A 37-year-old pilot from Jaipur, Lt Col (retired) Rajveer Singh Chauhan, died in a chopper crash near Kedarnath on Saturday. He had returned to work just 20 days ago after visiting his newborn twins. His family was planning a ceremony for the babies on June 30. The helicopter was flying from Kedarnath to Guptkashi when it crashed in Rudraprayag, killing all seven people on board. Rajveer had retired from the Indian Air Force a year ago and joined a private chopper firm. This is the fifth chopper accident on the Char Dham route in less than 40 days. (PC: NDRF)

Families of Air India crash victims gathered at Ahmedabad’s Civil Hospital, hoping to receive their loved ones’ remains. But chaos broke out when “two heads were found in one body bag,” a hospital official said. The DNA tests must now be repeated, taking up to 72 hours. Outside the postmortem room, one man begged officials, saying, “Please give me the full body so I can do the last rites,” but was told it may not be possible. Most bodies are burned and hard to identify. The hospital issued a checklist for families, and Air India is helping with transport of remains. (PC: Reuters)

2 tourists died and several others are missing after a bridge over the Indrayani river collapsed in Pune’s Kundmala area on Sunday. The spot is a popular tourist site, especially during monsoon. Around 32 people were hurt, six of them critically. Many fell into the river when the bridge gave way. Rescue teams, including the NDRF, are at the scene. So far, six people have been saved. The bridge had been repaired 4–5 years ago, but locals had warned about its weak condition. Heavy rains over the last two days may have worsened the structure. Search efforts are still on. (PC: X)

Israel and Iran have exchanged strikes for the third consecutive day. Israeli air attacks hit nuclear, military, and Iran’s South Pars gas-field shared with Qatar, killing top generals and scientists. Iran responded with missiles and drones aimed at Israeli cities. Tehran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi emphasized Iran “does not want conflict to expand” but will defend itself and warned that aggression must cease before retaliation stops. Nuclear talks between Iran and the U.S. in Oman were called off, disrupted by Israel’s strikes that Araqchi accused the U.S. of greenlighting. Germany, France, and the U.K. are ready to hold urgent de‑escalation talks on Iran’s nuclear programme. Trump expressed full support for Israel. (PC: CNN & Reuters)

The Indian Embassy in Tehran has issued a critical advisory amid escalating Iran‑Israel hostilities. Indian nationals, residents or visitors are urged to remain vigilant, limit non‑essential travel, and strictly follow local safety directives. Dedicated hotline numbers have been activated including two telephone lines (+98 9128109115, +98 9128109109), WhatsApp contacts (+98 901044557, +98 9015993320, +91 8086871709), and regional helplines in Bandar Abbas and Zahedan to ensure prompt support during emergencies. A Telegram channel has also been launched to deliver real‑time updates. The embassy’s initiative seeks to safeguard the Indian community as direct strikes between Iran and Israel persist for a third day, causing casualties and disrupting normal life. (PC: NDTV)

A British F‑35B Lightning II stealth fighter from the HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on Saturday (June 14, 2025) after critically low fuel during a sortie over the Arabian Sea . Adverse weather near the carrier likely prevented a safe deck recovery . The Indian Air Force confirmed the diversion was routine and provided full assistance for flight safety . The jet, unharmed, now awaits refuelling clearance and is parked securely under tight security. The incident underscores enhancing UK‑India military cooperation in the Indo‑Pacific region.

Captain Jyoti Raj Singh, the pilot of the helicopter that crashed en route to Kedarnath, tragically lost his life just two months after becoming the father of twin daughters. Singh, 35, hailed from Agra and had previously served in the Indian Army before joining the private aviation sector. He was employed with Aryan Aviation and had over 15 years of flying experience. The incident claimed six lives, Singh and five pilgrims when the chopper crashed shortly after takeoff near Garud Chatti. His wife, also a defense personnel, is devastated. Singh had dreamt of building a new house for his family, a dream now left unfulfilled. (PC: Telegraph India & Bhaskar English)

An old iron pedestrian bridge over the Indrayani River at Kundmala, near Talegaon in Pune’s Maval taluka, collapsed on Sunday afternoon amid heavy tourist footfall. Around 3:30 pm, the 30-year-old structure gave way, plunging an estimated 10–15 individuals into the swollen river . One fatality is confirmed; 5–6 people rescued, several still missing and feared swept away . NDRF, Pimpri‑Chinchwad police and local teams are engaged in ongoing rescue operations, with concerns mounting over the bridge’s structural health and urgent need for infrastructure maintenance. (PC: Hindustan Times)

Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani’s body has been identified via DNA testing, days after the tragic Air India Flight AI171 crash near Ahmedabad on June 12. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, carrying 242 people, crashed into BJ Medical College’s hostel shortly after takeoff, killing 241 onboard and about 29 on the ground. Forensic teams matched Rupani’s DNA at 11:10 am on June 15, and handed his remains to family. Authorities have identified 32 victims through DNA so far, with 14 bodies released. The sole survivor, British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, is recovering. Investigations are ongoing into the crash’s cause, and DNA-based identification continues as grief and closure efforts unfold. (PC: Our Neta)

Following the tragic crash of an Aryan Aviation helicopter near Kedarnath on June 15, 2025, the Uttarakhand government has suspended the company's Char Dham Yatra services. The Bell 407 chopper, en route from Kedarnath to Guptkashi, crashed amid poor visibility, killing all seven onboard, including a child and the pilot. In response, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced a high-level technical committee to reassess flight safety measures. The DGCA has also issued revised safety norms, including the requirement for twin-engine helicopters, real-time weather monitoring, and enhanced pilot SOPs, aiming to prevent such incidents in the future. (PC: SDRF)