Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif  said that Muslim and non-Muslim Pakistanis continue to move in unison to thwart any nefarious design against the country. File.
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An elderly man was allegedly beaten to death in Haryana’s Faridabad after he objected to people bursting firecrackers in his locality, police said on Friday (August 1, 2024).

A case has been lodged on the basis of a complaint from the victim’s son.

According to the complainant, Vinod, three men — Raju, Dheeraj and Nandu — were bursting firecrackers in front of the victim’s residence in the Housing Board Colony in Faridabad’s Sector 18 on Thursday (October 31, 2024) evening. “When his father objected to it, a verbal spat ensued,” the complainant said.

“Mr. Vinod managed to pacify the situation for the time being but at around 1 a.m., the three men came back and again started bursting firecrackers in front of their house,” the complaint said.

As Mr. Vinod’s father came out of the house and objected to it, he was allegedly thrashed by the three accused. Mr. Vinod and his wife were also allegedly roughed up by the three men when they tried to intervene.

“The complainant’s father succumbed to his injuries on the spot,” police said, adding that a hunt is on to nab the accused.

New Delhi:

The skyrocketing pollution in Delhi – which was reported to have the highest pollutant levels in the world the day after Diwali – is directly impacting people’s health, with 69% of families in the capital and the National Capital Region (NCR) reporting at least one person suffering, a survey has revealed. 

AQI (Air Quality Index) on the night of Diwali on Thursday also reached 999, which is the highest recordable level, in several parts of Delhi and NCR. 

The survey, by LocalCircles, which received over 21,000 responses from residents of Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad and Ghaziabad, revealed that 69% of families have one or more members with sore throat or cough, 62% have at least one member feeling a burning sensation in their eyes due to rising levels of pollution and 46% have someone with a running nose or congestion. Several respondents reported more than one symptom.

Members with breathing difficulty or asthma were reported by 31%, headache by 31%, anxiety and or difficulty concentrating by 23% and difficulty sleeping by 15%. On the flip side, 31% also said no one in their families had any issues at all because of pollution. 

The last similar survey was conducted on October 19, days after GRAP (graded response action plan)-1 was imposed on Delhi and there has been a significant shift in at least one of the symptoms in two weeks. The percentage of people with sore throat and or cough went up from 36% at the time to 69% as of Friday. 

‘Just Live With It’

Only 23% of respondents will use air purifiers to see them through this phase of very high pollution and an equal number said they will just live with it. 

15% stated that they plan to carry on with their routine activity and wear a mask when outdoors, the same number said they would do this while increasing consumption of immunity-boosting food or drinks, and the same percentage also said they plan to travel for some part of the month.

The percentage of families who said they will use air purifiers has, however, gone up from 18% to 23% in two weeks. 

Indore:

An argument over children bursting crackers in Diwali escalated into a clash between two groups in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore city on Friday, resulting in injuries to four persons and prompting police to hold a flag march to restore order.

The incident occurred in the Chhatripura area, Deputy Commissioner of Police Rishikesh Meena told reporters.

“Some people argued with children bursting crackers. An old rivalry between neighbours fanned this. It soon led to stone pelting between two groups, resulting in minor injuries to four persons. Some vehicles were also damaged in the stone pelting,” he said.

“A flag march was carried out in the area, where the situation now is completely under control. People must ignore rumours and maintain peace. There is a sizable police presence in the Chhatripura area. We are checking CCTV footage to identify those who disturbed law and order,” Meena added.

The area has residents from Hindu and Muslim communities, another official said.

After the stone pelting incident, members of a Hindu outfit protested in front of the Chhatripura police station seeking action against those from the other side.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

The air quality in Delhi worsened this morning as people defied a ban on firecrackers during Diwali celebrations on Thursday.

The relentless bursting of firecrackers caused severe noise pollution and blanketed the national capital in dense smoke with residents flouting the restrictions till late at night.

#WATCH | Delhi skyline on #Diwali shows the city illuminated in colourful lights. pic.twitter.com/BRvtW3wsRz

— ANI (@ANI) October 31, 2024

According to the real-time data provided by the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) soared to 359 at 6:30 am, which falls under the “very poor” category. The AQI on the morning of Diwali was at 328.

