Ghaziabad

Giriraj Singh criticised Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's Diwali message, accusing the party of appeasement politics and silence on sensitive issues.

A roof slab collapse at a Ghaziabad construction site left one dead and four injured. Rescue operations are ongoing.

A blast at Ghaziabad's Vasundhara Police Outpost caused damage with no casualties. Authorities are investigating possible terror links as forensic teams collect evidence.

A blast at Vasundhara police outpost in Ghaziabad injured a delivery boy. Investigations are ongoing including forensic and cyber teams to determine the cause.

A blast at Vasundhara Police Outpost in Ghaziabad caused minor injuries and damage. Authorities are investigating.

The Bharatiya Janata Party continued its counter-campaign against opposition protests with a save democracy and end anarchy pitch. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath led a massive padayatra in Ghaziabad before addressing a public gathering, where he accused the Congress and the INDIA bloc of undermining democratic institutions and pushing the country towards anarchy. Taking a swipe at Rahul Gandhi, Adityanath compared him to a failing student making excuses. Addressing the gathering, he asserted that India before 2014 was plagued by mistrust, anarchy, Naxalism, terrorism, and corruption, whereas post-2014 India has moved past its identity crisis and transition from being part of the Fragile Five to emerging as the world's fourth largest economy.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has launched a series of pad yatras across several states under the slogan Save Democracy and End Anarchy to counter the narrative of opposition parties. Union Minister JP Nadda arrived in Bareilly to lead a foot march passing through the Prem Nagar Police Station area, with approximately 40,000 party workers and public representatives from the Braj region expected to take part under tight security arrangements. Concurrently, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan led a march in Lucknow covering the stretch from Hazratganj to Parivartan Chowk. Senior leaders, including Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and both Deputy Chief Ministers, are scheduled to lead similar rallies in Ghaziabad, Prayagraj, and Kanpur. The nationwide outreach is designed to counter ground protests organized by Congress and Samajwadi Party leaders, affirming the ruling party's presence among the public ahead of upcoming state elections.

Delhi's air quality has slipped into the very poor category, with Central Pollution Control Board data recording an Air Quality Index of 349 around ITO. In response to worsening air pollution, authorities have enforced strict curbs prohibiting non-BS6 compliant vehicles from entering the national capital until January 31st. Over 10 lakh vehicles from Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, and Faridabad face the entry ban. Ground reports from the Delhi-Noida highway and Ghazipur border show massive traffic jams and rigorous document checks by officials, with non-compliant commercial vehicles turned back or penalised as Delhi braces for elevated pollution levels in the coming months.

In a major setback for Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan, the Enforcement Directorate arrested him minutes after his release following 11 months in custody. The arrest was made under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in connection with alleged irregularities and diversion of government funds linked to Mohammad Ali Jauhar University. The central agency previously attached university properties valued at 426 crore rupees across 26 takeover FIRs. Khan questioned the action, stating he only established an educational institution for children and society. The agency is bringing him to Delhi before producing him in a Ghaziabad special court for custody remand.

Indian Railways has launched the Kashi-Delhi Vande Bharat Sleeper Train, marking the country's second Vande Bharat sleeper service. Equipped with modern amenities and an advanced safety system, the train connects Varanasi and New Delhi via Prayagraj, Kanpur Central, Aligarh, and Ghaziabad. Compared to the Shiv Ganga Express, it reduces travel time by 55 minutes from Varanasi to New Delhi and by 35 minutes on the return route. The service aims to provide faster overnight travel between key urban centres and pilgrimage destinations.

Air quality readings across India have reached worrying levels as pollution season sets in, showing that the crisis extends far beyond the National Capital Region. Peak air quality index recordings show Delhi at 353, Ghaziabad at 354, Sonipat at 373, Gurugram at 352, Faridabad at 344, and Noida at 262. Southern cities also face severe air quality challenges, with Chennai touching 326 and Bengaluru reaching 214. On the global city-wise AQI ranking, five of the top 10 most polluted cities are in India, including Sri Ganganagar, Delhi, Udaipur, Bengaluru, and Faridkot. Broadening the global list reveals that 13 out of the top 20 polluted cities are Indian, underscoring a nationwide challenge rather than a regional winter issue.

A political confrontation has broken out between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party following Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's remarks concerning Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a public address in Patna. The BJP has staged demonstrations and lodged police complaints, while Congress leaders cited previous personal attacks by political opponents in defence. Alongside this debate over political discourse and accountability, the Delhi government has announced its winter pollution action plan, prohibiting non-BS6 vehicles registered outside the capital from entering Delhi between November 1 and January 31, affecting over ten lakh commuters across NCR hubs such as Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, and Faridabad. At Jamia Millia Islamia University, student protests and hunger strikes persist over demands for the restoration of the elected students union, prompting the deployment of Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel on campus.

