an emergency review meeting at the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC), Gandhinagar on Saturday, to assess preparedness. With heavy rainfall predicted on September 6 and 7, the IMD has sounded red alerts today for Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, Aravalli, Mehsana, and Surendranagar districts. Red alert has been issued for Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, Mehsana, and Kutch for tomorrow. Meanwhile, orange alerts have been issued in Patan, Gandhinagar, Morbi, Rajkot, and Botad. During the high-level meeting, attended by Additional Chief Secretary Dr. Jayanti Ravi and Relief Commissioner Alok Kumar Pandey, district collectors were directed via video conference to stay on high alert. Joshi ordered round-the-clock presence of officials at district headquarters and directed them to monitor water levels in dams, release excess water when needed, and warn low-lying villages in advance. With large crowds expected for Ganesh Visarjan, the Chief Secretary emphasised strict crowd management near immersion sites. Ensure safe and smooth immersion by keeping citizens away from dangerous water bodies, Joshi instructed, highlighting the dual challenge of heavy rains and mass gatherings. The upcoming GPSC examination also came under focus, with orders issued to strengthen security and maintain vigilance at all exam centres. Meanwhile, NDRF and SDRF deployment will be reinforced in red-alert districts, and an additional NDRF team has been kept on standby in Vadodara. The review also saw coordination with multiple departments, including Animal Husbandry, Agriculture, Energy, Health, Panchayat, Urban Development, Irrigation, and Roads, to ensure readiness for any emergency situation. So far, Gujarat has received 98% of its seasonal average rainfall, and the next 48 hours could prove crucial as authorities race to prevent floods, ensure public safety, and maintain order amid natures fury.
Ahmedabad Diary | Buzz over CM Patel meeting PM in Delhi
In a surprise political move, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel rushed to Delhi on Thursday, holding a closed-door meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The meeting, held just hours before the Vibrant Gujarat Roadshow in the capital, has triggered intense buzz about the imminent announcement of a new BJP state president. Patel, who will interact with top industrialists, diplomats, and global delegates at the roadshow, praised Modis leadership for making Gujarat a Most Preferred Investment Destination. Political circles are abuzz that this sudden visit signals key policy shifts and a decisive political reshuffle in the state BJP. BJP faction war over joblessness campaign BJPs factional feud in Junagadh burst into the open after former cabinet minister Jawahar Chavda launched an unemployment assistance campaign from his Manavadar bastion. The initiative, aimed at addressing youth joblessness, drew sharp attacks from within his party. BJP MLA Arvind Ladani slammed the drive as a political drama, while Savj Dairy Chairman Dinesh Khataria accused Chavda of betrayal, recalling his switch from the Congress to the BJP. Unfazed, Chavda hit back: My campaign has poured oil in some stomachsanswers will come in time. The escalating war underscores deep rifts in the party. Major reshuffle awaits Gujarat police set-up Gujarat Police is set for a major structural shake-up with plans to increase the number of range IGPs from nine to ten. Sources reveal that Gandhinagar may soon be granted a Police Commissionerate, replacing the SP system, which would prompt Patan and Banaskantha to be transferred out of the Border Range. According to sources, a new Mehsana Range could be formed, while Morbi may merge with East and West Kutch SP areas to create a Kutch-Morbi Range. Simultaneously, Ahmedabad is likely to get a Zone 8 DCP office, driven by the citys growing population and area, signaling sweeping changes in law enforcement operations. Dilip Singh Kshatriya Our correspondent in Gujarat dilipsingh@newindianexpress.com
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BJP vs BJP in Gujarat: Former BJP MLA targets MLA Raman Vora in land scam case
AHMEDABAD: A political storm has erupted in Gujarat after BJP MLA and former cabinet minister Raman Vora was accused of posing as a bogus farmer to purchase agricultural land. The controversy has snowballed with former BJP MLA Poonam Makwana and other complainants demanding criminal action, income-tax scrutiny, and cancellation of land deals allegedly involving Vora's family. The case, which spans Gandhinagar and Idar, has triggered multiple investigations, Mamlatdars notices, and charges of political pressure to suppress evidence. The land scam controversy surrounding the MLA has intensified, with accusations that he falsely posed as a farmer to acquire agricultural land in Gandhinagars Palaj and Idars Dawad villages. Makwana has taken the battle head-on, writing to the Gandhinagar Collector and demanding immediate action against Vora. He alleges that after purchasing the land in 2004 through partnerships, Vora manipulated records, used a bogus farmer certificate, and transferred the land in the names of his wife and sons before selling it off to his close associate Dinesh Patel for Rs 3.7 crore. Former BJP MLA Poonam Makwana has written to the Gandhinagar Collector demanding immediate action against Vora. Patel, in turn, swiftly converted the land to non-agricultural status and handed it back to Voras sons Bhushan and Suhag. Makwanas complaint has raised a bigger question whether these multi-crore deals were ever reflected in income-tax returns. He has demanded that authorities not only probe tax evasion but also take criminal action under Sections 63 and 84-C, and restore the land to the genuine farmer partners. Bank and cheque-related discrepancies have also been highlighted as suspicious financial manoeuvres. Adding fuel to the fire, Prakash Parmar of Ahmedabad filed another complaint before the Collector, presenting evidence that Vora was not a farmer in multiple survey lands in Dawad. He questioned why certain land deeds were reversed, demanding a full inquiry. The Collector has since directed the Idar Deputy Collector to investigate and submit a detailed report. Meanwhile, the probe has shifted gears in Idar, where the Mamlatdars office has issued a notice to Vora, summoning him on September 1 with proof of farmer status and land documents. Investigators claim Vora obtained a fraudulent farmer certificate under the false name Ramanlal Ishwarlal, using it to buy agricultural lands in Gandhinagar and Idar in the names of his wife, Kusumben, and sons. Lands acquired in the names of Voras family were later sold off to individuals in Virpur and Jadar. But when Jetpur Wadali resident Rajendra Patel sought evidence, the then Mamlatdar allegedly withheld documents under political pressure. Patels threat to commit suicide at the Mamlatdars office forced the Revenue Department to intervene, transferring the officer and reopening the case. Now, with fresh notices served and farmer records already being questioned as fake, Vora faces the real risk of punitive action under the Ganot Act in addition to criminal charges.
Shah launches Gujarat govts Dial 112 project; calls it Modis vision for internal security
GANDHINAGAR, Aug 31: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday launched the Gujarat governments Dial 112 Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) and said it was an important step towards new age smart policing system as a unified number will be available for any kind of security related service. The Dial 112 service will free the people of Gujarat from different types of toll free numbers such as 100 for police, 108 for ambulance, 101 for fire, 181 for womens help, [] The post Shah launches Gujarat govts Dial 112 project; calls it Modis vision for internal security appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
AHMEDABAD: In a landmark verdict, the Ahmedabad City Sessions Court has convicted 14 accused, including former BJP MLA Nalin Kotadiya and senior Gujarat police officials, in the infamous 2018 Bitcoin extortion case. The case, which began with the kidnapping of Surat-based builder and cryptocurrency trader Shailesh Bhatt, revealed a murky nexus of politicians, police officers and middlemen in Gujarat. The Bitcoin scandal that shook Gujarat in 2018 has finally reached closure. The Ahmedabad City Sessions Court on Friday convicted 14 accused, among them former BJP MLA Nalin Kotadiya, then Amreli SP Jagdish Patel, and then LCB PI Anant Patel, holding them guilty of alleged kidnapping and extortion in the multi-crore Bitcoin racket. Following Shailesh Bhatts explosive complaint, CID Crime swung into action, arresting all the accused linked to the Bitcoin scandal. The trial unfolded in the ACB Special Court of the City Civil and Sessions Court, Ahmedabad, where the state lined up a staggering 172 witnesses against them. In stark contrast, the defence could produce just one witness, and despite 92 witnesses allegedly turning hostile, the court found the evidence and arguments strong enough to seal the fate of the accused. After nearly three months of intense final arguments, the gavel came down heavy as the court sentenced all 14 accused in the sensational scam to life imprisonment. The case traces back to Surat builder Shailesh Bhatt, who was allegedly trading in cryptocurrencies. In February 2018, Bhatt was lured under threats from individuals claiming to be from the CBI office in Gandhinagar. Instead of a warning, he was allegedly kidnapped from a petrol pump, beaten up, and dragged to a farmhouse by a team led by Amreli police officials using government vehicles. Once in custody of his abductors, Bhatt was allegedly coerced into parting with 176 Bitcoins worth around 9 crore, and was later forced to transfer more digital currency and cash. The demands spiralled from 12 crore transferred to Anant Patels account, to another 50 crore extortion attempt, and eventually a 32 crore ransom routed through the Angadia network. However, the Bitcoin extortion was not a one-way story. Bhatt himself carried a chequered past. He had earlier been accused of allegedly kidnapping BitConnect companys employees and recovering 2,021 Bitcoins, 11,000 Litecoins, and over 14 crore after allegedly losing 1.14 crore in crypto investments. His own complaint, however, blew the lid on a bigger scandal implicating police officers and politicians. As investigations deepened, CID Crime arrested 10 police personnel, including Anant Patel and Surat-based lawyer Ketan Patel. Interrogations revealed the names of then SP Jagdish Patel and former MLA Nalin Kotadiya. Kotadiya, accused of playing the fixer in the racket, went underground. A non-bailable warrant was issued before he was finally arrested from Maharashtras Dhulia and later granted conditional bail in 2019. The net widened further when CBI Inspector Sunil Nair was also accused of allegedly demanding a 10 crore bribe from Bhatt, threatening to unleash ED and Income Tax probes on him. Bhatt claimed he paid 4.6 crore after settling the demand at 5 crore. Now, after years of courtroom battles, the special court in Ahmedabad has brought closure. With 14 convicted, including top cops, a CBI officer, lawyers, and a former legislator, the verdict has laid bare the dangerous collusion of crime, cryptocurrency, and corridors of power in Gujarat.
