Kolkata Durga Puja stampede: Prosenjit Chatterjee, Dev, Subhashree Ganguly express sorrow

A stampede at Kolkata’s Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal killed 19 people and injured 25 on Saturday, as rain-soaked crowds surged through a narrow lane. Witnesses said warnings of a possible pandal collapse and volunteers’ whistles apparently triggered panic; seven organisers have been arrested. Bengali stars mourned victims. The Kolkata venue is among the city’s oldest.

Delhi Tourism organises three-day Navratri festival at Chhatrasal Stadium

Delhi Tourism and the Delhi government are hosting a free, three-day Navratri festival at Chhatrasal Stadium, featuring Garba, Dandiya, music and food stalls to promote folk culture. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta attended Friday’s programme, dedicated to Anganwadi and ASHA workers; teachers are invited for the October 18 finale. The festival began October 16, bringing traditional Navratri dances to Delhi.

Jailer 2 worldwide box office collection: Rajinikanth delivers highest-grossing Tamil film of 2026

Rajinikanth’s *Jailer 2* has become 2026’s highest-grossing Tamil film, earning more than Vijay’s *Jana Nayagan* and Suriya’s *Karuppu* worldwide. The sequel had grossed Rs 321 crore by Saturday and added Rs 21.60 crore net in India on Sunday, taking domestic net collections past Rs 165 crore. Directed by Nelson Dilipkumar, it reunites the pair behind 2023’s *Jailer*, which grossed Rs 604.74 crore.

CM Yogi links women’s workforce participation to Uttar Pradesh’s economic growth

On Navratri’s seventh day, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath linked Maa Kalaratri’s symbolism with law-and-order policies and women’s participation. Citing safety initiatives, he claimed police response times dropped from 65 minutes in 2016 to five and women’s workforce participation rose from 12% to over 36%, without providing sources; he contrasted progress with pre-2017 conditions.

Rain lashes Chennai as monsoon gets active in Tamil Nadu; roads flooded, traffic snarls

Heavy rain flooded Chennai roads and snarled traffic, especially in North Chennai, where 6–10 cm fell in under an hour. Authorities deployed 15,000 civic workers and response teams as IMD issued a yellow alert through October 23. Residents should avoid flooded roads and shelter indoors during thunderstorms; a cyclonic circulation is driving northeast monsoon showers.

Entrepreneurs in Cuba are snapping up American fuels

After Washington’s blockade cut Venezuelan and Mexican supplies, Cuba is importing American diesel, petrol and propane for private businesses, reshaping its energy trade. The fuel has revived transport and lowered petrol prices but cannot end blackouts, while deepening U.S. leverage and potentially empowering oligarchs. For decades, Cuba’s government relied on Venezuela and monopolized fuel imports.

NCB terminates probationary officer; CAT upholds decision

The NCB’s termination of probationary officer Vishal Kundara was upheld by the Central Administrative Tribunal, which ruled the March 2026 order lawful, citing concerns over his conduct, discipline and performance. It said probationers can be discharged as unsuitable without a formal inquiry and rejected his reinstatement plea. Kundara joined in October 2023 and served in Chennai, Guwahati and Dimapur.

H-1B spouse visa for Indians: A complete guide to H-4 eligibility, work permits and stay rules

H-4 status lets eligible spouses and unmarried children under 21 of H-1B workers live in the US, but does not automatically authorize employment; qualifying spouses need an approved EAD. Eligibility generally requires the H-1B worker’s approved I-140 or qualifying extended status. H-4 holders may generally study, while their authorized stay depends on the worker’s status.

Kerala woman invites Yogi Adityanath to her December wedding

A Kerala woman, Arundhati, has invited Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to her December 20, 2026 wedding in Aluva, seeking his blessings after a childhood video of him reshaped how she viewed tears and strength. She wrote his emotion helped her understand resilience as facing hardship, not suppressing feelings, and called him elder brother.

CM Yogi highlights schemes for women’s economic empowerment in Uttar Pradesh

Yogi Adityanath highlighted Uttar Pradesh initiatives for women’s nutrition, financial inclusion and economic independence during Sharadiya Navratri, citing higher Anganwadi honoraria, women-led ration distribution, dairy enterprises and self-help groups. He cited four lakh women in dairy companies across 31 districts and 1.20 crore in self-help groups, while impact details were not provided. He made the remarks during Ashtami prayers.

