Bhopal is the capital of Madhya Pradesh and is known as the 'City of Lakes'. Its name is derived from 'Bhoj Tal', a lake constructed by Raja Bhoj, a Hindu king, in the 11th century.
In 1956, Bhopal replaced Nagpur as Madhya Pradesh's capital. The city is one of the greenest and cleanest cities and was rated as the cleanest state capital city in India for three consecutive years - 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Significant attractions in and around Bhopal include Lakshminarayan Temple, Museum of Man, a multipurpose arts centre, Fatehgarh Fort and Van Vihar National Park, a zoological park. The city also has several mosques including Taj-ul-Masjid which is the largest mosque in India. The city has a main railway junction, Bhopal Railway Station, and an airport, Raja Bhoj International Airport.
In December 1984, Bhopal became the site of the worst industrial accident in history, Bhopal Gas Tragedy, when tons of poisonous gas leaked from an insecticide plant. It resulted in the killing of thousands of people.
Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri was declared elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh after the nomination papers of two opposition-backed candidates were rejected during scrutiny. Returning officer Umesh Sharma declared him elected on the final day of withdrawal of nominations. Madhya Pradesh BJP chief Hemant Khandelwal collected Puri's certificate of election in Bhopal alongside MLA Rameshwar Sharma. The bypoll was necessitated following the resignation of former Union Minister L. Murugan, whose term was set to conclude in April 2030.
A major political face-off has erupted between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party after Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to an open debate. The challenge centres on allegations concerning foreign interference and opposition loyalty, with Gandhi claiming that seventy-three per cent of respondents in his online poll supported holding such an interaction. In response, the BJP maintained that Parliament remains the appropriate constitutional venue for debates rather than street rallies or social media platforms. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju criticised the Congress leader, offering a seven-point advice package that urged him to avoid secret overseas visits, participate in parliamentary discussions, respect constitutional institutions, and dismantle dynastic party structures. Concurrently, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh defended the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, asserting that democratic change must occur through the ballot rather than civil unrest.
A controversy has erupted over the government-funded 'Mahakal: The Master of Time' conference held in Ujjain, with organisers facing scrutiny over suspected fake travel bills. Hired through a Bhopal-based firm, several vehicle numbers submitted in the invoices allegedly turned out to be irregular, including an e-rickshaw listed as an Innova and a moped billed as a traveller. The travel agency attributed the errors to human and typing mistakes. Meanwhile, the Culture Department and the Madhya Pradesh Council of Science and Technology traded blame over billing responsibilities, with the council initiating a four-member committee to probe the expenses.
A speeding car rammed a parked cab and hit a newspaper delivery worker in Bhopal early Friday, with the entire incident captured on CCTV. The impact damaged the cab and left the worker injured, following which he was rushed to the nearby hospital, where he is undergoing treatment. Police suspect the driver, who was returning from an immersion procession, may have been under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. ADCP Anil Sharma said a case has been registered in connection with the incident and police are using the car’s registration number to identify the driver, who remains absconding. Efforts are underway to trace and arrest him.
A political controversy erupted after visual artist Raihan Vadra was asked to remove approximately 70 photographs depicting youth protests and the national tricolour from his solo exhibition, 'No Idea is Final', at Delhi's Bikaner House. While Vadra, the Congress party, and INDIA bloc leaders alleged political censorship and hostility toward artistic expression, the Bikaner House Management Society and the BJP defended the decision, citing strict venue guidelines against political artwork, nudity, and communal themes. On 'To The Point', anchor Preeti Choudhry and panellists, including Sanju Verma and Gurmehar Kaur, debated the constitutional boundaries of free expression under Article 19, government intervention, and the definition of political content in documentary photography versus venue compliance. The broadcast also examined historic Indian photographs that shaped public memory, including Mahatma Gandhi's Dandi March, George Fernandes during the Emergency, and the Bhopal Gas Tragedy. Concluding the programme, actor Tiger Shroff shared visuals of injuries sustained from a close-range shooting incident.
The Cockroach Janata Party has announced a protest at Central Park in Connaught Place, New Delhi, on 16 October, following the five-day judicial remand of its leaders Saurabh Das and Ashutosh Ranka to Tihar Jail.
Passionate football fans gathered outside the Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata ahead of the historic international friendly between India and Brazil. The atmosphere remained electric as supporters arrived donning both Indian and Brazilian colours, reflecting divided loyalties. Several supporters expressed admiration for Brazil stemming from the 2002 World Cup, while maintaining love for Indian football and hoping the national side would score. Fans referenced India's previous one-all draw against Panama to express confidence in a strong performance. Visiting supporters and international fans voiced expectations to see players such as Vinicius Junior and Endrick in action, anticipating a competitive match. Additionally, student supporters who travelled from Bhopal shared their enthusiasm, stating they hoped for an Indian victory to encourage the overall growth of football across the nation.