The Mumbai CentralGandhinagar Vande Bharat Express, India's third Vande Bharat train, now includes Navsari as an additional stop, increasing its halts to eight. Covering 521 km in 6 hours and 30 minutes, the train operates six days a week, excluding Wednesday. Passengers can choose between AC Chair Car and Executive Chair Car options for a comfortable journey.
PM Modi on 2-day visit to Gujarat from August 25
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate houses built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and initiate projects worth Rs 5,477 crore during his two-day visit to Gujarat, starting August 25. The projects span urban development, water supply, and transportation infrastructure across Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, and Mehsana. On August 26, he will inaugurate Maruti Suzuki's first electric vehicle production line.
PM Modi on two-day Gujarat visit from August 25
Gandhinagar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of road projects worth Rs 307 crore during his two-day Gujarat visit on August 25-26, covering Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar and Mehsana districts. The projects, under the states Roads and Buildings Department, are aimed at strengthening connectivity, easing traffic, and boosting industrial growth in North Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Days after slap incident, man held for raising slogans during Delhi CM Rekha Gupta's event
Days after the slap incident, chaos erupted at Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta's public event in the Gandhinagar area on Friday. Notably, it was the first public event attended by Gupta after she was attacked on Wednesday, August 20.
AHMEDABAD: The state capital Gandhinagar is on edge as the Gujarat ex-Army Union continue their protest 'Operation Reservation' for the 23rd day on Tuesday. Ex-servicemen put forth their demand for job quota, land allotment, arms license approval, salary protection, and pending benefits. The Maharelli call turned tense after police detained over 50 protesters, triggering road blockades, clashes, and mass detentions. The agitation has now snowballed into a showdown, with ex-soldiers vowing to continue their protest until their arrested leaders, including union president Jitendra Nimawat, are freed. Our agitation will not stop until our leader is free, declared ex-servicemen, accusing police of treating decorated soldiers like terrorists. What began as a peaceful sit-in at the Sector-6 Satyagraha Camp turned stormy when police detained over 50 ex-servicemen ahead of a proposed Sainik Adhikari Maharelli, citing lack of permission to protest. The crackdown only inflamed tempers. By afternoon, around 1,500 agitated ex-army personnel descended on Ahmedabad, blocking the busy stretch from Airport Circle to Indira Bridge. Chanting Bharat Mata Ki Jai and Vande Mataram, they sat on the road, creating a two-kilometer-long traffic jam that stranded fliers on their way to the airport. Sensing the scale of the unrest, senior police officers, including JCP and DCP-level officials, rushed to the spot. Clashes broke out as ex-servicemen tried to free their detained comrades, forcing police to soften their stance. All detainees were eventually released after negotiations, and the blockade was lifted. But the agitation did not end there. Protesters regrouped, marching toward the Army Hospital for food before setting off for the Gandhinagar Secretariat. Anticipating another escalation, police locked the hospital gates and mounted intensive checks on vehicles and buses entering Gandhinagar. More detentions followed, deepening the standoff. Congress leader Manish Doshi slammed the crackdown as a disgrace for Gujarat, pointing out that even widows of martyrs had been detained. These soldiers are not asking for new rules, only enforcement of what exists. Denying them is shameful, he said, appealing to citizens and political parties to stand with the veterans. Backing the stir, MLA Umesh Makwana called Gujarat the only state where ex-servicemen get no job reservation, no dedicated ministry, and no compensation of Rs 1 crore to martyrs families as in other states. He warned that the governments apathy was eroding the soldiers patience.
Kshatriya history sparks royal row: Gujarat BJP leaders caste, slavery remark triggers walkout
AHMEDABAD: A lecture on Kshatriya history at a college in Mansa, Gandhinagar, on 11 August allegedly turned into a public showdown when Gujarat BJP leader Jairajsinh Parmars comments linking superstition and caste bias to Indias colonial subjugation provoked a heated rebuttal from Mansa States royal, Yograjsinh Raol, leading to his walkout. BJP co-spokesperson and North Gujarat Rajput Community president Jairajsinh Parmar found himself at the centre of a controversy after delivering the address at Mansa College in Mehsana district. Speaking as the main guest at a programme on certificate courses, Parmar said the caste system had tasked Kshatriyas with protecting society, but superstition, prejudice and caste discrimination had weakened the community, paving the way for British rule. Parmars sweeping historical account, covering the era from Afghanistan to the British Raj, claimed that Kshatriyas bore the sole burden of defending the nation while other communities were busy with their own work, eventually reducing Kshatriya numbers and leaving India vulnerable to foreign rule. These comments immediately drew fire from Rajvi Yograjsinh Raol, the royal of Mansa State and a fellow invitee, who interrupted Parmar mid-speech, accusing him of spreading falsehoods about the Kshatriya community. What followed was a tense five-minute verbal clash in front of the audience. As the argument escalated over whether Kshatriyas had ever been enslaved, Raol dismissed Parmars claims and walked out of the event. Witnesses quickly stepped in to prevent further escalation and restore calm. Later, speaking to the media, Parmar stood by his remarks, asserting that history was being misrepresented and that his references to Brahmins, Vaishyas, Shudras and Kshatriyas were part of an academic explanation, not an attack on any community.
UCC on fast track in Gujarat: Report due soon, BJP eyes pre-local poll push
AHMEDABAD: In a politically significant move, the Gujarat government has accelerated efforts to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the State. A high-level committee led by retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Desai met with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi in Gandhinagar on August 5, signalling fast-track action on the draft law. The committee, tasked with assessing the feasibility and framework of a Common Civil Code for Gujarat, is now in its final phase, with Desai confirming that the report will be ready within a month, ruling out the need for any extension. Speculation is rife that the UCC could be notified ahead of the upcoming municipal corporation elections, giving the BJP government a potential ideological edge in the urban polls. A crucial meeting was held in Gandhinagar today between UCC Committee Chairperson Justice (Retd) Ranjana Desai and committee members with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghvi. Speaking after the meeting, Justice Desai said, We met the Governor on August 4 and the Chief Minister on August 5 in a formal interaction. While the exact date for submitting the report is yet to be fixed, it is likely to be submitted this month. As of now, there seems to be no need for an extension. Justice Ranjana Desai has stated that there is no need for an extension now. In light of this, sources indicate that the Gujarat government is likely to implement the Uniform Civil Code soon after receiving the committees report, possibly ahead of the local body elections slated for later this year or early next year. The UCC committee, originally tasked with submitting its report within 45 days, has overshot the deadline due to an unexpectedly high volume of public responses. Gujarat government spokesperson and cabinet minister Hrishikesh Patel attributed the delay to the scale of submissions received. This was a formal meeting. The report will be submitted to the Chief Minister in about a month or slightly more, Patel said. We received nearly 1.5 lakh submissions. Although the government had set a 45-day deadline, it took longer to collect inputs from various communities and social groups, and to compile their views and conclusions. Notably, the government had invited objections and suggestions from individuals and organisations on the proposed UCC. In a major push on the final day of the process, April 15, as many as 96,165 objections were submitted in Gandhinagar by Muslim community leaders from South Gujarat.
A new district flood severity index factors in flood impact on people
Researchers from IIT Delhi and IIT Gandhinagar have come up with a District Flood Severity Index (DFSI) that takes into account the mean duration in days of all flooding events in a district, percentage of area that is historically flooded, total number of deaths, number of people injured, and the population in the district
CM Omar Promotes Kashmir Tourism in Gujarat, Addresses Impact of Pahalgam Attack
AHMEDABAD, JULY 31: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, during his two-day visit to Gujarat for the Travel & Tourism Fair (TTF) in Gandhinagar, made a strong pitch to revive and boost tourism in the Union Territory, acknowledging the temporary setback caused by the tragic Pahalgam terror attack earlier this year. Speaking to reporters [] The post CM Omar Promotes Kashmir Tourism in Gujarat, Addresses Impact of Pahalgam Attack appeared first on Northlines .
CM Omar Abdullah Inaugurates Travel And Tourism Fair, Ahmedabad
CM invites travellers to explore Kashmir, highlights J&Ks year-round attractions GANDHINAGAR (GUJARAT), Jul 31: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today extended a warm invitation to travellers from across the country to explore the unparalleled beauty, rich culture and warm hospitality of Jammu & Kashmir. He was speaking at the inaugural of the Travel & Tourism Fair (TTF) at the Mahatma Mandir Convention & Exhibition Centre at Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Highlighting Jammu & Kashmirs immense tourism potential, the Chief Minister [] The post CM Omar Abdullah Inaugurates Travel And Tourism Fair, Ahmedabad appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
19 Crores Robbed In 102 Days: Gujarat Doctor's 'Digital Arrest' Nightmare
A senior woman doctor in Gujarat's Gandhinagar was kept under 'digital arrest' for over three months, forced to break fixed deposits, take loans, and blackmailed into paying more than Rs 19 crore to fraudsters, police have found
3.3 magnitude tremor hits Gujarat's Kutch; no damage reported
AHMEDABAD : A tremor of 3.3 magnitude hit Gujarat's Kutch district on Thursday morning, the Institute of Seismological Research (ISR) said. The tremor was recorded at 9.52 am, with its epicentre located 16 km south-south west of Bela in the district, the Gandhinagar-based ISR said. No casualty or damage to property was reported because of the tremor, a district disaster response official said. Kutch district is located in a very high risk seismic zone, and earthquakes of lower intensity occur regularly there. The 2001 earthquake in Kutch was the third largest and second most destructive in India over the last two centuries. A large number of towns and villages in the district suffered almost complete destruction, killing 13,800 persons and leaving 1. 67 lakh injured.
