The CITU State committee has extended it full support to the Staff & Workers Federation (SWF) and Telangana RTC Workers Union (TWU), backed by TMU (Ashwathama Reddy), combine in the ensuing elections for the recognised union of the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) scheduled to be held on October 9.

The combine has already launched a poster campaign in the TGSRTC’s Khammam region highlighting its resolve to pursue the merger of the corporation with the State government, ensure job security and reduce the workload of workers.

The combine has also constituted a regional election committee to intensify its election campaign as the process for the recognised union elections has already begun, according to a press release.

It has decided to organise a public meeting in Khammam on September 29 to mark the intensification of the election campaign.

In a statement, CITU State president Chukka Ramulu called upon the village, mandal and district committees of the CITU across the State to mobilise support for the SWF and TWU, backed by TMU-A, combine and work for its victory in the October 9 elections.

The death toll from the fire at the Special Neonatal Care Unit (SNCU) of Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Telangana’s Adilabad district has risen to five, with two more infants dying on Tuesday (September 22, 2026) night.

The two infants were premature babies, born between 26 and 28 weeks of pregnancy, and weighed around one kilogram each, said Adilabad District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO) Sadhana.

The fire broke out around 11.40 p.m. on September 21 after an air conditioner in the reception area of the SNCU burst into flames. A five-day-old infant died in the incident, while another four-day-old infant died a few hours later. A third female infant was declared dead while being shifted to a nearby hospital.

As many as 25 infants were rescued from the SNCU following the fire and shifted to various government and private hospitals in the vicinity. They are undergoing treatment and are being monitored by medical teams.

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has ordered an inquiry into the incident to determine the circumstances that led to the fire. Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narasimha visited RIMS Adilabad on Tuesday and met the families of the affected infants. He assured them of the government’s support and reviewed the condition of the infants who were shifted to other hospitals.

The Minister also sought updates from doctors on the health of the rescued infants and directed them to provide the best possible medical care and closely monitor their condition.

A Secunderabad court has granted Hyderabad police 10 days’ custody of retired Army Havaldar U. Mallesh, accused in the theft of firearms and ammunition from the 20 Battalion, Madras Regiment, in Bolarum. His questioning will begin on Tuesday (September 22).

Investigators are expected to question Mallesh about the theft, his motive and the possible involvement of others. However, the main accused is reported to have claimed that he acted alone.

An officer from Bolarum police said various agencies involved in the investigation could also question Mallesh during the custody period.

He will be questioned by the Malkajgiri police at the Bollarum police station. However, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) could also take him to its headquarters in Hyderabad for questioning, the officer said.

His health, however, could determine how the questioning proceeds. Jail officials from Chanchalguda prison said Mallesh continued to have fever when he was examined on Monday evening.

Officials have advised that his medical condition should be taken into consideration during the custody period and that a medical officer should be available during questioning.

Mallesh was earlier shifted from Chanchalguda jail to a hospital after liver and kidney complications were detected during a routine medical examination following his remand.

The case pertains to the theft of 12 firearms and more than 1,800 rounds of ammunition from the 20 Battalion, Madras Regiment, in Bolarum on the night of August 30. The stolen cache included four AK-203 assault rifles, an INSAS 1B1 rifle, six 9 mm Auto 1A pistols and a 6.35-bore pistol.

Police alleged that Mallesh entered the premises around 11 p.m., broke open the Kote and removed the firearms before spending about an hour breaking open the ammunition chamber to take matching ammunition. He was arrested on September 11 after police recovered the stolen firearms and ammunition from multiple locations.

A 32-year-old woman was killed and her husband and daughter were injured when a lorry hit their motorcycle near Ninth Mile Thanda in Tekulapalli mandal of Bhadradri Kothagudem district on Sunday.

The deceased was identified as G. Uma, of Kommugudem village in Yellandu mandal.