An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered good, 51 and 100 satisfactory, 101 and 200 moderate, 201 and 300 poor, 301 and 400 very poor, 401 and 450 severe, and above 450 severe-plus.

The AQI level in most of the 40 monitoring stations in the city remained in the “very poor” category with Anand Vihar and RK Puram reporting the worst air quality index of 395.

#WATCH | Delhi: A thin layer of smog engulfs the National Capital as the air quality continues to deteriorate.

As per the CPCB, the AQI of the area is 317, in the ‘very poor’ category.

(Visuals from India Gate) pic.twitter.com/nKvFMOPZrd

— ANI (@ANI) November 1, 2024

Burari Crossing (394), Sonia Vihar (392), Punjabi Bagh (391), North Campus (390), Bawana (388), Jahangirpuri (387), Rohini (385), Ashok Vihar (384), and Nehru Nagar (381) were some other places with the “very poor” air quality

The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, has said that the air quality in the national capital is likely to be in the “very poor” category (AQI 300 to 400) on Friday.

ALSO READ | Delhi Air Pollution, Ahead Of Winter, Raises Respiratory Illness By 15%

On Diwali eve, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai announced that 377 teams were formed to enforce the ban on firecrackers across the capital. A senior Delhi Police officer had said all deputy commissioners of police (DCPs) were asked to form dedicated teams to ensure that firecrackers are not burst in their respective districts.

Last year, the “festival of lights” was celebrated on November 12 and Delhi recorded its best air quality on Diwali day in eight years, with the average AQI at 218.

Stubble burning or farm fires in neighbouring Haryana and Punjab, especially during the post-harvest season of October and November, are also often blamed for the rise in pollution levels in Delhi.

ALSO READ | Smog Engulfs Delhi-NCR, Toxic Foam Blankets Yamuna River As Winter Approaches

The capital has been breathing hazardous air quality for the past few weeks, prompting authorities to impose stage two of the GRAP or the Graded Response Action Plan last week.

New Delhi:

Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has said that the United States’ “great partnership” with India and “my good friend Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi” will be strengthened under his administration.

In a post on X, Trump also extended his greetings on Diwali. “… Happy Diwali to All. I hope the Festival of Lights leads to the Victory of Good over Evil!,” he posted.

In the same post, the former President condemned the violence against Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh.

“I strongly condemn the barbaric violence against Hindus, Christians, and other minorities who are getting attacked and looted by mobs in Bangladesh, which remains in a total state of chaos,” he said, adding that it would have “never happened” on his watch.

Trump accused Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden of ignoring Hindus across the world and in America.

He also vowed to make “America Strong Again and bring back Peace through Strength”.

I strongly condemn the barbaric violence against Hindus, Christians, and other minorities who are getting attacked and looted by mobs in Bangladesh, which remains in a total state of chaos.

It would have never happened on my watch. Kamala and Joe have ignored Hindus across the…

“We will also protect Hindu Americans against the anti-religion agenda of the radical left. We will fight for your freedom. Under my administration, we will also strengthen our great partnership with India and my good friend, Prime Minister Modi,” he said.

The former President further said that Harris will “destroy your small businesses with more regulations and higher taxes”.

“By contrast, I cut taxes, cut regulations, unleashed American energy, and built the greatest economy in history. We will do it again, bigger and better than ever before — and we will Make America Great Again,” he added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Hyderabad:

One person was killed and six were injured in an accident involving firecrackers in Andhra Pradesh’s Eluru district. A man on a two-wheeler was carrying a shipment of ‘onion bombs’ – a speciality Diwali firecracker – when the bike hit a pothole near a local temple, and the ‘bombs’ fell off and exploded.

Reports suggest the shipment of Diwali ‘bombs’ had the same explosive power as an IED, or improvised explosive device.

CCTV footage of the tragedy showed two men on a white scooter driving at speed through a narrow street; this was at 12.17 pm. The bike explodes as it approaches a point where the street widens and meets a main road. There was a small group of men – five to six – at the junction.

The force of the explosion is such that the entire area is covered in dark grey smoke, with bits of paper fluttering around. As the smoke clears two men, somehow having survived the blast, come running to safety and parts of the bike and body can be seen scattered in the distance.