AHMEDABAD: Jammu & Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah, attending a travel fair organised at Gandhinagar on July 31 appealed for greater tourist footfall from Gujarat. He credited Gujarat, Maharashtra, and West Bengal for driving tourism to the Valley over the last 30 years. Speaking to the media at Ahmedabad airport ahead of a tourism fair, Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said, If you look at the last 3035 years, the maximum number of tourists to J&K have come from Gujarat, Maharashtra, and West Bengal. My team and I are here to promote J&K tourism, and we sincerely hope to welcome a large number of visitors from Gujarat in the coming season. On the recent Pahalgam terror attack, Abdullah added, We cannot rule out an intelligence and security failure; someone is accountable for what happened. Though the accused has been neutralised, the lack of clarity and responsibility on the security lapse is concerning. Pahalgam attack: UNSC report flags LeT-TRF link, boosts Indias case on Pakistan-backed terror In one of the deadliest extremist strikes in Jammu and Kashmir in recent decades, 26 tourists, including several from Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Karnataka, were gunned down in a brutal ambush at Pahalgam, a scenic hotspot often dubbed the Mini Switzerland of India. Among the victims were Shailesh Kalthia from Surat and Yatish Parmar from Bhavnagar, along with his young son Smit Parmar. The attack not only shattered lives but also dealt a crippling blow to Kashmir's tourism economy. Panic spread swiftly across Gujarat, with many families abruptly cancelling their scheduled trips to the valley. Even seasoned tourists who visited Kashmir annually chose to stay away this time, triggering a sharp nosedive in footfall and revenues. Tourism, which contributes nearly 7-8% to J&Ks GDP, is the lifeline of the regions economy, employing over 2.5 lakh people directly. More than 1,500 houseboats on Srinagars iconic Dal Lake and countless hotels, guides, drivers, and small businesses depend solely on tourist inflow. Jammu and Kashmir tourism departmentholds road show to woo tourists in city The annual tourism industry, currently valued at 12,000 crore, had been projected to soar to 25,00030,000 crore by 2030. But the terror strike marked the beginning of a dark phase, unravelling years of growth. This disruption hit just as Kashmir had started experiencing a boom in tourism post-COVID. From 34 lakh visitors in 2020, the numbers had surged to 1.13 crore in 2021, 1.88 crore in 2022, 2.11 crore in 2023, and 2.36 crore in 2024 including over 65,000 foreign tourists. Now, in a strategic move to rebuild trust and revive inflows, Omar Abdullah is making a direct outreach aimed at reconnecting with the Gujarati tourist base that once played a pivotal role in driving valley tourism. Poor road defeats Jammu and Kashmirtourism goals
Retired forest official from Gujarat's Rajkot duped of Rs 8.93 lakh in digital arrest scam
AHMEDABAD: In a cyber fraud mirroring the recent Rs 19 crore scam in Gandhinagar, a retired forest head clerk from Gujarats Rajkot, has fallen prey to a digital arrest con and lost Rs 8.93 lakh. Posing as officials from TRAI and Maharashtra Cyber Crime, the scammers extorted money from the elderly man by threatening him with criminal charges and arrest. The victim, a former Forest Head Clerk at Bahumali Bhavan, lives near Patidar Chowk in Rajkot. On November 28, 2024, he received a call from a woman identifying herself as Diya Sharma from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). She claimed that two Jio SIM cards linked to his number were being misused and needed to be deactivated immediately. Minutes later, a second call came, this time from someone posing as Inspector Mohit Handa from the Maharashtra Cyber Crime Cell. The caller alleged that an HDFC Bank account had been opened using the victims Aadhaar-linked SIM, through which Rs 68 lakh had been fraudulently transacted. The scammer claimed the money belonged to a woman who had since died by suicide and that an arrest warrant had been issued against the retired clerk. As the victim hesitated, the imposter escalated the pressure. Through a video call, he showed a man in police uniform seated at what appeared to be a police station and claimed the only way to avoid arrest was to provide a security bond of Rs 2 lakh. Terrified, the retired official agreed to cooperate. The accused then shared a WhatsApp link during the video call. Following the instructions, the victim unknowingly transferred Rs 8.93 lakh via UPI in multiple transactions to different bank accounts. Realising he had been duped, the victim immediately contacted the cybercrime helpline 1930 and filed a complaint with the Rajkot City Cyber Crime Police Station. The police have launched an investigation using phone numbers, video call metadata, and other digital traces. The FIR names multiple unknown account holders under charges of cheating and breach of trust. Investigators believe the fraud is linked to a larger inter-state racket exploiting fear and authority to extort money under the guise of digital arrests. Recently, a woman doctor in Gujarat was digitally trapped and defrauded of Rs 19 crore by cybercriminals who pressured her over months with threats and surveillance. The fraudsters made her transfer money into 35 accounts, even taking a loan against her gold. Realising the scam too late, she alerted her family, prompting a CID Cyber Crime probe on July 16. One suspect has been arrested in Surat; a massive manhunt is on for the rest of the syndicate. With similar high-stake scams emerging across Gujarat, police have issued fresh advisories urging citizens to remain vigilant against fake officials and to never share sensitive information or make payments under threat.
Gujarat Doctor Duped Of Rs 19 Crore In 'Digital Arrest' Scam, One Arrested
A Gandhinagar doctor was duped of Rs 19 crore over three months by fraudsters posing as officials who trapped her in a 'digital arrest' scam, a report has claimed.
J&K Housing Board takes over Rotary Club premises in Gandhi Nagar
Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, July 27: Jammu and Kashmir Govt has declined extension of lease to Rotary Club Jammu for alleged violations of the terms & conditions of the lease granted in 1980s. Following the decision, the J&K Housing Board has taken over the Rotary Club premises, situated at A/D Block Green Belt Park Gandhinagar, Jammu. The Club was allotted 3000 sft land in Green Belt area in 1980s. However, the club, not only constructed the building on excess 604.50 sft [] The post J&K Housing Board takes over Rotary Club premises in Gandhi Nagar appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Bengaluru's 'Empire Kababs' Flagged Unsafe By Food Safety Body
Bengaluru's popular Empire restaurant chain has landed in soup after a lab report from the State Food Laboratory, Public Health Institute, declared that chicken kebabs served at its Gandhinagar outlet were unsafe for human consumption.
Two dead, several injured as drunk driver mows down pedestrians in Gujarats Gandhinagar
AHMEDABAD: A speeding car ploughed into pedestrians and motorists on the service road in Gandhinagars Randesan area early Friday morning, leaving two people dead and several others critically injured. The driver, Hitesh Patel, was found heavily intoxicated and has been taken into police custody. According to officials, the accident occurred around morning rush hour when a car (registration number GJ18 EE 7887), driven recklessly by Patel, veered out of control and rammed into bystanders and vehicles along the service road. One of the deceased is a woman, while several others sustained serious injuries. Police confirmed that Hitesh Patel, who also owns the vehicle, was in an inebriated state and unable to even stand when apprehended. Eyewitness Elaben Patel said, The car crashed right in front of me. A man died on the spot. The driver was so drunk he couldnt keep his balance. The accused in police custody Among the injured was Mayur Joshi, whose father, Rahul Joshi, recounted, Mayur had just filled petrol and left for work when the car hit from behind. His condition was initially very bad. As news of the crash spread, Gandhinagar Mayor rushed to the scene and later confirmed, By the time I arrived, two had died. Two more victims are battling for their lives in the hospital. Superintendent of Police Ravi Teja said, Preliminary investigation and eyewitness accounts confirm the driver was under the influence of alcohol. CCTV footage and local statements are being examined. MoS (Home) Harsh Sanghavi said, As soon as I received information about the incident, I spoke to the Range IG and Gandhinagar SP. I have directed them to form a joint team for a thorough investigation and take strict action at the earliest. The police have launched a full-fledged investigation and sealed off the area for forensic examination. The tragedy has sparked fresh outrage over the rising cases of reckless driving in Gujarat's capital.
