More than 33 students fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal at the Odakkalpalayam Government Middle School near Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu and were admitted to various hospitals for treatment, officials said. The incident occurred on Sunday at Odakkalpalayam Government Middle School, which falls under the Sultanpet Union, where the mid-day meal was served on Tuesday. Shortly after having food, around 33 students complained of vomiting and severe stomach pain. The affected students were immediately rushed to private hospitals in Sultanpet and the surrounding areas. According to the latest information, some students are receiving treatment at Aram Hospital in Sultanpet, while others have been admitted to Purushothaman Hospital and Royal Care Hospital in Senjeri Malai. Upon receiving information, the Sultanpet Block Development Officer visited the spot and conducted an inquiry. Orders have been issued to inspect the quality of the midday meal, and the Sultanpet police have launched an investigation into the incident. The incident, in which more than 33 students from a single school were affected due to a suspected food-related illness, has caused shock and tension in the locality. Meanwhile, in a separate incident reported earlier in December from Karnataka, a video showing worms in children's lunch at the Old Ningapura Government School in Koppal taluk went viral. School authorities said the rice was supplied under the Akshara Dasoha scheme and was likely stored for an extended period. Parents and students raised concerns over the health and hygiene of mid-day meals after children found dead worms in the cooked rice and alerted school staff and parents. The students reportedly discarded the food and reported the incident to senior management, alleging negligence by the meal staff. Chairman of the school development committee, Hanumanthappa Hatti, said, "This matter has come to our attention. I have called the cooks and advised them to wash and cook the rice thoroughly. If there are worms, they should be informed and replaced. However, since the Akshara Dasoha officials distribute the rice crop that has been stored in stock, the children have to eat such cooked meals." The incidents have renewed concerns over food safety and monitoring of the mid-day meal scheme in government schools. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
06 January,2026 08:36 AM IST | Coimbatore | ANIThe number of suspected typhoid infections linked to a leak in a water pipeline in Gandhinagar has risen to 108. Recently, around 18 new suspected cases were reported, officials said on Monday. As reported by PTI, two patients undergoing treatment at Gandhinagar Civil Hospital died on Monday. While the authorities clarified that neither death was linked to the typhoid outbreak, the situation in Gandhinagar looks critical. Authorities, while clarifying about the typhoid outbreak caused by a leak in the water pipeline, added that the issue of water contamination has now been fully resolved, with multiple teams working on the ground. Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi further highlighted that Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who represents the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency, is closely monitoring the situation and conducted an early morning review over the phone. On the other hand, while emphasising the typhoid crisis during the press conference, Dr Meeta Parikh, Superintendent of Gandhinagar Civil Hospital, stated, "At present, 108 patients with suspected typhoid are admitted to our hospital, including 18 new patients admitted today. Of these, 50 have tested Widal positive, while 25 patients have been discharged after treatment. The two deaths reported today were not linked to the typhoid outbreak, as they occurred due to other causes,” as per PTI. She further added that several tests, including the Widal test and blood culture analysis, are being conducted on suspected patients to confirm typhoid infection. Furthermore, blood samples from the two deceased patients have been sent for blood culture tests to determine whether their deaths were linked to typhoid. Typhoid outbreak caused by leaking water pipeline The outbreak of the waterborne disease has been reported from Sectors 24 and 28, as well as the Adivada area of Gandhinagar, and was caused by a leaking water pipeline a few days ago, according to the government. The district administration and the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation have formed teams to resolve the issue. The water contamination problem has been completely addressed. Yesterday, 367 water samples were collected, and all test results were satisfactory. He further said that a team of 22 doctors, including five MD specialists, has been deployed to monitor and treat suspected patients, reported PTI. Gujarat’s Deputy Chief Minister further added, "Everyone is receiving proper treatment. Amit Shah is in direct contact with hospital authorities and speaks with the district collector daily. He conducted an early morning review today to assess the situation,” as cited by news agency PTI. According to medical experts, a positive Widal test indicates that a person has developed antibodies against Salmonella Typhi or Salmonella