The Rajya Sabha witnessed a stormy start to the session on Thursday, with government and Opposition getting into verbal confrontation over denial of permission to Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi to speak in the Lok Sabha and also over attempts to stall Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address. Lok Sabha was adjourned moments after reconvening on Thursday, following which the Upper House witnessed noisy scenes and uproar with Opposition accusing the government of gagging the Leader of Opposition. This invited strong counters from Leader of House in the Rajya Sabha J.P. Nadda and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju. Rijiju slams Opposition for distrupting PM's address, urges MPs to follow House rules Rijiju condemned the Opposition’s conduct and schooled the members on following Parliamentary protocols. "Today we all are expecting that all MPs will follow rules and traditions of the House. All the Parliamentarians are waiting to hear the Prime Minister's speech today. Congress doesn't want to listen to the PM's address, but all other members do. Your LoP Lok Sabha doesn't follow the House rules," Rijiju told the House. Mallikarjun objects to Nehru, Indira remarks; seeks Rahul Gandhi's turn to speak Mallikarjun Kharge took strong objections to ‘humiliation’ of late Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi by BJP lawmakers, apparently referring to citations from controversial books, and insisted that Rahul Gandhi be given a chance to speak in the House. "Parliament means Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The LoP, Lok Sabha, wanted to speak on the country's interests, but was not allowed to speak. How can you run the House like this?" Kharge said. J.P. Nadda counters Opposition amid slogan-shouting in Rajya Sabha J.P. Nadda, turning the tables on the Opposition, said, "The LoP should know that the proceedings of the Lok Sabha cannot be discussed in the Rajya Sabha." While the leaders engaged in fierce arguments, uproar prevailed in the House with Opposition members resorting to slogan-shouting. Earlier, the INDIA bloc floor leaders held a meeting inside the Parliament House to deliberate on their strategy on cornering the government. (Inputs from IANS)
05 February,2026 01:20 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThree minor sisters died after allegedly jumping off the balcony of a ninth-floor flat in Ghaziabad early on Wednesday, with police probing the role of addiction to an online Korean game, officials said. ACP (Shalimar Garden) Atul Kumar Singh said preliminary investigation has revealed that the sisters were allegedly addicted to ‘love game’, an online task-based interactive Korean game. The police received information around 2.15 am that three girls had jumped off the balcony in the Sahibabad area. According to the police, the sisters became addicted to online gaming during the COVID-19 period and had been continuously playing the game, often together. 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 February,2026 01:16 PM IST | Ghaziabad | AgenciesIndian Naval Ship Gharial arrived in Colombo on Thursday, carrying 10 Bailey bridges to support Sri Lanka’s post-cyclone reconstruction efforts following Cyclone Ditwah. The modular Bailey bridges will play a critical role in the rapid restoration of damaged road connectivity, facilitating civilian movement and enabling the smooth conduct of relief and rehabilitation operations in affected areas. The humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) mission is part of India’s USD 450 million Special Economic Package announced by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and builds on the ongoing regional cooperation framework under Operation Sagar Bandhu. The deployment underscores the Indian Navy’s role as a first responder and a trusted partner in the Indian Ocean Region, reaffirming India’s commitment to supporting its maritime neighbours in times of need. India, Sri Lanka linked by deep civilisational, spiritual bonds: PM Modi on Buddha relics exposition Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on Thursday said India and Sri Lanka share "deep civilisational and spiritual bonds" as he thanked Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake for inaugurating the exposition of the holy Devnimori relics of Lord Buddha in Colombo. The first-ever international exposition of these sacred relics, originating from the Devnimori archaeological site in Gujarat’s Aravalli district, is being held at Gangaramaya Temple from February 4 to 11. The event was inaugurated on Wednesday by President Dissanayake, along with Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, in the presence of Chief Incumbent Ven Kirinde Assaji Thero. President Dissanayake posted on X on February 4: “Respectfully welcome the Sacred Relics of the Buddha to Sri Lanka today for public veneration until the 11th at Hunupitiya Gangaramaya Temple. I deeply appreciate PM @narendramodi and the Government of India for honouring their promise and enabling this sacred exposition.” He also shared photographs of the relics, which will be open for public viewing from February 5. Sharing his post on X, Prime Minister Modi wrote: “Gratitude to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake for inaugurating the Exposition of the Holy Devnimori Relics at the sacred Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo.” "During my visit in April 2025, it was decided these relics will come to Sri Lanka, thus giving the opportunity for the people to pay their respects. Our nations are connected by deep civilisational and spiritual bonds. May Lord Buddha's timeless message of compassion, peace and harmony continue to guide humanity. @anuradisanayake," he said. (With PTI inputs)
