India on Wednesday officially launched 'Operation Sindhu' to evacuate Indians from Iran amid the Iran-Israel conflict, an official statement said. It stated that 110 students were evacuated as part of the operation and were on their way to New Delhi. In a post on X, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) wrote, "India launched Operation Sindhu to evacuate Indian nationals from Iran. India evacuated 110 students from northern Iran who crossed into Armenia under the supervision of our Missions in Iran and Armenia on 17th June. They departed from Yerevan on a special flight and will arrive in New Delhi in the early hours of 19th June 2025." This is part of the many steps that the government has taken over the last several days for the safety and security of Indian nationals stuck in Iran and called for help in view of the deteriorating situation due to the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel, the statement said. Operation Sindhu begins 🇮🇳.India launched Operation Sindhu to evacuate Indian nationals from Iran. India evacuated 110 students from northern Iran who crossed into Armenia under the supervision of our Missions in Iran and Armenia on 17th June. They departed from Yerevan on a… pic.twitter.com/8WJom7wh5f — Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) June 18, 2025 The government of India said that it is grateful to the governments of Iran and Armenia for the smooth facilitation of the evacuation process, according to the IANS. "India accords highest priority to the safety and security of Indian nationals abroad. As part of the ongoing operation, the Indian Embassy in Iran has been assisting large numbers of Indian nationals in moving from areas seeing increased hostilities to relatively safer areas within the country and to subsequently evacuate them using the available and feasible options," the MEA stated, the news agency reported. The MEA advised Indian nationals in Iran to stay in touch with the Indian Embassy in Tehran through its emergency helpline, and with the 24x7 Control Room established by the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi. Advisories India issued an advisory for its citizens in both Iran and Israel. It said that in view of the current situation, all Indian nationals and persons of Indian origin in Iran must remain vigilant, avoid unnecessary movements, follow the Indian embassy’s social media accounts and observe safety protocols as advised by local authorities. The Indian Embassy in Iran has also issued contact details for the Indians. The Indian Embassy in Israel also issued an advisory, informing Indian citizens to stay vigilant and adhere to the safety protocols as advised by the Israeli authorities and Home Front Command (https://oref.org.il/eng). “Please exercise caution, avoid unnecessary travel within the country and stay close to safety shelters. We are continuously monitoring the evolving situation, including the safety of Indian nationals. In case of any emergency, please contact the 24/7 helpline of the embassy,” the advisory read. Emergency contact numbers for those in Iran Call only98 912810911598 9128109109 WhatsApp+98 901044557+98 9015993320+91 8086871709+98 9177699036 (Bandar Abbas)+98 9396356649 (Zahedan) Telephone numbers for those in Israel+972 54-7520711+972 54-3278392
18 June,2025 09:07 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday searched multiple premises in the national capital as part of a money laundering investigation into the classroom construction 'scam' that is alleged to have taken place during the previous AAP government, official sources said, according to the PTI. The federal probe agency carried out the raids after it recently registered a criminal case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), taking cognisance of a Delhi Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) FIR into the said allegations, reported PTI. At least 37 premises of contractors and private entities linked to the case have been covered by the ED officials, the sources said. The ACB had booked Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders and former ministers in the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government, in its complaint filed on April 30. It was alleged that financial irregularities amounting to 2,000 crore rupees were done in the construction of over 12,000 classrooms or semi-permanent structures in Delhi government schools. The accused in the ED case are the same, sources told PTI. However, AAP, after the filing of the Delhi ACB case, had charged