Gujarat records 54 pc seasonal rainfall
Gandhinagar: The southwest monsoon made an early entry into Gujarat this year, a week ahead of schedule. However, rainfall distribution across the state has been highly uneven over the past month and a half. In the last 24 hours alone, 90 talukas recorded rainfall, with the highest recorded in Jalalpore (Navsari district) at 5.24 inches. Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Climate change is redrawing flash flood maps in India: IIT Study
NEW DELHI: A new study by IIT Gandhinagar has revealed a disturbing shift in Indias flash flood geography, warning that climate change is driving the emergence of new flood-prone regions in areas once considered very safe. Published in the journal 'Natural Hazards', the study, titled Drivers of Flash Floods in the Indian Subcontinental RiverBasinsfindsthat flash flood hotspots are expanding beyond traditionally vulnerable zones into drier and semi-arid regions. Flash floods are sudden inundations caused by extreme rainfall events. They typically occur withina very shorttime frame,usually within six hours,after heavy precipitation, the researchers noted. Characterised by a rapid increase in water flow followed by a quick recession, flash floods are highly unpredictable and can be extremely destructive. The studyobserveda marked rise in flash floods across semi-arid zones of western India, regions previously seen aslow-riskfrom the risk if flash floods.It attributes this shift to an increase in sub-daily precipitation events and rising temperatures, which allow the atmosphere toretainmore moisture and trigger intense rainfall. Even sub-basins earlier considered low in susceptibility are now showing significant increases in both precipitation and streamflow. The researchers compared data from 2001 to 2020 with a baseline of 19812000 and found a sharp rise in wet hours a key driver of flash floods across all Indian river basins not previously categorised as prone. The study noted that specifically, the proportion of non-flash flood-prone sub-basins with increased rainfall and streamflow grew from 51% to 66.5% in the past two decades. Similarly, the study notes thattheareascurrently classified as highly susceptible to flash floods are seeing a reduction in precipitation and streamflow,indicatinga potential future shift in flood hotspots. The percentage of wet hours in these zones declined from 50.3% to 48.7%. According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), over 40 million hectares of land in India are proneto floods. Flash floodsremainone of the deadliest forms of flooding, causing over 5,000 deaths annually and inflicting significant socio-economic and environmental damage. More importantly,flash floods have the highest mortality rate among all flood typesincluding riverine and coastal. As the climate continues to warm, the study urges policymakers to rethink flood-risk zones and adapt disaster management strategies to this evolving threat landscapeso that they are better prepared to deal with the situation.
Savy Infra Logistics sets SME IPO price band at Rs 114-120/share, public issue to open on Jul 21
NEW DELHI, July 20:Gandhinagar-based EPC player Savy Infra & Logistics on Sunday said it has fixed the price band at Rs 114-120 per equity share for its Rs 70 crore initial public offer, which will open for public subscription on July 21. The initial public offering (IPO) will conclude on July 23, and the companys shares will be listed on the NSE Emerge, Savy Infra & Logistics said in a statement. The IPO is entirely a fresh issue of [] The post Savy Infra Logistics sets SME IPO price band at Rs 114-120/share, public issue to open on Jul 21 appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Gujarat CMO, secretariat get bomb threat; turns out to be hoax
Gujarat's Chief Minister's Office and state secretariat in Gandhinagar received a bomb threat via email. Authorities conducted a thorough search of the premises. The search included the bomb detection and disposal squad. Police determined the threat was a hoax. An FIR has been registered against the unidentified sender. Several schools and courts in Gujarat also received similar hoax threats recently.
Autorickshaw driver held for throwing acid on Home Guard in Gandhinagar
The woman home guard had reprimanded him about the improperly parked autorickshaw
Rickshaw driver attacks female home guard with acid in Gujarat; arrested
AHMEDABAD: In a chilling act of revenge, a rickshaw driver attacked a female home guard jawan with acid during traffic duty in Chhatral village of Kalol taluka of Gujarat on the morning of July 18. The woman sustained burns on her hand, shoulder, and neck and was rushed to Gandhinagar Civil Hospital where she is undergoing treatment. The accused, who initially fled the scene, has been arrested. The shocking incident unfolded under the Chhatral overbridge, where home guard personnel were deployed for routine traffic regulation. Trouble erupted when a female jawan asked a rickshaw driver to properly align his vehicle, which was parked sideways obstructing traffic. Enraged by the minor instruction, the rickshaw driver picked up a quarrel with her. Before the altercation could escalate, fellow jawans intervened, and the man was escorted to the local police station. After being counselled, he was let off but the confrontation didnt end there. Consumed by rage and humiliation, the man allegedly returned home, procured acid, and came back to the Chhatral overbridge within half an hour. Without warning, he approached the same female home guard and hurled acid at her. As she screamed and fled in panic, nearby policemen rushed to her aid and immediately shifted her to Gandhinagar Civil Hospital. Kalol Division DySP P.D. Manwar confirmed the attack, stating, The accused rickshaw driver, infuriated after being told to park properly, went home, brought acid, and threw it at the woman on duty. She has sustained injuries and is under treatment. The accused has been arrested, and a case has been registered. Police said the man Ashok s/o Ramesh Rawat is now in custody and further investigation is underway. The attack has sparked outrage, with calls for stricter action against acid-related crimes, especially targeting public servants on duty.
Patidar power play: BJP's Amrutiya challenges AAP's Italia in Gujarat's Morbi
AHMEDABAD: BJPs Kanti Amrutia and AAPs Gopal Italia, both from Gujarat's Patidar community, have locked horns in a bizarre showdown. What began as political posturing over public agitations in Morbi has now snowballed into a high voltage drama, replete with resignations, convoys, viral videos, and taunts all under the shadow of Gujarats prized Patidar vote bank. The political slugfest between BJP MLA from Morbi, Kanti Amrutia, and AAPs Gopal Italia, MLA from Visavadar, hit fever pitch on Monday as Amrutia stormed into Gandhinagar with a dramatic 100 vehicle convoy, vowing to resign if AAPs Italia showed up; he did not. This wasnt just a stunt. It was a calculated reply to what Amrutia calls threats of Visavadarwali, a taunt hurled during recent agitations in Morbi, allegedly by AAP workers to provoke unrest and pressure the administration. The jibe referenced Italias bypoll win in Visavadar, suggesting a repeat in Morbi, a challenge BJPs MLA Amrutia took personally. Amrutia publicly dared Italia to contest from Morbi. If Italia wins, Amrutia pledged to resign and even promised a Rs 2 crore reward. Italia, not one to back down, accepted via a viral video. Thus was born Gujarats most theatrical political showdown of the season. Ive come with my resignation papers, Amrutia declared, waiting in the Assembly complex till 12:15 pm. If Gopalbhai had the courage, he shouldve come. But this is not development politics, this is misleading the Patidar youth with drama and lies. He said. He didnt stop there. Italia is dividing the Patidar community. Ive come to stop such people. Interestingly, top BJP leaders distanced themselves from the brawl. Assembly Speaker Shankar Chaudhary said, This isnt our concern focus should be on public service. Health Minister Rushikesh Patel added, This isnt challenge politics. Gujarat only knows development politics. Yet beneath the development slogan lies a clear truth: the BJP and AAP are both fiercely courting Patidar voters and internal rivalries, public stunts, and online warfare are now fair play in this high stakes tug of war.
Pharma distributor arrested in Hyderabad for selling counterfeit anti-epileptic drugs
The seizure was made during a raid conducted on July 4 on the premises of Arvind Pharma Distributors, located in the SBI Staff Colony, Gandhinagar
DCA arrests one for selling fake epilepsy medication in Hyderabad
Hyderabad: The Telangana Drugs Control Administration (DCA) on Monday arrested one person for allegedly selling counterfeit epilepsy medication in Hyderabad. Manish Kumar, a partner and designated competent person of Arvind Pharma Distributors, was apprehended in SBI Staff Colony, Gandhinagar. He is accused of selling spurious Levipil 500 tablets, an anti-epileptic drug falsely labelled as manufactured Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
AHMEDABAD: As heavy rains lash Gujarat, serious concerns are rising over the crumbling road infrastructure across major cities. From pothole-ridden stretches to waterlogged highways, commuters are facing daily ordeals. Notably, the state government has itself admitted that 83 km of National Highways and 243 bridges have been damaged this monsoon. Amid mounting complaints flooding social media, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel convened a high-level review meeting today to address the alarming state of roads. While assuring that there is no shortage of funds, the CM stressed the urgent need for durable and sustainable repair work, raising questions over the existing quality and accountability in road construction. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel ordered urgent, war-footing repairs across the states monsoon-hit infrastructure. Reviewing the alarming condition of roads from rural interiors to urban centres and critical national highways, the CM held a high-level meeting in Gandhinagar, demanding immediate restoration without waiting for the rains to stop. Calling roads the main artery of development and daily life, Patel directed that not even a single dry day or holiday be wasted. Repairs must continue without pause, he said, urging swift patchwork, quality control, and accountability, especially for damage under defect liability. Contractors responsible for poor work must be held liable, he emphasised. With 243 bridges affected and 83 km of National Highways damaged 25 km of which still await repair, the CM asked for seamless coordination between NHAI, Panchayats, Municipal Bodies, and the Road Construction Department. Civic commissioners joined via video conference, as Patel pressed for immediate solutions to urban problems like waterlogging, broken underbridges, and battered drains along with long-term planning. A 24x7 control room at Nirman Bhavan has been activated to track field progress and fast track emergency responses. Patel reiterated the state governments full commitment to ensure citizens do not suffer due to bureaucratic delays or substandard repairs, warning departments to act fast and deliver on public expectations.
Foreign Liquor Worth Rs 1.19 Crore Seized In Gujarat: Cops
Gujarat State Monitoring Cell (SMC) from Gandhinagar seized foreign liquor worth Rs 1.19 crore during a raid in Chotila taluka of Surendranagar.