Uma, who was riding pillion, fell off the motorcycle after it was hit from behind by a Palvancha-bound lorry on the Yellandu-Kothagudem main road. She came under the rear wheels of the lorry and died on the spot. Her husband, Mohan, and daughter Jaithra were injured and shifted to a hospital in Kothagudem.

Tekulapalli police registered a case against the lorry driver and took up an investigation.

Several parts of Hyderabad witnessed brief rainfall on Sunday (September 20) afternoon after a cloudy start to the day. The rain later subsided, with sunny skies returning in several parts of the city.

According to data from the Telangana Development Planning Society (TGDPS), as of 6 p.m., Keesara recorded a rainfall of 36.5 mm followed by 34.8 mm in Kavadiguda, 28 mm in Medchal, 26 mm in Bandlaguda, 21.3 mm in Alwal, 17.3 mm in Bowenpally and 13.8 mm in Devaryamjal.

The showers were accompanied by heavy rainfall in several districts across Telangana. TGDPS data revealed Chintakunta in Karimnagar received 76 mm rainfall followed by 58 mm in Narayanraopet (Siddipet), 55 mm in Jukkal (Kamareddy), 53.5 mm in Jaggasagar (Jagtial), 51.8 mm in Kerameri (Kumaram Bheem Asifabad) and 47.8 mm in Wanalpahad (Nirmal).

BRS Legislature Party Deputy Floor Leader T. Harish Rao said Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy had admitted to several concerns raised by the BRS over the Section 22-A issue and demanded an explanation for how so many families were affected.

He also demanded that the State government release a White Paper on the Section 22-A prohibited properties issue from December 7, 2023, detailing the extent of land and the number of properties added to and subsequently removed from the list, besides seeking a judicial probe by a sitting Supreme Court judge into the issue and alleged irregularities in the implementation of Bhu Bharati.

Addressing a media conference at Telangana Bhavan, Mr. Harish Rao said, “The Chief Minister admitted that the extent of land on the prohibited list had increased from around 3.71 lakh acres to nearly 30 lakh acres.” He also demanded the immediate removal of properties wrongly included in the 22-A list, saying that merely constituting committees and issuing guidelines would not resolve the problem.

The former Minister alleged that more than 9,200 land registrations under Bhu Bharati had taken place without the knowledge of the actual owners. He defended the BRS government’s record on land-related issues.

BRS ready for detailed inquiry

On the Chief Minister’s announcement of an SIT probe into lands owned by former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, his family members and close relatives, Mr. Harish Rao said the BRS was ready for a detailed inquiry into land and property transactions.

“Mr. Revanth Reddy had earlier claimed that Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao owned a 1,000-acre farmhouse but was now putting the extent at 67 acres,” he said. He alleged that documents available with the BRS showed that the Chief Minister, his son and his brothers together owned 308 acres.

Referring to the lands owned by him, Mr. Harish Rao said, “Documents relating to my agricultural lands are clearly disclosed in my election affidavit and income-tax returns. I do not have even a single extra gunta of land. In fact, officials who surveyed my land found that there were two guntas less.”

He rejected allegations concerning his relatives’ purchase of company shares. “We have declared our assets in our election affidavits. Every transaction is accounted for. If the government has doubts, let there be an independent investigation,” he said.

Claiming that villagers had said the Revanth family owned about 300 acres in Kotra village alone, Mr. Harish Rao said the BRS had documents relating to 175 acres. He further alleged that the family owned another 77 acres in Kondareddypalli and 54 acres as disclosed in an affidavit. He demanded that the Chief Minister explain the alleged total landholding of 308 acres.

The BRS leader said his party had nothing to hide and was prepared to face any independent investigation into the allegations raised against its leaders.

Several other BRS leaders, including MLAs G. Jagadish Reddy and Vemula Prashanth Reddy and MLC Naveen Rao, accused Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy of making ‘blatant lies’ on the floor of the Assembly about the lands owned by Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao and his relatives.

