The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd (IRCTC) has launched a new pilgrimage circuit called the “Divine East Temple Tour” on its Bharat Gaurav Deluxe Tourist Train. The 10-day rail tour covers major religious and heritage sites across Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha and Jharkhand, an official statement said on Sunday. The tour will start from Delhi Safdarjung and include visits to Varanasi, Kolkata, Gangasagar, Puri, Bhubaneswar, Konark, Chilika and Baidyanath Dham. The trip will conclude back in Delhi on March 18, 2026, it said. Highlights of the pilgrimage circuit Key attractions of the tour include: - Kashi Vishwanath Temple and the Ganga Aarti in Varanasi - Major temples and landmarks in Kolkata such as Victoria Memorial, Kali Ghat, and Dakshineshwar Kali Mandir - A day excursion to Gangasagar, including a holy dip at the Sagar Sangam and darshan at Kapil Muni Temple - Shri Jagannath Temple in Puri - Odisha heritage circuit including Dhauli Shanti Stupa, Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves - The Konark Sun Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site - Final spiritual destination at Baidyanath Dham (Deoghar), one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva Comfortable travel and accommodation The Bharat Gaurav Deluxe Tourist Train offers modern amenities and a comfortable travel experience. Passengers can choose from AC cabins in 1AC, 2AC and 3AC categories. The package includes vegetarian meals, AC transfers, hotel accommodation and the support of IRCTC tour managers. Booking and Price Details IRCTC has priced the tour as follows: 1AC: Rs 1,06,940 per person 2AC: Rs 98,925 per person 3AC: Rs 79,285 per person The package includes train travel, hotel accommodation, meals (vegetarian), sightseeing in AC vehicles, travel insurance and tour manager services. Bookings are open on IRCTC’s tourism portal and through authorised IRCTC offices.
08 February,2026 07:21 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarA probe has been ordered after Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena MLA Vilas Bhumre took his minor son inside an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) booth during Zilla Parishad elections in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, officials said on Sunday, reported the PTI. The incident took place in Paithan taluka of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, they said, adding that the act violated election rules related to secrecy and voting procedures. The incident took place on Saturday at the Pachod polling booth. In the video, which later went viral on social media, both Bhumre and his son can be seen with ink marks on their fingers. Following the circulation of the video, district collector Dilip Swami ordered an inquiry into the matter. When questioned by reporters, Bhumre, who is the MLA from Paithan, played down the issue. He said his son had accompanied him and wanted ink on his finger while Bhumre was being marked after voting. “My son is very small. How will he understand anything about EVMs and its buttons? He only came with me,” Bhumre said, according to the PTI. District collector Dilip Swami said action was taken after he came to know about the incident through the viral video and media reports. “I have called the concerned officer in Paithan taluka and asked for a detailed report. I have also sought an explanation about who allowed the child to enter the EVM booth and have his finger inked,” Swami said, the news agency reported. He added that action would be taken against officials found responsible for the lapse. MLA’s political background Vilas Bhumre is the son of senior Shiv Sena leader Sandipanrao Bhumre, who served as Paithan MLA five times and is currently the Lok Sabha MP from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, formerly known as Aurangabad. A similar case was reported on the same day in Solapur district. In another viral video, Arjun Sinh Mohite Patil’s son was seen standing next to him inside a polling booth at Yashwant Nagar in Akluj and pressing the EVM button, as per the PTI. Patil later claimed that the child was only curious to see how voting is done. (with PTI inputs)
08 February,2026 06:30 PM IST | Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar | mid-day online correspondentThe All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has expelled corporator Meera Kamble after she supported the BJP’s candidate in the mayoral election of the Amravati Municipal Corporation in Maharashtra, reported the PTI. Speaking to PTI, AIMIM leader Imtiaz Jaleel said the party had won 12 seats in the civic body elections and had taken a clear decision to remain neutral during the mayor and deputy mayor polls held on Friday. However, Kamble went against the party’s stand by openly backing BJP mayoral candidate Shreechand Tejwani during the voting process. Jaleel said Kamble raised her hand in support of the BJP candidate, ignoring party instructions. Following the incident, the AIMIM expelled her from the party. He added that the process to disqualify her as a corporator has also been initiated. Show cause notices issued In addition to Kamble’s expulsion, the party has issued show cause notices to AIMIM officials and leaders in Amravati over the incident in the administration, Jaleel said, as per the PTI. BJP’s Shreechand Tejwani was elected mayor, while Sachin Onkarrao Bhende of Ravi Rana’s