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News18
06-07-2025
- Climate
- News18
Weather Update: Red Alerts For Mandi, Pune; Delhi, Bengaluru Brace For More Rain
Last Updated: Weather Update: The IMD has predicted moderate rain and thunderstorms across the national capital on Sunday. Red alert is in place for Pune. Several Indian states are receiving rainfall, including parts of North and Central India. The downpour has affected daily life, causing waterlogging and traffic disruptions, with Himachal Pradesh being one of the worst-hit states. Himachal Pradesh Weather Update: Roads Blocked, Red Alert In Place Nearly 250 roads, including 176 in Mandi district, are blocked due to continuous rainfall. The weather department has issued a red alert for Kangra, Sirmaur, and Mandi, and an orange alert for Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Chamba, Solan, Shimla, and Kullu. The IMD has also warned of low to moderate flash flood risk in parts of Chamba, Kangra, Mandi, Shimla, and Sirmaur over the next 24 hours. Delhi, Punjab Likely To Receive More Rain The IMD has predicted moderate rain and thunderstorms across the national capital on Sunday. The sky will remain generally cloudy. 'Rainfall activity has started across the National Capital Region in a scattered manner, but activity will increase from Saturday and is expected to peak between July 6–8 as the monsoon axis remains close to the Capital," said Ashwary Tiwari, who runs the IndiaMetSky handle on X. A red alert is also in place for Punjab, and an orange alert has been issued for Haryana and Chandigarh. Places in Haryana, including Yamuna Nagar, Ambala, Panchkula, Karnal, Kurukshetra, and Kaithal, are likely to receive heavy rain. 'Very heavy rain (120 mm or more) is likely at isolated places on July 6 and 7 in parts of Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Nawanshahr, Fatehgarh Sahib, Mohali, and Rupnagar districts," the IMD said. A red alert is in place for Pune, while an orange alert has been issued for Mumbai, Palghar, and Raigad. 'The model forecast suggests that Pune city will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rainfall until July 11. However, the ghat areas are likely to witness heavy to extremely heavy rainfall on July 6 and 7," said S.D. Sanap, senior meteorologist at IMD Pune. Meanwhile, the IMD has also issued a yellow alert for Mumbai till Monday. Rainfall intensity is expected to reduce from July 8. Bengaluru Weather: IMD Predicts Rain The IMD has predicted a wet and stormy day ahead, with thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and light to moderate rainfall expected during the afternoon, evening, and night. 'During afternoon – Thunderstorm accompanied with lightning, light to moderate rainfall. During evening – Thunderstorm accompanied with lightning, light to moderate rainfall. During night – Thunderstorm accompanied with lightning, light to moderate rainfall," the IMD said. Jharkhand Weather: Orange Alert Issued The IMD has issued an orange alert for parts of Jharkhand. Heavy rain is expected to continue until Monday morning. Rajasthan Weather: IMD Predicts More Downpour According to IMD predictions, moderate to heavy rain is likely in parts of Bharatpur, Jaipur, and Shekhawati over the next 2–3 days.