Paratyphi, which may suggest a current or past typhoid infection or recent vaccination. However, the test does not definitively confirm an active typhoid infection. The government also asserted, “With suspected cases being reported, authorities started round-the-clock OPDs (outpatient departments) in the affected areas, and food arrangements had been made for the relatives of those patients being treated in the Civil Hospital,” as per PTI. Intensive health management and survey work have been carried out in Gandhinagar city by 75 health teams in view of the suspected typhoid cases, as per the release issued on Sunday. The survey teams of Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation have so far inspected more than 20,800 houses and covered more than 90,000 people. Chlorine tablets and ORS packets were distributed as a preventive measure As a preventive measure, 30,000 chlorine tablets and 20,600 ORS packets have been distributed. The survey teams are distributing awareness leaflets by contacting people from house to house and asking them to boil water, not to eat outside food, and to keep their hands clean, reported PTI. The Gujarat government further said, “The process of ‘super chlorination’ of water has been accelerated to control the spread of the disease, and the amount of chlorination in drinking water is also being checked.” Some leakages found in the pipeline in the disease-affected areas have also been repaired on an immediate basis, they added. (With inputs from PTI)
05 January,2026 10:47 PM IST | Gandhinagar | mid-day online correspondentA 42-year-old man was arrested on Monday arrested for allegedly raping a minor girl at a village in Uttar Pradesh, police said on Monday. As reported by news agency PTI, the accused, a father of five, was booked following a complaint by the girl's father, the officials said. Circle Officer (Kaushambi) JP Pandey, while briefing about the incident, said that the complainant approached the police on Monday. The circle officer further asserted, According to the complaint, the incident occurred on Saturday evening when his 15-year-old daughter went to a hand pump to wash utensils. The accused, who is a neighbour, allegedly dragged her into his cattle shed and raped her. The family members rushed to the spot after hearing the girl's screams, prompting the accused to flee, as per PTI. He further highlighted that a case has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. While briefing more about the investigation, the circle officer said that the girl's statement has been recorded, and she has been sent for medical examination, as reported by PTI. Minor girl gang-raped in Mumbai by three men In a different scenario, a 17-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped by three men in the Malwani area of Mumbai. As per the officials, two out of the three accused have been arrested by the police. The officials also added that a manhunt has been launched to nab the third suspect in the case. According to preliminary information, the incident took place about a week ago, but an FIR was registered only two days ago. Police sources said that the 17-year-old victim and the accused are residents of the same area. The accused worked in a fabrication unit and resided in the workshop. Police said that the victim was friends with one of the accused and would secretly meet him on several occasions. On the day of the incident, when the victim went to meet the accused, two other men were also present at the spot. All three allegedly took turns to sexually assault her. The victim initially did not disclose the incident to anyone. However, the matter came to light after the brother of the victim learnt about it through a person and questioned the victim, following which she revealed the truth, sources said. They said that the victim was then taken to the police station, where a complaint was lodged two days ago under the relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO) Act and gang rape. Acting on the complaint, the police arrested two of the accused, while the third accused is absconding and is being searched for, said an officer from Malwani police station. The ages of both the arrested and absconding accused are reported to be between 21 and 23 years, said an official. (With inputs from PTI)
05 January,2026 08:43 PM IST | Kaushambi | mid-day online correspondentAn interstate criminal with Rs 1 lakh bounty on his head was nabbed by a joint team of Gurugram and Nuh police after a brief encounter, officials said on Monday. The criminal, Yad Ram (50), has committed nearly two dozen crimes, including attempted murder, and robbery, across Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Some cases under the Arms Act are also registered against him. A native of Uttar Pradesh's Auraiya district, Ram was residing in Jaipur in Rajasthan. He was arrested after police on Sunday night received information that he was seen riding a bike without a number plate towards Sohna, Gurugram police spokesperson said. He was also carrying weapons, the official added. On the information, a team of Gururgam police and Crime Investigation Agency, Nuh, set up barricades in the Mahendrawada Kachha Rasta area on Sohna-Gurugram road. The official said that around 10:15 pm, an attempt was made to stop a suspect riding a bike matching the description provided. Finding himself cornered, the biker opened fire indiscriminately at the police team. In the police's retaliatory fire, the accused sustained bullet injuries on both legs and fell down. The police team then immediately apprehended Ram. A bike, two illegal pistols, nine empty cartridges and two live cartridges were recovered from the spot. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