Underage Sarpanch elected in Gujarat: 19-year-old's victory exposes election blunder
AHMEDABAD: In a glaring instance of administrative negligence, the Gujarat State Election Commission is under fire after a 19-year-old girl was allegedly elected as Sarpanch in Gilosan village, Mehsana district, a clear violation of the minimum age requirement of 21 years. The irregularity came to light not during the election process, but while preparing a list of young Sarpanches to be felicitated by the Chief Minister at an upcoming event in Gandhinagar, said a source. During the verification of documents, officials from the district panchayat discovered a mismatch in the age of the newly elected Sarpanch, Afrozbanu Sipai. Her Aadhaar card shows a birth date of 8 December 2004, while her school leaving certificate mentions 7 January 2005, making her just 19 years and 8 months old, and therefore ineligible to contest. Shockingly, this discrepancy allegedly went completely unnoticed during the election process. It was only when the school leaving certificate was requested for the felicitation ceremony that officials realised the violation. The incident has triggered outrage and raised serious questions about the due diligence of election officials and returning officers responsible for verifying eligibility. As the controversy escalated, Mehsanas Provincial Officer Urvish Waland confirmed the breach. The Taluka Development Officer has submitted a report stating that the elected Sarpanch of Gilosan Gram Panchayat is under 21 years of age. At the time of nomination, the candidate declared her age as 21, based on which the Returning Officer accepted her form and allowed the election to proceed. She was subsequently declared the winner, said Waland. Only the age is to be mentioned in the nomination form, and the candidate had written that she had completed 21 years. We have now forwarded the entire report to the District Collector and also sent all relevant details to the State Election Commission. The final decision on the matter will be taken by the Commission, he added. Despite being underage, Parmar Afrozbanu has allegedly refused to step down. Nowhere in the form was I asked to write my date of birth, only my age. So, I wrote 21, she argued, defending her action. The administration is now mulling over forcing her resignation as per rules, but the blunder has already exposed a gaping hole in the election vetting process. The incident has not only embarrassed the local administration ahead of the CMs event but also put a spotlight on the systemic lapses allegedly plaguing grassroots electoral procedures.
BJP infighting exposes illegal dairy operations, corruption in Gujarat
AHMEDABAD: A storm is brewing across Gujarats powerful cooperative dairy sector, as internal rifts within the BJP have begun spilling out in the form of infighting, corruption, and violent altercations at top dairies. From Baroda to Mehsana to Surat, one scandal after another is laying bare the deep-rooted political and financial rot within the states milk cooperatives. The latest flashpoint is Surats Sumul Dairy, where a fierce power tussle between Chairman Mansingh Patel and Vice Chairman Raju Pathak has exploded over allegations that milk from Maharashtra was being illegally sourced, mixed, and sold through local co-operative societies. According to dairy sources, the issue, which started over fines imposed on milk importers, escalated when Pathak allegedly tried to assault the MD during a heated board discussion. Sumul Dairy Director Jayesh Patel (Delad) told The New Indian Express , Investigations revealed that 25 co-operative societies across Surat and Tapi districts were caught red-handed sourcing milk from Maharashtra, storing it in chilling plants, and funneling it into Sumul Dairy through unregistered centres. Sumul had imposed a fine of Rs 3.25 crore on these milk firms. Now, with the Congress entering the battlefield, the issue has snowballed into a full-blown political controversy. Surat Congress leader Darshan Nayak has accused the Sumul board of corruption, written to the Chief Minister, and demanded action against notified societies involved in mixing cold, imported milk with local warm supplies. Hes also called for an immediate quality audit and board dismissal, citing earlier allegations of crores-worth corruption in Sumul Dairy. When The New Indian Express reached out to Sumul Vice Chairman Raju Pathak for a comment, he curtly replied, I am busy, and declined to say anything further. The BJP high command has taken note. Sources confirm that the party leadership has summoned Sumuls chairman and vice chairman to Gandhinagar. Orders have been issued to audit the rogue societies and take legal action against those found violating milk sourcing norms. The milk auditor has been tasked with investigating chilling plants and purchase centres operating outside the legal framework. This turmoil in Sumul follows on the heels of two other explosive incidents in Gujarats dairy network: In Baroda Dairy, BJP MLA Ketan Inamdar found a financial fraud where milk was being deposited in the names of deceased members. He wrote to top officials, including the Chief Minister and Cooperation Minister, triggering an internal probe and prompting the MD, Ajay Joshi, to resign. Meanwhile, in Mehsanas Dudhsagar Dairy, a board meeting on 27 June turned violent when Vice Chairman Yogesh Patel accused Chairman Ashok Chaudhary of slapping him during a heated discussion over expired milk powder stock. The following day, Patel revealed that large quantities of spoiled powder were lying at the dairys Charada godown, forcing the chairman to face the media. Sources claim the root of this clash lies in a power struggle between two BJP heavyweights in Mehsana, allegedly backed by a state minister and a top BJP organisational leader. Across Gujarat, cooperative dairies once seen as engines of rural prosperity are now marred by corruption, factional politics, and violent infighting, reflecting the deepening cracks within the BJPs own ranks. As the state government scrambles to control the damage, the credibility of the dairy sector and the ruling party's grip over it is under severe scrutiny.
Mystery eye illness strikes over 120 students in Gujarat school, investigation underway
AHMEDABAD: A sudden and baffling health scare has rocked J.M. Desai Vidhyamandir School in Jhank village of Dehgam taluka, Gujarat, where over 120 students have been struck by a mysterious eye condition, triggering a state-level medical response. What began on 30 June with a few complaints of eye redness, burning, irritation, and double vision quickly escalated, affecting 122 out of the 225 hostel students. Alarmed by the scale of the outbreak, the school rushed the affected students to Gandhinagar Civil Hospital for urgent care and screening. A Class 10 student from JM Desai School told local media, After taking a bath in the morning, my eyes felt slanted and everything appeared blurry. The words in my book looked doubled. Even water tasted bitter and I didnt feel like drinking it. I had to rush to the washroom repeatedly. Thats when the school staff brought me to the hospital. Despite treatment, 120 students were still reporting symptoms as of Wednesday, keeping health authorities on high alert. Though most of the children have now been discharged, two remain under observation due to persistent discomfort. District Health Officer Dr Ashok Vaishnav told local media, Out of 225 students residing at the J.M. Vidyalaya hostel in Jhank village, 122 complained of eye irritation, redness, itching, blurred and double vision after waking up on Monday. A team led by District Epidemic Control Officer Dr Jignesh Asari immediately conducted health check-ups at the Kadadara Primary Health Centre. Dr Vaishnav further noted, While 120 students have been discharged after treatment, two students are still experiencing dizziness and are under treatment at the hospital. Meanwhile, Dean of Gandhinagar Medical College Dr Ankur Jhalawadia said, To determine the exact cause of the symptoms, gastric lavage samples have been sent to the FSL, while blood and urine samples have been sent to the Choline Esterase Laboratory. The results, expected in two days, will confirm whether any poisoning is involved. With the cause still unidentified, state officials remain puzzled. Departments of health, food safety, and education have launched a joint probe, collecting water and food samples from the school premises and hostel. The samples have been sent to laboratories, and authorities are now awaiting results to pinpoint the source of the mysterious outbreak.
Ahmedabad Diary | Sahay gets 6-month extension as Gujarat DGP
Amid intense speculation over the appointment of the new Gujarat top cop, the state government has extended the tenure of current Director General of Police (DGP) Vikas Sahay by six months. For the past few days, discussions were underway about potential successors, while preparations had even begun in Gandhinagar for Sahays farewell ceremony. This had fuelled certainty about his departure. However, the narrative took a turn on June 30, when the government officially announced his extension. With this decision, Vikas Sahay will continue serving as the Gujarat police chief till December 31, 2025, ending all succession buzz. BJP silent prayer behind AAPs bypoll victory? Aam Aadmi Partys Gopal Italia emerged victorious in the Visavadar assembly by-election; however, political circles are abuzz with claims that the win, though on AAPs ticket, was engineered by the BJP. Commentators pointed out that the BJPs strategic decision to field Kirit Patel an unpopular face within his own party allegedly gave Italia a clear sight of victory. This, many believe, was a deliberate move to split the Congress votes and keep AAP relevant. In the 2022 assembly elections, the AAP had helped weaken Congress, enabling BJPs 156-seat sweep. Analysts suggest the BJPs hidden aim is to sustain the AAP as a vote-cutter ahead of 2027. Expelled MLA alleges AAP-BJP nexus After being expelled from the Aam Aadmi Party, Botad MLA Umesh Makwana has launched a fierce attack on his former party, alleging a secret alliance between the AAP and BJP. He claimed Gujarat AAP is functioning under BJP influence, saying, The remote control of AAP is in Kamlam (BJP headquarters In Gujarat). Makwana was suspended minutes after he resigned as AAPs legislative leader, following the partys Visavadar bypoll win. Calling the suspension unilateral, he demanded a meeting with party supremo Arvind Kejriwal. Refusing to quit as MLA, Makwana vowed to complete his term and expose Gujarat and Delhi AAP leaders alleged political ties with BJP. Dilip Singh Kshatriya Our correspondent in Gujarat dilipsingh@newindianexpress.com
Car plunges into canal near Gandhinagar, Gujarat; five feared drowned, three bodies recovered
AHMEDABAD: An accident occurred near Nabhoi in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, on Tuesday, when a car plunged into the Narmada Canal, leaving at least two people dead. Rescue teams fear that more occupants may have drowned. Following an emergency alert at 2:43 PM, fire brigade teams rushed to the site near Karai and launched a rescue operation. Two bodies one male and one female were recovered from the submerged Kia Seltos vehicle. Efforts to retrieve the car are ongoing. Eyewitness Vishnu Thakor, who was en route to Nana Chiloda, said, I saw the car fall into the canal from the opposite side. There were three or four people and a Home Guard nearby. A girl tried to escape and someone threw her a rope, but she couldnt grab it and drowned. Eventually, the Home Guard managed to tie a rope around her and pull her out. The fire brigade and police arrived quickly. Gandhinagar Fire Officer Rajesh Patel confirmed the recovery of two bodies and said the fire control room received the alert in the afternoon. One body had already been retrieved by a bystander. Our team recovered the second, he added. Police Officer Divya Prakash Gohil said, A Home Guard at the scene saw a woman drowning and tried to rescue her, but she could not be saved. So far, we have recovered two bodies one male and one female. Preliminary investigations have revealed that one of the deceased was a resident of Ahmedabad. The exact circumstances under which the car veered off the road and plunged into the canal are still under investigation. Both the police and local administration have initiated a joint inquiry into the incident. Rescue operations by the fire brigade and local authorities continue at the site.