Yuva Swabhiman Party was elected deputy mayor. The Amravati Municipal Corporation has 87 members. The BJP has 25 corporators, while its Mahayuti ally, the Yuva Swabhiman Party, has 15 members in the civic body, according to the PTI. Two-time unopposed corporator Ravi Landge elected Pimpri-Chinchwad mayor Meanwhile, Pimpri-Chinchwad witnessed a historic moment on Friday as senior corporator Ravi Landge was elected unopposed as the 27th mayor of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), ending nearly four years of administrative rule in the civic body. At 41, Landge has created a unique record in PCMC’s history. A two-time unopposed corporator during the 2017–2022 term, he has now carried forward the same distinction to the mayoral post. He has become the first leader in the corporation’s history to be elected unopposed three times consecutively — twice as a corporator and now as mayor. The election is significant as it comes after the civic body remained under administrative control since March 12, 2022, following the expiry of the elected council’s term and delays in municipal elections. During this period, the corporation was administered successively by Commissioners Rajesh Patil, Shekhar Singh and Shravan Hardikar. Deputy mayor and key appointments Alongside Landge’s election, Sharmila Babar was unanimously elected as deputy mayor. Other key appointments include Prashant Shitole as Leader of the House and Bhausaheb Bhor as Leader of the Opposition. Sharmila Babar holds a Master’s degree in History and served as a corporator from Ward No. 15 (Nigdi–Akurdi Pradhikaran) during the 2017-2022 term. Known for her active participation, she recorded 100 per cent attendance in general body meetings and played a key role in several decision-making processes. She also served as Deputy Chairperson of the Education Committee and worked as ward chairperson for two consecutive years between 2019 and 2021. (with PTI inputs)
08 February,2026 06:15 PM IST | Amravati | mid-day online correspondentThe swing ride collapse at the Surajkund International Crafts Mela in Haryana has once again raised concerns about amusement ride and cable car safety in India. The incident took place on Saturday at the mela venue in Faridabad, when a giant swing malfunctioned and collapsed mid-operation, killing a police inspector and injuring several others. Authorities have suspended all ride operations and ordered an official inquiry. Here is a list of major amusement ride and cable car accidents in India over the years: Darjeeling ropeway, West Bengal (2003): Several cable cars slipped due to a mechanical failure on October 19, 2003, killing four people and injuring several others. The ropeway was shut down for an extended period and later overhauled. Kankaria Amusement Park, Ahmedabad (2019): A pendulum ride crashed on July 14, 2019, after a pipe on the main shaft broke, killing two people and injuring nearly 30 others. Authorities suspended the ride and ordered a safety audit of the park. Trikut ropeway, Deoghar, Jharkhand (2022): Two cable cars collided mid-air on April 10, 2022, killing two people and leaving dozens stranded for hours. The state government ordered an inquiry and later blacklisted the private operator. Nainital ropeway, Uttarakhand (2023): A technical snag halted the cable car mid-route on July 27, 2023, stranding 12 passengers, including six foreign tourists. All were rescued safely, and services resumed after repairs and safety inspections. South West Delhi amusement park (2025): A 24-year-old woman died on April 3, 2025, after falling from a roller coaster due to a seat belt failure. The ride was shut down, and police initiated action against those responsible for maintenance. VGP Universal Kingdom, Chennai (2025): A thrill ride stalled mid-air on May 28, 2025, leaving at least 30 riders stranded for nearly three hours. Fire and rescue teams evacuated passengers, and the ride was closed for inspection. Kagal fair, Kolhapur, Maharashtra (2025): A tower ride malfunctioned on October 25, 2025, leaving 18 people stranded nearly 80 feet above the ground for several hours. Fire services rescued the riders safely, and authorities ordered safety checks of all rides at the fair. Pavagadh hill ropeway, Gujarat (2025): A cable snapped on a cargo ropeway on September 6, 2025, killing six people. Police registered an accidental death case, and a technical committee was formed to investigate the incident. Jhabua fair, Madhya Pradesh (2026): A giant swing collapsed at a local fair on January 19, 2026, injuring around 14 schoolchildren. The district administration ordered a magisterial inquiry and suspended the ride. (With PTI inputs)