05 February,2026 01:14 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentGold and silver prices continued their sharp decline on Sunday, as investors booked profits post an unprecedented rally over the past year. MCX gold February futures fell 7.12 per cent to Rs 1,39,000 per 10 grams around 10 am on an intraday basis. Meanwhile, MCX silver March futures dipped 9 percent to Rs 2,65,652 per kg. CME Group raised margin requirements on Comex gold and silver futures after the metal prices saw steep declines, which raised investor caution. Further, the US dollar strengthened, and domestic investors expected a customs duty cut in Budget 2026, which fuelled the fall in precious metals. International markets saw spot gold prices heading for their steepest daily fall since 1983, while silver is set for its worst day on record. CME Group said on Friday that margins for gold futures under the non-heightened risk profile will be raised to 8 per cent of the underlying contract value from the current 6 per cent. For positions under the heightened risk profile, the new margins will be 8.8 per cent, up from 6.6 per cent. Higher margins will lead to traders locking more money upfront to hold the same futures position, which reduces speculative interests. Analysts said that MCX Gold futures have witnessed a sharp rejection from the Rs 1,80,000–Rs 1,81,000 zone, followed by an aggressive breakdown, confirming short-term trend exhaustion. However, they maintained that the broader long-term trend of the yellow metal was bullish. The breakdown in MCX silver invalidates the steep bullish channel, and signals panic unwinding of leveraged long positions, they said, adding that momentum indicators have flipped from extreme overbought to oversold within a very short span, highlighting structural instability rather than healthy correction. For silver, a critical support zone lies at Rs 2,60,000-Rs 2,55,000 zone, they said, adding that a pullback toward Rs 3,00,000-Rs 3,10,000 zone is expected to attract selling pressure. The trend remains bearish biased in the short term, with volatility expected to stay elevated, analysts noted. 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 February,2026 12:52 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSA massive traffic gridlock was reported on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway on Tuesday and Wednesday after a tanker carrying propylene gas — a highly inflammable industrial chemical — overturned near the Khandala Ghat section close to the Adoshi Tunnel on Tuesday at 5 pm. The accident led to a complete shutdown of traffic on the Mumbai-bound carriageway as authorities rushed to prevent a possible explosion following a gas leak from the damaged tanker. The leakage posed a serious safety threat, forcing emergency agencies to adopt an extremely cautious approach in dealing with the incident. Traffic on both the expressway and the old Mumbai-Pune highway remained severely affected for several hours, leaving thousands of commuters stranded. Traffic movement within Pune and Mumbai city areas was also impacted due to the prolonged congestion. What happened Chemical expert Dhananjay Aatmaram Gidh, who has handled over 400 similar gas leakage incidents, told mid-day that the situation required extreme caution. “When I received the call about the leakage, I was in Manchar. The tanker walls had been damaged, and our first priority was to secure them. Along with other officials, we ensured the damaged portions were stabilised. Two tankers were brought in to decant the leaked gas, while a third tanker was on the way,” he said, adding that this was the status as of 4.30 pm on Wednesday. Vehicles stuck in a traffic jam on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway after a gas tanker overturned in the Khandala Ghat section. Pics/PTI Gidh explained that propylene is as flammable as, and in some conditions more hazardous than, LPG, particularly when leaked under pressure in open or confined spaces. Due to the volatile nature of the gas and structural damage to the tanker, the decanting process had to be carried out slowly, significantly delaying road clearance. “Once the decanting process is completed, the overturned tanker will be removed and traffic restored. However, the operation may continue till late night,” he said. Experts present at the site added that intense afternoon heat further complicated operations, forcing teams to temporarily halt work as an added safety measure due to the high risk of ignition. Traffic advisory and diversions Meanwhile, the traffic department issued an urgent advisory through its social media handles, warning commuters to avoid the Mumbai-Pune corridor. Due to the gas tanker accident and an ongoing leak near the Adoshi Tunnel, traffic on both the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and the old highway (NH-48) was severely disrupted. Commuters were advised to avoid the Lonavala-Khandala ghat section. Alternative routes included:>> Tamhini Ghat>> Malshej Ghat>> Bhimashankar-Manchar route Inconvenience at its peak The accident resulted in more than 23 hours of traffic congestion, turning a safety shutdown into a prolonged human ordeal. Thousands of commuters, including families, elderly passengers, children and working professionals, were stranded for up to 15 hours without access to basic facilities such as toilets, drinking water or food. For many, the crisis went beyond delay to distress and dignity. Police personnel