Gujarat AAP MLA resigns, allege caste bias; gets suspended hrs later
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from Botad in Gujarats Saurashtra region, Umesh Makwana, resigned from all party positions on Thursday, June 26, citing caste-based discrimination. A member of the Koli community, classified under the Other Backwards Class (OBC) category, Makwana made the announcement during a press conference in Gandhinagar, accusing the party of favouring the Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Makwanas explosive exit: Gujarat AAP MLA alleges Dalit betrayal, hints at launching new party
AHMEDABAD: Days after AAPs Gopal Italia clinched victory in the Gujarat bypolls, the party was rocked by internal discord as Botad MLA Umesh Makwana was expelled for five years on Thursday. The action came hours after Makwana resigned from all party posts in a letter to Arvind Kejriwal, saying he would remain a dedicated worker of the party. Gujarat AAP chief Isudan Gadhvi announced the expulsion, reflecting rising tensions in the state unit. In his parting remarks, Makwana hit out at the leadership, alleging he was abandoned during the campaign and that a Dalit candidate in the Kadi Assembly was left alone in the field, indirectly targeting the handling of Italias poll run. AAP leader Umesh Makwana told reporters in Gandhinagar on Thursday, I will decide on resigning as MLA only after consulting the people. Leaders from backward communities are being used only for elections, and every party has failed to raise their real issues. Casteist mindsets are growing in all parties, he alleged. Makwana, who has served in the national structure of both Dandak and AAP, said he has stepped down as AAP's national joint secretary but will continue as a grassroots worker. The entire party rallied behind Gopal Italia, but the Dalit candidate from Kadi was left to fight alone, he added. I will take the final call on resigning as AAP MLA only after consulting the public. If I resign, I will soon decide whether to contest as an independent or launch a new party, Umesh Makwana said, hinting at possible political realignment. Makwana also said he plans to convene a meeting with leaders from backward communities in the coming days. Moments after Umesh Makwana's announcement, Gujarat AAP president Isudan Gadhvi told the media, Umesh Makwana has been suspended from the party for five years for indulging in anti-party and anti-Gujarat activities. Gadhvi further alleged, The BJP is doing dirty politics and is rattled by the Visavadar bypoll result. They are trying to damage AAP through Umesh Makwana, but this will prove to be a mistake. Long before his resignation and expulsion, signs of Umesh Makwanas growing distance from the Aam Aadmi Party had become evident, as he had not been seen in any party programmes for months. Speculation around his resignation had surfaced earlier as well, though he had publicly denied the rumours in a press conference. Makwana, who was fielded by AAP from the Botad seat in the 2022 Gujarat Assembly elections, had defeated BJPs Ghanshyam Virani and Congresss Manhar Patel to become an MLA. His political journey with AAP continued when he was later nominated as the partys Lok Sabha candidate from Bhavnagar, though he lost that contest. Despite these key roles, his prolonged absence from party activities hinted at a widening rift, which eventually culminated in his resignation and expulsion, bringing the internal cracks within the Gujarat unit into sharper focus.
Ahmedabad plane crash: DNA matches confirmed for 251 victims, 245 bodies handed over to families
AHMEDABAD: In a recent development following the Ahmedabad plane crash, Civil Hospital Superintendent Dr Rakesh Joshi announced that DNA samples of 251 deceased victims have been successfully matched. Thus far, the mortal remains of 245 individuals have been handed over to their grieving families, with the remaining six to be returned in the coming days. Dr Joshi, addressing the media, shared that the 245 bodies released include 176 Indian nationals, 49 British citizens, 7 Portuguese nationals, one Canadian, and 12 non-passengers. The extensive identification process marks a critical step towards closure for hundreds of devastated families. Ahmedabad plane crash: Crew member's mortal remains reach Manipur, thousands pay tributes Providing a district-wise breakdown, Dr Joshi stated that bodies have been returned to families from the following regions: Ahmedabad (70), Vadodara (24), Anand (26), Udaipur (7), Kheda (11), Mehsana (7), Surat (12), Bharuch (7), Gandhinagar (7), Diu (14), Gir Somnath (5), Rajkot (3), Patan (3), Junagadh (1), Amreli (2), Bhavnagar (1), Botad (1), Mahisagar (1), Aravalli (2), Palanpur (1), Jamnagar (2), Dwarka (2), Sabarkantha (1), Modasa (1), Khambhat (2), Nadiad (1), Patna (1), Mumbai (10), Pune (1), Maharashtra (2), Rajasthan (2), Jodhpur (1), London (10), and Manipur (1). He emphasised that the DNA matching process is both highly sensitive and bound by strict legal protocols. Every identification has been carried out with the utmost precision and care. Agencies such as Forensic Science University, alongside the local administration, health departments, and various state and central authorities, are working tirelessly to ensure that the mortal remains are returned with dignity and respect. This coordinated and relentless effort underscores the authorities commitment to providing a measure of solace and closure in the wake of an immense tragedy.
Police detain NSUI Student Leader, Congress MLA during exam, spark political outrage in Rajasthan
JAIPUR: The President of the Rajasthan University Students' Union, Nirmal Chaudhary, and Sangaria MLA Abhimanyu Poonia were detained by the police on Saturday while appearing for a philosophy examination at the university. According to eyewitnesses, plainclothes officers had been stationed across the campus since morning and took both leaders into custody as soon as the exam began. The detention caused a huge stir on campus, with some students raising slogans and creating a commotion. The situation calmed down after the police left with Chaudhary. However, DCP East Tejaswini Gautam clarified that Abhimanyu Poonia was not detained. He voluntarily entered the police vehicle to support Nirmal Chaudhary, she said. Gautam stated that Chaudhary had been wanted in connection with a 2022 scuffle involving then CI Gandhinagar Nemichand and ACP Mukesh Chaudhary, which left Nemichand with a fractured hand and Mukesh Chaudhary with a head injury. A case was registered against several student leaders, and after a thorough investigation, Chaudhary was taken into custody. The police did not detain MLA Abhimanyu Poonia. He joined Nirmal in the car voluntarily and later went to his residence from the Gandhinagar police station, added DCP Gautam. MLA Abhimanyu Poonia, however, asserted, Nirmal Chaudhary and I were taken from the exam hall as if we were criminals. I have been released, but Nirmal is still in police custody. The behaviour of the plainclothes officers was akin to hooliganism. Nirmal, a former student union president, had recently staged a protest at SMS Hospital demanding an inquiry into the death by suicide of Jodhpur doctor Rakesh Vishnoi. There too, he had a heated argument with police officials. Poonia added, This kind of police action against a student is absolutely wrong. Arresting Nirmal over an old case while he was appearing for an exam created chaos in the examination hall and violated democratic norms. The Congress party has strongly condemned the police action. MLA Abhimanyu Poonia, Mukesh Bhakar, Ram Niwas Gavadia, former MLA Indraj Gurjar, and Anil Chopra met Police Commissioner Biju George Joseph on Saturday afternoon and termed the arrest as unlawful. Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot tweeted, Detaining Youth Congress state president and MLA Abhimanyu Poonia and Nirmal Chaudhary during an examination is unjust and a breach of democracy. The BJP government refused to listen to the family of Dr. Rakesh Vishnoi, and when these public representatives spoke out for justice, a case was registered against them. Public representatives have every right to raise their voice for the public interest. The state government should release them immediately. Similarly, former Deputy CM Sachin Pilot added, If the police, administration, and government act out of a sense of revenge, we will oppose it strongly. The government aims to send a message that it will target those who raise their voice, which is unacceptable. Suppressing dissent through state machinery is completely wrong.
54 institutions from India make it to QS World University rankings, IIT Delhi highest at 123rd spot
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has lauded the performance of Indian educational institutions in the World University 2026 Rankings, which were made public on Thursday. In a post on X, the PM said, The QS World University Rankings bring great news for our education sector. Our government is committed to furthering research and innovation ecosystems for the benefit of Indias youth. India is the fourth most represented in the list with only the United States, United Kingdom and China surpassing it, said an official release from the PIB. A total of 54 Higher Educational Institutes (HEIs) from India featured in the rankings with IIT Delhi emerging as the countrys top-ranked institute by securing the 123rd position. Twelve IITs have made it to the ranking list. Compiled by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), the internationally recognised ranking system compares HEIs worldwide on an annual basis. Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in a statement said, From just 11 universities in 2014 to 54 in the latest rankings, this five-fold jump is a testament to the transformative educational reforms ushered by PM Narendra Modijis government in the last decade. National Education Policy 2020 is not just changing our educational landscape, it is revolutionising it. QS World University Rankings '26: IIT-M in top 200, Anna University falls to 465 IIT Delhi, which stands at the 123rd position now, was ranked 150th in 2025. The rankings of other IITs which made it to the list in sequential order are IIT Bombay (129), IIT Madras (180) IIT Kharagpur (215), IIT Kanpur (222), IIT Guwahati (334), IIT Roorkee (339), IIT Indore (556), IIT Varanasi (566), IIT Hyderabad (664), IIT Gandhinagar (801-850) and IIT Bhubaneswar (951-1000). Other top Indian institutions on the list include Indian Institute of Science Bangalore (219), University of Delhi (328), Anna University (465), Jawaharlal Nehru University (558), Savitribai Phule Pune University (556), University of Mumbai (664), Vellore Institute of Technology (691) and Symbiosis International University (696). An official release from the PIB said eight universities are making their debut in the rankings from India IIT Gandhinagar, Lovely Professional University, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Ashoka University, Galgotias University, Shiv Nadar University, Christ (Deemed to be University) Bengaluru and Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies. 48 percent of Indias ranked universities have improved their positions compared to the previous year, the release said. QS 2026 is based on data from over 16 million academic papers and insights from 1,51,000 academics and one lakh employers. A broad mix of factors like faculty qualifications, research strength, partnerships and student outcomes are considered for the rankings. A new indicator called International Student Diversity has been introduced in this years assessment.
