Ayodhya is celebrating its first Diwali since the Ram Temple consecration with a record-breaking Deepotsav on the Saryu River banks. The government aims to light 25 lakh diyas, surpassing last year’s Guinness World Record. Approximately 10,000 security personnel are ensuring public safety, while cultural performances from six countries add to the festivities. A team of 30, led by Guinness consultant Nischal Barot, is counting diyas using drones. The celebration includes eco-friendly initiatives, like 1.5 lakh 'Gau Deep,' and 80,000 diyas arranged in a swastika at Ghat No. 10. Over 30,000 volunteers are enhancing Ayodhya’s festive spirit.

In a bid to combat rising air pollution, Delhi traffic police issued fines totaling ₹47 crore from October 1 to 24, targeting motorists without valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates. During this period, over 47,000 challans were issued, with each violation carrying a ₹10,000 fine processed through court. The drive saw enforcement at key locations like ITO Chowk and Peeragarhi. Amidst increasing vehicle numbers and deteriorating air quality, with Delhi’s AQI hitting 278, authorities aim to improve compliance with environmental standards. Over 2.5 lakh PUC violations have been recorded this year, up from previous years.

Ayodhya is preparing for its first Diwali since the consecration of the Ram Temple, aiming to break last year’s Guinness World Record by lighting 25 lakh diyas along the Saryu River. A team of 30, led by Guinness consultant Nischal Barot, is counting diyas using drones across 55 ghats. Around 28 lakh diyas were ordered from local artisans, and 10,000 security personnel, including half in plain clothes, are deployed for safety. A highlight includes 80,000 diyas arranged in a swastika at Ghat No. 10. The event expects 5,000–6,000 guests, with all preparations reportedly complete.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has slammed the Punjab government for facilitating an interview between mafia boss Lawrence Bishnoi and a private news channel in September 2022, while he was in police custody. The court criticized the police for providing a "studio-like facility" that glorified crime and ordered its removal from social media platforms. Despite this, copies of the interview resurfaced online, prompting the court's ire. The court also reprimanded the government for failing to take disciplinary action against senior cops involved and for submitting an inconclusive report on the security breach after eight months.

  Seven elephants were found dead in Madhya Pradesh's Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, officials confirmed. Three others are undergoing treatment. A post-mortem examination is being conducted at Jabalpur's School of Wildlife Forensics and Health to determine the cause of death. Veterinarians from Pench and Kanha tiger reserves are assisting in the investigation. The reserve's authorities are working to establish the circumstances surrounding the elephants' deaths. The incident has sparked concerns about the reserve's ecosystem and wildlife health.

A laborer in Assam’s Dhemaji district allegedly sold his 25-day-old daughter for ₹30,000, leading the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) to intervene. Officials reported that the baby was rescued from a doctor’s home after the CWC filed a complaint against the parents, buyer, and intermediaries involved in the sale. The infant, born on October 4 at Assam Medical College, was reportedly abandoned by her parents, Budhiman and Sabita Borah, who cited financial struggles. The CWC’s Child Helpline team traced the parents, but they failed to comply with orders to appear before the committee for further investigation.

Three people, including the Veerarkavu Temple Committee President, were arrested in connection with a fireworks accident that injured 154 people during the Theyyam festival at Kerala's Anjootambalam Veerarkavu Temple, Nileshwaram police reported. The accident occurred during early celebrations of the Kaliyattam festival, marking the beginning of this year’s Theyyam festivities, a traditional ritual of North Malabar. Kasargod MP Rajmohan Unnithan confirmed the injured were taken to multiple hospitals following the incident. Authorities are investigating the cause of the mishap amid heightened safety concerns surrounding the festival.

A man was arrested Tuesday for allegedly placing detonators on the Haridwar-Dehradun railway track in Uttarakhand. Haridwar Government Railway Police (GRP) received a tip from the Moradabad Railway Division control room Sunday night, alerting them to detonators near Moti Chur station. A GRP team recovered the detonators, and CCTV footage showed a man behaving suspiciously near the tracks. The suspect, identified as Ashok from Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, was arrested after a review of the footage. Several detonators were found in his possession, and a case has been filed, according to Haridwar GRP Senior Superintendent Sarita Dobhal.

Over 100 flights operated by Indian airlines faced bomb threats on Tuesday, as part of a larger trend of 510 hoax threats over 16 days. Air India, IndiGo, and Vistara received alerts on social media, prompting strict security protocols. Mumbai Police filed 14 cases in October related to such threats. The IT Ministry urged social media platforms to remove misinformation swiftly, while the Civil Aviation Ministry is considering legislation to ban individuals making hoax threats. On Saturday, Delhi Police arrested a 25-year-old for bomb threats under the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against Safety of Civil Aviation (SUA-SCA) Act.

An Air India flight with nearly 200 passengers onboard made a safe emergency landing at Lucknow's Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport on Monday after hovering in the sky for 20 minutes due to low fuel. Departing from Delhi, flight AI-431 was scheduled to land at 1:30 pm but failed to do so on its first two attempts, prompting an emergency alert to air traffic control. Emergency services, including fire engines and ambulances, were on standby as the plane successfully landed on its third attempt. Passengers were relieved after the tense 20-minute ordeal.