The Hindu
18-06-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
BIS launches programme for science teachers on learning science via standards
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) — Madurai, on Wednesday, launched a two-days residential training programme on 'Learning science via standards,' for science teachers of BIS Standard Clubs. Forty-seven science teachers from government schools and colleges located in Dindigul, Kanniyakumar, Madurai, Perambalur, Sivaganga, Tenkasi, Thanjavur, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Virudhunagar districts participate in the programme. S.D. Dayanad, Senior Director and Head, BIS — Madurai, during his welcome address, highlighted the significance of the initiative, which included 52 curated lesson plans. He also encouraged the teachers to integrate the plans into their curriculum, fostering a scientific approach to help students understand concepts of scientific principles in a simple manner. A. Arivazhagan, Joint Director, BIS — Madurai, shred insights on BIS activities, covering standardisation, certification schemes and testing. The first day of the training covered a range of topics, including the core activities of the BIS, features of the BIS Care App, collaboration with academia, genesis and functions of BIS Standard Clubs, and the crucial role of science teachers in promoting quality and standards. As the second day of the training would commence with field visit. The participants of the workshop event would be divided into groups and assigned tasks of identifying and presenting scientific laws and principles related to everyday products, such as plastic feeding bottles, plain copier paper, iodized salt, high density polyethylene (HDPE) polypropylene woven sack, potable water bottles, wrought aluminium and earthenware crockeryware.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
IMD: Monsoon will hit parts of state in a couple of days
Pune/Mumbai: Maharashtra is poised to witness its earliest monsoon onset in 12 years, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting favorable conditions for the Southwest Monsoon to advance into parts of the state within the next 2-3 days - potentially matching the early arrival pattern last seen in 2011 and 2013. Meanwhile, the weather office on Saturday issued a yellow alert indicating thunderstorms and rainfall for Mumbai and Thane districts from May 24 through May 27. The development comes after the Southwest Monsoon set in over Kerala on Saturday, eight days ahead of its normal date of June 1. IMD officials said conditions are now favorable for further advance of the monsoon into some more parts of central Arabian Sea, entire Goa, some parts of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, some more parts of Karnataka, remaining parts of Tamil Nadu, and northeastern states during the next 2-3 days. "This is the earliest monsoon advance in years for Maharashtra, similar to Kerala, where the monsoon set in on Saturday—eight days ahead of the normal onset date," said S.D. Sanap, IMD scientist, Pune. The monsoon normally enters Maharashtra after June 5. However, IMD officials emphasized that the monsoon onset declaration depends on maintaining a "line of continuity" across regions. "We should also see good rainfall in adjoining areas such as parts of northeast India, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. That is also a factor," explained another IMD official. This continuity principle means that for monsoon to be declared over Maharashtra, sustained rainfall patterns must be established across interconnected geographical zones, not just isolated pockets. The monsoon system needs to show consistent progress across the Western Ghats and adjoining areas to ensure it's a genuine advance rather than pre-monsoon activity. Sanap added, "Monsoon normally advances over Goa around June 5, but our forecast indicates that the entire Goa could be covered in the next 2-3 days, so naturally onset would occur much earlier in Maharashtra too." As per normal advancement dates, the monsoon covers the entire state by June 15. According to historical data, Maharashtra's monsoon onset dates have typically fallen in June over the past decade and a half. The earliest onset in recent years was June 4 in both 2011 and 2013. If the monsoon advances as predicted in the next 2-3 days, 2025 could potentially see the state's earliest onset since 2011. IMD scientists refrained from specifying which cities in Maharashtra could see monsoon advancement first, stating that onset declaration considers multiple factors including wind patterns, rainfall distribution, and regional continuity of the weather system.