08 February,2026 01:39 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentAssam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said that the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which was investigating an alleged anti-India conspiracy involving Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh and 'British citizen' Elizabeth Colburn Gogoi (wife of Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi) will be hand over its probe to central agencies. CM Sarma said that the SIT probe has reached a point where it cannot proceed further without central assistance. "The Assam government had constituted an SIT to enquire an alleged anti-India conspiracy involving Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, in connivance with British citizen Elizabeth Colburn Gogoi. The case has been investigated, and sensitive material information has been obtained from various sources. However, the SIT has reported that beyond a point, it may not be possible to continue the investigation as assistance from Interpol and sensitive information from the Government of India and Parliament are required. It has therefore been decided that the case will be handed over to a Central government agency to be selected by the Ministry of Home Affairs," CM Sarma said. Earlier on January 28, CM Sarma revealed details from a Special Investigation Team (SIT) report, which he said allegedly proves Assam Congress President Gaurav Gogoi's "direct link with Pakistan". Chief Minister said the SIT report pertained to a case registered against Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, along with Elizabeth Gogoi and Gaurav Gogoi, and alleged links to Pakistan. "The SIT has given the proof that three persons have a direct link with Pakistan - Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, Elizabeth Gogoi and Gaurav Gogoi. After seeing the presentation, our cabinet ministers were shocked," the Chief Minister told reporters. In January, Sarma alleged Pakistani links of Gogoi through his British wife. He reiterated the charges and claimed that the Congress leader was a "Pakistani agent", planted by "foreign power", and that he had evidence to prove it. "Gaurav Gogoi is a Pakistani agent. He is a pure Pakistani agent. If he has the courage, lodge a defamation case against me. What I have is the evidence, he is a 100 per cent Pakistani agent. He has been planted by a foreign power in our country. He is a planted person. I am saying this with facts. As a Chief Minister, I am saying that he is a pure Pakistani agent. After giving justice to Zubeen Garg, I will prove it," Sarma told reporters. In May 2025, CM Sarma described Gogoi as a "deep-rooted Pakistani agent." The Assam Chief Minister claimed that Gogoi had only revealed 10 per cent about his visit to Pakistan and that he and his wife are deeply involved in anti-India activities. In February last year, the Assam Chief Minister said that Ali Tauqeer Sheikh had visited India at least 18 times. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi had also fired back at Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's allegations, saying that if his wife is accused of being an ISI agent, he might as well be called a R and AW agent. "If my wife is an ISI agent of Pakistan, then I am a R and AW agent of India. I don't mind if a family against whom there are various cases and several allegations makes accusations against me. The Assam Chief Minister is making these allegations only to divert attention from the allegations against him," he said. 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
08 February,2026 10:12 AM IST | Guwahati | ANIPolice have arrested a subcontractor for failing to alert the authorities about Kamal Dhyani falling into a pit leading to his death, police said. DCP (West) Darade Bhaskar said, Rajesh Kumar Prajapati , 47, knew that someone had fallen into the pit, hours before the matter came to the police’s notice. Call detail records showed that he was informed about the incident at around 12.22 am. However, Prajapati neither informed the police nor any emergency authority. Information about the incident reached police only the next morning at around 8 am. According to a senior official, an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh is likely to be given to the victim’s family soon. The family has alleged negligence on DJB’s part and also suspects foul play. 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
08 February,2026 09:20 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesProtecting the “personality rights” of actor and entrepreneur Vivek Oberoi, the Delhi High Court has restrained several entities from misusing his name, voice, and image for commercial or personal gain. Oberoi filed a suit in the Delhi High Court on February 4, 2026, to protect his personality and publicity rights. The lawsuit seeks to prevent the unauthorised use of his name, image, voice, and likeness in AI-generated, deepfake, which was causing “incalculable loss to his goodwill and reputation”. In an interim order, Justice Tushar Rao Gedela held Oberoi has a “copyright” over his own personality, which includes his image, likeness, voice, name and signature, and his long standing career and stellar success in films clearly demonstrate his goodwill, reputation and acceptability, observed the court. The court therefore restrained several entities from violating Oberoi’s “personality/publicity rights” by misusing his name “Vivek Oberoi”, voice, image or other aspects of his persona for any commercial or personal gain through the use of any technology including AI, deep fakes, or face morphing. It also restrained the creation and sharing of any products, like t-shirts and posters, bearing his personality’s attributes. The court directed the online platforms, including YouTube, Meta Platforms and X Corp, to take down the links of all offending articles within 72 hours. “These videos are vulgar and sexually explicit in nature. What is particularly egregious is the fact that the defendants are exploiting the plaintiff’s image and creating such YouTube Shorts/videos to gain traction for their videos,” it stated. Several public figures, like actors Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, her husband Abhishek Bachchan, Salman Khan, “Art of Living” founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, journalist Sudhir Chaudhary, and podcaster Raj Shamani had earlier approached the high court seeking protection of their personality and publicity rights. The court granted them interim relief. 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
