nanika Editor - The Purbottar

23 Mar

After Days of Rain, Darjeeling Wakes Up to a Stunning Himalayan Panorama

nanika EditorNorth Bengal

The hills of Darjeeling came alive on Sunday as the majestic Kanchenjunga finally emerged in full glory after days of being hidden behind dense clouds and relentless bad weather.Following a prolonged spell of rain, storms, and snowfall, tourists had been left disappointed as thick cloud cover obscured the iconic snow-capped peak. The gloomy conditions had dampened travel experiences, with many visitors unable to witness one of the region’s most sought-after natural attractions.However, the weather took a dramatic turn on the morning of March 22. As the sun rose, the skies gradually cleared, unveiling a breathtaking and uninterrupted view of Kanchenjunga.…

21 Mar

Delhi Sees Rare March Fog as Temperature Drops and AQI Improves

nanika EditorDelhi

A rare spell of dense fog covered parts of Delhi and neighboring regions on Saturday morning, marking an unusual weather pattern for late March. The national capital has been witnessing lower-than-normal temperatures, improved air quality, and increased rainfall over the past few days.According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the maximum temperature is expected to range between 27°C and 29°C, while the minimum temperature may dip to 13°C–15°C. This follows Friday’s notably cool day, recorded as the coldest in March in the past six years.The city also experienced a significant improvement in air quality. The Air Quality Index (AQI) stood…

20 Mar

Gujarat Revives Mundra Power Deal, Boosting India’s Coal Supply Push

nanika EditorBusiness

Gujarat has approved a revised long-term power supply agreement with Tata Power, paving the way for the resumption of operations at the company’s 4-gigawatt Mundra plant. The decision is seen as a strategic step toward strengthening India’s energy security ahead of the high-demand summer season.The Mundra plant, which relies on imported coal, had remained non-operational for the past six months. This followed the withdrawal of a government provision that earlier compensated power producers for the higher costs of imported coal. Without that support, operations became financially unviable, leading to a temporary shutdown.The newly approved agreement offers a fresh lifeline to…

18 Mar

IMD Warns of Thunderstorms and Hail Across Bengal on March 20–21

nanika Editorweather, West Bengal

The India Meteorological Department has forecast widespread thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds across West Bengal on March 20 and 21, driven by favorable weather conditions and moisture inflow from the Bay of Bengal.According to the IMD, several districts are likely to experience unstable weather during this period, with hailstorms expected in parts of the state. Western districts such as Bankura, Purulia, and Paschim Bardhaman may witness hailstorms on March 20. In North Bengal, districts including Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri are likely to experience similar conditions on March 21.The weather office also predicted light to moderate rainfall across multiple districts from Wednesday…

16 Mar

Axis Securities bullish on Federal Bank, sets ₹290 target price

nanika EditorBusiness

Brokerage firm Axis Securities has retained a ‘Buy’ rating on Federal Bank, citing improving net interest margins (NIM), stable asset quality, and signs of revival in growth momentum. The brokerage has set a target price of ₹290 per share, indicating a potential upside of about 10 per cent from the stock’s closing price of ₹263 on March 13.Analysts noted that the bank’s Q3 performance showed a recovery after a relatively muted first half of the financial year. The outlook for growth remains encouraging as the bank continues to focus on mid-yield lending segments and improving its deposit mix.Axis Securities expects…

14 Mar

New Aadhaar Centre to Simplify Enrolment and Biometric Updates

nanika EditorNational

Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) Chief Executive Officer Bhuvnesh Kumar on Friday inaugurated a new Aadhaar Seva Kendra at Bank Tinali in Itanagar, aimed at improving access to Aadhaar-related services for residents. Following the inauguration, Kumar inspected the facilities and reviewed the functioning of the centre. During his visit, he interacted with staff members and urged them to provide services to the public with dedication and efficiency.Speaking to the media, Kumar said the UIDAI-authorised centre will be operated by BLS International Services Ltd, a Delhi-based outsourcing firm. The company had secured a ₹2,055.35 crore contract from UIDAI last year…

12 Mar

Iran War Impact Reaches India: LPG Shortage Hits Restaurants, Kitchens Across Cities

nanika EditorLatest

Supply disruption through Strait of Hormuz squeezes cooking-gas availability; eateries cut menus, some shut operationsThe ongoing conflict involving Iran is beginning to affect everyday life in India, with cooking-gas supplies tightening across several cities. Disruptions in energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz following strikes by United States and Israel have started to impact the availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in the country.Reports suggest that restaurants and commercial kitchens are among the worst affected. Several eateries have been forced to cut down their menus, reduce operating hours or temporarily shut down due to shortages of commercial LPG cylinders.According to…

09 Mar

North Sikkim tourism reopens: Permits for Lachen, Gurudongmar Lake issued again

nanika EditorSikkim

Tourism to popular destinations in North Sikkim, including Lachen and Gurudongmar Lake, has officially resumed as the district administration began issuing travel permits from March 9. The decision was announced by the administration of Mangan District in coordination with the Tourism Department.According to Mangan District Collector Anant Jain, tourists can now obtain permits for travel to Lachen and nearby areas from Monday. The permits will be issued through the district collectorate in Mangan as well as through authorized travel operators, following government guidelines.The issuance of tourist permits to these destinations had been suspended since 2023 after a glacial lake outburst…

07 Mar

Cooking Gas Prices Hiked: Domestic LPG Cylinder Cost Rises by ₹60

nanika EditorLatest

Cooking gas prices have increased across the country, adding pressure on household budgets. The price of domestic LPG cylinders has been raised by ₹60 in one go. With the latest revision, the price of a 14.2 kg LPG cylinder has gone up from ₹879 to ₹939. Not only domestic cylinders, but the price of commercial LPG cylinders has also increased. The cost of a 19 kg commercial cylinder has been raised by ₹114.50. Earlier priced at ₹1,875.50, the new price now stands at ₹1,990 per cylinder.It may be recalled that on March 1, the price of commercial LPG cylinders had…

06 Mar

West Asia Emerges as Key Market for Asian Cars Amid Global Trade Tensions

nanika EditorInternational

New Delhi, March 6: India and China remain among the largest exporters of automobiles to West Asia, shipping vehicles worth billions of dollars each year to the region. However, the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran has raised concerns about potential disruptions to this crucial trade route.The conflict, which entered its seventh day on Friday, has heightened tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime corridor through which a significant portion of Asia’s vehicle exports to West Asia are transported. Shipping activity along the route has slowed amid fears of possible attacks.For China, West Asia is the second-largest overseas market…