halt heavy vehicles on the expressway “There were no toilets and no place to even step out safely. Managing infants inside a parked car for hours was exhausting. Milk ran out, diapers became an issue, and children kept crying through the night. This was not something anyone could have prepared for,” said a commuter stuck in traffic. Several others reported rationing water, skipping meals and sitting inside vehicles for hours without proper ventilation. Elderly passengers complained of body pain, dehydration and anxiety, while parents struggled to calm restless children. Jalindar Kale, a business consultant travelling to Mumbai for an important meeting, said the gridlock had cost him an entire workday. “I tried attending my meeting from the car, but the poor network and constant noise made it impossible. After eight hours, I had no option but to inform my office that I would not make it,” he said. Official response Highway Police Superintendent Tanaji Chikhale said traffic congestion stretched up to the Khalapur toll plaza on the Mumbai side and nearly 10 to 12 km towards Pune. “The intensity of the gas leakage increased, forcing us to completely close the Mumbai-bound lane as a precaution. Motorists faced delays until the situation was brought under control,” he said, reiterating the advisory to use alternate routes. As containment operations continued through Wednesday, the incident exposed a critical gap in highway disaster management, particularly the absence of emergency facilities for stranded motorists on one of Maharashtra’s busiest transport corridors. Operator statement An official spokesperson of IRB MP Expressway Pvt Ltd said the tanker was carrying extremely flammable propylene gas, which leaked after the accident, necessitating stringent safety measures. “The IRB team has been present at the site along with authorities concerned and is continuously monitoring the situation. We are working to restore normalcy at the earliest after receiving clearance. Given the severity of the incident, the practical challenges involved in handling such emergencies must be understood,” the statement said. Commuter Speak Kunal Pradhan, chief business officer at TechJar Technologies Pvt Ltd, said, “I was travelling from Pune to Mumbai on Tuesday evening and saw the overturned tanker around 5 pm. I narrowly escaped getting stuck. However, after my meeting, I had to return, and by Wednesday evening, the situation had worsened.” Another commuter, Ritika Patel, said, “I work in Mumbai and live in Pune. I was travelling home for a family function, but the experience was horrible. Children were crying, elderly people were suffering, and some passengers were clearly unwell.”
05 February,2026 08:50 AM IST | Mumbai | Archana DahiwalDays after his “roadblock” comment cast a shadow on the possible merger between the two Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) factions, NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday presented his soft side as a family patriarch, saying the current priority is to support each other before taking further decisions. Sharad Pawar held a closed-door meeting with the sons of the late Ajit Pawar and later visited the home of Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar in Baramati to pay tribute to her husband, exactly a week after he was killed in a plane crash. The veteran politician also hit back at Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for suggesting that late Ajit had not initiated merger talks with NCP-SP. “Fadnavis was not part of merger discussions between the two NCP factions and therefore had no right to comment on them,” Sharad told reporters in Baramati. Sharad said he skipped the Union Budget as he was busy tackling various issues concerning the party and the family. Amid contrasting claims over a possible merger between the NCP factions following the death of Ajit, the intense political debate over the ‘internal discussion’ is turning into a fresh flashpoint between Fadnavis and Sharad. Hours before Ajit’s wife, Sunetra Pawar, was sworn in as the deputy CM on January 31, Sharad had said the (merger) talks appeared to have hit a roadblock. The veteran politician had said he was not aware of the oath-taking ceremony. Asked if the merger will take place now, Sharad on Wednesday evaded a direct reply, saying that currently their priority is to support each other and then decide how to go ahead. “As far as political discussions are concerned, we are not talking to anyone,” he told reporters in Baramati. Matter of happiness To a question on the appointment of Sunetra as deputy CM after her husband’s sudden death, the senior Pawar said it is a matter of happiness and satisfaction that she got the opportunity. Earlier in the day, a closed-door meeting was held between Sharad and the sons of the late Ajit Pawar, Parth and Jay, on the premises of Vidya Pratishtan, an educational institute, in Baramati. It lasted about one and a half hours, said sources. There was no immediate official word on the agenda of the meeting. The discussions might have centred on the possible merger of the two NCP factions and the upcoming Zila Parishad elections, the sources said. The patriarch later visited Sunetra’s home to pay tribute to the late Ajit. Sharad visited Sahyog Society in the town, where a condolence meeting had been scheduled. He reiterated that Ajit and NCP-SP leader Jayant Patil had been leading the merger talks. Leadership issues A day after senior leader Praful Patel ruled himself out of the race for NCP’s national president, party MLA Pratap Chikhalikar said Sunetra should become the party chief. “We all have requested that she lead the NCP,” he said. The Opposition has been targeting Patel, accusing him of harbouring ambition of heading the NCP. