Toxic

A special broadcast of Pollution Ka Solution examines the escalating air pollution crisis across major urban centres, focusing on Delhi NCR and Mumbai, where hazardous Air Quality Index levels and winter toxic smog are creating an influx of pollution refugees. Residents and professionals, including Bharat Singh Kanwal, former advocate Prashant Kalra, and fashion designer Anuradha Prasad Dhawan, detail abandoning their careers and homes to relocate to destinations like Bengaluru and Goa after severe pediatric respiratory emergencies, persistent asthma, and health complications forced their departure. The discussion highlights broader urban systemic issues such as deficient waste management, unchecked deforestation, and rising cancer and respiratory burdens among children and senior citizens, with lifestyle expert Luke Coutinho noting that dietary adjustments cannot reverse cellular lung damage caused by toxic exposure. Panellists address policy implementation challenges surrounding the National Clean Air Programme and Graded Response Action Plan, calling for year-round interstate governance, strict environmental compliance accountability, and civic participation to counter urban air quality deterioration.

A special broadcast of Pollution Ka Solution focuses on India's escalating air pollution crisis, examining the emerging phenomenon of pollution refugees leaving major urban centres such as Delhi NCR and Mumbai due to severe winter air quality and hazardous air quality index levels. Former residents share firsthand accounts of relocating to cities like Bengaluru and Goa to protect their families from toxic smog, chronic breathlessness, pediatric respiratory issues, and severe sinusitis. The panel discusses persistent governance and environmental challenges, including inter-agency coordination gaps, administrative lapses, tree felling, and ineffective waste management, particularly landfill emissions and the absence of waste segregation at source. In the health discussion, lifestyle coach Luke Coutinho details the physiological toll of prolonged exposure to toxic air, warning about irreversible cellular damage, compromised lung capacity in newborns and senior citizens, and heightened risks of severe conditions like COPD. The programme emphasizes the urgency of transparent environmental audits, strict regulatory enforcement, and sustained public policy interventions to tackle hazardous air pollution and safeguard public health.

Villagers from five villages in Dholka near Ahmedabad have been protesting for over a month against severe industrial pollution. Residents of Bethawara, Thrasad, Nesta, Paldi, and Ambali accuse nearby factories of dumping chemical-laced waste into local drains, linking it to rising cancer cases and skin infections. Villagers claim that despite appealing for 15 years to local bodies, the Gujarat Pollution Control Board, and the state government, no action has been taken. The protesters plan to escalate their agitation with a Chakka Jam on roads and highways.

The India Today Pollution Ka Solution special report examines four technological innovations aimed at tackling severe air pollution in Delhi's hotspots.

A special report examines four technological innovations aimed at tackling severe air pollution in Delhi's hotspots. The first solution features Mann+Hummel's Filter Cube technology, brought to India by MRH Technologies, which claims a 60 to 70 percent reduction in particulate matter and harmful gases. The second innovation is Human Technologies' Ambient Purification System, an outdoor filterless wind-tunnel design built to settle heavier particulate matter without frequent maintenance. The third system, developed by Shudh Vayu Technology, is a vehicle-mounted retrofit air purifier that harnesses kinetic energy while driving to capture particulate matter without using electricity. Lastly, Aeroboz, in partnership with IIT Kanpur, presents a bus rooftop 'wind panel' combining electrostatic filtration with solar and wind energy generation. Together, these technologies offer scalable outdoor interventions to mitigate toxic air exposure across urban transport, schools, and crowded public zones.

A special broadcast of 'Pollution ka Solution' explores innovative technologies to combat air quality crises across Delhi's pollution hotspots. The episode highlights tested solutions, including German filtration giant Mann+Hummel's Filter Cube, brought to India via MRH Technologies. Tested previously in Stuttgart, Germany, and validated by IIT Delhi during peak pollution months, the forced air circulation device filters road dust, smoke, NO2, and SO2, achieving a 60 to 70 percent reduction in localized pollution. The system delivers approximately 17,500 cubic metres of clean air per hour to establish clean air zones, featuring automated rain sensors, night mode energy conservation, and centralised dashboard monitoring. Representatives emphasized the necessity of public-private participation and deployable, real-world solutions over theoretical experiments to safeguard citizen health, protect children from severe toxic exposure, and address development-induced particulate emissions across high-risk urban areas.

A panel discussion examines the alarming incident on Gurugram's Golf Course Road where a car struck a woman biker, raising serious concerns over road safety, civic infrastructure, and police accountability. Screenwriter Advaita Kala, world motorcyclist Maral Yazarloo, and retired Major General Sanjay debate the pattern of road harassment and toxic masculinity faced by commuters. Discussing the lack of stringent police action and the trust deficit felt by citizens, Kala stated, 'If you look at the video, even as a layperson, this driver has used his vehicle like a weapon.' The panellists highlighted recurring civic problems across Gurugram and demanded decisive accountability from the administration.