The Delhi government has announced its winter pollution action plan, introducing measures including staggered office timings, a proposed 50 percent work-from-home mandate, and curbs on construction activities. Under the plan, vehicles registered outside Delhi that do not comply with Bharat Stage 6 emission norms will be barred from entering the capital from 1 November until 31 January 2027. The restriction applies to both non-BS6 petrol and diesel vehicles, while Delhi-registered vehicles, CNG, electric vehicles, and essential services are exempt. Over 10 lakh vehicles from neighbouring NCR regions, including Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, and Faridabad, could be impacted and face challans if found within Delhi limits.

A major crackdown by the Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration has raised serious concerns over packaged drinking water quality across the state. Testing of 242 samples revealed that 146 were substandard, while 57 were declared unsafe during microbiological analysis. Laboratory reports detected harmful microorganisms, including E. coli, coliform bacteria, yeast, and mold, posing severe public health risks. Unsafe samples were reported across 39 districts, with Ghaziabad and Hapur recording the highest numbers, alongside samples in Gautam Buddha Nagar, Ayodhya, and Chandauli. Following the findings, FSDA Commissioner Dr Roshan Jacob issued orders suspending food licences and halting production at manufacturing units tied to unsafe samples. Units with substandard samples have been given one week to rectify deficiencies, requiring tests on subsequent batches before production can resume. Physical inspections will verify compliance, with non-compliant units facing legal action under the Food Safety and Standards Act.

A massive security clampdown was witnessed across central Delhi as Delhi Police deployed heavy barricading, checkpoints, and paramilitary forces to block demonstration attempts. Protesting students and independent demonstrators seeking to register their dissent against the SIR exercise and demanding the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar managed to breach cordons around Pandit Pant Marg, Jantar Mantar, and Connaught Place. Visuals showed multiple students being detained and taken away in buses after breaking barricade layers. Security checks at entry points from Noida, Ghaziabad, and Gurgaon, alongside metro closures and vehicular curbs, brought movement in New Delhi to a halt. In Connaught Place, shops, eateries, and cafes remained shut with shutters down while police and paramilitary units guarded the area. The leaders of the CJP, identified as Abhijeet Dipke, Saurabh Das, and Ashutosh Ranka, were detained from inside an aircraft upon arrival and taken to an undisclosed location.

A massive security clampdown was enforced across New Delhi to prevent planned demonstrations, transforming central parts of the national capital into a virtual fortress. The Delhi Police barricaded key areas, halted traffic movement within a four-kilometre radius around Kartavya Path, and enforced thorough checks across border checkpoints including Noida, Ghaziabad, and Gurgaon. Commercial establishments, offices, and restaurants in and around Connaught Place were shut down, while metro services were suspended, preventing student groups from assembling near Jantar Mantar. Senior advocates had earlier raised concerns before the Chief Justice of India regarding metro closures and restrictions on public movement. Concurrently, security officials at Indira Gandhi International Airport detained three individuals upon landing on their flight from gate number six. CISF personnel maintained heavy security across airport terminals as police thwarted gatherings across the capital.

Delhi Police have initiated detentions in Connaught Place as protesters attempted to assemble ahead of a planned agitation near Jantar Mantar and the Election Commission. Heavy security and extensive barricading were enforced across the New Delhi district, with authorities establishing multiple detention facilities. Officials reiterated that the planned protest is illegal, warning of strict action under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. In response to security measures, more than 170 short-distance and local trains connecting to stations such as New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin were cancelled, causing significant disruption for everyday commuters and long-distance travellers. Passengers reported suspension of internet services and closures of ticket counters at the railway station, leading to widespread confusion regarding train schedules. Security personnel remain deployed across major transit hubs to prevent protesters from gathering.

As the Indian Air Force marks ninety-four years of its existence, India Today's Shivani Sharma reports from the static display at Hindon Air Base in Ghaziabad. The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile features as the central attraction, utilized across the Indian Air Force, Indian Army, and Indian Navy. Beyond domestic deployment, the Philippines has acquired the system and is discussing additional customized units, while nations like Indonesia and the UAE have shown interest. The display also highlights enhanced range development alongside assets such as the Jaguar, Su-30, Rafale, Tejas, and ALH helicopters.

A massive fire broke out late Saturday night at the R&R Inkore bag factory located in Tronica City, Ghaziabad. Twelve fire tenders were deployed to battle the blaze, bringing it under control after nearly four hours of efforts. The fire completely engulfed the building, destroying three factory sheds. Firefighting teams used eight to ten pumping lines along with a JCB to demolish walls for effective operations. No casualties have been reported, and cooling operations were underway amid the smoldering debris. The cause of the fire and the extent of property damage are currently being assessed.

The footage shows firefighters positioned at different points, directing powerful jets of water towards the burning section. Flames can be seen rising from behind the structure as smoke spreads across the premises.