that the ruling BJP was using the probe agency (ACB) as a "tool" to target its leaders and claimed there was no corruption in the construction of classrooms. Sisodia, 53, held the finance and education portfolios in the previous AAP government, and Jain, 60, was in-charge of the public works department and some other ministries. They both were summoned by the ACB for questioning in this case earlier this month. According to PTI, Jain had deposed once while Sisodia skipped the date and is expected to be called again by the ACB. The AAP had called the ACB summons "pure politics". Both Sisodia and Jain have been investigated by the ED in separate money laundering cases earlier. Sisodia was arrested and chargesheeted by the agency in the alleged Delhi liquor scam case, while Jain was taken into custody in 2022 and later chargesheeted in an alleged hawala transactions and possession of disproportionate assets case. The ACB FIR came about after alleged lapses in this case were flagged by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC). Meanwhile, Delhi BJP leaders like Kapil Mishra, Harish Khurana, and Neelkant Bakshi had in 2019 filed a complaint with the ACB, alleging serious financial irregularities in the construction of classrooms across three zones of Delhi. The ACB further alleged that the total expenditure incurred on the project amounted to 2,892 crore rupees, pushing the per-classroom cost to 24.86 lakh rupees, compared to the estimated 5 lakh rupees per room under standard norms. However, it claimed the project was awarded to 34 contractors, most of whom were allegedly linked to AAP. The construction involved Semi-Permanent Structures (SPS) with an expected lifespan of 30 years, yet costs matched those of Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) structures, which typically last up to 75 years. The ACB further claimed that the consultant and architect for the project were appointed without following due process. "The Chief Technical Examiner (CTE) of the Central Vigilance Commission had raised serious violations of various clauses in its report which highlighted gross violations of CPWD Works Manual 2014, GFR 2017, and CVC guidelines. However, the report was allegedly suppressed for nearly three years," it added. (With inputs from PTI)
18 June,2025 07:59 PM IST | New Delh | mid-day online correspondentA landslide on the trek route to the Kedarnath shrine left two palanquin carriers from Jammu and Kashmir dead and three others including a pilgrim from Gujarat injured on Wednesday, police said. As reported by PTI, the dead were identified as Nitin Kumar and Chandrashekhar. Moreover, both the deceased were palanquin carriers from Doda district in Jammu and Kashmir, the police stated. It has also been reported that people who are injured in the incident have been identified as Sandeep Kumar and Nitin Manhas, both palanquin carriers from Doda in Jammu and Kashmir and one pilgrim named Akash Chitriya from Bhavnagar in Gujarat, police said. The landslide occurred at 11.20 am on June 18, 2025 near Junglechatti ghat along the route with boulders rolling down the hillside hitting pilgrims and palanquin and porter operators, Rudraprayag Superintendent of Police Akshay Prahlad Konde said. The Rudraprayag Superintendent of Police (SP) Akshay Prahlad Konde said that "The landslide ion the Kedarnath trek route occurred at 11.20 am near Junglechatti Ghat along the route. The boulders rolled down the hillside hitting pilgrims, palanquins and porter operators." VIDEO | Uttarakhand: Tragedy struck the Kedarnath Yatra after boulders rolled down a hillside near Jungle Chatti on the trekking route. Four pilgrims were caught in the landslide, two died on the spot, while two others were injured. Rescue operations are underway.#kedarnathdham pic.twitter.com/1mPppRjTir — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 18, 2025 The SP added "They fell into a gorge after being hit by the rubble of the landslide. Police and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel rushed to the spot and launched a search and rescue operation." Furthermore, police and SDRF personnel as well as locals had a tough time pulling out the dead as well as the injured out of the gorge with the help of ropes. Two persons died on the spot while three others were injured. Two seriously injured men were referred to a health centre in Gaurikund, the Rudraprayag SP Akshay Prahlad Konde stated. Konde, while concluding his statements, said that "The movement of pilgrims along the route continues under police protection."