In an interview with India Today's Gaurav Sawant, strategic affairs expert Professor Brahma Chellaney addressed the controversy surrounding the release and departure of Matthew VanDyke and other foreign nationals accused of illegal activities and arms supply to Myanmar rebels. Chellaney asserted, "Under successive Indian governments, India has surrendered to external pressure," comparing the development to past episodes such as the Bhopal gas tragedy, the Purulia arms drop, and the Italian marines case. He criticized the decision to allow individuals facing serious national security allegations to exit the country on default bail, stating, "These seven men will not return to India. They have been deliberately let go free. Let's be clear on that. This case is dead. It's dead as a dodo." Furthermore, Chellaney highlighted the direct regional fallout for India's Northeast, warning that the flow of drones and weaponry to Chin rebels in Myanmar fuels Kuki insurgent groups active in the ongoing ethnic strife in Manipur.
Indian shooter Elavenil Valarivan reflected on opening India's medal account at the Asian Games with two silver medals in the team and individual ten-meter air rifle events in an interview with India Today. She described her journey since the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games as pleasant, emphasizing the value of continuous learning. Speaking about her performance, Valarivan admitted, "I did fumble a bit in the end" and noted that she must work on her pace for the final shots. She credited the Indian shooting contingent's success to strong team confidence, mutual support, and inspiration drawn from younger athletes. Valarivan also highlighted the importance of mental focus in the sport, explaining that success relies on tuning out external distractions and concentrating fully on executing one single shot at a time.
A political confrontation has erupted in Madhya Pradesh between BJP MLA Rameshwar Sharma and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi. The controversy began during a Janmashtami event in Bhopal, where BJP MLA Rameshwar Sharma made a controversial remark about firing a missile from Karond square to Qazi Camp, a minority-populated area, leading to demands for an FIR against him. Responding at a public rally in Bhopal held against the Uniform Civil Code, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi challenged Sharma over the missile threat, stated that he is prepared to be martyred, and highlighted the freedom fighters who resided in Qazi Camp.
An Air India flight, AI 1886, en route from Bhopal to Delhi, was diverted to Jaipur following a mid-flight technical snag. The aircraft landed safely at Jaipur airport, where it is currently undergoing mandatory safety checks in line with established standards. Air India issued an official statement regretting the inconvenience caused to passengers and emphasising that the safety of passengers and crew remains of paramount importance. The airline's ground team at Jaipur is providing immediate assistance and arranging alternative connections for travellers to reach Delhi at the earliest. The incident once again brings passenger safety and recurring technical issues across the aviation sector into focus.
The Central Bureau of Investigation has filed a 636-page charge sheet in the death case of 33-year-old Twisha Sharma, who was found dead at her in-laws' residence in Bhopal on May 12 after five months of marriage.
Nationwide student protests over the NEET paper leaks and police violence have expanded across Indian cities including Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Jodhpur, and Bhopal.
A four-year-old girl died after being run over by a Scorpio in Bhopal. The incident took place right in front of her elder sister's eyes. According to reports, the two siblings had gone to a shop near their house to buy something. While the elder sister crossed the road safely, the younger one sat down in the middle of the road after getting upset over something. Suddenly, an SUV that had been parked barely a meter away from the young girl pulled forward and ran her over, a CCTV video of the incident shows. Police have registered a case and launched a search for the driver.
A nineteen-month-old child has lost his eyesight following treatment at a government hospital in Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh. The child was taken to the hospital for a cold and redness in the eye.
Years of sacrifice may have slipped away in a matter of minutes when Ragini Vishwakarma was not allowed inside the exam hall.
Former district judge Giribala is currently lodged in Bhopal Central Jail after being remanded to 14 days of judicial custody along with her son and co-accused Samarth Singh.
Siddaramaiah has resigned as the Chief Minister of Karnataka, facilitating the transition of leadership to DK Shivakumar.
What exactly happened on May 12, the night Twisha Sharma died? In his statement to the CBI, husband Samarth Singh claimed the evening had appeared normal before Twisha was allegedly found hanging on the terrace of their home in Bhopal.
The big focus of this episode of 5 Live is on the central government's eviction notice issued to the Delhi Gymkhana Club, asking it to vacate the 27.3-acre Lutyens premises by June 5.
