Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik extends financial aid of Rs 2 lakh to each of the four Odia workers rescued from Uttarakhand's Silkyara tunnel collapse. Raju Nayak, Dhiren Nayak, Bisheshwar Nayak, and Bhagban Bhatra, along with their families, met the CM at his residence, expressing gratitude. Patnaik praises their resilience as 'real heroes' and inquires about their well-being. Labour Minister Sarada Prasad Nayak, who monitored the rescue operation in Uttarakhand, also attended the meeting. The workers share their harrowing tunnel ordeal, and the CM commends their inspirational fight for survival.

Sikhs for Justice founder Gurpatwant Singh Pannun has mocked the Indian government's investigation into alleged assassination plots against him, stating "The only thing, I think, (the) Indian government is going to investigate (is) why their hitman could not kill one person." Rejecting his terrorist designation by India, Pannun claims he fights "India's violence with words" and "bullets with ballots." Indian intelligence sources criticize Pannun for trying to gain money from U.S. charges against an Indian national for allegedly conspiring to kill him. They say the U.S. should see Pannun's role in threatening India, and he should be handed to India for prosecution under multiple NIA cases rather than being harbored. India and U.S. remain in discussion sharing intelligence on the matter.

As heavy rains continue to lash Chennai, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin held a review meeting on cyclone preparedness as a storm brews over the Bay of Bengal. With the IMD forecasting cyclonic storm 'Miachaung' likely forming on December 3, Stalin directed officials to evacuate vulnerable residents and be prepared to clear fallen trees, drain flooded areas, maintain smooth traffic, and take all precautions. The CM asked officials to focus on Chennai's waterlogged neighborhoods by immediately deploying pumps. The IMD predicts heavy rains and thunderstorms will continue hammering Chennai and other coastal Tamil Nadu districts over the next few days ahead of the expected cyclone.

Thirteen schools in Bengaluru received bomb threats via email on Friday morning, prompting urgent police action. The emails claimed explosives were planted in the school premises. Police were alerted immediately and launched searches across the schools but no suspicious objects have been found so far. As precaution, schools notified parents advising that students will be dispersed given the threat and priority accorded to safety. Last year too seven Bengaluru schools had received similar hoax bomb threat emails. With memories of recent tragic blasts fresh, police are investigating today's threats seriously though previous cases proved untrue. Alarm has spread in Bengaluru over the disturbing emails targeting school children.

The Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand, where workers were recently rescued after being trapped post-collapse, had witnessed around 19-20 minor to medium cave-ins earlier while under construction over 5 years. NHIDCL officials attribute it to challenging area geology containing brittle rocks, terming collapses normal though impact was greater this time with workers trapped. A 160-260 meter stretch was marked as high-risk 'red zone'. An anonymous official confirmed past cavity collapses and rock issues posing construction hurdles, as noted by the European designing consultant too. Ultimately rescuers broke through to workers stuck for 17 days and brought them out through an escape pipe passage. 

After being trapped in a collapsed tunnel in Uttarakhand for 17 days, all 41 rescued workers have been declared medically fit by AIIMS-Rishikesh. The workers were admitted to the hospital on Wednesday and underwent extensive health evaluations. The medical bulletin stated that no injuries were found and all workers were physically normal and clinically stable. 40 workers have been discharged, while one worker stayed for treatment of a pre-existing heart condition not related to the tunnel collapse. Officials gave clearance for all workers to return home, ending their life-threatening ordeal. The complex rescue operation saved the lives of all 41 workers, who thanked the rescue teams. AIIMS advised the workers to consult doctors if they experience any mental changes in the coming days.

India's Taj Mahal is experiencing an unusual winter phenomenon as green stains reappear on its walls, attributed to the poop of an insect named Goeldichironomus. Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) officials note that while greening is an annual occurrence since 2015, the staining in October, during winter, is unprecedented. Despite thorough cleaning, the stains returned in November, raising concerns. Experts link the insect's presence to river pollution, emphasizing its bio-indicator role. ASI aims to combat the insect menace to preserve the Taj's pristine appearance amid worries that frequent occurrences may impact its iconic white color.

A video shared on Twitter showing water dripping from overhead compartments on an Air India flight has gone viral. Posted by user @baldwhiner, it depicts passengers crowded onto one side of the aisle while the other side lies vacant. The flight captain can also be seen addressing travelers in the clip. Since being shared on November 29, the tweet has amassed over 700,000 views and 5,000 likes, sparking many comments. The incident has highlighted air safety and passenger discomfort issues, bringing the state-run carrier under criticism. Social media users have weighed in with their own theories on what caused the alarming water leakage inside the airplane cabin during the flight.

Actor-comedian Kapil Sharma slammed IndiGo airlines on Twitter after his flight was delayed for nearly 90 minutes on Wednesday night. Venting frustration, he revealed passengers were stuck in a transit bus for 50 minutes with no updates and were later told the pilot was stuck in traffic, questioning if flyers would ever take IndiGo again. His complaint came hours after director Vivek Agnihotri faced a similar ordeal, with his IndiGo flight delayed by nearly 2.5 hours sans any information. He slammed the airline for passenger indifference and arrogance, filthy plane toilets and lack of basic provisions like water. Both incidents highlight indifference and mismanagement, sparking outrage on social media over India's largest airline's service quality.

Doctors have said the 41 workers rescued after being trapped for 17 days inside Uttarakhand's collapsed Silkyara tunnel are healthy and could be discharged from medical watch on Thursday. AIIMS Rishikesh executives monitoring them post the stressful ordeal said their vital signs, blood pressure, oxygen levels are normal and preliminary checks show electrolytes and parameters are fine. Further cardiac and psychological evaluations will be done but medically the workers seem absolutely normal. The successful conclusion of the 17-day multi-agency rescue has ensured there are no immediate health alarms though long-term mental impact will be checked.