Rescue efforts for the 41 workers trapped in Uttarakhand's Silkyara under-construction tunnel continue on day 15. The National Disaster Management Authority employs vertical drilling as part of a multi-pronged strategy. A 20-meter vertical bore, aiming for an 86-meter depth, commenced on Sunday. NHIDCL's Mahmood Ahmed projects completion by Thursday if no obstacles arise. Five evacuation routes are concurrently in progress, including the 180-meter alternate escape route. Two BRO officials were injured near the site in a bus collision. The urgency heightens amid challenges in the horizontal drilling operation.

Shah Rukh Khan attended an event at Mumbai's Gateway of India on the 15th anniversary of the 26/11 attack to honor the "unsung heroes" who sacrificed their lives. The Founder of Divyaj Foundation said the event stands as "a tribute to the unsung heroes of 26/11, a night of reflection and unity where we honor the sacrifices made by these extraordinary individuals." SRK interacted with attendees ranging from politicians to celebrities at the memorial. He joined other Bollywood figures commemorating the victims of the 2008 terror siege. SRK called the heroic victims "extraordinary individuals" as he paid respects to those lost in the 26/11 carnage.

On the 15th day of the Uttarakhand tunnel collapse rescue mission, vertical drilling was initiated, progressing nearly 20 meters on its first day. The American auger machine, previously hindered by a metal grinder, is beyond repair, prompting the shift to vertical drilling. Approximately 10% of the tunnel rubble remains, and experts estimate a 10-12 meter drilling requirement. If vertical efforts prove futile, manual drilling becomes the last resort, though less efficient, requiring an additional 18-24 hours. The Indian Army's engineer regiment stands ready for manual drilling at the Silkyara tunnel site.

At least 14 people died in Gujarat due to unexpected rains, with lightning cited as the cause. South Gujarat, Saurashtra, and North Gujarat faced rain and winds, impacting over 155 talukas. Dahod, Bharuch, Amreli, Surendranagar, and other districts reported casualties. The India Meteorological Department had predicted rain, attributing it to a strong trough and western disturbance. Animals also perished, and the death toll may rise as more data is collected. Mumbai experienced light showers, while Maharashtra witnessed widespread rains. The unseasonal weather is linked to troughs and a western disturbance, causing hail in affected areas.

Following a stampede at Cochin University of Science and Technology's (CUSAT) music festival, resulting in four student deaths, the Kerala government has initiated an inquiry. The incident occurred on Saturday during singer Nikhita Gandhi's performance. The next day, slippers and shoes belonging to the victims remained in the auditorium. The government is issuing guidelines to prevent such incidents, expressing shock at the unusual tragedy during university events. An expert committee is formed, and reports are sought from the university Vice Chancellor and the Principal Secretary of Higher Education. Nikhita Gandhi expresses condolences as investigations continue.

In the Uttarakhand tunnel rescue mission, authorities anticipate that vertical drilling will extend over four days, with the Indian Army actively engaged in the operation. Vertical drilling has already been started. The initial plan faced a setback as the auger machine, tasked with breaking through nearly 60 meters of debris in the collapsed Silkyara tunnel, collapsed. The damaged equipment necessitated a shift to manual drilling for the last stretch. A unit from the Madras Sappers, an engineer group of the Indian Army, is on-site to support the rescue efforts. The trapped workers, safe with essential provisions, now face a prolonged wait for their evacuation.

Rescue operations at Uttarkashi's Silkyara-Dandalgaon tunnel witness a crucial development as vertical drilling yields an 8-metre breakthrough in the last one and a half hours. The drill, now 46 meters deep, inches closer to the 12-meter target to establish a passage for the 41 trapped workers. Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand government sustains the trapped laborers with hot meals via a 6-inch pipe, extending support amid the challenging rescue. Families, wait anxiously at the site for updates on the ongoing rescue, now in its 14th day since the collapse on November 12.

A disturbing caste-based assault occurred in Uttar Pradesh's Jaunpur when a teenage Dalit boy was abducted and tortured by several attackers. The perpetrators thrashed the victim, shaved his eyebrows, and coerced him to ingest urine and soil before releasing him. Though the boy's father immediately contacted local police on Thursday evening, they refused to file a report. After escalating the complaint on Saturday, officials finally registered FIRs against both parties - booking two men for assaulting the boy while also charging the boy for alleged sexual harassment of a village girl. Rights advocates have strongly condemned the egregious abuse and dangerous delay in filing a complaint over such a brutal, potentially fatal hate crime.

Rescue efforts in Uttarkashi's Silkyara tunnel face challenges as the auger machine gets stuck during the evacuation of 41 trapped workers. Indian Army steps in for manual drilling while a plasma cutter is ordered from Hyderabad to cut out the obstructed auger. Tunneling expert Arnold Dix assures a Christmas rescue. Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami updates progress, with a plasma cutter in action and Indian Air Force flying in DRDO equipment. Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Authority anticipates a prolonged operation. BSNL sets up a landline for trapped workers' communication, and the Indian Army's Madras Sappers undertake manual drilling. Union Minister VK Singh inspects the site, emphasizing a high-level commitment to worker safety.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi solemnly marked the 15th anniversary of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks in his 'Mann Ki Baat' radio address, stating, "We can never forget this day when India faced its most heinous terror attack." Reflecting on the coordinated assaults that claimed 166 lives, he added, "On November 26, 2008, ten heavily armed Pakistani terrorists carried out a series of coordinated attacks in Mumbai." PM Modi reiterated India's unwavering commitment to eradicating terrorism, paying tribute to the sacrifice of security personnel. As the nation remembers, he affirmed, "We can never forget."