Latest Odisha Breaking News Updates - Monday, 21 July 2025

Odisha Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling announced a medical college for Kendrapara, fulfilling a long-standing demand and marking progress in the state's top 21 development priorities. The Health Minister inaugurated Ayushman Arogya Mandirs at Ameipal and Jadupur in the Mahakalpada block of the district, through which at least 120 medicines for non-communicable diseases will be provided. More

A female employee accuses MD of a Rourkela medical facility, of sexual harassment, prompting CMO intervention after police inaction. More

UGC issues show-cause notice to KIIT University following a probe panel's findings of serious lapses after two student suicides, including Nepalese student Prakriti Lamsal, highlighting mental health and safety concerns. More

NCERT clarifies the omission of Odisha's Paika Rebellion from Class 8 Social Studies textbook, stating it will feature in the forthcoming second volume, addressing public and political concerns. The autonomous body under the Union Ministry of Education had come under fire following the release of the first volume, which omitted the ‘1817 Paika Bidroha,’ widely regarded as India’s first armed uprising against British colonial rule. More

The Orissa High Court quashed the premature retirement of a judicial officer, stating compulsory retirement cannot replace disciplinary inquiries and must not be punitive. The case involved a Family Court Judge retired at 55, violating natural justice principles. More

Orissa High Court acquits Prakash Behera and Nanda Kishore Sethi in a 2017 triple murder case due to insufficient evidence, overturning their death sentence by the ADJ Court in Athmallik. More

A female lecturer at Sri Sri Dhabaleswar College, Athagarh, accuses principal Ashok Samantaray of harassment, alleging inaction on her January complaint to the Chief Minister. The principal denies the claims, suggesting a vendetta against his strict administration. The woman described the continued delay in getting justice as something unbearable and has demanded immediate intervention. More

Residents of Malkangiri protest against the ban on petrol sales in bottles, citing inadequate petrol pumps and reliance on roadside vendors. More

A female student's sexual harassment complaint at Swami Arupananda Higher Secondary School in Jagatsinghpur led to the suspension of principal Ramesh Sahu and lecturer Saswat Mohanty after seven months of inaction. The female student had complained about the lecturer. The disciplinary action followed after the principal’s explanation report was found unsatisfactory. More

Two hockey coaches and an associate accused of gang-raping a minor in Jajpur, with allegations of inaction by sports authorities despite repeated complaints. More

Odisha CM Mohan Majhi met Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati amid speculation on cabinet expansion, discussing vacant ministerial posts and state law and order. More

The IMD predicts heavy to very heavy rainfall in Odisha from July 23-27 due to an upper air cyclonic circulation, issuing an Orange Warning for several districts. A fresh low-pressure area is likely to form over the north Bay of Bengal around 24th July, 2025. The trough from Gangetic West Bengal to south interior Odisha across Jharkhand at 0.9 Km above mean sea level has become less marked. More

A Crime Branch team intensifies its probe into the tragic suicide of a girl student at FM College, Balasore, questioning faculty and staff to uncover negligence or harassment. Several vital leads and digital evidence have been collected. A proper probe is underway, the Crime Branch Director General (DG) Vinaytosh Mishra said in a presser yesterday. More

Odisha government completes formalities for its first MRO facility in Bhubaneswar, enhancing aviation infrastructure under the New Destination Policy, with 13 new flight services and regional airstrips operationalised. More

A young woman consumed poison at Itamati Police Station, Nayagarh, demanding justice over a relationship dispute involving a CRPF Jawan. She is in critical condition. More

Justice Manas Ranjan Pathak was sworn in as a judge of the Orissa High Court by Chief Justice Harish Tandon, increasing the court's functional strength to 20. More

Odisha to ban petrol and diesel sale in plastic bottles following misuse incidents. Minister Krushna Chandra Patra calls a meeting to discuss new distribution guidelines. More

A Kanwariya died and another was critically injured in a hit-and-run near Daduanbahal, Keonjhar, while en route to a Lord Shiva Shrine. Odisha Transport Authority issued a safety advisory for pilgrims. More

Ravenshaw University faces student protests after ten hostel inmates were suspended over ragging allegations, with claims of coerced complaints and demands for a fresh probe. The incident has drawn reactions from the university officials and escalated tensions on campus. The action was taken based on the anti-ragging committee’s recommendations and will be withdrawn only if the committee confirms to do so. More

