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Subarnapur: The Subarnapur district administration has ordered the closure of all schools and Anganwadi centres on Friday following forecasts of heavy to very heavy rainfall in the district. The decision was taken by District Collector as a precautionary measure to safeguard students and young children after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an Orange Warning for Subarnapur. According to the IMD, the district is likely to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall during the day, raising concerns over waterlogging, flooding in low-lying areas and disruption to normal activities. Officials said the closure has been announced to ensure the safety of…
Puri: Amid chants of “Jai Jagannath” and an atmosphere charged with devotion, the grand chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Chakraraj Sudarshan rolled onto the historic Bada Danda (Grand Road) in Puri on Thursday, marking the commencement of the world-renowned Rath Yatra 2026. The ceremonial pulling of the chariots began at around 5:10 PM, following the completion of the sacred Chhera Panhara ritual performed by Puri Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, the foremost servitor of Lord Jagannath. The ritual commenced later than scheduled due to intermittent heavy rainfall in the Holy City. Earlier in the day, the deities…
New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved two major railway capacity enhancement projects worth approximately ₹3,907 crore covering parts of Odisha and Jharkhand. The projects include the doubling of the Paradip–Haridaspur railway line and the construction of a fourth railway line between Rajkharsawan and Dangoaposi, aimed at improving rail connectivity, freight movement and operational efficiency in the region. According to the Ministry of Railways, the projects will add around 145 kilometres to the existing Indian Railways network and cover four districts across the two states. Boost to Connectivity and Regional…
Bhubaneswar: To ensure smooth and hassle-free transportation for devotees during this year’s world-famous Rath Yatra, special Ama Bus services will be operated across multiple routes in and around Bhubaneswar. The arrangements have been made by the Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) in anticipation of a large influx of pilgrims and visitors during the festival period. According to CRUT, special bus services will run on several routes, including 22E, 50E, 51E, 54E, 56E, 57E, 58E, 59E, 61E, 72E, 77E, DD1, and AS, a dedicated shuttle service connecting Master Canteen with the Biju Patnaik International Airport. The public transport agency shared details…
Bhubaneswar: The Orissa High Court has stayed the release of the animation film ‘Mahaprabhu Jagannath’ following allegations that it contains distorted portrayals and inaccuracies related to Lord Jagannath and associated religious traditions. The interim order was passed while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Mahesh Kumar Sahoo, a member of the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee in Puri. The court has directed the filmmakers not to release the movie until further orders and has scheduled the next hearing in the matter for August 5. The makers had earlier announced that the film would be released on July 17.…
Bhubaneswar: In a major infrastructure initiative ahead of the upcoming local body elections, the Odisha Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has approved projects worth nearly ₹30,000 crore for the construction and upgradation of rural roads and bridges across the state. The ambitious package includes the development of approximately 50,000 kilometres of roads and the construction of around 3,837 bridges and bridge-like structures, aimed at strengthening rural connectivity and accelerating economic development in remote areas. The projects have been approved under various components of the Mukhya Mantri Sadak Yojana (MMSY) and other infrastructure schemes. Strengthening Rural Road Connectivity…
Bhubaneswar: A nurse was found dead in a rented house in the Damana area of Bhubaneswar, with police suspecting that prolonged mental harassment and alleged blackmail may have driven her to take the extreme step. The deceased has been identified as Sasmita, a native of Balangir district who was working in Bhubaneswar. According to police, she had been living in a live-in relationship with Mahesh Nath after relocating to the state capital. Following the recovery of the body, police initially detained Mahesh for questioning and began an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death. During the course of the probe,…
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Crime Branch on Tuesday arrested former State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) Director Manoj Padhi in connection with the school textbook error controversy that triggered widespread outrage across the state. Padhi was taken into custody after extensive questioning as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in the preparation and publication of textbooks for Classes I to VIII. He had earlier been suspended by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi following the controversy. The Crime Branch initiated the probe on the Chief Minister’s directions after receiving a formal complaint from current SCERT Director Madhusmita Sahu.…
Bhubaneswar/New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday conducted raids at three locations in Bhubaneswar in connection with the Sundarpada bomb blast case that took place in January this year. According to official sources, the searches were carried out based on evidence gathered from an arrested accused and other findings uncovered during the investigation. The blast occurred on January 27, 2026, in Azad Nagar Colony, Sundarpada, when a bomb accidentally exploded while four individuals were allegedly assembling it on the rooftop of a four-storey building. All four sustained serious injuries, and two later died during treatment. The NIA is…
Brahmapur: Authorities in Odisha’s Ganjam district have intensified COVID-19 preparedness measures after reports of fresh coronavirus cases emerged in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) Bhabani Shankar Mishra has directed all healthcare facilities in the district to strictly follow the revised guidelines issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department and remain prepared for any potential rise in infections. According to the directive, hospitals have been instructed to conduct mandatory COVID-19 testing for patients suffering from Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) and undertake random testing of at least five per cent of patients with Influenza-Like Illness (ILI). Healthcare…