08 February,2026 09:16 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesIndia has finalised eight free trade agreements (FTAs), covering 37 developed countries in the last few years, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said. He also said that India is in active dialogue for similar pacts with several countries, including Chile, Peru and Canada. Trade negotiations with Chile, he said, are almost at conclusion, where India has interests in critical minerals. "We've done eight free trade agreements covering 37 developed countries in the last few years under the Modi-government," the minister told PTI. Since 2014, India has finalised eight trade pacts -- Mauritius (April 2021 implemented), Australia (December 2022 implemented), UAE (May 2022 implemented), Oman (signed in December 2025), UK (signed in July 2025), EFTA (implemented in October 2025 - Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway), New Zealand (talks concluded in December 2025), and the European Union (27-nation bloc). Goyal added that talks for a trade pact have started with the Mercosur group of countries to expand the existing PTA (preferential trade agreement).The Mercosur trade bloc members are Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. The GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council), a group of six nations from the Middle Eastern region, too, has expressed a desire to start and launch negotiations for an FTA with India, theminister said. "We have finalized terms of reference with them," he said, adding that Canada and India are actively talking for a pact."We're going to quickly start negotiations with Canada," Goyal said. India and SACU, the South African-led union, are also considering whether the two sides can look for a trade deal, he added. "So a lot of potential trade deals on the anvil. We'll certainly be hearing many more good news stories and making India an international player, a global player of significance in the years to come," he said. Under trade pacts, two or more nations either eliminate or reduce import duties on the maximum number of goods traded between them. They also ease norms to promote trade in services and attract investments. 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.
07 February,2026 10:54 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIIn what can be termed good news for wildlife lovers, a third tigress, STR-06, was released into the wild at the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve in western Maharashtra on Saturday. View this post on Instagram A post shared by mid-day (@middayindia) The tigress was captured on Thursday around 5 pm from the Nagalwadi forest range of Pench Tiger Reserve in central India, following which she was transported to the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve. After the road journey, the wild cat was taken by boat into the Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary, which forms part of the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve, on Friday night. Upon arrival, veterinary officers conducted a medical examination, after which the tigress was offered water and meat, both of which she consumed. On Saturday at 6 am, the tigress was released at a safe location in the core forest area of the Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary. Tigress STR-06 expected to pair with resident male tiger Baji at Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary Officials said tigress STR-06 is expected to pair with the resident male tiger STR-03, popularly known as Baji, in the sanctuary. The development is likely to boost wildlife tourism in the region. Spread across 1,165 sq km, the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve spans Satara, Sangli and Kolhapur districts and is one of the Maharashtra government’s ambitious conservation projects. The reserve is rich in biodiversity and is home to several rare species of flora and fauna in western Maharashtra. Saturday’s operation was carried out under the guidance of Sahyadri Tiger Reserve Field Director Tushar Chavan, with Deputy Director Kiran Jagtap, Assistant Conservator of Forests Baba Hakke, Range Forest Officer Sangram Godse (flying squad), Akshay Salunkhe (Koyna), Vijay Bate (Bamnoli), Tushar Jankar (Patan), Akshay Karmalkar (Kandat), honorary wildlife wardens Rohan Bhate and Sunil Bhoite, along with forest guards and frontline staff. Speaking about the tiger's release into the reserve, Chavan said, “This third tigress released at Sahyadri Tiger Reserve marks the beginning of a new phase for Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary. With no resident female for the existing male tiger STR-03, the introduction of a new tigress into his territory is expected to aid the continuity of the species and also strengthen the tourism prospects of the reserve.” The tigress was earlier identified as PTR-123 at Pench Tiger Reserve. Following her relocation to Sahyadri, she has been assigned the official identification number STR-06. Local guides at Sahyadri have named her ‘Hirkani’.
