Morning Briefing: IMD Issues ‘Orange’ Rain Alert for North India; Hathras Stampede Survivors Share Their Ordeal, and More

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an ‘orange’ alert for 15 states in northern India for Tuesday and Wednesday, predicting moderate to heavy rainfall. Additionally, a ‘red’ alert has been issued for Gujarat, where extremely heavy rainfall is expected on July 3, following the onset of the southwest monsoon across the country this week. An orange alert is also in place for northeastern states on July 3, with isolated heavy rainfall anticipated in several areas of northwestern India. Delhi is expected to experience moderate to heavy rain on Wednesday, adding to the waterlogging issues caused by isolated rains on Tuesday. The Met office has forecasted thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds to accompany the rainfall. Dig deeper A man covers himself with a plastic sheet amid heavy rainfall in Surat. (File)(ANI)

More news | Just 28 mm rain causes trouble across Chandigarh

At 1:45 PM on Tuesday, Suraj Pal, also known as Bhole Baba in Uttar Pradesh, finished his nearly hour-long sermon at Hathras’s Phulrai Mughalgarhi village. Dharmendra Kumar watched as the crowd surged towards him. Over the past two decades, Pal’s followers have developed a tradition of collecting the sand he walks on, referred to as “raj” by his associates. However, chaos ensued as the ground was wet, causing people to slip and fall. The hot and humid day, combined with an overcrowded tent, led to panic and a stampede as people tried to exit, resulting in many being crushed. Dig deeper

Latest News

Following a tragic incident at a waterfall, prohibitory orders have been imposed at picnic spots in Pune. Dig deeper

In Assam, police have cracked down on a syndicate-run cyber fraud operation in Morigaon. Dig deeper

India News

In her first speech in the Rajya Sabha, Sudha Murty raised two key issues. Watch Dig deeper

Another woman in West Bengal has died by suicide following a ‘mob flogging’ incident related to Tajmul alias ‘JCB’. Dig deeper

Trending

Unacademy, an edtech startup led by Gaurav Munjal, has laid off 250 employees in its latest restructuring effort. According to a Moneycontrol report, the layoffs are part of the company’s ongoing efforts to streamline operations and improve business efficiency. This move follows significant cost-cutting measures aimed at achieving profitability. A day before the layoffs were announced, Unacademy founder and CEO Gaurav Munjal commented on a post about startup failures. Dig deeper

Business News

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman may present the full Budget for 2024-25 on July 24 during the Monsoon Session of Parliament, according to a report. The Economic Survey might be tabled on July 23, as reported by Financial Express, citing sources. However, the final decision on these dates has not yet been made and is expected to be announced soon. Typically, there is a 15-day gap between two sessions of Parliament. Dig deeper

Global Matters

This time of year has been challenging for the royal family, especially due to the ongoing feud between Prince Harry and Prince William. A royal expert highlights the pain of this situation, particularly as Prince William, a future king, lacks the support of someone who truly understands his position, even during the anniversary of Princess Diana’s birth. As the anniversary passed on July 1, veteran royal commentator and former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond reflected on the difficult year for Prince William. Dig deeper

Entertainment Focus

Tahira Kashyap has experienced more than just red or green flags in her life. Her husband, actor Ayushmann Khurrana, once admitted that he started as a typical Chandigarh boy with casual sexist attitudes before dating Tahira and gradually becoming a feminist. His films like “Vicky Donor” and “Shubh Mangal Saavdhan” reflect this change, as does Tahira’s directorial debut, “Sharmajee Ki Beti.” The film, set in Mumbai, tells three stories. In the first, Sakshi Tanwar’s character, Jyoti Sharma, is a dedicated coaching class teacher whose husband, Sudhir (played by Sharib Hashmi), manages household chores and cares for their daughter due to Jyoti’s busy schedule. Dig deeper

Lifestyle and Health

Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh took his mother and sister on a movie date last night. The mom-to-be wore loose clothing to conceal her baby bump. Read on as we break down Deepika’s stylish pregnancy look. A paparazzi page posted videos of Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh on Instagram. The clip shows Ranveer arriving for the movie date with his mom, Anju Bhavnani, and sister, Ritika Bhavnani. Later, Deepika arrived separately and joined her family to watch her latest release, “Kalki 2898 AD.” The couple greeted the paparazzi before entering the theatre. Dig deeper

Sports Goings

Over a month ago, just before the semifinals of the 2024 T20 World Cup, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) revealed a glimpse of the future of the T20I format without stars like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. They selected a new-look Indian team for the upcoming tour of Zimbabwe. The Shubman Gill-led team will play five T20Is starting July 6, with none of the T20 World Cup squad members included, as the entire title-winning team has been rested. Some players will join in the final phase of the series. Dig deeper

That’s all we have for now in our Morning Briefing. Catch you in the afternoon.