05 January,2026 07:14 PM IST | NCR | PTIShiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) Member of Parliament (MP) Priyanka Chaturvedi on Monday expressed concern over the Supreme Court’s decision to deny bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, the accused in the 2020 Delhi riots case, stating that the duo has remained in jail for the past five years without a charge sheet being filed, news agency ANI reported. #WATCH | Delhi: On the Supreme Court rejecting the bail plea of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the larger conspiracy case of the Delhi riots, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi says, "They have said that there is no such thing as personal liberty under UAPA. Now, charges… pic.twitter.com/0wJtapWgna — ANI (@ANI) January 5, 2026 Her remarks came after the Supreme Court rejected Khalid and Imam’s bail pleas, while granting relief to Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman, Mohd Saleem Khan, and Shadab Ahmad, the other accused in the case. Chaturvedi said it was troubling that bail had not been granted despite the absence of a charge sheet even after five years. “There has been no charge sheet filed for five years, still bail wasn’t granted,” she said. Speaking to ANI, the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader said, “They have said that there is no such thing as personal liberty under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Now, charges have been framed under UAPA, but no charge sheet has been filed for five years. There is no charge sheet, bail was not granted, there was a hearing in the Supreme Court, some people got bail, but these two did not.” She added, “I hope that in this case, a charge sheet will be filed at the earliest and action will begin. These two have been in jail for the past five years without knowing the charges.” Delhi riots 2020: SC cites “central role” in alleged conspiracy Earlier in the day, the apex court denied their bail plea relating to the alleged larger conspiracy behind the February 2020 northeast Delhi riots. The court observed that the two stood on a “qualitatively different footing” compared to the other accused in terms of prosecution material and evidence, ANI reported. The bench noted that Khalid and Imam were attributed a “central” role in the alleged offences, and held that although their incarceration has been prolonged, it does not violate constitutional safeguards or override the statutory embargo under applicable laws. The judgment was delivered by a bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria on the bail pleas filed by Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman, Mohd Saleem Khan, and Shadab Ahmad. On December 10, 2025, the apex court had reserved its verdict after hearing detailed arguments from all parties. On September 2 last year, the Delhi High Court had rejected the bail pleas of nine accused, including Khalid and Imam, prompting them to approach the Supreme Court. The high court had observed that, prima facie, the role of Imam and Khalid in the alleged conspiracy was “grave”, stating that they had delivered inflammatory speeches on communal lines to “instigate mass mobilisation of members of the Muslim community”. Khalid, Imam, and others were arrested in January 2020 under the stringent provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in connection with the 2020 Delhi riots case. The violence erupted during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), leaving 53 people dead and more than 700 injured. (With ANI inputs)
05 January,2026 07:02 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe Uttar Pradesh (UP) Government on Monday announced a one-time relaxation of three years in the upper age limit for the upcoming police recruitment drive, news agency PTI reported. The move by the UP Government will offer a major relief to the aspirants preparing for constable-level posts. The age relaxation will apply to all categories of candidates for the proposed 2025 direct recruitment to the police force, following the directions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, an official government statement stated. Officials further asserted that the decision is expected to benefit aspirants who missed earlier recruitment opportunities due to age limits, especially after delays caused by the pandemic period, reported PTI. The statement from the Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board also added that the decision has been taken under the provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Public Services (Relaxation of Age Limit for Recruitment) Rules, 1992. The relaxation will cover recruitment to 32,679 posts, including constables (civil police) for men and women, PAC (provincial armed constabulary) and armed police constables, special security force constables, women