ISRO satellite images show around 65% or 105 hectares of Sikkim's Lhonak Lake has drained after a cloudburst caused it to overflow. Photos from before and after the flash floods hitting Teesta River indicate the lake's dramatic shrinkage in size from 162.7 hectares on September 17 to just 60.3 hectares on October 4 post the cloudburst. At least 8 people have died so far while 45 were rescued and 23 soldiers are missing. The heavy rains and flooded lake wreaked havoc, killing some and washing away parts of a hydroelectric project. ISRO said it will keep monitoring the satellite images of the lake that has lost over 100 hectares of water due to the cloudburst and resultant breaching.

The Enforcement Directorate has turned its attention to Mahadev Online Book app following a lavish ₹200-crore wedding in the UAE, paid entirely in cash. Promoter Sourabh Chandrakar's February nuptials in Ras Al-Khaimah raised eyebrows, leading to a probe into Mahadev App's financial dealings. Actor Ranbir Kapoor, associated with the app, was summoned for questioning. The ED revealed that digital evidence indicates ₹112 crore was transferred through hawala transactions, and ₹42 crore in cash was used for UAE hotel bookings. The cash-fueled extravagance has prompted a closer look at Mahadev App's transactions. (Image Courtesy: @dir_ed on X)

Pro-Khalistan graffiti was discovered on a government office's walls in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh. The police swiftly covered the slogans with white paint, launching an investigation to identify the culprits behind the anti-India vandalism. This incident, occurring just before the cricket World Cup matches in Dharamshala, follows a similar event on Delhi's Kashmiri Gate flyover. Sikh separatist activities have intensified, partly fueled by allegations from Ottawa implicating India in the murder of designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. India denied the claims, leading to strained India-Canada relations, marked by expulsions of diplomats and a visa services suspension.

NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha and HR head Amit Chakravarty were arrested under India's anti-terror law, UAPA, due to allegations that the portal received funds for pro-China propaganda. The arrests followed a New York Times report claiming the website received money from an American millionaire supporting "Chinese propaganda." Delhi Police conducted searches at 30 locations related to NewsClick, questioning journalists and sealing the office. The Enforcement Directorate had previously probed the portal's funding sources. Purkayastha and Chakravarty were remanded in police custody for seven days, while investigations under the UAPA continued. The Press Club of India has resolved to continue protests by several journalist bodies for defending media freedom.

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared a sneak peek of the upcoming 'Concept train - Vande Bharat (sleeper version)' on social media. Set to debut in 2024, the high-speed sleeper trains are designed for overnight journeys, reaching speeds of 160 km/h. With 16 bogies accommodating 887 passengers, 75 Vande Bharat rakes are planned in the Chair Car version, and 400 in the Sleeper version. The ambitious plan also includes proposing 8000 Vande Bharat Coaches under Budget 2023-24, signaling a transformative shift in India's railway landscape.

A flash flood struck North Sikkim, triggered by a sudden cloudburst over Lhonak Lake. At least 23 Army officers are missing, and several Army establishments in Lachen valley were impacted. The flood, caused by water release from the Chungthang dam, submerged 41 Army vehicles and affected Bardang near Singtam. Rescue operations face challenges due to low internet connectivity, hindering communication between command officers and ground teams. Four NDRF teams are on-site, aiding in the rescue efforts. Sikkim Chief Minister is monitoring the situation, and search operations continue amidst difficult conditions.

Two back-to-back earthquakes centered in Nepal jolted Delhi-NCR on Tuesday afternoon, triggering office evacuations after the long weekend. The first 4.6 magnitude quake at 2:28pm was followed by a more intense 6.2 magnitude one at 2:51pm. The twin tremors caused panic in Delhi, NCR, and other north Indian states like UP, and Uttarakhand. Videos showed people rushing out of buildings in Lucknow and Dehradun too. In Delhi, sirens blared for staff to vacate offices. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and his team was also seen stepping out of Nirman Bhawan amidst severe tremors. The evacuation underscored the panic sparked by the successive Nepal quakes severely shaking the national capital region after the extended holiday.

Two earthquakes occurred one after the other in Nepal within half an hour on Tuesday afternoon and were felt across north India. The first 4.6 magnitude quake struck at 2:25pm followed by a 6.2 magnitude one at 2:51pm as per National Center for Seismology. Strong tremors were felt in Delhi-NCR, Punjab, Haryana and UP forcing many people to rush out of buildings. The tremors from the two Nepal quakes, originating in close succession, lasted over a minute highlighting the region's vulnerability. NCS said both quakes had their epicenter in Nepal. No immediate damage was reported but the twin quakes triggered panic among citizens in parts of northern India.

Powerful 6.2 magnitude earthquake tremors in Nepal were felt across north India on Tuesday. Dutch scientist Frank Hoogerbeets, known for celestial alignment-based quake predictions, had tweeted Monday about probability of a tremor near Pakistan. "On September 30, we recorded atmospheric fluctuations that included parts of and near Pakistan. This is correct. It can be an indicator of an upcoming stronger tremor (as was the case with Morocco). But we cannot say with certainty that it will happen," he had said. Hoogerbeets had accurately predicted the devastating Turkiye-Syria quakes this year. His Pakistan quake alert came true as strong Nepal tremors shook northern India.

Powerful earthquake tremors were felt across northern India including Delhi-NCR, Punjab, and Haryana on Tuesday afternoon. There are reports of tremors being felt in Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow, Hapur, and Amroha as well. The quake measured 6.2 magnitude on the Richter Scale as per initial estimates by National Center for Seismology. The epicenter was located in Nepal. NCS stated the earthquake occurred at 2:51pm IST at a depth of 5km in Nepal. The intense tremors originating from the Nepal quake shook large parts of north India highlighting the region's vulnerability to seismic events. More updates on the aftermath of the earthquake to follow soon.