A recent surge in Maoist activity near Odisha's borders saw two villagers brutally killed in Bijapur and a large cache of explosives seized in Saranda, raising security concerns. More

Flood misery continues in Kendrapara and Bhadrak despite receding Brahmani River levels, with forecasts of more rain exacerbating the crisis. Villages remain marooned, crops destroyed, and fodder shortages worsen. More

Following a student's self-immolation at Fakir Mohan Autonomous College, Odisha mandates POSH Act workshops, helpline displays, and IC formations to ensure women's safety in workplaces and colleges. More

The BJD staged state-wide protests at RDC offices, demanding a judicial probe into the FM College girl student's death and highlighting the Balanga incident, questioning women's safety in Odisha. More

A 22-year-old woman, Pushpalata Behera, was allegedly murdered by her in-laws in Bhadrak over a DJ vehicle dowry demand, following the birth of a stillborn child. Her family claims she faced years of abuse. More

Lord Jagannath's Bada Maha Snana purification ritual was performed at Puri Srimandir after a child vomited near Bhitara Katha, halting darshan on the second Monday of Sawan. More

BJD staged a protest in Cuttack demanding School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond's resignation after the Special OTET exam was cancelled due to a leaked question paper, affecting 75,000 aspirants. More

The BJP criticized Congress for hypocrisy after the arrest of NSUI state chief Udit Pradhan on rape charges, highlighting selective outrage on women's issues. More

On the second Monday of Sawan, Kanwariyas in Odisha thronged Shiva shrines like Lokanath and Dhabaleswar, performing Jalabhishek. Over 50,000 gathered at Puri's Lokanath Temple, offering prayers and body parts in gold, silver, and bronze. More

NSUI suspends Odisha Student Congress leader Udit Pradhan after his arrest in a rape case, emphasizing zero-tolerance towards gender-based injustice. The incident occurred at a city hotel on March 18, with charges under BNS sections including rape. More

A minor girl in Balasore's PN High School accused her Math teacher of sexual misconduct and threats, leading to the detention of the teacher and headmaster by Raibania police. More

Devotees at Puri's Lokanatha Temple allege priests charged money for offering water to Lord Shiva during Sawan, forcing those unable to pay to perform rituals outside. More

First-year students at Ravenshaw University deny ragging allegations, accusing hostel authorities of pressuring them to falsely implicate seniors, leading to expulsions and protests. More

Odisha Vigilance raids Nityananda Nayak, DFO of Kendu Leaf Division, uncovering 115 land plots, Rs 1.19 lakh cash, weapons, and rare timber in a disproportionate assets case across Angul, Keonjhar, and Nayagarh. More

Odisha Student Congress president Udit Pradhan arrested by Mancheswar police on rape charges after a woman accused him of assault following an intoxicating drink at a hotel on March 18. More

Ravenshaw University in Cuttack faces controversy as 10 senior students are ordered to vacate East Hostel following ragging allegations by juniors, highlighting the institution's strict stance against indiscipline. More

A UGC fact-finding committee holds KIIT University responsible for a student's death, citing illegal activities and substandard hostel conditions. The report highlights ignored sexual harassment complaints and inadequate facilities. More

A landslide in Gajapati's Mohana block damaged seven houses, with a six-year-old girl narrowly escaping death and a woman critically injured by a snakebite amid floodwaters. Villagers reported that the landslide brought down mud, debris, and rocks from the nearby hill, thereby severely affecting families and damaging properties. More

Daktara Banjari village in Gajapati district, home to over 60 families for generations, was reportedly sold to a private individual, leaving residents in shock and facing eviction. More

Dukshishyam Senapati from Balanga village saved a 15-year-old girl who was kidnapped and set on fire by three men in Puri district, recounting the harrowing 90-minute ordeal to DGP YB Khurania. More

A female student's suicide at RIHS College, Bhogarai, allegedly due to harassment by professor Jugajyoti Chand, resurfaces. The accused is absconding, sparking public outrage and demands for justice. Serious controversy has erupted again after a long lapse of time, which occurred in RIHS College in Bhogarai block of the district, nearly four years ago. More

Odisha's Higher Education Department mandates ICCs and displays toll-free helpline 181 in colleges to combat rising atrocities against women, following a student's tragic death. More