battalion constables, mounted police constables and jail warders of both genders, PTI reported, citing the statement. The age relaxation has been granted in continuation of the recruitment notification issued on December 31 last year and will be applicable as a one-time measure to candidates who were otherwise becoming ineligible due to age restrictions, it said. UP Police recruitment drive for 32,679 constable-level posts The Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board (UPPRPB) had announced the recruitment drive for 32,679 constable-level and equivalent posts on December 31, 2025. The advisory issued by the board also mentioned that the online application process began the same day and will continue till January 30, 2026, with candidates required to complete a one-time registration (OTR) before applying, as per PTI. The Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board also said the recruitment was part of the 2025 direct recruitment process and follows the completion of appointments to over 60,000 constable posts earlier in 2025. Detailed eligibility criteria, selection procedures and examination schedules were made available on the board's official website. (With inputs from PTI)
05 January,2026 06:26 PM IST | Lucknow | mid-day online correspondentThe Supreme Court (SC) on Monday refused bail to activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case, while granting bail to five other accused, citing the “hierarchy of participation” and noting that not all accused stand on the same footing, news agency PTI reported. A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria observed that there was a prima facie case against Khalid and Imam under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). While the two will remain in jail, activists Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman, Mohd. Saleem Khan, and Shadab Ahmad have been granted bail. The court said Khalid and Imam could file fresh bail applications after the examination of protected witnesses or one year from today, noting that their roles are “qualitatively different” from the other accused, PTI reported. “The prosecution prima facie disclosed a central and formative role and involvement in the level of planning, mobilisation and strategic direction extending beyond episodic and localised acts,” the bench said. The February 2020 riots in northeast Delhi left 53 people dead and more than 700 injured. “Delay in trial does not operate as a trump card which automatically displaces statutory safeguards,” the bench said, adding that “all the appellants do not stand on equal footing as regards culpability. The hierarchy of participation emerging from the prosecution’s case requires the court to examine each application individually”. “This court is satisfied that the prosecution material disclosed a prima facie allegation against the appellants Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam. This stage of proceedings does not justify their enlargement on bail,” the apex court said. Delhi riots case: SC directs trial court to expedite bail The top court directed the trial court to expedite bail processes, imposing 12 conditions and warning that any misuse of liberty would attract cancellation of bail, PTI reported. “Right to liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution requires the State to justify prolonged pre-trial custody,” the bench added. The court also clarified that while bail in UAPA cases is not granted as a matter of routine, the law does not mandate automatic denial, and the court retains jurisdiction to allow bail. Imam was first arrested on January 28, 2020, for speeches made during anti-CAA protests, and later in a broader conspiracy case in August 2020. Khalid was arrested on September 13, 2020. On December 10, the top court reserved its verdict on separate pleas of the accused after hearing arguments from Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Additional Solicitor General S V Raju for Delhi Police, and senior advocates Kapil Sibal, Abhishek Singhvi, Siddhartha Dave, Salman Khurshid, and Sidharth Luthra for the accused. Opposing the bail pleas, Delhi Police argued that the riots were pre-planned and well-orchestrated, describing them as a deliberate attack on India’s sovereignty. Raju contended that all participants are liable for each other’s acts under the conspiracy, and that Imam’s speeches could be attributed to Khalid. He also argued that Khalid had deliberately planned to leave Delhi before the riots to deflect responsibility. Seeking bail, Imam said he had been labelled a “dangerous intellectual terrorist” without a full trial or a single conviction. Senior advocate Siddharth Dave argued that Imam’s January 28 arrest was before the communal violence erupted, and that his speeches alone could not constitute a criminal conspiracy in the riots. All seven accused were booked under the stringent anti-terror UAPA and provisions of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly being the “masterminds” behind the riots. Section 16 of the UAPA states that anyone committing a terrorist act resulting in death can face life imprisonment or the death penalty, in addition to a fine. The violence occurred during widespread protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The accused had approached the Supreme Court challenging the Delhi High Court’s September 2 order denying them bail in the larger conspiracy case. (With PTI inputs)