Ahmedabad plane crash: 223 DNA matches confirmed, 204 bodies handed over to families
AHMEDABAD: DNA samples of 223 victims of the Air India plane crash have been successfully matched, and 204 bodies have been handed over to families as of 11:50 am on June 20, according to Civil Hospital Superintendent Dr Rakesh Joshi. The Civil Hospital authorities have intensified the efforts to identify and return the remaining bodies. Meanwhile, two patients under treatment at the Civil Hospital succumbed to their injuries. Their bodies have been handed over to their families, bringing the total count of bodies handed over to 204 from the Civil Hospital alone. Breaking down the identification further, Dr Joshi confirmed that the 223 matched victims comprise 168 Indian nationals, 7 Portuguese, 36 British citizens, 1 Canadian, and 11 non-passengers - local residents who were tragically caught in the crash zone. Several international, domestic Air India flights cancelled due to operational reasons Logistics have played a critical role in the aftermath, with 15 bodies airlifted and 189 transported by road, according to Dr Joshi. The mortal remains have been sent to various Indian states and several foreign countries. Ahmedabad received the highest number, with 58 bodies, followed by Vadodara (21), Surat (11), Udaipur (7), Mumbai (9), Diu (14), and Kheda (11). Others were sent to Mehsana (6), Gandhinagar (6), Rajkot (3), Jamnagar (2), Patan (2), Dwarka (2), Aravalli (2), and London (2). Single bodies were transported to locations including Botad, Jodhpur, Anand, Palanpur, Maharashtra, Junagadh, Amreli, Gir Somnath, Mahisagar, Bhavnagar, Patna, Nadiad, Sabarkantha, Nagaland, and Modasa. Madurai-bound Indigo flight returns after mid-air 'snag,' say officials
Ahmedabad plane crash: DNA of 211 victims matched; 189 bodies handed over to families
AHMEDABAD: In a significant update on the Ahmedabad plane crash tragedy, DNA samples of 211 deceased individuals have been successfully matched, and 189 bodies have been handed over to their respective families, according to officials. Civil Hospital Superintendent Dr Rakesh Joshi shared the details during a media briefing, emphasizing the coordinated effort between forensic teams, hospital staff, and law enforcement. Of the remaining cases, eight families are expected to claim the mortal remains of their loved ones in the coming days, while two families are scheduled to accept the bodies by tomorrow. Additionally, 11 families are still awaiting DNA matches of their other relatives, indicating that the process of closure remains ongoing for many. Providing a breakdown of nationalities, Dr. Joshi stated that among the 189 confirmed deceased, 142 are Indian citizens, 32 are from the UK, seven are Portuguese nationals, one is Canadian, and seven individuals were non-passengers, whose presence near the crash site turned tragic. In a detailed media briefing, Dr. Joshi confirmed that 189 bodies have been handed over to families so far, while DNA samples of 211 deceased individuals have been successfully matched. He noted that eight more families are expected to receive the mortal remains of their relatives in the coming days, while two families will accept the remains by tomorrow. However, the process is not yet complete - 11 families are still awaiting the DNA match of a second relative, highlighting the continued emotional wait for full closure. Providing further insight, he explained the nationality distribution of the 189 deceased: 142 were Indian citizens, 32 were British nationals, 7 were from Portugal, 1 was Canadian, and 7 were non-passengerspeople who were tragically caught in the disaster despite not being on the flight. Dr Joshi also offered a detailed breakdown of the geographical origin of those whose bodies have been handed over. These include seven from Udaipur, 20 from Vadodara, 10 from Kheda, 55 from Ahmedabad, six from Mehsana, one each from Botad, Jodhpur, Patan, Junagadh, Mahisagar, Bhavnagar, and Patna, two each from Aravalli, Maharashtra, Amreli, Jamnagar, Dwarka, and London, 16 from Anand, five from Bharuch, 11 from Surat, six from Gandhinagar, 14 from Diu, three from Rajkot, nine from Mumbai, one each from Nadiad, Sabarkantha, and Nagaland. He emphasised that the process of DNA matching is both legally sensitive and scientifically complex, requiring meticulous attention. Due to these constraints, the identification is being carried out with utmost seriousness and urgency. To expedite the process, teams from the Forensic Science University, local administrations, state health departments, and multiple central and state agencies are working round the clock. Their collective efforts aim to ensure that the mortal remains are returned to families as quickly and respectfully as possible, offering a measure of peace amid a tragedy that has shaken families across India and abroad.
Air India crash: Exact death toll likely within 23 days, says Ahmedabad police commissioner
AHMEDABAD: In the aftermath of the devastating Air India crash in Ahmedabad, Commissioner GS Malik addressed a press conference on Thursday, offering a detailed timeline and critical updates on the rescue, recovery, and ongoing investigation. He announced that the exact death toll is expected to be confirmed within the next 23 days, pending final DNA verification and forensic analysis. Addressing the Press conference Commissioner GS Malik Said, The fatal crash occurred at 1:40 PM on June 12, and within just two minutesby 1:42 PMAhmedabad police were alerted. Commissioner Malik stated that Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi and Director General of Police (DGP) Vikas Sahay were immediately informed. Within minutes, senior officers, including the DCP Crime and DCP Zone 4, reached the accident siteeven before the Commissioner himself. He further said, Recognizing the urgency of the situation, a green corridor was swiftly created to ensure uninterrupted access for emergency vehicles. Ambulances and fire brigades from 19 fire stations were allowed to move without delay. Notably, the first ambulance reached the scene within just 3 minutes and 40 seconds, a response time hailed as remarkable under such catastrophic circumstances. Among the first responders, Constable Mayur from Meghaninagar stood outhe remained beside the lone survivor throughout the ordeal, providing crucial support. On June 13, bodies of doctors and medical students recovered from the wreckage were shifted to Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. The massive identification effort began immediately. By 9:34 AM on June 14, the first DNA match was confirmedwithin 72 hours of the crash. As of Thursday, a total of 224 DNA matches have been successfully completed, with 204 bodies handed over to grieving families. The Commissioner highlighted the extraordinary coordination and speed at which DNA samples were collected. Over 200 police personnel, including 10 inspectors, gathered samples from 51 families in less than 11 hours. That same night, police reached the Gandhinagar Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) by 12:19 AM, less than 12 hours after the crash. Both manual and software-assisted DNA matching methods were used with advanced forensic equipment. To manage the overwhelming aftermath, nearly 1,000 police officers were stationed at the Civil Hospital, assisting families and maintaining order. Police are now in the process of handing over recovered personal belongingsincluding passports, ornaments, and other itemsto the next of kin. The crash site yielded almost 100 mobile phones and 318 body parts, adding complexity to the identification process. Commissioner Malik described the response as a historic rescue operation, citing the unified efforts of multiple agencies. Personnel from SRP, CISF, Army, Air Force, NDRF, SDRF, NSG, CRPF, BSF, and RAF were deployed and reached the site in record time, forming one of the largest joint rescue teams in Indias disaster history. Meanwhile, the technical investigation is underway at the crash site. Experts from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and the central government are meticulously examining every detail. Videos and CCTV footage of the crash are being analyzed, and the statement of the sole survivor has been officially recorded to aid the inquiry. As families await final closure, Commissioner Malik emphasized that a confirmed death toll will be available within 23 days, once the last phase of forensic matching is completed. This tragic incident has not only shaken Gujarat but has mobilized the countrys best disaster response capabilities, showing both the fragility of life and the resilience of a system determined to bring answers, dignity, and justice to every victim and their loved ones.
Ahmedabad plane crash: 190 DNA matches confirmed, 157 bodies handed over
AHMEDABAD: Six days after the devastating Ahmedabad plane crash, the sole survivor Vishwas Kumar has been discharged from the hospital in stable condition, confirmed Dr. Rakesh Joshi, Civil Hospital Superintendent. Kumar's family, who had flown in from the UK, was present at his side. The body of Kumar's brother, who was killed in the crash, was handed over to the family at 2 am on the same day, and a funeral was held for him in Diu. As of now, DNA samples of 190 deceased individuals have been successfully matched. In a detailed briefing, Dr. Joshi stated that 157 bodies have already been handed over to their respective families, with the identification and release process still underway for the remaining. He noted that five families are expected to collect the bodies of their loved ones soon, while the hospital remains in contact with 10 families. Meanwhile, 15 families are waiting for DNA matches of additional relatives, and the identification process is ongoing for three others. Dr. Joshi also revealed a detailed breakdown of the nationalities among the deceased whose bodies have been identified: 123 Indian nationals, 27 British citizens, 4 Portuguese nationals, 1 Canadian citizen, and 4 non-passengers. In terms of geographical distribution, he reported that the bodies handed over include: Ahmedabad (48), Vadodara (18), Kheda (10), Anand (11), Gandhinagar (6), Surat (6), Mehsana (5), Udaipur (6), Bharuch (5), Gir Somnath (5), Diu (12), Mahisagar (1), Bhavnagar (1), Patan (1), Botad (1), Aravalli (2), Jodhpur (1), Junagadh (1), Amreli (1), Rajkot (2), Nadiad (1), Dwarka (2), Sabarkantha (1), Mumbai (7), London (2), Patna (1), and Maharashtra (2).
