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."

Makeshift landlines have been established inside a collapsed tunnel in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi to allow 41 trapped workers to make calls to their worried family members. The lines were set up 200 meters from the cave-in site by BSNL technicians. Workers have been stuck inside the tunnel since November 12. A telephone handset will be passed to the laborers through a small pipe used to provide food and supplies. Officials hope the lines will keep workers' spirits up during the difficult rescue. Drilling efforts are currently on hold as equipment hit an obstacle, further delaying the complex extraction process.

The CBI has initiated an enquiry against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra based on a complaint filed by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey accusing her of taking bribes to ask parliament questions. Dubey alleged Moitra took gifts from businessman Darshan Hiranandani to target the Modi government and Adani Group in parliament. He cited a Supreme Court lawyer's letter with evidence of the "cash-for-query" deal. Though a Lok Sabha ethics panel suggested Moitra's dismissal over the charges, she has dismissed it as political vendetta and a "fixed match". The CBI move comes after the Lokpal directed the probe agency to investigate the claims that Moitra gave her parliament login access to Hiranandani associates to post questions from locations like Dubai and New Jersey. Moitra admits sharing her ID to aid in typing questions due to her busy schedule.

Pranshu, a 16-year-old queer artist from Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, took their own life following a barrage of over 4,000 homophobic comments on an Instagram reel. The self-taught makeup artist, with 16,500 followers on 'glamitupwithpranshu,' faced cyberbullying after posting a Diwali transition reel. Actor Trinetra Haldar Gummaraju highlighted Instagram's failure to curb LGBTQ hate. The Nagjhiri police are investigating, while former Meta executive Arthur Bejar criticized Instagram's safety claims, testifying it's "categorically not" suitable for teens. The incident sparks outcry for #JusticeForPranshu, shedding light on social media's impact on mental health.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday said manual drilling will commence tomorrow as fresh efforts begin to rescue workers trapped in the damaged Himalayan tunnel after drilling operations faced yet another snag. A specialized Hyderabad machine has been called in to cut the augur trapped inside since Friday, when drilling hit an obstruction thought to be metallic debris. Earlier, officials were hopeful as radar showed just 10-12 meters remained to reach the workers and no major barriers ahead. However, the latest setback has forced a shift to manual digging even as PM Modi monitors the prolonged rescue daily. All options are being tapped to expedite completion of the tunnel operation and ascertain the fate of those trapped inside.

A Delhi court sentenced four men to life imprisonment for the murder of journalist Soumya Vishwanathan in 2008. Vishwanathan, who worked with the India Today group, was shot dead while returning home from work in an attempted robbery. The court held Ravi Kapoor, Amit Shukla, Ajay Kumar and Baljeet Malik guilty of murder and organized crime charges, but said the case did not warrant the death penalty. A fifth convict, Ajay Sethi, was found guilty of receiving stolen property and abetting organized crime. The murder, initially believed to be a car accident, was uncovered as a gunshot homicide through forensic reports.

In a critical turn of events, the Uttarkashi tunnel rescue operation, aiming to save 41 trapped workers, encountered a significant hurdle when the American-auger drilling machine struck a metal girder, forcing a temporary halt. Faced with this challenge, officials are now contemplating the option of vertical drilling. The Border Roads Organisation has readied the site, and preparations are underway. Despite setbacks, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami assures the public that the rescue operation is in its "final stage." Meanwhile, experts deploy ground-penetration radar and drones for a comprehensive understanding of the challenging rescue mission.