05 January,2026 04:10 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentIn a heartening development for wildlife conservation in Chennai, the nesting season for the endangered Olive Ridley turtles has kicked off on Marina Beach, with the first batch of turtle eggs being spotted along the shoreline. The update was shared on social media by Supriya Sahu, additional chief secretary for environment, climate change and forests in Tamil Nadu Government. Describing it as an "extraordinary moment" that showcases the miracle of nature, Sahu highlighted the visible tracks left on the sand by the mother turtles as they came ashore to lay their eggs. Chennai let’s welcome the first set of turtle eggs on the Marina Beach as the nesting season begins. An extraordinary moment reminding us about the miracle of nature. Look at the tracks on the sand marking the nesting by turtles. Lets keep beaches clean and undisturbed Did you… pic.twitter.com/KDHFnOt5nU — Supriya Sahu IAS (@supriyasahuias) January 5, 2026 'Keep beaches clean for Olive Ridley turtles' Appealing for public support, she urged citizens to maintain cleanliness on the beaches and avoid disturbing the area to provide a safe haven for the nesting turtles and their eggs. She also shared a fascinating insight into the species, pointing out that baby turtles hatched on Chennai's beaches—or any beach worldwide—possess an innate natural compass. Even after years of traversing vast oceans, these turtles return precisely to the same shoreline where they were born to lay their own eggs. The Olive Ridley is a protected species under Indian wildlife laws, and its annual nesting along the Tamil Nadu coast is meticulously monitored by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department as part of dedicated conservation programmes.
05 January,2026 01:33 PM IST | ChennaiThe Supreme Court on Monday denied bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in a case pertaining to an alleged larger conspiracy behind the 2020 north-east Delhi riots. However, the SC granted bail to Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman, Mohd. Saleem Khan, and Shadab Ahmad. The Court noted that Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam stand on a "qualitatively different footing" both in terms of prosecution and evidence. It noted that their roles were "central" to the alleged offences. As regards these two, though the period of incarceration is continued and long it does not violate the Constitutional mandate or override the statutory embargo under the laws. The SC bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria delivered the judgment on the bail pleas filed by Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman, Mohd Saleem Khan and Shadab Ahmed. Earlier, the apex court had reserved its verdict on December 10 after hearing detailed arguments from all parties. During the hearing of their pleas seeking bail, the advocates who appeared for them mostly argued on the delay and the unlikelihood of the commencement of the trial. It was also stated to the court that they have been under custody for over five years in a case in which they are facing serious allegations of committing offences under the UAPA. The contentions were also made that there is no proof of violence that they instigated the riots, even after five years have passed. On the other hand, Delhi Police objected to the bail pleas, saying the alleged offences involved a deliberate attempt to destabilise the state. It argued that these were not spontaneous protests but a well-orchestrated "pan-India" conspiracy aiming at "regime change" and "economic strangulation". The Delhi Police further submitted that the conspiracy was allegedly planned to coincide with the official visit of the then US President to India, with the intention of drawing international media attention and globalising the issue of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The issue of CAA was carefully chosen to serve as a "radicalising catalyst" camouflaged in the name of "peaceful protest", it had said. The prosecution further stated that the "deep-rooted, premeditated and pre-planned conspiracy" hatched by the petitioners resulted in the death of 53 persons, large-scale damage to public property, leading to registration of 753 FIRS in Delhi alone. Evidence on record suggests that the instant conspiracy was sought to be replicated and executed PAN India, the Delhi police said. On September 2 2025, the Delhi High Court rejected the bail plea of nine accused, including Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, in connection with the case, prompting the defendants to move to the Supreme Court The High Court had observed that, prima facie, the role of Imam and Khalid in the entire conspiracy was "grave", having delivered inflammatory speeches on communal lines to "instigate mass mobilisation of members of the Muslim community." Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and others were arrested in January 2020 under the stringent provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in the Delhi riots case in February 2020. The violence had erupted during the protests against the then-proposed Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) and had left 53 people dead and over 700 injured. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