18 June,2025 06:22 PM IST | Rudraprayag | mid-day online correspondentA major fire broke out in Noida’s Sector 36 on Monday due to a sudden blast in an air conditioner. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported so far. Fire tenders rushed to the scene immediately, and with the help of two fire engines, officials were able to bring the blaze under control. The quick response prevented the fire from spreading to nearby buildings. Residents were evacuated as a precautionary measure. The exact cause of the AC blast is yet to be determined. Further investigation is underway, and more details are expected to emerge soon. 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
18 June,2025 06:05 PM IST | Noida | ANIAfter a few days after the horrifying Ahmedabad plane crash, which killed over 270 people and injured more than 50, the mortal remains of the deceased were given back to their kin by matching their DNA samples. Addressing the situation, the Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi on 18 June, 2025, announced that 184 DNA samples have been matched so far after the tragic London-bound Air India plane crash. Air India crash update: As of 8 am, 184 DNA have been matched. — Harsh Sanghavi (@sanghaviharsh) June 18, 2025 While posting on social media platform X, Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi wrote, "Air India crash update: As of 8 am, 184 DNA have been matched." With the chaotic situation in Ahmedabad after the plane crash incident, the DNA testing is being conducted by forensic teams from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU). As reported by ANI, earlier on Tuesday, 17 June 2025, Ahmedabad Civil Hospital Superintendent Rakesh Joshi reported that a total of 163 DNA samples have been matched. During a press conference, hospital superintendent Joshi provided a detailed account of the count, noting that out of the remaining 39 of the 163 matched victims, the mortal remains of 21 deceased will be handed over to their families by Wednesday morning, and remains of two deceased are in the process of being handed over. He also said that more than 12 families were waiting for the results. While stating about the matter, he also told the media that the handing over of four dead bodies is on hold due to some legal issues. Considering the situation of utmost priority, Home Minister Harsh Joshi said, "Till 5.45 pm today, 163 DNA samples have matched. Following which, the mortal remains of 124 deceased have been handed over to their families... Out of the remaining 39, the mortal remains of 21 deceased will be handed over to their families by morning. Mortal remains of two deceased are in the process of being handed over. 12 families are waiting for the results... The handing over of four dead bodies is on hold due to some legal issues." He further stated that "on the day of the crash, 71 injured individuals were admitted to the Civil Hospital, with 42 subsequently discharged, and currently, nine patients remain admitted. At the same time, two succumbed to their injuries after admission." On the day of the crash, 71 injured people were admitted to the Civil Hospital. Out of them, 42 have been discharged. As of now, nine patients have been admitted. Two people had passed away after they were admitted." The Ahmedabad plane crash happened on June 12, when a London-bound Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed into a hostel complex of BJ Medical College in the Meghani Nagar area of Gujarat's Ahmedabad. The plane crashed on the MBBS Hostel in Meghani Nagar just after taking off from the Sardar Vallabh Bhai International Airport. The plane crash tragedy claimed 241 lives out of 242 onboard, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. (With ANI Inputs)
18 June,2025 06:05 PM IST | Gandhinagar | mid-day online correspondentThe central government has introduced FASTag-based annual passes whihc will be effective from August 15 this year. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari said that the passes for non-commercial vehicles are meant to enable 'seamless and cost-effective travel across national highways throughout the country'. As reported by ANI, Nitin Gadkari said that the annual passes have been priced at Rs 3,000, and the passes will be valid for one year from activation or 200 trips, whichever comes earlier. "In a transformative step towards hassle-free highway travel, we are introducing a FASTag-based Annual Pass priced at Rs 3,000, effective from August 15, 2025. Valid for one year from the date of activation or up to 200 trips—whichever comes first—this pass is designed exclusively for non-commercial private vehicles such as cars, jeeps, and vans," Gadkari said in a post on X. Important Announcement 📢 🔹In a transformative step towards hassle-free highway travel, we are introducing a FASTag-based Annual Pass priced at ₹3,000, effective from 15th August 2025. Valid for one year from the date of activation or up to 200 trips—whichever comes… — Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) June 18, 2025 Nitin Gadkari, while announcing the newly launched annual pass system, said that the introduction of passes is in response to concerns raised regarding toll plazas. He further indicated that this method will help simplify toll