07 February,2026 07:41 PM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavPolice on Saturday shared fresh details about the three-day anti-Maoist operation along the Gadchiroli–Chhattisgarh border, in which seven Maoists were encountered and one C-60 commando was killed in action, shedding light on the scale and complexity of the action in the dense Abujhmaad forest. According to officers, the operation began late on Tuesday after intelligence inputs indicated the presence of Company No 10 cadres and other Maoist members from Chhattisgarh in the border forests, allegedly planning violent activities. Multiple teams of the elite C-60 unit were deployed in the rugged terrain near Phodewada village under the supervision of the Bhamragad Sub-Divisional Police Officer. On Wednesday, Maoists opened fire on police teams during a search operation, leading to retaliatory firing in self-defence. Two Maoist camps were destroyed during the day, and a large quantity of supplies and documents were recovered. However, thick forest cover and difficult terrain allowed the Maoists to evade immediate capture, officers said. As exchanges of fire continued intermittently, additional C-60 units and a Central Armed Police Force (CRPF) Quick Action Team were brought in to reinforce the cordon. On Thursday, security forces recovered the bodies of three Maoists along with weapons, including an AK-47 and an SLR rifle. The operation continued into the following day, when four more bodies were recovered from different locations in the forest. Police said those killed included senior cadres carrying a cumulative cash reward of Rs 71 lakh. Several of the Maoists were wanted in multiple cases related to murder, arson and attacks on security forces, though verification of all identities is still underway. Apart from firearms, police recovered ammunition, explosives, Maoist literature, magazines and other materials during the operation. Officers said the seizure indicates the group was well-equipped and capable of launching major attacks. Gadchiroli encounter: Another commando undergoing treatment, say police A C-60 commando who sustained a bullet injury during heavy firing was airlifted from the forest but later succumbed to his injuries. Another commando was injured and is undergoing treatment. Police said anti-Maoist operations in the region would continue, adding that further details would be shared at a briefing.
07 February,2026 04:49 PM IST | Gadchiroli | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra Police carried out two major intelligence-led operations in Palghar and Thane districts, resulting in the seizure of high-value contraband, news agency PTI reported. In Palghar, officers intercepted a tempo that was allegedly transporting medicines and discovered liquor worth Rs 9.38 lakh hidden inside the cargo. In Thane, the crime branch arrested an autorickshaw driver for allegedly possessing heroin worth Rs 6.68 crore. Palghar: Liquor found hidden in medicine shipment In Palghar’s Talasari area, a police team intercepted a tempo on the Mumbai–Ahmedabad Highway after receiving a tip-off, PTI reported. Upon searching the vehicle, police found a large quantity of liquor concealed among medicines, Deputy Superintendent of Police Yatish Deshmukh said. The seizure was made during a routine check, and officers said the liquor was carefully hidden to avoid detection. The driver, identified as Shivendrakumar Lalbabu Thakur (41), claimed he was carrying medicines for a pharmaceutical company and produced a bill to support his claim. However, officers discovered that the liquor was hidden within the stock. Following the discovery, police registered a case against Thakur under the Maharashtra Prohibition Act. An investigation is ongoing to determine the origin and intended destination of the liquor. Police are also trying to establish whether the driver was part of a larger smuggling network. 50-year-old rickshaw driver held with heroin in Thane In a separate operation in Thane city, the Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) of the Thane Crime Branch arrested Fardin Gulzar Mulla, a 50-year-old autorickshaw driver, for allegedly carrying heroin, PTI reported. The arrest was made after a tip-off, and the suspect was intercepted in the Ghodbunder Road area on the night of February 1, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Amarsingh Jadhav said. Authorities said the arrest followed a targeted surveillance operation based on leads. Police recovered 2.288 kg of heroin from Mulla, estimated to be worth Rs 6.68 crore. He has been booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The DCP added that further investigation is underway to trace the source of the drugs, identify the intended buyers, and uncover other members of the drug supply network. Officers said the case is likely linked to a larger trafficking chain that uses small vehicles and local transport services to move drugs across regions. (With PTI Inputs)
07 February,2026 03:49 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