The two men can be seen holding their ears, probably ringing from the explosion, and approaching the residents of a nearby house for help.

The bike rider has been identified as Sudhakar; horrific images from the scene, which NDTV has accessed but chosen not to show, showed gruesome wounds and a body literally blown apart.

The six injured were rushed to the district hospital; two are in critical condition.

The police are at the scene, have registered a case, and begun an investigation.

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New Delhi:

Indian and Chinese troops have exchanged Diwali sweets on five locations long the Line of Actual Control, including two in Ladakh. This comes a day after the two sides completed military disengagement from the Depsang and Demchok areas, in line with last week’s patrolling agreement.

Sweets have been exchanged at Chushul Maldo and Daulat Beg Oldi in Ladakh, Banchha (near Kibutu) and Bumla in Arunachal Pradesh, and Nathula in Sikkim.

The patrolling deal called for removal of military personnel and infrastructure, including temporary camps, from the Depsang plains and Demchok, and withdrawal of troops to pre-April 2020 positions.

The deal, hopefully, will end nearly four years of military and diplomatic tension triggered by skirmishes and violent clashes in the Pangong Lake and Galwan regions in May-June 2020.

These clashes included the death of 20 Indian soldiers in Galwan in June.

Indian Army sources told NDTV Wednesday the verification process – to cross-check that China had, in fact, withdrawn its troops, is ongoing, and that ground-level commanders from each side will inform the other prior to regular patrols “to avoid miscommunication”. Significantly, both Delhi and Beijing will each continue to have surveillance options in Depsang and Demchok.

Depsang, Demchok Disengagement Pics

Last week NDTV accessed the first satellite images of the disengagement process.

The agreement was announced on Monday and, on the following Monday, a satellite image from the Depsang plains – from the ‘Y’ Junction – showed four vehicles and two tents.

NDTV Exclusive | 1st Images Of Chinese Troops’ Disengagement In Ladakh

A second image, taken four days later, showed Indian military tents taken down and vehicles moving away, while images from Demchok showed temporary Chinese structures removed by October 25.

“Trying To Restore Trust”

On the disengagement process Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi said this week the Indian military is “trying to restore trust” in its Chinese counterpart.

“This (rebuilding of trust) will happen once we are able to see each other, and convince and reassure each other, that we are not creeping into buffer zones that have been created,” the General said.

READ | “Trying To Restore Trust”: Army Chief On India-China Patrolling Deal

De-escalation of military tension in the area will be taken up after disengagement is over.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar declined to give a timeline for the de-escalation, saying only it would not happen till Delhi is sure that its Beijing counterparts had honoured their side of the deal.

READ | Troops’ Disengagement First, De-Escalation Next: S Jaishankar

De-escalation is still a concern in other areas, including the Gogra-Hot Springs area in Ladakh, after Indian and Chinese forces backed down in September last year. However, intel indicates China continues to hold large swathes of Indian territory to the north, in the Depsang plains area.

Depsang is seen as critical for India since it provides access to the airstrip at Daulat Beg Oldie and prevents Chinese troops from threatening vital logistics centres in the area. Demchok, meanwhile is divided in two by the LAC; India controls the western part, which is claimed by China.

“After de-escalation, how to manage the borders will be discussed,” he said in Mumbai.

READ | PM Modi, Xi Welcome “Complete Disengagement” Along LAC

The India-China patrolling agreement was announced hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Russia for the BRICS summit where he would hold a bilateral with China’s Xi Jinping.

Speaking after it was confirmed, Mr Modi told the Chinese leader, “It should be our priority to ensure there is peace and stability along our border”, and stressed the need for “mutual trust, mutual respect”.

New Delhi:

President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah extended their greetings to the citizens on the occasion of Diwali on Thursday.

“On the auspicious occasion of Diwali, I extend my greetings and best wishes to all Indians living in India and abroad,” President Murmu said in a post on social media platform X.

In her message to the citizens, the President said: “Deepawali is a festival of happiness and joy. It is a celebration of the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. This festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm by various communities and classes in India and abroad. This festival spreads hope for a bright future.”

