Sidharth Shukla dies at 40: Celebs pay last respects

In a major political fallout surrounding the alleged Valmiki scam in Karnataka, Minister B. Nagendra has announced his resignation from the state cabinet. An emotional Nagendra, while breaking down during the announcement, maintained his innocence and claimed he was being targeted because of his Dalit identity. The decision came following intense political pressure from the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and Janata Dal (Secular), which had announced a fortnight-long padayatra from Raichur to Ballari. The Congress party high command directed the resignation to protect the party's image ahead of upcoming elections. Prior to the resignation, Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar defended Nagendra at the India Today roundtable, asserting that departmental reports found no evidence of his involvement and accused central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation of engaging in political targeting. Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition R. Ashok asserted that the opposition would continue its fight for justice regarding the siphoned funds.

The latest India Today C-Voter Mood of the Nation poll has placed TVK chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay at the third position in the national Prime Minister preference race, behind Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi. According to the survey, Narendra Modi leads with 48.7 per cent support, followed by Rahul Gandhi at 27.1 per cent, while Vijay secures 9.2 per cent. Furthermore, when asked who is best suited to lead the INDIA bloc, Vijay ranked second with 12.2 per cent support, trailing Rahul Gandhi who leads at 29 per cent. Following the survey results, posters projecting Vijay as 'Today's CM, tomorrow's PM' surfaced in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu. The ruling DMK dismissed the survey findings and the Prime Minister pitch, stating that Vijay should first focus on proving himself as Chief Minister before eyeing a national role. Meanwhile, the alliance partner Congress played down the TVK pitch, maintaining its support for Rahul Gandhi as the prime ministerial candidate for 2029.

Following criticism on social media over severe waterlogging in Gurugram, the Haryana government has initiated measures to address the urban drainage crisis. A private agency, Nippon Koei, has been hired to conduct a survey of low-lying areas in the city and submit a report on long-term solutions. Under the proposed plan, accumulated rainwater from vulnerable low-lying regions of Gurugram will be lifted and diverted towards Nuh to reach the Yamuna River. Furthermore, check dams have been constructed along the Aravalli hills to intercept and divert runoff water that previously flowed directly into the city.

A glacier collapse and rock avalanche on the Nepal-Tibet border triggered flash floods and glacial lake outburst floods, killing at least 587 people and leaving over 700 missing, including more than 300 Indian nationals.