3 killed as speeding car rams tent near Durga Puja pandal in UP

Three people were killed and four grievously injured when a speeding Ford crashed into a tent at a Durga Puja gathering in Balrampur, Uttar Pradesh, on Saturday night; the driver fled but was arrested with the car within an hour. Villagers were watching projector videos near a temple, where screenings and devotional programmes are held every Navratri.

Ranbir Kapoor, Yash’s Ramayana set for historic world premiere at Academy Museum | Exclusive

Ranbir Kapoor-starrer Ramayana will premiere October 27 at Los Angeles’ Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, introducing the Indian epic to Hollywood audiences in 3D. Producer Namit Malhotra defended confidence in the project’s ₹4,000-crore combined budget, saying Indian cinema must demonstrate its scale globally. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, the two-part saga begins its release in 2026.

Assam Police to move SC in Zubeen Garg death case

Assam Police will challenge Gauhati High Court bail orders for Amritprava Mahanta and Sandipon Garg in the Supreme Court when courts reopen, Special DGP Munna Prasad Gupta said; the fast-track trial proceeds daily, with 134 witnesses examined. Both were arrested by the SIT after singer Zubeen Garg died in a Singapore scuba-diving accident in 2025.

Cobbler arrested for allegedly killing labourer over food payment dispute in southeast Delhi

A 33-year-old cobbler was arrested in southeast Delhi for allegedly killing worker Sandeep Kumar after disputes over verbal abuse and unpaid food, police said. Sandeep Ram allegedly slit Kumar’s throat in an abandoned Shakti Vihar shop late October 15; his body was discovered the next morning. CCTV helped identify Ram; police recovered the knife and gamchha.

US journalist, European diplomats attacked by Israeli settlers in occupied West Bank

Israeli settlers reportedly attacked Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine and European diplomats, including a French mayor, in the occupied West Bank, prompting US and French calls for investigations and arrests. The incidents reflect a surge in settler violence during the olive harvest; Israel condemned the attacks, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called criticism part of a smear campaign.

Thiruvananthapuram airport to be suspend flights for 5 hours on October 20

Thiruvananthapuram International Airport will halt services for five hours, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on October 20, as Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple’s Alpassi Arattu procession crosses its runway; passengers should check airline schedules. The centuries-old ritual takes idols to Shangumugham beach for a holy bath and continues under a royal-era agreement dating to the airport’s 1932 opening.

Greater Noida deaths: 3 held for abetment to suicide after family of five found dead

Greater Noida police arrested three relatives for alleged abetment to suicide after Mahesh, 37, his wife and three children were found dead at home Saturday. Audio recordings on Mahesh’s phone blamed his sisters and brother-in-law, while police cite a property dispute and suspect poison in food; forensic tests are pending, and food poisoning was an early theory.

For Durga Puja, artisans paint Goddess Durga’s eyes last to symbolise her coming to life

Durga’s eyes are painted in Chokkhudaan, a ritual believed to invoke the goddess’s presence and transform a clay image into a focus of worship; their expression conveys strength and compassion, while painting them demands precision. Traditionally linked to Mahalaya, the ritual’s timing varies, and generations of Kumartuli artisans preserve this craft in Bengal’s Durga Puja.

Manipur violence escalates in Kamjong, 3 injured in gunfight, 2 Tangkhul Naga villages set ablaze

Three Tangkhul Naga men were wounded in a gunfight in Manipur’s Kamjong district Saturday, as suspected Kuki militants set fire to two Tangkhul villages, police said. The violence followed a clash in Chassad that killed a 36-year-old Kuki man and injured four others, escalating tensions between the communities. Police reported no casualties in the village fires.

Tiny Hauz Khas studio to dressing Bollywood stars: Payal Jain built a fashion empire on her terms

Designer Payal Jain created uniforms for luxury hotels including Taj, Oberoi, Leela, Four Seasons and Aman, while dressing Bollywood stars and designing for 300 clients. Her work unites couture with durability, Indian craft and sustainability. An advocate of artisans and slow fashion, she began in 1990s Delhi and wrote India’s first CBSE-approved fashion studies textbook.