This special 5ive Live news bulletin covers major national, political, technological, and environmental developments. The broadcast reports on the Supreme Court reviewing mandatory front-of-package warning labels proposed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for packaged foods high in sugar, salt, and saturated fat amid industry concerns over regulatory thresholds.

This news bulletin reports on major political, civic, legal, technology, and environmental developments across India. In Punjab, a political controversy has unfolded following the death of Gulzar Singh after his confrontation with Finance Minister Harpal Cheema over the state's drug crisis, leading opposition parties to demand Cheema's resignation and the BJP to announce its Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra. In Delhi's Satya Niketan, student residents face disruptions following a fatal building collapse as accommodation operators fled the area. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is hearing petitions regarding mandatory front-of-package nutritional labelling for packaged foods high in sugar, salt, and saturated fat, with advocate Rajiv Shankar Dwivedi citing international regulatory standards. The broadcast also covers the launch, specifications, and public response to Apple's foldable iPhone Duo, an artificial intelligence recreation of a 1980s newsroom, and medical warnings under the Pollution Ka Solution campaign regarding Delhi air quality.

India Today and the Delhi government have launched the 'Pollution Ka Solution' campaign to invite citizen-led ideas against severe air pollution. With over 1,500 entries currently under review by an expert jury, medical experts warn that toxic particulate matter affects the entire population. Inhaling polluted air causes wide-ranging health complications beyond seasonal lung problems, including asthma, COPD, lung cancer, and cardiovascular and mental health issues. Experts classify the deteriorating air quality as a public health emergency requiring sustainable collective action rather than individual reliance on air purifiers.

At the India Today Karnataka Roundtable, actors Aashika Ranganath and Saptami Gowda discussed the evolution, achievements, and untapped potential of the Kannada film industry, commonly known as Sandalwood. Reflecting on global hits like Kantara and upcoming projects like Toxic, both actors emphasized that rooted cultural authenticity defines Sandalwood. Saptami Gowda highlighted scriptwriting as the core of filmmaking success, remarking, 'ninety percent of the story or movies rest on the writing,' while advocating for better respect and due diligence for writers. Addressing industry challenges, they pointed out the issue of pay disparity between male and female actors, calling for higher remuneration for female leads while noting positive shifts toward progressive female-led roles. Both actors also shared recommendations of classic and modern Kannada movies, highlighting Sandalwood's rich history and audience support.

The Karnataka Food Safety and Drugs Administration has ordered the suspension of food licenses issued to major online platforms, including Amazon, Swiggy Instamart, and Big Basket, over the online sale and offering of poisonous datura fruits and seeds. Following a department probe, authorities found that datura was being offered online for human consumption, with some packets falsely displaying FSSAI license numbers and being given as freebies. The food safety authority highlighted that datura is a highly poisonous plant containing toxic alkaloids that pose a severe risk to public health and can potentially cause death. Online platforms have been directed to immediately stop the sale, distribution, display, and advertisements of datura, and remove all related online listings. While Big Basket informed authorities that sales were stopped, Amazon failed to submit a response, and Swiggy Instamart requested additional time. The department has also ordered the suspension of licenses for vendors supplying datura products to these platforms.

A ground report from Achin in Srinagar highlights a severe ecological disaster caused by an illegal dumping site operated by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation. Over 11.5 lakh metric tons of untreated and unsegregated municipal waste have accumulated at the wetland site since 1986. Activist Raja Muzaffar Butt, who petitioned the National Green Tribunal, revealed that toxic leachate oozing from the garbage mountain has contaminated local groundwater and nearby urban lakes, including Anchar, Gilsar, and Khushalsar, without any operational treatment plant. Daily, nearly 500 metric tons of unsegregated waste continue to be dumped illegally. Despite central funding under the Swachh Bharat Mission, waste management rules remain violated. Although a project of 361 crore rupees has been sanctioned for waste treatment, the municipal corporation has sought a two-year extension from the tribunal. Experts warn that unless urgent, transparent measures are taken by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's government, the unscientific waste disposal could ruin tourism and turn Srinagar into a slum.

The leading ladies of Yash’s oxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups, Kiara Advani, Huma Qureshi and Tara Sutaria, arrived in Bengaluru ahead of the film’s trailer launch.

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration banned three beauty creams containing toxic mercury and lead, which pose severe risks to the kidneys and nervous system.

Zinc Phosphide, a highly toxic chemical regulated under Indian law, is still being sold online with shocking ease.

In Tamil Nadu, police have arrested multiple individuals over allegations that Rs thirty-five crore bribe was offered to a TVK legislator to switch sides.

In Tamil Nadu, a political row has erupted over a midnight police inquiry and the alleged detention of DMK Gen Z committee leader who mocked the Chief Minister on social media, sparking clashes between the ruling and opposition parties.

This news bulletin covers a series of fatal crimes within relationships, focusing on the Pune Fort murder case where Siya Goyal and her friend, Chetan Chaudhary planned the fatal fall of her 26-year-old fiancé Ketan Agarwal that led to his death on June 18.

In this chilling episode of Postmortem, we examine three horrifying crimes where obsession masqueraded as love and rejection turned deadly.