payments. The Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India also stated, "This policy addresses long-standing concerns regarding toll plazas located within a 60 km range and simplifies toll payments through a single, affordable transaction. By reducing wait times, easing congestion, and minimising disputes at toll plazas, the Annual Pass aims to deliver a faster and smoother travel experience for millions of private vehicle owners." As reported by ANI, there will be a dedicated link for the activation and renewal of annual passes. The system will soon be available on the Rajmarg Yatra App as well as on the official websites of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). Earlier in 2014, the National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC) FASTag was first introduced. The tag uses RFID technology to enable cashless toll payments and aims to reduce congestion and improve efficiency at toll plazas. The FASTag system introduced by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways revolutionises road travel across the country. Earlier, on 18 April, the Road Transport Ministry also highlighted that they are going to implement an 'ANPR-FASTag-based Barrier-Less Tolling System' at select toll plazas. According to an official statement from the ministry, the advanced tolling system will integrate the current 'FASTag system', which utilises Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) for toll deduction, with 'Automatic Number Plate Recognition' (ANPR) technology. The system will also help in identifying vehicles by reading their number plates. This will eliminate the necessity of stopping at toll plazas, as vehicles will be charged based on their identification through high-performance ANPR cameras and FASTag readers. However, the ministry also said that in the event of non-compliance, e-notices will be issued to violators. Failure to pay these notices may result in the suspension of FASTag and other VAHAN-related penalties. (With ANI inputs)
18 June,2025 05:13 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe Supreme Court while hearing the Bihar minor marriage case on Wednesday told the Bihar Director General of Police and the Delhi Police Commissioner to make sure the teenage girl, who wants her marriage cancelled, is safe. A bench of Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Manmohan noted the girl and her friend were scared for their lives. They have ordered authorities to contact them and offer help, according to news agency PTI. The girl, claiming to be on the run with a friend, says, she was forcefully married on December 9, 2024, when she was 16 and a half. Now, her husband and in-laws are making her stay, complaining about wedding costs. PTI reported the bench agreed to hear her case and asked the Bihar administration, her husband, and in-laws to respond by July 15. Her plea states her in-laws would not let her return home, claiming they spent a lot on the wedding and wanted a baby. Her husband, a civil contractor, allegedly said her parents owed them money and she had to stay married instead of studying to become a teacher or lawyer. She also claimed she wanted to study more but her father-in-law kept her confined, despite promising she could return to her parents. Her petition, filed through a friend, states, "The present writ petition... has been filed through next friend by sixteen-and-a-half-year-old minor petitioner who is facing threat to her life for protesting against continuing in a child marriage solemnised under coercion against her wish to continue her education." The minor, however, said she was on the run with a friend and feared for their lives if they went back to Bihar. "The petitioner is a hapless victim of child marriage who stands forlorn with no help from family and society in her fight to walk out of the abusive child marriage and hence pleads for invocation of the parens patriae jurisdiction of this court in the best interest of the petitioner," the plea added. The minor also said her parents forced her to marry a man around 32 or 33 years old six months ago. She was sent off right after the wedding, even though her Class X board exams were close. She was reportedly told she had to return to her parents two days later. "However, she was not allowed to return to her parental home by her in-laws who claimed to have given and spent a lot of money for the marriage and repeatedly told her that they wanted a baby. Her husband who is a civil contractor claimed that the petitioner's parents were indebted to them and she would have to continue in the marriage rather than go for further studies to pursue her dream of becoming a teacher or a lawyer," the plea said, according to the PTI. Therefore, the girl asked for her marriage to be cancelled and for her in-laws and husband to be prosecuted under the Prohibition of Child Marriages Act, 2006. She also asked authorities to ensure her and her friend's safety. (With inputs from PTI)