The physics and psychology of stampedes, after 19 die at Durga Puja pandal

Deadly stampedes, including Kolkata’s Chorebagan Durga Puja disaster, which killed at least 19, can be prevented through crowd-density, movement and exit management, researchers say. In tightly packed crowds, force chains can make one fall trigger a “black hole” cascade, crushing people nearby. Kumbh Mela and Hajj studies have informed safety measures, but implementation remains uneven.

Ilhan Omar’s home searched after investigators examined sister’s text messages: Report

Investigators reportedly used a text message from Ilhan Omar’s sister’s phone to secure approval to search Omar’s Washington home, seizing documents and devices October 12. The message’s contents remain unknown, and no charges have been announced. The probe examines immigration-fraud allegations tied to Omar’s family’s 1990s arrival from Somalia; Omar calls the search politically motivated.

Noida Police book two X users for spreading fake news about Dhruv Rathee’s arrest

Noida Police registered a case against two named and unidentified X accounts for falsely claiming YouTuber Dhruv Rathee had been arrested, saying the posts risked panic and threatened public order. The FIR cites BNS 197/352 and IT Act 67; police said Rathee was not arrested by Noida Police and urged reliance on official channels.

Bengaluru's holiday rush turns into traffic nightmare, people stuck in cars, buses past 12 am

Rain, a Dasara travel surge and inadequate bus bays triggered Bengaluru gridlock Friday, leaving commuters stranded for up to six hours. Tumakuru Road was worst-hit: a KSRTC bus took three-and-a-half hours between Navarang Theatre and Goraguntepalya. Traffic eased only around 2:30 am Saturday; festival bus volumes exceed 2,500, compared with just 800–900 buses usually on weekends.

From bungalows to high-rises: Delhi’s rich upgrade to luxury communities within their neighbourhood

Delhi’s luxury housing market is shifting from bungalows and builder floors to gated high-rises, as scarce land and limited supply meet demand from affluent families, professionals and NRIs. Former mill sites offer spacious homes, security, parking and clubhouses, with prices starting around ₹15 crore. Buyers seek modern amenities while staying near familiar neighbourhoods and social networks.

Rajnath Singh to represent India at SCO Meet in Tajikistan from October 19-20

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will represent India at the SCO’s 25th Council of Heads of Government meeting in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on October 19–20, focused on cooperation in trade, investment, connectivity and innovation. Members will review initiatives and matters, while India highlights start-ups and digital infrastructure; the previous meeting was held in Moscow in November 2025.

Rashmika Mandanna reveals she pursued Vijay Deverakonda for a year in Koffee With Karan trailer

Rashmika Mandanna revealed in the latest *Koffee With Karan* trailer that she asked Vijay Deverakonda to marry her for a year, while he joked that agreeing with one’s wife is marriage’s first rule. The preview also features playful banter and Rashmika choosing Allu Arjun over Ranbir Kapoor. The co-stars married in February 2026.

Walking is great for overall health but more isn't always better for your knees

Walking 10,000 steps daily supports fitness, but it is not always better for knees, particularly for people with osteoarthritis. Persistent pain, stiffness, swelling or difficulty climbing stairs may signal strain and warrant medical advice. Protect knees with healthy weight, low-impact activity, gradual increases and stronger muscles; age, excess weight and prior injuries can accelerate cartilage wear.

Rain, a rush and a mic warning: The chain of events behind Kolkata’s puja tragedy

At least 19 people died in a stampede at Kolkata’s Chore Bagan Durga Puja pandal Saturday, as rain pushed devotees inside and narrow access, poor crowd control and confusing announcements worsened the crush. Seven were arrested; Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced a judicial inquiry amid opposition claims that organisers were being shielded. The pandal is a major festival venue.

Menstrual hygiene: SC expresses displeasure over states, UTs not responding to Centre

The Supreme Court warned state chief secretaries could face contempt unless governments explain implementation of its ruling that menstrual health is a fundamental right under Article 21. States and UTs have not answered the Centre’s requests. The January ruling requires schools to provide functional girls’ toilets, water and free sanitary napkins, reducing barriers to education.