The Finnish education system’s emphasis on children’s happiness, well-being, equality, creativity, and life skills came into focus during a visit by representatives of the Finnish organisation ‘Finnish Global Education Solutions’ to Paramita Heritage School in Padmanagar in Karimnagar on Tuesday.

Organisation’s Head of Professional Development Laura Maria and the organisation’s India representative Rashmi interacted with the school management, teachers, and students and shared insights into Finland’s globally recognised education model, according to a press release.

They said the Finland’s system follows a unique path that emphasises student happiness, mental well-being, equal opportunities, life skills, the ability to learn independently and the holistic development of children.

Paramita Educational Institutions chairman E. Prasad Rao and directors interacted with the visiting representatives.

Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka directed officials to take steps to provide financial assistance of up to ₹1 lakh in the first phase of the ‘Rajiv Yuva Vikasam’ scheme to beneficiaries for setting up self-employment units from November 19. He instructed them to make arrangements for distribution of the assistance on the same day.

Addressing a review meeting with senior officials on SC and ST welfare in the presence of Minister Adluri Laxman Kumar at Praja Bhavan in Hyderabad on Tuesday, Mr. Vikramarka said the State government was committed to fulfilling the promises made to the youth.

During a discussion on a proposal to establish mechanised centralised kitchens in government residential schools, Mr. Vikramarka directed officials to expedite the process of setting up such kitchens in SC residential schools across the State.

He made it clear that there should be no disruption to students’ food arrangements until the modern kitchens were completed. Until then, officials were instructed to ensure a regular supply of quality and hygienic food to all students.

The Deputy Chief Minister enquired about the expenditure incurred on SC Study Circles, the number of candidates selected, the training provided to them and the results achieved.

He directed officials to submit a detailed assessment report on the outcomes achieved through the Study Circles and whether the benefits were commensurate with the investment being made.

He also instructed officials to provide quality coaching through the Study Circles to achieve the best possible results.

The Deputy Chief Minister directed officials to examine the possibility of introducing new courses in the 30 degree colleges run by the Social Welfare Department, based on industry requirements.

Mr. Bhatti Vikramarka suggested that, wherever necessary, appropriate steps be taken to link these courses with the Young India Skills University (YISU).

Officials informed the Deputy Chief Minister that proposals for the construction of 26 Ekalavya schools under the Tribal Welfare Department had been sent to the Central Government.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken cognisance of a complaint regarding the failure to register an FIR over public allegations of ‘black magic’ and ‘occult rituals’ against Siddipet MLA and former Minister T. Harish Rao. The Commission has directed the Director General of Police (DGP), Telangana, to submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) within four weeks.

According to the complaint by Karupothula Revanth, no temple records, priest statements, receipts or other evidence supporting these allegations have so far been made public but there were repeated public allegations targeting Mr. Harish Rao that he had performed tantric or occult rituals at temples to stop the rains and cause drought.

Complaints were submitted at the Osmania University and Vanasthalipuram Police Stations on August 4, 2026, followed by a representation to the DGP office on August 17, 2026. However, according to the complaint, no FIR was registered, and no reasons were communicated for the failure to register the case.

The Cyberabad Municipal Corporation (CMC) carried out enforcement action against unauthorised constructions across its three zones on Monday (September 7), demolishing 16 structures and identifying 15 fresh cases during field-level inspections.

As part of its ongoing drive to ensure compliance with building regulations, CMC teams conducted inspections and enforcement operations in its three zones. Officials also served two notices and seized one unauthorised construction.

Of the demolitions, seven were carried out in Quthbullapur Zone, five in Serilingampally Zone and four in Kukatpally Zone.

The CMC Commissioner directed officials to maintain close monitoring at the field level and ensure that cases identified during inspections are taken forward through the prescribed enforcement procedure.

The civic body said its teams would continue the inspections, covering identification and verification of unauthorised constructions and subsequent enforcement action in accordance with applicable regulations.