At least 20 people were killed and 16 others were critically injured after a bus caught fire near Thaiyat village in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer district on Tuesday. The bus, carrying 57 passengers to Jodhpur, reportedly caught fire due to a short circuit. Locals and Army personnel helped in the rescue. The injured were taken to a hospital in Jodhpur. Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma visited the site and took stock of the situation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced ₹2 lakh ex-gratia for the families of the deceased. President Droupadi Murmu expressed grief, calling the incident “extremely heartbreaking.” (PC: HT)

A devastating tragedy struck Rajasthan as a moving bus carrying 57 passengers burst into flames near Jaisalmer, killing at least 20 people. The sudden fire trapped several passengers inside the vehicle. Burn victims were rushed to Jodhpur for treatment, with many remaining in critical condition. Eyewitnesses and locals heroically pulled trapped passengers before rescue teams arrived. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma visited the accident site, calling it "extremely heart-wrenching" and thanking Army personnel and residents for their swift response. He directed officials to ensure proper medical treatment for survivors and assistance for victims' families. Authorities launched investigations to determine the fire's cause. Governor Haribhau Bagade and political leaders expressed condolences.

Police have arrested the main accused in the Durgapur rape case — the survivor’s male friend. Officials said the medical student was raped by him when she went out with him. Her father had named the accused in his complaint. Police said this is the sixth arrest in the case but ruled out gang-rape after reviewing the survivor’s statement and evidence. The Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissioner confirmed that only one person assaulted her. Investigators have recovered the survivor’s phone and sent the accused’s clothes for forensic testing. The accused will be produced in court on Wednesday. The probe continues. (PC: India Today)

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met the family of IPS officer Y Puran Kumar in Chandigarh after his alleged suicide in Haryana. Calling the case a test of justice, Gandhi said, “Crores of Dalits are watching.” He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini to “act now.” The officer’s wife, IAS officer Amneet Puran Kumar, accused senior police officials of caste-based harassment and demanded an FIR under the SC/ST Act. Gandhi said the tragedy sends a “wrong message to Dalits” and called for accountability. The family has refused postmortem until a fair probe begins. (PC: HT)

All five men accused in the Durgapur gang-rape case have been arrested, police said on Tuesday. The sister of prime accused Safiq Sk helped officers locate him under Andal bridge, saying she wanted him to face the law. Police will now reconstruct the crime scene near Paranaganj Kali Bari cremation ground. The 23-year-old medical student from Odisha was allegedly raped by five men on Friday night near her college. The case has sparked widespread anger after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s remarks on women going out at night drew backlash. The NCW has demanded a fast-track trial and better campus safety. (PC: ANI Grab)

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced India's first bullet train will begin operations in August 2027, running between Surat and Bilimora on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail corridor. The 508-km project, executed with Japanese technical and financial assistance, is expected to be fully completed by December 2029. Services will extend to Thane by 2028 and Mumbai by 2029. The corridor features 12 stations including Mumbai, Thane, Surat, Vadodara, and Ahmedabad. With a total estimated cost of ₹1,08,000 crore, Japan International Cooperation Agency funds 81% while the remaining comes from the Ministry of Railways and state governments. By June 2025, ₹78,839 crore had been spent.

The Indian Army killed two terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district after spotting suspicious movement near the Line of Control. The encounter took place in the Machhal Sector on Sunday night during a joint operation with Jammu and Kashmir Police. Officials said the terrorists opened fire first, and troops responded, killing both. A large quantity of weapons and equipment was recovered from the site. Search operations are still underway in the area. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has asked security forces to stay alert as winter nears to prevent infiltration along the border. (PC: HT)

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned against three contaminated cough syrups in India after the deaths of 22 children in Madhya Pradesh. The syrups include Coldrif from Sresan Pharmaceuticals, Respifresh TR from Rednex Pharmaceuticals, and ReLife from Shape Pharma. Tests found toxic diethylene glycol (DEG) in the medicines, nearly 500 times above the safe limit. The victims, all under five, were from Chhindwara district. Following the tragedy, Tamil Nadu-based Sresan Pharmaceuticals lost its manufacturing license, and its owner was arrested. Indian authorities confirmed that none of the toxic syrups were exported. WHO said the syrups pose serious health risks. (PC: ANI)

Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees were released by Israel and reunited with their families in Gaza and the West Bank. About 250 had been convicted of attacks on Israelis, while around 1,700 were held without charge. Families greeted them with tears, hugs, and cheers. Some prisoners looked weak and struggled to walk. Many were freed as part of an exchange after Hamas released 20 Israeli hostages. Families called the day joyful but emotional. Medics said some prisoners had faced beatings and starvation in detention. The release comes amid a ceasefire and ongoing peace talks in Gaza. (PC: BBC)

Government-owned Alliance Air launched the "Fare se Fursat" (One Route, One Fare) scheme offering fixed airfares regardless of booking date, even day-of-departure. Running pilot-phase from October 13 to December 31, 2025, the initiative primarily benefits tier 2 and tier 3 city passengers served under the UDAN scheme. Alliance Air operates short-to-medium routes using ATR 72-600 turboprops, ATR 42-600s, and one Indian-made Dornier 228. Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu emphasized making aviation "people-oriented," citing UDAN cafes offering ₹10 tea, ₹20 coffee and snacks. He praised Alliance Air's "bold step" as "Naye Bharat ki Udaan," prioritizing public service over profitability while addressing passenger airfare concerns.