Gujarat bids farewell to former CM Vijay Rupani; Rajkot shuts down in mourning
AHMEDABAD: Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani had been confirmed dead in the devastating crash of Air India Flight AI171 on Sunday morning, after DNA matching with remains recovered from the wreckage near Ahmedabad airport. DNA cross-verification of former CM Vijay Rupani has been completed, Gujarat Health Minister Rushikesh Patel said, addressing the media at the Civil Hospital mortuary. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel immediately met the Rupani family at their Gandhinagar residence and assured full state assistance for transporting the mortal remains and organising the last rites as per the family's wishes. The London-bound AI171 crashed minutes after take-off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday, killing 241 of the 242 people on board. Rupanis son had rushed to Ahmedabad on Saturday to provide a DNA sample at BJ Medical College, expediting the identification process. 'Thrust not achieved, falling, Mayday,' were the last words of Air India flight's pilot before crash Rupanis hometown Rajkot came to a standstill on Saturday, observing a half-day shutdown in tribute to the late leader. The outpouring of grief reflected not just local sentiment but the void left behind in Gujarats political fabric. Born in 1956 in Rangoon (now Yangon), Rupani migrated to Rajkot with his family during political unrest in Myanmar. The son of a grain trader, he went on to script one of Gujarats most enduring political journeys. From a student activist with ABVP to a loyal BJP foot soldier, his career was deeply rooted in ideology and discipline. Rupanis political graph rose steadilyfrom corporator in Rajkot in 1987 to mayor in the late '90s, Rajya Sabha MP (20062012), and twice elected MLA from Rajkot West. He served briefly as Gujarat BJP president in 2016 before being sworn in as the states 16th Chief Minister, succeeding Anandiben Patel. During his term from 2016 to 2021, Rupani was known for his quiet efficiency and behind-the-scenes consensus-building. His leadership was key in stabilising the BJP amid the Patidar agitation and in retaining the partys grip over Saurashtra, a politically volatile region. An RSS loyalist, Rupani was also imprisoned during the Emergency and maintained unwavering commitment to the BJP since its formation in 1980. His proximity to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former CM Keshubhai Patel often placed him at the intersection of legacy and leadership within the party. Outside politics, Rupani was involved in social initiatives and managed a family business. A trained stockbroker, he was known for his calm demeanour and administrative acumen. BJP leaders often praised his ability to keep party workers motivated while ensuring seamless governance. Rupanis death marks the end of an erahis political journey closely intertwined with Gujarats rise as a BJP stronghold. He is survived by his wife Anjali Rupani, also an active BJP member, and their two children. As Gujarat mourns, the state prepares to bid farewell to one of its most steadfast sons.
Air India plane crash: Ex-Gujarat CM Vijay Rupanis mortal remains identified
Gandhinagar: The mortal remains of former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani have been identified through DNA test, officials said on Sunday, June 15, as investigations into Thursdays Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad intensified. Rupani was among the 241 passengers killed in the horrific tragedy on June 12. So far, 32 victims have been identified Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Ahmedabad Plane Crash: Why Ex-Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani Had To Postpone His London Trip
Vijay Rupani left Gandhinagar with aide Shailesh Mandalia and staff, reached Ahmedabad airport by 11:45 am, and boarded the London-bound Air India flight that later crashed
AI171 plane crash: Vijay Rupani's lucky number '1206' becomes date of his last journey
AHMEDABAD: Former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani considered '1206' his lucky number and ensured it featured on all vehicles he owned over the years. The number has now become synonymous with one of the worst aviation tragedies in India's history, in which he lost his life along with 264 others on Thursday. Rupani was among 242 persons on board a London-bound Air India flight that crashed into a building of a medical college and hostel in the Meghaninagar area moments after taking off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday afternoon. The former chief minister considered 1206 as his lucky number, but it has now become the date of his final journey, June 12 (12/6). In his hometown Rajkot, people could identify Rupani's car by its vehicle registration number 1206. According to locals of Rajkot and journalists, Rupani's scooters and cars bore the same number. Rupani was travelling to his daughter's place in London, as his wife Anjaliben, who is also an active member of the BJP, was also there. Anjaliben reached Gandhinagar on Friday morning. Gujarat state BJP chief and Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Paatil on Thursday confirmed Rupani's death in the plane crash. The 68-year-old leader was known for his composed demeanour and firm administrative style. He served as Gujarat's chief minister from August 2016 to September 2021 and steered the state through a critical post-COVID-19 recovery phase. He started off as a student leader, leading several agitations, and was an activist of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad in his college days. In 1975, Rupani was imprisoned for a year in the Bhavnagar jail while protesting against the Emergency. He entered public service in 1987 when he was elected as a corporator in the Rajkot Municipal Corporation and later became the mayor. He was a member of the Rajya Sabha between 2006 and 2012. His tenure as the chief minister saw the launch of the state Industrial Policy 2020 and initiatives for tribal upliftment. Rupani stepped down from the post in September 2021, making way for Bhupendra Patel ahead of state elections. He was later appointed as BJP in-charge of Punjab. 241 passengers died. One survived. His story bears witness to Ahmedabad plane crash horror
Monsoon Woes Return to Hyderabad Slums
Choked nalas, disease surge and delayed civic works deepen distress for residents in Safdarnagar, Rajiv Gandhinagar, and surrounding colonies
A tragic accident, nation in shock, says Union Minister Amit Shah on Ahmedabad plane crash
AHMEDABAD: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday expressed deep sorrow over the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, calling it a devastating accident that has shaken the entire nation. Speaking after a high-level review meeting in Gandhinagar, Shah laid out the grim realities of the tragedy and the scale of the response. The ill-fated flight was carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members. So far, only one passenger has been rescued I have personally met him, Shah revealed. The exact number of deceased can only be confirmed after DNA identification is complete. Shah said the aircraft had 1.25 lakh litres of fuel onboard at the time of crash. Due to the intense heat and high temperature, there was no chance for anyone to survive. The conditions were such that escape was nearly impossible. The recovery of bodies has now been completed, he added, painting a horrific picture of the aftermath. He confirmed that the process of collecting DNA samples from the families of the passengers has already been completed. Those living abroad have also been informed. Around 1,000 DNA tests will need to be conducted here in Gujarat, and we have the capacity for it. With the support of the National Forensic Science University, the testing will be expedited, he assured. Only after DNA matching will the bodies be handed over to the families. Shah also detailed the immediate response from top officials. The moment I received information about the incident, I immediately contacted the Chief Minister, the Home Minister of Gujarat, and the Civil Aviation Department. The Prime Minister was also called immediately . Calling it one of the worst aviation disasters in recent times, Shah said, Many lives have been lost in this devastating accident, and the entire nation is in shock. My deepest condolences go out to the families of those who lost their lives. On behalf of the Gujarat government, I also extend sympathies to all those who have died or been injured. In closing, Shah reflected on the sheer unpredictability of the tragedy: This was a tragic accident and no one can stop it.
Ahmedabad Air India plane crash: Former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani feared to be among passengers
Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani is feared to have been among the passengers on board the Air India flight that crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon. The London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner, operating as flight AI 171, crashed in a residential area near Meghani Nagar just minutes after departing from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1.38 pm. Gujarat BJP spokesperson Yagnesh Dave confirmed that Rupani had planned to travel on the flight but added that his current status remained unknown. While official confirmation from aviation authorities is still awaited, multiple reports have cited a passenger list that names Vijay Ramniklal Rupani as the 12th passenger, reportedly travelling in Business Class (Z category). Sources close to the former Chief Minister indicated that he had plans to travel to the UK, reportedly to bring back his wife, Anjali Rupani, who is currently in London. Visuals from outside Rupanis Rajkot residence showed a grim and anxious atmosphere, with concerned neighbours and well-wishers gathering outside. We are extremely worried. We've been neighbours since 1988. This feels like its happening to our own family, said a long-time neighbour, Kiran, speaking to news agency ANI . Former minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, a close associate of Rupani, said he rushed to the former CMs Gandhinagar residence upon hearing about the crash. I knew he was scheduled to travel to London today, though I wasnt sure if he boarded that flight. After seeing the news, I came straight here and will now go to the airport for more clarity, he said. The aircraft was reportedly carrying 242 people, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members. Police said several casualties were feared. Many of the injured have been shifted to the citys civil hospital. Emergency response operations are ongoing. At least 50 bodies have been recovered from the crash site. Following the crash, all flight operations are temporarily suspended until further notice, according to information from the airport spokesperson. Air India issued a dedicated passenger hotline - 1800 5691 444 - to provide information about the crash. Ahmedabad City Police also released an emergency helpline - 079-25620359 - for updates and assistance. The state and central governments are closely monitoring the situation. IndiGo Chennai-Ahmedabad flight returns mid-air following Air India flight crash