05 January,2026 12:33 PM IST | New Delhi [India] | ANI14 people have been arrested in a ganja-related case in Andhra Pradesh's Guntur district, police said.The arrest occurred within the limits of the Pedakakani Police Station under the North Sub-Division of Guntur district.Superintendent of Police (SP) Guntur Vakul Jindal on Sunday said the arrested accused were involved in supplying ganja by road from the Araku region. He added that 4 kilograms and 800 grams of ganja were seized from their possession.The Superintendent of Police further stated that over the past three months, strict action has been taken against ganja as part of the "Sankalpam" programme, with police cracking down firmly on drug trafficking in the district.In December, Pune Police claimed to have busted a major drug racket after seizing hydroponic cannabis being cultivated inside a rented flat in the Pimpri Chinchwad city of the district and recovering narcotic substances worth around Rs 3.45 crore.Senior police officials said the investigation indicates the involvement of an international drug trafficking network.According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Somay Munde, who was leading the case, said, "The racket came to light following the arrest of an accused in a drug sale case, after which police carried out coordinated operations in Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Mumbai and Goa. During the raids, various narcotic substances, including mephedrone, hydroponic cannabis (Ozikush), charas and LSD, were seized."He further informed, "Five accused have been arrested in the case. They have been identified as Tushar Chetan Verma (21), Sumit Santosh Dedwal (25), Akshay Sukhlal Maher (25), Malay Rajesh Deliwala (28) and Swaraj Anant Bhosale (28). Police have also frozen Rs 7.80 lakh from the bank accounts of the arrested accused. All the accused have been remanded to police custody."Police said Verma was initially apprehended from the Khadki area based on specific inputs about narcotics sales.During interrogation, it was revealed that his associates Dedwal and Maher had rented a flat in the Pimpri area, where hydroponic marijuana was being cultivated. Acting on this information, a police team raided the flat and seized hydroponic cannabis along with equipment used for its cultivation. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
05 January,2026 12:22 PM IST | Guntur (Andhra Pradesh) | ANISeveral Indian cities, including Delhi, Mumbai and Guwahati, woke up to dense fog on Monday morning, disrupting visibility in many areas. In the national capital, air quality ranged from poor to very poor, with multiple flights delayed at Indira Gandhi International Airport due to reduced visibility, reported news agency ANI. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed Delhi’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 260, placing it in the poor category by 8 am. Visuals from Akshardham recorded an AQI of 294, also in the poor category. At ITO, AQI stood at 256, while Anand Vihar witnessed a sharper deterioration, with AQI touching 320, falling under the very poor category. According to ANI, Chandni Chowk remained one of the worst-affected areas, recording an AQI of 337 under the 'very poor' category. The reduced visibility due to fog and smog disrupted flight operations at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, with several flights delayed during the early hours of the day. Meanwhile, Mumbai also woke up to hazy conditions, with visuals from the Bandra Kurla Complex and Bandra Reclamation showing a visible layer of smog engulfing the city. The AQI in the area stood at 132, categorised as 'moderate' by CPCB. In the Northeast, Assam's capital, Guwahati, experienced a cold and foggy morning as a cold wave gripped the city. The AQI was recorded at 72, falling in the 'satisfactory' category. The India Meteorological Department forecast a minimum temperature of 14 degrees Celsius for the city. Notably, in Delhi, the Sub-Committee on the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) under the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in NCR and adjoining areas revoked Stage-III restrictions on Friday evening, citing a significant improvement in air quality due to favourable meteorological conditions. However, authorities have urged citizens to strictly follow the guidelines under Stages I and II of the existing GRAP schedule to prevent further deterioration in air quality. The government also clarified that construction and demolition sites issued specific closure orders for violations or non-compliance with statutory norms will not be allowed to resume operations without explicit approval from the Commission. The Sub-Committee said it will continue to closely monitor the air quality situation and review conditions periodically, taking further decisions based on forecasts provided by the IMD and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM). (With ANI inputs)
05 January,2026 11:47 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
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