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Time of India
Travelling abroad for foreign vacation? Here's how to save money on flights, stay and sightseeing
If you're scurrying to avoid the scalding summer with a foreign vacation , but the astronomical budget is the only thing keeping you from taking one, it's time for a rethink. With proper research and timely planning, you can cut down expenses on almost every front, be it flight and hotel bookings, commutes, or the spending tools you use in a foreign country. #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack India much better equipped to target cross-border terror since Balakot India conducts maiden flight-trials of stratospheric airship platform Pakistan shuts ports for Indian ships after New Delhi bans imports from Islamabad 'A well-planned trip can showcase the difference between overspending and outstanding value. Start with booking strategically by choosing off-peak days, early bird offers, and redeeming airline, hotel and credit card offers, leading to significant savings,' says S.D. Nandakumar, President & Country Head, Holidays and Corporate Tours, SOTC Travel. Adds Manjari Singhal, Chief Growth and Business Officer, Cleartrip: 'The ideal approach is a combination of four things: booking early, booking during a travel sale, using bank offers, and redeeming loyalty points. Even two or three of these can help unlock the best value; not just cheaper fares, but a better overall deal.' Here are several other ways you can maximise your savings. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like After Losing Weight Kevin James Looks Like A Model 33 Bridges Undo Picking the destination The first step, of course, is to choose a destination that satisfies your budget and needs. Unless you have a specific country or experience in mind, conduct research on places that can provide the same experience at a lower cost. For instance, Central Asian countries like Kazakhstan, Georgia and Azerbaijan can give you the feel of Europe while offering savings of nearly 50% compared to destinations in western Europe. These are just 3-5 hours away and, apart from air fares, cost heads like stay and food are very low compared to Europe. Another option is to pick countries where the rupee value is high. 'With the rupee under pressure, look at destinations where the Indian rupee still holds significant value. Live Events How to book the cheapest flights Consider these tips to secure lower fares. Aggregator cheaper than airlines Airlines are typically more expensive than aggregators. For instance, Yatra offers a much lower fare compared to Air India and Singapore Airlines. Delhi-Singapore one-way air fare for 30 May flight on…. YATRA Rs.12,100 AIR INDIA Rs.16,890 SINGAPORE AIRLINES Rs.20,650 Book in advance, not last minute While you may snag good lastminute deals, there's a higher chance of getting cheaper fares if booked 30-60 days in advance. On Ixigo, Delhi-Singapore one-way air fare showed a huge difference… 1 May Rs.12,951 30 May Rs.8,548 Keep dates flexible If you keep your dates of departure flexible, you can pick the cheapest options. On Goibibo, Delhi-Singapore one-way air fares were cheaper just a day apart 30 April Rs.12,109 1 May Rs.12,951 Direct flights are expensive If time is not a constraint, long-haul flights with layovers will be cheaper than non-stop direct ones. On Goibibo, Delhi-Singapore one-way air fare was much cheaper with one stop… Non-stop Rs.12,951 With 1 stop Rs.7,548 with 1 layover of 10 h 50 mt at Chennai. *All air fares as on 30 April. "Countries such as Vietnam , Cambodia, Indonesia, Turkiye, Egypt, Kenya, and certain parts of eastern Europe like Georgia and Serbia offer fantastic experiences at a reasonable cost," says Bharatt Malik, Senior VP, Air and Hotel Business, Yatra Online. Another option is to consider countries that offer visa-free travel since visa fee forms a big component of travel budget. Without the delay of visa processing, you can avail of last-minute travel deals and book tickets instantly. Some such countries include Serbia, Hong Kong, Mauritius, Bhutan, Barbados, Haiti, etc. Flight bookings 'Flights are best secured well in advance, leveraging fare trackers and loyalty programs for substantial savings, besides availing of companion offers and upgrades,' says Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head, Holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook (India). Airlines vs aggregators: Aggregator sites typically offer better rates (see graphic) compared to airlines. For best fares, compare across multiple platforms, such as Skyscanner, Goibibo, Cleartrip, Ixigo, Yatra, etc. If, however, you are a frequent flyer and part of an airline's loyalty program, book through airline websites as you could add up air miles and redeem them for free or discounted tickets. Also, while booking tickets through aggregator apps, check if they allow free cancellations or with a fee. Book early, be flexible: Booking 30-60 days in advance is bound to get you a better price than a last-minute deal, especially if you are travelling during peak season. Being flexible about departure