⚡ Key Highlights & Quick Takeaways
- Catastrophic flash floods in Nepal have left more than 1,200 people dead, over 4,200 missing, and nearly 12,000 rescued.
- Addressing Parliament, the Prime Minister stated that Nepal never refused international assistance and thanked India and China for stepping up with rescue and relief operations.
- Search teams continue operations inside hydropower tunnels as recovery efforts begin.
Catastrophic flash floods in Nepal have left more than 1,200 people dead, over 4,200 missing, and nearly 12,000 rescued. Addressing Parliament, the Prime Minister stated that Nepal never refused international assistance and thanked India and China for stepping up with rescue and relief operations. Search teams continue operations inside hydropower tunnels as recovery efforts begin. Ground reports reveal complete devastation in Betrawati, the largest town at the foothills of Rasuwa, which was swept away after a glacial collapse. The Trishuli river expanded from a 30-metre stream to over 600 metres, washing away houses, schools, temples, and bridges. Meanwhile, visuals from Dhunge Bazaar show certain structures surviving despite being submerged in 12 to 15 feet of mud, while surrounding areas were destroyed.
A controversy erupted in Kerala following regressive remarks by cleric Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker regarding women, prompting strong political objections. Representatives of the Samastha faction held a meeting to register their protest and dissatisfaction over the political response. While the leadership asserted that individuals have the right to support or oppose remarks, they expressed concern over the misinterpretation of Islamic history. The political response cited prominent figures from Islamic history, such as Khadija being an entrepreneur and Aisha participating in battle, to argue that women should participate in the mainstream rather than remain confined to homes. The cleric had stated that women must remain indoors, asserting that modesty maintains dignity. Samastha leaders conveyed that political leaders should avoid claiming religious scholars misunderstand their faith.
A major political row has erupted over the appointment of retired Air Marshal Jitendra Mishra as the first Chief Executive Officer of the Shri Ram Temple Trust. The Congress party questioned the decision, arguing that the CEO post should belong to saints, while Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Congress ally Indian Union Muslim League also criticised the move over donation allegations. In response, the Bharatiya Janata Party defended the appointment, asserting that the new administrator will manage operations professionally. Speaking to India Today, retired Air Marshal Jitendra Mishra stated that he felt gratitude for the opportunity and expressed confidence that managerial principles and support from the trust and his team would help him fulfill his duties. Mishra, who served in the Indian Air Force for nearly four decades and led operations including Operation Safed Sagar and Operation Sindoor, noted that he looks forward to guidance from the trust to plan and execute future strategies.
Former Indian Air Force Group Captain and Vir Chakra awardee Abhinandan Varthaman has taken premature retirement to join regional carrier Fly91 as a commercial pilot. Sources state that the Balakot aerial combat hero, who shot down a Pakistani fighter aircraft in 2019 and was held captive before returning to India, joined the Goa-based airline in August. The carrier, which commenced operations in March 2024 with a fleet of ATR aircraft, maintains bases in Goa and Hyderabad. When contacted regarding the development, a spokesperson for the airline stated that personal information concerning employees remains private and declined to offer further comment.
A political confrontation has erupted over India's 7.8 per cent GDP growth figures. The Opposition and critics, including former finance secretary Subhash Chandra Garg, have questioned the downward revision of the previous year's first-quarter GDP and alleged data fudging, arguing that nominal growth stands at only 2.6 per cent without the revision. The central government and the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation have rejected these allegations, asserting that the calculations are based on the updated base year series and improved methodology. Union ministers stated that critics are comparing different GDP series and misleading the public. The government maintained that the 7.8 per cent expansion reflects India's position as the fastest-growing major economy, driven by granular data sourced through institutional mechanisms such as GST and the Public Financial Management System, with deliberations held across stakeholder groups.