A gas leak and fire broke out at an ONGC oil well in Irusumanda village of Andhra Pradesh’s Konaseema district on Monday. Officials said the incident happened during repair work using a workover rig after the well had stopped production. A sudden blowout released large volumes of gas mixed with crude oil, which soon caught fire. Thick smoke and gas spread across the area. Authorities used loudspeakers to warn residents in three nearby villages to avoid using power or lighting stoves. Many people moved out with their cattle. ONGC teams and district officials reached the spot to control the leak and secure the area. (PC: NDTV)

After the Supreme Court refused bail to Umar Khalid in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case, his partner Banojyotsna Lahiri shared a brief exchange with him on social media. She quoted Khalid saying he felt relief for other accused who were granted bail. “I am really happy for the others who got bail,” he told her. Lahiri replied that she would visit him the next day. Khalid responded, “Good, good, aa jana. Ab yahi zindagi hai.” The court also denied bail to Sharjeel Imam but allowed five other accused to be released. The bench said there was material to show a criminal conspiracy at this stage of the case. (PC: India Today)

Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh walked out of Sunaria jail in Haryana on Monday after being given a 40-day parole. Singh is serving a 20-year sentence for raping two followers. This is the 15th time he has been released since his conviction in 2017. A Dera spokesperson said Singh will stay at the sect’s Sirsa base during the parole period. He was last freed on a 40-day parole in August 2025. Singh was also convicted in 2019 for the murder of a journalist. Past paroles were often granted close to state and national elections. (PC: HT)

The Supreme Court on Monday refused bail to student activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case. The court said material on record shows a prima facie case and that national security and public order outweigh long pre-trial custody. A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N V Anjaria said their role is different from other accused. The court, however, granted bail to Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman, Mohd Saleem Khan and Shadab Ahmed. The police say the violence was pre-planned and aimed at undermining the country’s sovereignty. Khalid and Imam have been in jail since 2020.

The water crisis in Indore has taken a serious turn after 16 people died from contaminated drinking water. Over 1,400 residents in Bhagirathpura have fallen ill. Doctors now fear long-term damage. A 67-year-old woman is on a ventilator with severe nerve problems after falling sick. Medical tests suggest acute nerve injury following stomach infection. Experts warn the contamination may have caused more than diarrhoea. The state health department has denied a confirmed link. Community health workers say the crisis has become systemic and mental. Residents demand accountability and clean water urgently.

The aviation regulator has reminded airlines that passengers must not use power banks during flights because of safety risks from lithium batteries. The rule is not new, but airlines have started making clear boarding announcements to ensure compliance. Officials said power banks can overheat or catch fire in rare cases, which is dangerous inside an aircraft cabin. Under current guidelines, travellers may carry power banks only in hand baggage and not in checked luggage. However, charging phones or other devices with them in the air is not allowed. Airlines have asked cabin crew to watch for misuse and tell passengers to switch off devices if needed. Passengers are advised to charge gadgets before boarding or use seat power ports where available. (PC: X)

Delhi stayed under heavy smog on Sunday as the city recorded a “poor” Air Quality Index of 248, data from the pollution board showed. Several areas such as Anand Vihar, Rohini and Chandni Chowk reported “very poor” levels above 350. Dense fog reduced visibility in many parts of the capital. The weather office said the minimum temperature was near nine degrees Celsius. It also issued cold wave and dense fog alerts for parts of north and central India in the coming days. Snow or rain is likely in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. Authorities lifted some emergency curbs but urged people to follow basic pollution rules. (PC: HT)

The Supreme Court of India will pronounce its verdict on January 5, 2026 on the bail pleas of activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and five others accused in the 2020 Delhi riots “larger conspiracy” case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N V Anjaria reserved its judgment on December 10 after detailed arguments by the prosecution and defence, challenging a September 2 Delhi High Court order denying bail. The accused were alleged to be “masterminds” behind riots linked to protests against the CAA‑NRC, which left 53 dead and 700+ injured. (PC: India Today)

At least 14 Maoist cadres were killed in two separate encounters with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma and Bijapur districts on Saturday, police said. Twelve were killed in Sukma and two in Bijapur during ongoing anti-insurgency operations in the Bastar region. The action began late Friday after the District Reserve Guard launched a search based on specific intelligence. The exchange of fire started around 5 am in forest areas under Kistaram and Basaguda police station limits. The bodies of two cadres, including Hunga Madkam, were recovered along with one SLR and a 12-bore rifle. AK-47 and INSAS rifles were also seized. (PC: X)

An explosion rocked Nalagarh in Solan district, Himachal Pradesh on New Year’s Day, occurring around 9:40 AM near the town’s police station and shattering windows of nearby buildings, but no casualties were reported. Forensic teams and police quickly cordoned off the area, collected samples and began scanning CCTV footage as part of a detailed investigation into the cause and nature of the blast. Authorities have registered a case and coordinated with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Punjab Police. Two pro-Khalistan groups — Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and the Punjab Sovereignty Alliance (PSA) — claimed responsibility, citing grievances over alleged synthetic drug issues, while police continue probing the authenticity and motive behind the claims. (PC: ANI)