dates also helps as most sites display date-wise rates and shifting even by a single day can help slash costs (see graphic). Remember, however, to opt for refundable tickets in case you get a better deal. Use fare trackers & alerts: Sign up for fare alerts so that you can zero in on the lowest price for your route and book on a dip. Discounts, card benefits: Look for all kinds of discounts posted upfront on travel websites, ranging from aggregator discounts, bank offers on credit cards or co-branded cards, free air miles and loyalty programs, seasonal promotions and flash sales. Day, time, month: 'Consider mid-week departures (Tuesday or Wednesday) for additional savings,' says Singhal. Similarly, early morning or red-eye flights will cost much lesser. MakeMyTrip's Smart Travel Tips even tells you the day, time and airline that is likely to be the cheapest for your chosen route. For Delhi-Singapore flights, it suggests Air India Express flights on Mondays, before 6 a.m., to be the cheapest. Stopover flights: Direct, non-stop flights are invariably costlier than those with one or more layovers (see graphic). Don't forget, however, that these will also take much longer and can increase your travel period. Should you pick forex or credit card? If you have a zero mark-up credit card, it could be cheaper, especially with reward points, air miles, etc. If not, forex cards can be more cost-effective. Stay options Bundling can save 10-15% on an average compared to standalone reservations. While many travellers still bundle hotels and flights, separate bookings are becoming popular due to access to alternative accommodation like homestays, villas and vacation rentals, combined with experiences, says Singhal. 'For hotels, early booking, location efficiency and benefits like complimentary breakfast/transfers or upgrades deliver strong value. Bundling flights and hotels unlocks negotiated rates that individual bookings may not match,' says Kale. Booking early can also secure early-bird rates and come with perks like free upgrades. Filtering options based on key preferences, such as breakfast inclusion or free cancellation, ensures value-driven choices. 'Comparing room amenities helps find the best value for money, while booking during promotional periods increases the chances of better prices and room offers like complimentary food & beverage coupons or room upgrades,' says Gaurav Malik, Country Director, India, Sri Lanka and Nepal, Agoda. When should you opt for DIY or package tours? DIY may be cheaper if… You are a budget, solo or seasoned traveller Instead of the set accommodation, flights and meals in a package, you can pick less expensive options. You have time for research & planning You can find good deals and discounts for flights, hotels and sightseeing. You like flexibility You can opt for free sightseeing options, instead of expensive, popular tourist sites, or stay for longer in a budget-friendly place. Package tour is cheaper if… You are travelling in a group Tour operators get discounted prices for booking flights and hotels in bulk. You want a structured tour You can get discounted passes and entry tickets for tourist sites. You have no time for research You may not be able to scout for cheaper deals than those available with a package tour. Spending tools Always spend in local currency, not rupees, because it will be more expensive after conversion. You can use a combination of forex cards, credit cards and cash. 'One can use a prepaid forex card for better control over budget and to avoid high foreign exchange conversion charges. A mix of small cash for daily use and cards for larger purchases provides flexibility,' says Yatra Online's Malik. While forex cards are preloaded with one or multiple currencies, the exchange rate is fixed at the time of loading and is not affected by currency fluctuations during the entire usage period. A mark-up (rate charged for foreign currency conversion), which is typically 2-3.5% for forex cards, happens only if a transaction is conducted in a currency other than the one loaded on the card. Credit cards, on the other hand, will have a mark-up of 1.5-3.5% for every transaction that is conducted, the reason they are considered more expensive than forex cards. However, if you have a card with zero markup it can prove to be cost-effective and more convenient. 'Several fintechs like Scapia and banks like IDFC First and RBL offer zero mark-up cards. You'll also get the best rates, and if something goes wrong, you can always dispute the purchase,' says Ajay Awtaney, Founder of Indian credit card platform, Agrees Sumanta Mandal, Founder, TechnoFino: 'At the time of loading, forex cards charge a higher rate, while premium credit cards with zero markup are less expensive, especially as you can use reward points and air miles that you earn every time you swipe.' Commute costs Public transport (metro, tram, bus) is easily the most affordable option for commuting. For inter-city travel, overnight trains are a good choice and you can get discounts if you book in advance. 