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday accused NCP working president Praful Patel of being closer to the BJP than his own party and said he must do whatever is acceptable only to Maharashtra and the Marathi manoos. 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 February,2026 08:49 AM IST | Baramati | AgenciesLeader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday cited former Army chief MM Naravane’s “unreleased memoir” to claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi shed responsibility during the India-China conflict in 2020 and passed the buck on to Naravane. Gandhi held up Naravane’s unreleased memoir and said he would like the youngsters in India to know that this ‘book’ exists despite the government claiming otherwise. “Every youngster in India should read this book,” Gandhi said. He said Naravane has written the full account of what happened in Ladakh. “This book clearly states that when the Chinese army had entered our border, in such a critical moment, the army chief was made to wait. And when the time came to take a decision, the PM simply said — ‘jo aapko uchit lage woh kijiye’,” Gandhi said. “In other words, in the most serious crisis for the country’s security, Modi ji evaded political responsibility,” he said. The former Congress chief further said the the army chief has written in his book that he felt alone and was abandoned by the entire establishment. “This is what they are scared of me saying in Parliament,” Gandhi said. ‘Traitor vs desh ke dushman’ in Parl Ranveet Singh Bittu Gandhi on Wednesday exchanged barbs with former party colleague and Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu in Parliament premises. In a video, Gandhi was heard calling Bittu “a traitor” and the minister retorting with “desh ke dushman” (enemy of the nation) jibe. The incident took place right outside Parliament’s Makar Dwar. As soon as Gandhi was about to speak, Bittu passed by, and remarked, “the suspended Congress MPs are sitting here as if they have won a war”. Gandhi hit back, “There is a traitor walking right by.” 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 February,2026 08:47 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesA 60-year-old woman and her daughter, both reportedly suffering from mental health issues, were allegedly confined to a room in their house by the elderly woman's son in Maharashtra's Latur district, officials said, adding that both were rescued following the intervention of police and social workers, reported the PTI. According to the PTI, relatives said the women, rescued on Tuesday, were kept isolated after allegedly disturbing neighbours by throwing stones. The room from which they were rescued was found littered with several hundred empty plastic water bottles and emitted a foul smell. The shocking incident came to light in Ratnapur Nagar near Pakharsangvi village, about five km from Latur city, the news agency reported. Tip-off by social worker prompts rescue Social activist Venkat Panhale received a tip-off about the situation eight days ago. After verifying the information, he contacted Sharad Zare, founder of Majha Ghar, a shelter home for underprivileged children. Both then met Superintendent of Police (SP) Amol Tambe on Monday and informed him of the situation, according to the PTI. The SP directed the Anti-Human Trafficking Cell (AHTC) to take immediate action. Accompanied by social workers, a police team reached the spot on Monday and rescued the woman and her 30-year-old daughter around 11 am the following day. Tarpaulin-covered room hides women for years “We had received complaints that the two women were confined in a room for two years. Their room was covered with a tarpaulin sheet from the outside so that nobody could see inside. A small hole was made in the tarpaulin through which food and water bottles were passed to them. When the lock was broken, thousands of empty water bottles were found inside, and a foul smell had spread across the area,” Panhale told the PTI. Police defend confinement of mentally unwell women in Latur, cite safety concerns Inspector Shrikant More of MIDC Police Station said, “According to the kin of the women, they were mentally unwell and used to trouble neighbours by throwing stones at them. Therefore, they were kept in a room and provided food on time.” The elderly woman's son, Anjum Shoukat Shaikh, claimed his mother was mentally ill, but she was found speaking fluently in Marathi, Panhale said. His sister, however, remained silent, likely due to prolonged trauma. He demanded strict action against Shaikh. Inspector More added that Shaikh had shown the medical records of the two women to the police. “As Shaikh and his brother assured that they would take proper care of their mother and sister, the women were handed over to them,” he said, reported PTI. No case has been registered in connection with the incident. (With PTI inputs)
