A heartwarming moment unfolded near the western gate of the Taj Mahal when a group of Italian tourists struggled with their sarees. Noticing their discomfort, a female Agra police constable, Lakshmi, stepped in to help them drape the traditional attire properly. She not only fixed their pallus but also taught them how to wear the saree with grace. The kind gesture was captured on video and quickly went viral on social media, earning widespread praise. The act perfectly embodied the spirit of “Atithi Devo Bhava,” reflecting India’s deep-rooted tradition of hospitality.

A group of 28 tourists from Kerala, including 20 settled in Maharashtra, has gone missing after Tuesday’s cloudburst triggered devastating flash floods in Uttarkashi’s Dharali area, Uttarakhand. The tourists were en route to Gangotri when the disaster struck, sweeping away homes, hotels, and vehicles. Relatives last spoke to them a day before the incident, and communication has since been lost. The travel agency involved also has no updates. The ecologically fragile region is heavily damaged, and rescue efforts led by the Indian Army and NDRF continue. At least 4 deaths have been confirmed, and 9 Army personnel are also missing. (PC: HT)

Rescuers have recovered a fifth body after a massive cloudburst triggered flash floods in Uttarkashi’s Dharali village, Uttarakhand. At least 11 Army personnel remain missing and 150 people have been rescued. The region is cut off due to landslides and collapsed roads, prompting a red alert across Uttarakhand and neighbouring Himachal Pradesh. CM Pushkar Singh Dhami and PM Narendra Modi are monitoring the situation. The Army, NDRF, and SDRF are conducting operations. Nearby Sukki village was also hit. In Himachal, pilgrim routes and highways have been blocked. The IMD warns of more rain, heightening fears of further floods and landslides. (PC: X)

Uttar Pradesh minister Sanjay Nishad sparked controversy after a viral video showed him saying, “Ganga maiya reaches your doorstep to clean your feet,” while visiting a flood-hit area in Lucknow. His remark, seen as insensitive, drew sharp criticism from Congress and Samajwadi Party leaders, who accused him of trivialising flood victims’ suffering. Nishad later claimed the comment was made “in a lighter vein,” stressing the cultural reverence Nishads hold for rivers. As several districts like Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, and Prayagraj face severe flooding and waterlogging, opposition parties accused the government of failing to deliver relief and staying disconnected from reality. (PC: HT)

Two bodies have been recovered and over 100 people are missing after a cloudburst triggered flash floods in Dharali, Uttarkashi. A second cloudburst hit nearby Sukhi Top, causing further devastation. Rescue efforts, led by the Indian Army, ITBP, NDRF, and SDRF, continue despite relentless rainfall. PM Modi met Uttarakhand MPs and assured full support. CM Dhami inspected the area and said relief operations are being carried out on a war footing. Schools in the district have been closed, and drones, helicopters, and tracker dogs are deployed. Bollywood celebrities including Sara Ali Khan and Sonu Sood expressed condolences. (PC: X)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Kartavya Bhavan-3 in New Delhi, the first building of the Common Central Secretariat under the Central Vista project. Spanning 1.5 lakh sq metres, the state-of-the-art complex will house offices of the Home, External Affairs, Rural Development, MSMEs, DoPT, and Petroleum ministries. Designed with green features like solar panels, LED lighting, and rainwater harvesting, the building promises 30% energy savings. It also includes modern conference rooms and security systems. The project aims to replace ageing government buildings and consolidate ministries for efficient governance. Vanijya Bhawan, housing the Commerce Ministry, will be retained. (PC: India Today)

A massive explosion at an oxygen plant in Phase 11 of Punjab’s Mohali city on Wednesday morning killed 2 people and injured 3 others. The blast occurred around 9 AM, prompting a swift response from medical teams, police, and district officials. The injured were rushed to Civil Hospital, Phase 6. SP City Sirivennela confirmed that preliminary investigations are ongoing to determine the cause, with concerns over a possible gas leak. Authorities continue to monitor the site. The plant, located in an industrial area, serves a critical role in medical and industrial oxygen supply in the region. (PC: News18)

Railway Protection Force (RPF) officers at Howrah Station’s Platform 22 successfully rescued 18 minors—including seven girls and eleven boys—from a suspected human trafficking attempt on August 4, 2025. The RPF detained one suspect who confessed to planning to transport the children to Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, for child labour. Both the rescued minors and the accused were handed over to the Government Railway Police (GRPS), Howrah, where a case has been registered under Section 143(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. This operation was part of the nationwide Operation AAHT targeting trafficking via railways. (PC: India Today)

On August 5, 2025, a sudden cloudburst near Dharali village in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, unleashed a flash flood and massive mud‑slide through the hillside settlement. At least four people died and over 50 are missing, with many feared buried under debris. Chilling video footage captured one man crawling out of sludge hours after the deluge struck . Rescue teams—including the Indian Army, NDRF, and SDRF—were deployed immediately, conducting evacuation and search operations under challenging terrain. Homes, hotels, and infrastructure were swept away, and authorities warn of worsening conditions amid ongoing heavy monsoon rains.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has clarified that, under Section 14A of the Citizenship Act, 1955, the central government **"may compulsorily register every citizen of India and issue a national identity card."** This provision empowers the state to create a National Register of Citizens (NRC) and designate the Registrar General of India as the National Registration Authority. Though national identity cards have not been issued yet, the legal framework exists post the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2003. (PC: PTI)