Author: Indmedia

Pune: PCB has cleared salaries for its permanent staffers, but hundreds of contractual workers continue to await their dues, highlighting the financial strain on the civic body due to delayed grants from the Ministry of Defence (MoD).The unpaid contractual workers comprise sanitation and conservancy staffers, security guards, health assistants working in cantonment hospital, and data entry operators in the administrative department. Many of these employees said their families were entirely dependent on their monthly wages. “It is good that at least permanent employees have been paid their salaries. But our financial situation is bad. Our families totally rely on the…

Panaji: Goa has 11 industrial units that fall under the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) ‘highly polluting 17 category industries’. Now, after the Central Board revised its guidelines, requiring more frequent inspections of such highly polluting industrial units, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has constituted a monitoring cell specifically for these industries.As per the new norms, the inspection of these highly polluting units have to be carried out at least once in three months and the Board has begun this process already.These 11 units in Goa are spread across the areas of Bethora, Usgao, Pissurlem, Sanguem, Cuncolim, Zuarinagar,…

Dharamshala: The Dalai Lama’s youngest brother Tenzin Choegyal passed away at his home in Dharamsala on Tuesday. He was 80 years old. Known popularly as Ngari Rinpoche, he served the Dalai Lama in various capacities and had even travelled with him to China in 1954-1955.Although recognised as the 16th reincarnation of Ngari Rinpoche, a revered lineage associated with western Tibet (Ngari), he stayed away from ritualistic practices and monastic protocols. Born in Lhasa, Tibet, in 1946, he accompanied his brother to India in March 1959 and completed his formal education in India and the United States. Rinpoche began working at the Tibetan…

Lucknow: Hindu samaj will not budge from its stand of ‘liberating’ Krishna Janmabhoomi in Mathura and Kashi Vishwanath in Varanasi, as per the resolution adopted by the first Dharam Sansad held in 1984, said Vishwa Hindu Parishad secretary general (organisation) Milind Parande on Wednesday.Parande said the seers and the VHP have pledged to ‘take back’ Ram Janmabhoomi, Krishna Janmabhoomi and Kashi Vishwanath in accordance with Hindu sentiments. “It started with the Ram Janmabhoomi andolan and the temple was constructed. Likewise, sankalp to take over Krishna Janmabhoomi and Kashi Vishwanath will also be fulfilled by the Hindu samaj,” he told TOI.…

Patna: As many as six examinees were expelled for adopting unfair means on the second day of the 2026 annual Matric examination. Besides, three were arrested for impersonating others, sources in the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) said.The mathematics paper examination passed off peacefully at all centres across the state on Wednesday. Visually challenged students appeared in the home science paper instead of mathematics in the first sitting.On Thursday, candidates will appear in language papers in both sittings. Source link

Bhilwara: Bhadesra police in Chittorgarh district Wednesday seized 205kg of illegal opium doda churna from a car during a blockade.Chittorgarh SP Manish Tripathi said the seizure took place under the Operation Trinetra, which was conducted on the directions of Udaipur range IG Gaurav Srivastava, to curb narcotics trafficking in the district. He said that maximum action was being taken against storage and transporters of narcotics.Under the supervision of Chittorgarh ASP Sarita Singh, a special team led by Bhadesra station house officer Vinod Menaria. The team had set up a blockade at the Bhalundi intersection when a suspicious Fortuner car with…

Akola: A massive rangoli portrait of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was created at Shri Shivaji Arts, Commerce and Science College, Akot, affiliated with Shri Shivaji Shikshan Sanstha, Amravati, to mark the birth anniversary of the legendary Maratha ruler.The unique tribute was conceptualised by college principal Dr Sunil Pandey and Chaturbhuj Art director Anil Kale.Spread across nearly 30,000 square feet, the portrait was completed by 15 students after six days of continuous work. About 40 quintals of rangoli material were used to create the artwork.The process involved detailed ground planning, sketching, and careful filling of colours. The rangoli depicts Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj…

**EDS: THIRD PARTY IMAGE; WITH JHARKHAND PACKAGE** In this image posted on Feb. 18, 2026, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, left, greets Assembly Speaker Rabindranath Mahto on the first day of the Budget Session of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly, in Ranchi. (@HemantSorenJMM/X via PTI Photo)(PTI02_18_2026_000516B) Ranchi: The Budget session of the Jharkhand Assembly began on Wednesday with the customary address by Governor Santosh Gangwar, who highlighted the state govt’s efforts to promote development and economic prosperity while maintaining harmony with nature.In his 40-minute speech, the governor outlined several flagship schemes aimed at benefiting women, youth, farmers and other sections of…

Vadodara: Umreth police arrested a 54-year-old govt primary school teacher in Umreth taluka of Anand district for alleged aggravated sexual assault on a girl student on Tuesday.The complaint was filed by the parent of a girl studying at the school.According to police, the alleged offence occurred during school hours on Feb 11. The teacher is accused of behaving inappropriately with the minor inside a classroom and allegedly showing her objectionable content on his phone. The complaint also alleges inappropriate touching and explicit remarks made in the presence of other students.A case was registered under Sections 75(2) and 296(B) of the…

Gorakhpur: The body of a 23-year-old woman, who had been missing for over 24 hours, was found in Ramgarh Tal on Wednesday afternoon.Passers-by spotted the body floating in the lake around 1.30pm and alerted the police. A team reached the spot and retrieved the body from the water. The deceased was identified as Shraddha Tripathi, alias Nishu, daughter of lekhpal Sanjay Tripathi, a resident of Dibiya Dhobi Tola under Cantt police station limits.According to police, Shraddha had left home on Tuesday for some work but did not return. When repeated calls to her phone went unanswered, family members lodged a…