04 February,2026 10:47 PM IST | Latur | mid-day online correspondentPolice seized nearly three kilograms of ganja and arrested two Gujarat residents for illegal possession during a raid at a farmhouse in Palghar district, Maharashtra, officials said Wednesday. According to the PTI, the operation took place on Tuesday. "Acting on a tip-off, police raided Sambha Irani Farm within the Amgaon Chowki limits in Talasari," said Senior Inspector Ajay Gorad of Talasari Police Station. During the search, 2.965 kilograms of ganja were seized, he added, reported PTI. Two detained Following the seizure, the police registered a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and arrested Mohammad Changez Haji Abdul Rauf Sheikh (36) and Atish Ganesh Kumare (28), both residents of Valsad in Gujarat. As per PTI, the accused were taken into custody on February 4 after the contraband was verified, according to Gorad. Police are currently investigating whether the accused were part of a larger inter-state drug syndicate operating across the Maharashtra-Gujarat border. Palghar cops launch crackdown on illegal foreign nationals In a major crackdown on illegal foreign nationals in Palghar district of Maharashtra, the police on Wednesday detained 109 Nigerians for verification of documents in the Nalasopara East area and recovered nearly 2 kg of cocaine during the operation, an official said, reported news agency PTI. None of the detainees has reportedly so far been able to produce valid travel or residential documents, the official added. The operation was carried out by teams of the Mira-Bhayandar Vasai-Virar (MBVV) Police, which launched a combing drive in the area at around 6 am, Deputy Commissioner of Police Poornima Chowgule-Shringi said, reported PTI. “At one location, we seized 2 kg of cocaine from a person, and an offence is being registered,” she said. Foreign nationals, including those from Nigeria, Uganda and Ghana, living in areas such as Nalasopara, Achole and Tulinj have allegedly repeatedly been found to be involved in drug peddling, the official said. “Several of these foreign nationals have been found to be involved in drug peddling, and it recently came to light that they have also set up illegal shops. The Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation had information about these activities. Hence, we initiated coordinated action against drugs and illegal establishments,” Chowgule-Shringi said, reported PTI. Police gave the detained persons an opportunity to produce their travel and residential documents, she said, adding, “So far, not a single person has been able to show valid documents. Those who can produce legal documents will be allowed to stay, while those who fail to do so will face further legal action, including repatriation.” Foreign nationals prefer areas in the outer skirts due to low property rents, she added (With PTI inputs)
04 February,2026 09:51 PM IST | Palghar | mid-day online correspondentLeader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the India-US trade deal while commerce and industry Minister Piyush Goyal described the agreement as a landmark step in strengthening India-US relations and advancing the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. He said both sides would now complete technical processes and paperwork. “I wish to reiterate to this august House that India's core sensitivities in food and agriculture have been fully safeguarded,” Goyal said. Kharge with contrasting views alleged that it would harm Indian farmers and weaken the country’s agriculture sector. Speaking during the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address in the Upper House, Kharge accused the government of sidelining Parliament and prioritising foreign interests over farmers. Insult to Parliament Kharge said Parliament learned about the trade deal from US President Donald Trump while the House was in session. “The fact that parliamentarians came to know about the India-US trade deal from President Trump and not the government is an insult to Parliament,” he said, adding that Trump appeared to be “telling what India should do and how to run it from the US.” Quoting US Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Kharge said, “The new US-India deal will export farm products to India's massive markets, lifting prices and pumping cash into rural America.” “Meaning American farmers will benefit,” he said, asking the government, “Tell us, are you (government) working for the welfare of farmers, or are you against the farmers?” according to PTI. Zero-Tariff Imports a Threat Kharge alleged that American farm imports would enter India at zero tariff, while Indian exports would face an 18 percent duty. “Indian farmers will be destroyed by this deal,” he said, accusing the government of wanting to “destroy” the agriculture sector. He also criticised the government for what he called a pattern of ignoring farmers’ concerns over the past 11 years the government had “bulldozed” social justice, equality and parliamentary democracy. He alleged the weakening of the Constitution’s four pillars—justice, liberty, equality and fraternity—and said atrocities against minorities, tribals and women had increased under NDA rule. Manipur, Minorities and Silenced Parliament Kharge said any talk of social harmony must include Manipur, where at least 200 people have died and 70,000 displaced. “You have made Manipur a militarised zone,” he said, noting it took two years for the Prime Minister to visit the state. He also accused the government of stifling parliamentary debate by rejecting Opposition demands and pushing laws without proper scrutiny. Inequality, Jobs and Labour Laws Citing the World Inequality Report, Kharge said 1 per cent of Indians hold 40 per cent of the nation’s wealth and questioned what the government had done to address inequality. He flagged rising unemployment, criticised new labour codes, and accused the government of dismantling worker protections to benefit “corporate friends.” Taking a dig at the ‘Achche Din’ slogan, he said pollution has become so severe that people are forced to buy air purifiers.“Those who talk about ease of doing business can't give ease of breathing...,” he slammed.
