"Lost in the esoteric world of thesaurus," Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia accused Congress leader Shashi Tharoor of a "lack of depth" in understanding aviation after Tharoor slammed flight delays. "It's a ModiGovt-made disaster, a result of the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s neglect and incompetence," Tharoor tweeted, highlighting passengers' woes. Scindia dubbed it "armchair" criticism and in a series of posts on X dubbed the Throor's criticism of the situation in airports a "lack of depth in understanding of technical sectors like civil aviation".  The Civil Aviation Minister also wrote, "The treatment meted out to the passengers in the instant case was unacceptable, and we have acted immediately in the form of a show cause notice to the concerned operators. Further, SOPs for better communication to passengers were also issued. Implementation is being monitored thrice daily."

"I am surprised only one person got physically assaulted because tempers were running very high (I don't condone violence)," said actor Richa Chadha, commenting on the recent flight delays and airport chaos across India. Earlier this week, a flier was arrested for slapping an Indigo Airlines pilot while he was announcing the reason for the more than 10-hour delays. Chadha shared her own frustrating experiences this week, with two IndiGo flights delayed by 4 hours each in just 3 days. She said the Indigo controversy demonstrates how "monopoly - whether airlines, airport ownership or leadership - creates lack of accountability" and causes common citizens to suffer.

In the ongoing 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony at Ayodhya's Ram temple, Day 2 unfolds with the idol of Lord Ram Lalla taking a significant tour of the Sri Ram Janmabhoomi temple after 1:20 pm. The detailed rituals include Jalayatra, Teertha Puja, Brahmin-Batuk-Kumari-Suvasini Puja, Vardhini Puja, and Kalshayatra. Previously, rituals on Day 1 involved essential purifications, 'Panchgavyaprashan,' 'Godan,' and 'Karmakuti Homa.' Upcoming days will witness various ceremonies, leading to the grand consecration on January 22, graced by PM Narendra Modi. The temple will open to the public on January 23.

Armed miscreants targeted security forces in Manipur's Moreh during an early morning ambush, resulting in the tragic death of one Commando (CDO) official. The attackers utilized rocket-propelled grenades and live rounds, targeting personnel who were sleeping near Ema Kondong Lairembi Devi Mandir. The assault continued with a second ambush at SBI Bank Building Dekhunai Resort, leaving another officer injured. Assam Rifles, stationed nearby, swiftly responded, shielding the area with bullet-proof vehicles. Investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend the perpetrators behind this attack on security personnel.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar has opted out of attending the 'Pran Prathisha' ceremony for the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, following the lead of fellow INDIA alliance leaders. In a letter to the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra General Secretary, Pawar expressed gratitude for the invitation and announced his decision to visit for "darshan" once the temple's construction is complete. The move aligns with the Congress party's earlier decision to boycott the event, accusing the BJP and RSS of exploiting it for electoral gains. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has also stated her intention to abstain from the ceremony.

Dense fog continues to wreak havoc in North India, disrupting air and rail travel. With over 100 flights cancelled and 600 delayed since Sunday, passengers face extensive delays at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport. The freezing conditions also impact railway operations, leaving numerous trains running behind schedule. The India Meteorological Department issues an orange alert for Delhi as the cold wave persists. IMD scientist Soma Sen predicts ongoing foggy mornings, while the air quality in the national capital hits "severe" levels. Authorities implement Stage 3 measures to tackle rising pollution, compounding the challenges for residents and travelers alike.            

Amid ongoing pregnancy speculations, a new picture of power couple Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma has surfaced online as they receive an invitation for the Ram Temple's Pran Pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya. The image provides a sneak peek into their lavish Mumbai home. Anushka, dressed in a white salwar-suit, and Virat, in a blue shirt and white pyjamas, are seen with the invitation. The couple celebrated their 6th wedding anniversary in December 2023 and welcomed their daughter Vamika in January 2021. Anushka's upcoming film, "Chakda Xpress," a biopic on cricketer Jhulan Goswami, is yet to receive a release date.          

In addition to Standard Operating Procedures issued to airlines by the DGCA, Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Tuesday, "war rooms" will be set up at six metro airports to address "passenger inconvenience with immediacy". Sharing details on X, Scindia said: "In addition to these SOPs, we have sought incidence reporting thrice daily for all the 6 metro airports." The government will ensure "sufficient" CISF manpower availability at airports round-the-clock, he assured. Allowing airlines to cancel flights that are likely to be delayed beyond three hours, the DGCA SOP yesterday stated: "Facilities to be provided to passengers by airlines due to denied boarding, cancellation of flights, and delays in flights." Fog-induced disruptions to domestic and international commercial flight operations resulted in passenger fury as IndiGo and other airlines battled poor communications in the last few days.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today visited the Veerbhadra Temple in Andhra Pradesh's Lepakshi, a site of significance in the Hindu epic Ramayana. Lepakshi is believed to be where the giant eagle Jatayu tried to protect Goddess Sita after her abduction by Ravan. Dying Jatayu conveyed information about Sita's captivity and was granted 'Moksha' by Lord Ram. Modi's spiritual journey comes just before the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony of the grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22, which lakhs of pilgrims are expected to attend. The Prime Minister is on a two-day trip launching development projects in Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, including a ship repair facility. On Wednesday, PM Modi will offer prayers at the Guruvayur and Thriprayar Shree Ramaswami temples in Kerala.

EaseMyTrip CEO Nishant Pitti responds to allegations that the company's decision to suspend flight bookings to the Maldives instigated the recent diplomatic standoff. Pitti clarifies the move was in response to the Maldivian president's "pro-China" stance and anti-India sentiments. Highlighting the 95% support from the Indian public, he asserts the decision was about upholding the country's dignity. The travel aggregator faced criticism for exploiting the row, leading to a surge in interest for Lakshadweep trips. The India-Maldives tension continues following critical remarks about PM Modi by suspended ministers. The Maldives insists on Chinese tourist influx, escalating the diplomatic rift.