'For frequent travel, purchasing weekly or even day passes can help save significantly compared to single-ride tickets in countries like Japan, Thailand, Singapore and Germany,' says Singhal. Options like metro passes are also available for advance booking on platforms like Agoda. 'Many cities also offer tourist travel cards, such as the JR Pass in Japan or the Oyster Card in London, which provide unlimited travel for a fixed price,' says Yatra Online's Malik. Eurail Pass in Europe or the Octopus Card in Hong Kong are other such options. 'These often include additional benefits, such as discounts on attractions or retail purchases,' adds Singhal. Sightseeing Book day trips in advance via GetYourGuide or Viator apps, which sometimes include transport and meals. Group day tours can cost much lesser, as can multi-day tours. You can also search for free cultural landmarks, free local tours, museums with complimentary entry on certain days, and donation-based walking tours led by locals. 'Planning the itinerary by grouping nearby attractions can reduce travel time and cost,' says Singhal. 'Check for bundled offers or attraction passes provided by destinations. For instance, Singapore's Sentosa Fun Pass offers flexible access to multiple attractions across Sentosa Island at attractive prices,' says Nandakumar. City passes offered by many cities globally offer a range of sightseeing options too. 'These are often cheaper than buying on site and help avoid long queues. These include free or discounted access to a curated list of museums and attractions,' says Singhal. For instance, London Pass or Paris Museum Pass allow multiple attractions at a discounted rate. However, they have a fixed expiry and the clock starts after you swipe at the first venue. So check as many as you can in the time limit.
The Hindu
25-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Six Bajrang Dal activists detained for pasting Pakistan flag stickers condemning terror
Tensions flared in Kalaburagi on Friday morning after stickers bearing the image of the Pakistan flag were found pasted on roads at multiple junctions, including Jagat Circle and Saath Gumbad. The act, initially attributed to miscreants, was later claimed by members of the Bajrang Dal, a Hindu nationalist organisation, as a protest against the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Six activists associated with the group were detained by the police for questioning in connection with the incident. The discovery of Pakistan flag stickers on the streets of Kalaburagi caused a brief wave of confusion and unease among residents on Friday morning. Local authorities were quick to respond as reports of the stickers surfaced with fears that the act could escalate communal tensions in the city. However, the situation was clarified when members of the Bajrang Dal openly claimed responsibility, stating that the stickers were part of a protest against the recent terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives. The Bajrang Dal activists stated that they intended to express outrage against Pakistan, which they hold responsible for sponsoring terrorism in India, particularly in light of the Pahalgam attack. The act of pasting Pakistan flag stickers on roads symbolised their condemnation, with vehicles passing over the stickers as a gesture of defiance. However, the provocative nature of the protest drew sharp criticism for its potential to incite communal discord. Police Commissioner S.D. Sharnappa, addressing the media, confirmed that the stickers were pasted without prior permission for any protest. 'Condemning the recent terror strike at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, different groups staged demonstrations, took out candlelight marches and expressed their condemnation through other forms of agitations. This morning, we found the images of the Pakistan flag pasted on the roads. Initially, it caused some confusion. Local police immediately started an investigation and found that Bajrang Dal activists had pasted the images of the Pakistan flag as a mark of protest to condemn the Pahalgam terror strike. The local police have detained six Bajrang Dal activists for questioning. The initial confusion was caused as the Bajrang Dal activists had not taken prior permission for such a protest,' the Police Commissioner told the media later in the day. The police emphasised that such actions, especially those involving symbols of a foreign nation, can disrupt peace and harmony in the city. The detained activists are being investigated for their motives and the potential impact of their actions on public order. Bajrang Dal's action in Kalaburagi was framed as a response to the Pahalgam terror attack, which has sparked widespread outrage across India. The attack, described as the deadliest in Jammu and Kashmir since the 2019 Pulwama strike, prompted protests and bandhs in several cities across the country. However, the method chosen by the Bajrang Dal in Kalaburagi has been widely criticised as inflammatory. Posts on X reflected polarised sentiments, with some accusing the group of exploiting the tragedy to stoke communal tensions for political gain, while others supported the protest as a call for justice against terrorism.