18 June,2025 04:17 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentA newly-repaired bridge in Assam's Cachar district collapsed on Wednesday with two overloaded trucks plunging into the Harang river, injuring the drivers, officials said, reported the PTI. The decades-old bridge on the Silchar-Kalain Road, connecting Assam to Meghalaya, was reopened last month after nearly two years of repair works, they said. District Commissioner Mridul Yadav said that an inquiry has been ordered into the incident. "There were restrictions in place, and four checkpoints were set up to monitor overloaded vehicles," he said, according to the PTI. Senior Superintendent of Police Numal Mahatta said the drivers of the two trucks sustained injuries and are undergoing treatment. The lapses are being investigated, he said. "Schoolchildren and residents on either side of the river are facing serious problems because of the bridge collapse. We have deployed boats to help them cross the river," he added, as per the PTI. Meanwhile, locals alleged that poor-quality materials were used in the repair work, which caused the bridge to collapse. Refuting the allegations, Zilla Parishad member Farida Parvin Laskar claimed, "The weight limit of the bridge was 40 ton, but these trucks were carrying around 120-130 ton of stones." #WATCH | Silchar, Assam | Harang bridge at Bhangarpar on the Kalain-Silchar road collapsed last night, causing two heavily loaded trucks to fall into the river below; Rescue and restoration work underway pic.twitter.com/7RbQH1LWyt — ANI (@ANI) June 18, 2025 In an another incident in Maharashtra, a bridge collapsed over the Indrayani River in Pune district had collapse. Four people were killed and around 51 people were injured, the officials had earlier said. The district administration had on Monday announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each for the families of the four individuals who lost their lives in the tragedy. According to Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi, the announcement is part of a broader response to the incident, which saw 55 people fall into the river. Of these, 51 were successfully rescued, and 38 are currently receiving treatment. Speaking to ANI, Dudi provided an update on the situation, noting that an aerial survey was conducted today to finalise the search operation, ensuring no one remains unaccounted for. "A total of 55 people fell due to the bridge collapse. Out of 55, 51 people were successfully rescued. Treatment for 38 people is still going on in the hospital. The condition of all the persons is stable. Unfortunately, four people died, and their bodies have been identified. There is no report of a missing person now. "This afternoon, we conducted an aerial survey at the spot to finalise the search operation," Dudi had stated. (with PTI and ANI inputs)
18 June,2025 03:34 PM IST | Silchar | mid-day online correspondentThe Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) held a high-level meeting with senior officials of M/s. Air India Ltd. and Air India Express, which are currently operating over 1,000 flights daily across domestic and international sectors, on June 17, 2025. The DGCA is discussing with aviation companies and operators to review the operational robustness of the airlines and ensure continued compliance with safety and passenger service regulations. One of the key issues of the meeting, which was held on June 17, 2025, was the increasing delay in flights relating to maintenance. As told in the release, DGCA also expressed concerns about the inclination in technical issues that are making the flyers go through a lot of major concerns. Discussions on strengthening internal coordination across departments such as engineering, operations, and ground handling were also suggested by the DGCA to the airline operators during the meeting. As told by the press release issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the meeting also addressed the impact of airspace restrictions, particularly the recent closures over Iranian airspace. The concerns over the tensions in the Middle East have caused significant diversions, delays, and cancellations. However, airlines have been directed to adopt alternate routing strategies and ensure real-time communication with both crew and passengers to minimise inconvenience. As issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the DGCA also reviewed the results of the recent surveillance on Air India’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet. The result consisted of 33 aircraft (B787-8/9). The inspection revealed no major safety issues. The aircraft and maintenance systems were found compliant with prevailing standards. However, DGCA has mandated an enhanced safety inspection of the entire B787 fleet. As of 3:00 PM on June 17, a total of 24 aircraft had successfully undergone the enhanced checks, with two more expected to be cleared by the end of the day and one more by tomorrow. Four aircraft are currently undergoing major maintenance at MRO facilities, and two aircraft grounded in Delhi will be inspected before being returned to service. Moreover, addressing the operators, the regulator (DGCA) also recommended the implementation of a more systematic and real-time defect reporting mechanism within their system. Considering that passenger aircraft safety and regulatory compliance is one of the main focus of the regulators, DGCA while concluding the meeting stated that they will continue to closely monitor the performance and operational reliability of Air India and all other scheduled airlines.