04 February,2026 09:15 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd. (IRCTC) on Wednesday announced an 11-night, 12-day 'Divine Rajasthan with Ujjain Yatra' tour package under its Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train initiative, offering a spiritual and heritage journey starting from Solapur. The package is priced from Rs 19,900 per person. The tour will cover major pilgrimage and heritage destinations, including Udaipur, Nathdwara, Pushkar, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Khatu Shyam Ji and Ujjain. Gaurav Jha, Group General Manager, IRCTC West Zone, Mumbai, said the specially curated Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train, comprising both AC and non-AC coaches, has been designed to provide pilgrims and tourists with a comfortable and well-organised travel experience. The train will offer accommodation in Economy Sleeper (SL), Standard 3AC and Comfort 2AC classes, with a total capacity of around 750 passengers. • IRCTC announces 12-day Bharat Gaurav tour covering Rajasthan and Ujjain IRCTC announces 12-day Bharat Gaurav tour covering Rajasthan and Ujjain 11-night, 12-day spiritual tour to begin from Solapur Boarding and deboarding facilities will be available at Solapur, Kurduvadi, Daund, Pune, Lonavala, Kalyan, Vasai Road, Surat, Vadodara and Ratlam. The all-inclusive package covers train travel in AC and non-AC coaches, accommodation in budget hotels on double, triple and quad-sharing basis, pure vegetarian meals throughout the journey, sightseeing and transfers by AC and non-AC vehicles, comprehensive travel insurance, and the services of experienced IRCTC tour managers. According to IRCTC West Zone officials, special emphasis has been placed on maintaining high standards of health, hygiene and passenger safety throughout the tour. The package cost has been fixed at Rs 19,900 per person for Economy Class, Rs 31,920 for Standard 3AC, and Rs 41,840 for Comfort 2AC. Bookings are open on a first-come, first-served basis through IRCTC’s official tourism portal. IRCTC to launch ‘Temple Trails of Dakshin’ Bharat Gaurav tourist train from Maharashtra on February 18 Earlier, the Indian Railways announced the launch of a special Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train titled “Temple Trails of Dakshin”. The train offers passengers a unique spiritual journey across South India. The train will depart from Manmad, Maharashtra, on February 18. The train marked the first such comprehensive pilgrimage circuit originating from the region. As per IRCTC, the train offers a 12-night, 13-day all-inclusive tour. The initiative aims to provide pilgrims and heritage enthusiasts from Maharashtra and neighbouring states a seamless travel experience to some of South India’s most revered religious and cultural destinations. According to Gaurav Jha, group general manager, IRCTC West Zone, Mumbai, the composite AC and non-AC Bharat Gaurav train will cover iconic spiritual sites, including Murudeshwar, Guruvayur, Rameswaram, Madurai, Kanniyakumari, Trivandrum, Tiruchirappalli, Kanchipuram, and Mahabalipuram. The highlights of the tour include Murudeshwara Shiva Temple, Guruvayur Temple, Meenakshi Amman Temple, Vivekananda Rock Memorial, and the UNESCO-listed Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram. Boarding at various stations Passengers can board and disembark at Manmad, Nashik, Kalyan, Lonavala, Pune, Satara, and Miraj, ensuring wider accessibility. The train can accommodate up to 750 passengers and offers three travel classes. Economy Sleeper (SL)3ACComfort 2ACThe all-inclusive package will cover train travel, accommodation in budget hotels on a sharing basis, all-vegetarian meals, AC and non-AC local transfers and sightseeing, travel insurance, and the services of dedicated IRCTC tour managers.
04 February,2026 07:36 PM IST | | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
-1769926333134_d.png "Precious metals see sharp selloff after record rally. Representational Image")
-1770217866185_d.png "Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. File Pic")