“On the auspicious occasion of Deepawali, we should resolve to enlighten our conscience and adopt good attitudes like love, compassion and social harmony. This festival is also an opportunity to help the deprived and the needy and share happiness with them. Let us take pride in the glorious culture of India by believing in goodness and take a pledge to build a healthy, prosperous and sensitive society and celebrate a pollution-free Deepawali,” she added.

Prime Minister Modi also took to X to extend his best wishes on Diwali. In a post, he said: “Many happy wishes to the countrymen on Deepawali. On this divine festival of lights, I wish everyone a healthy, happy and prosperous life. May everyone prosper with the blessings of Maa Lakshmi and Lord Shri Ganesha.”

Home Minister Shah also extended his greetings to the people. “Heartiest greetings to all countrymen on the festival of lights, Diwali. May this festival of lights bring new energy, health and prosperity in the lives of all of you,” he posted on X.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Delhi and neighbouring areas woke up to a thick layer of smog this morning, and the air quality index (AQI) remained in the “very poor” category despite various anti-pollution measures. According to the real-time data provided by the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), the AQI on the morning of Diwali was recorded at 328, which falls under the “very poor” category.

An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered good, 51 and 100 satisfactory, 101 and 200 moderate, 201 and 300 poor, 301 and 400 very poor, 401 and 450 severe, and above 450 severe-plus.

In Anand Vihar, which is one of the 40 monitoring stations in the national capital, the AQI level was recorded at 419 and remained in the “severe” category.

#WATCH | Delhi: A layer of smog engulfs the Anand Vihar area of the National Capital.

The Air Quality Index of Anand Vihar is 418 in the ‘Severe’ category as per the CPCB. pic.twitter.com/zcGVBOarZx

— ANI (@ANI) October 31, 2024

The air quality remained “very poor” in other areas like Alipur, \Ashok Vihar, Aya Nagar, Bawana, Burari, Dwarka, IGI Airport (T3), Jahangirpuri, Mundka, Narela, Okhla, Patparganj, Punjabi Bagh, Rohini, RK Puram, Rohini, Vivek Vihar, Shadipur, Sonia Vihar, and Wazirpur.

ALSO READ | Delhi Air Pollution, Ahead Of Winter, Raises Respiratory Illness By 15%

The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune said the air quality is likely to be in the “very poor” category on Thursday and Friday, but may also reach the severe category in case of additional emissions from firecrackers and stubble or waste fires.

Mahesh Palawat of Skymet Weather Services told the news agency PTI that on Diwali, pollution levels are likely to rise as winds have shifted from south-southeast to northwesterly, which may carry smoke from stubble burning into the city.

“If firecrackers are also burst, the altered wind direction could further trap pollutants, worsening the air quality,” he said.

Last year, the “festival of lights” was celebrated on November 12 and Delhi recorded its best air quality on Diwali day in eight years, with the average AQI at 218.

Stubble burning or farm fires in neighbouring Haryana and Punjab, especially during the post-harvest season of October and November, are also often blamed for the rise in pollution levels in Delhi.

Strict Measures In Delhi On Diwali

As many as 377 teams have been formed to enforce the ban on firecrackers across the national capital on Diwali, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai has said.

A senior Delhi Police officer has said all deputy commissioners of police (DCPs) have been asked to form dedicated teams to ensure that firecrackers are not burst in their respective districts.

The capital has been breathing hazardous air quality for the past few weeks, prompting authorities to impose stage two of the GRAP or the Graded Response Action Plan last week.

Under stage two, there will be restrictions on the use of coal and firewood as well as diesel generator sets in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR).

ALSO READ | Smog Engulfs Delhi-NCR, Toxic Foam Blankets Yamuna River As Winter Approaches

Mechanical sweeping and water sprinkling on identified roads will also be carried out on a daily basis, and dust control measures will be enforced at construction and demolition sites.

Further, traffic personnel will be deployed at congestion points, vehicle parking fees will be increased to discourage private transport and additional bus and metro services will be started.

People have been advised to use public transport and minimize the use of personal vehicles. They also have been asked to regularly replace air filters at recommended intervals in their automobiles, and avoid dust-generating construction activities from October to January.

People in Delhi-NCR also have been told to avoid the open burning of solid waste and bio-mass.