18 June,2025 01:36 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentFour people were killed on Wednesday morning when a mango-laden vehicle fell off a flyover on National Highway-9 in Agra, police said. Assistant Commissioner of Police Hemant Kumar said the accident took place around 5 am in the Trans Yamuna police station area. "The loader vehicle carrying mangoes from Firozabad lost control while ascending a flyover. The vehicle veered off the edge and fell from a height. Below the flyover, three men, Rajesh (65), Rameshwar (60), and Haribabu (63), were sitting after their morning walk when the vehicle fell on them, killing all three on the spot," the officer said. The 22-year-old driver, Krishna, also died in the incident, he said. "The preliminary investigation suggests the driver may have dozed off at the wheel, leading to the accident," ACP Kumar said. The loader's helper was injured and has been admitted to the hospital, he added. All four bodies have been sent for postmortem.
18 June,2025 12:49 PM IST | Agra | PTIWelcome to Mid-Day's Top News at this hour! We bring you a curated selection of the most significant and compelling news from around the globe. Stay informed with the latest developments in the nation, Mumbai, entertainment, sports, and more. Let's dive into the headlines shaping our world today. Markets rally in initial trade on foreign fund inflows, buying in Reliance, ICICI Bank Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty bounced back after falling in opening trade on Wednesday amid fresh foreign fund inflows and buying in blue-chip stocks Reliance Industries and ICICI Bank. Despite a weak beginning to the trade, the 30-share BSE Sensex later rebounded and went up by 93.05 points to 81,676.35. The 50-share NSE Nifty edged higher by 42.80 points to 24,896.20. Later, the BSE benchmark traded 228.13 points higher at 81,812.04, and the Nifty climbed 82.25 points to 24,937.70. Mumbai: Bandra station to celebrate 165th year with a fest The Western Railway is set to launch the heritage-themed Bandra station mahotsav on the occasion of the station’s 165th anniversary this July. The celebrations promise a rich lineup of events from a light and sound show to art competitions, a vlog race, the release of a commemorative stamp, and cultural programmes featuring local talent. Read more. Mumbai: Beach clean-up leads to drug bust in Vasai A Hungarian environmentalist stumbled upon a suspicious packet weighing about 1 kg during a Sunday clean-up drive at Bena Beach in Vasai. Wrapped in multiple layers of plastic, the packet emitted a telltale odour when opened, prompting the beach cleaner to suspect it was charas, a banned narcotic. Read more. ‘Shubman is constantly looking to evolve,’ says Abhishek Nayar Former Team India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar has hailed young Test captain Shubman Gill for his work ethic and character and believes this will help him in the upcoming England series. Nayar, who was part of the coaching set-up under head coach Gautam Gambhir when Rohit Sharma led India to the Champions Trophy title in UAE in March 2025, was previously associated with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as assistant coach from 2018. Gill was also with the KKR outfit from 2018 to 2021. Read more. Sajid Nadiadwala's son Subhaan's debut film to be titled Aisi Deewangi Dekhi Nahin Kahin In February, mid-day reported that producer Sajid Nadiadwala is readying to launch his son Subhan Nadiadwala’s acting career (Beta, chalo Bollywood, Feb 28). Now, the chatter in the industry is that the star kid’s debut film may borrow its title from Deewana’s (1992) hit track. It has been heard that the movie has been tentatively titled Aisi Deewangi Dekhi Nahin Kahin, after the popular song that featured Shah Rukh Khan and late Divya Bharti. Read more.
18 June,2025 10:50 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
