News from Bhubaneswar

Due to strict enforcement and surveillance, around Rs 20 lakh was seized from a car during checking near Bhadrasahi under Barbil police limits in Keonjhar district on Friday.

The India Meteorological Department issued a yellow warning for imminent heatwave conditions in several districts of Odisha, expecting temperatures to fall by 3 to 4 degrees Celsius over the coming days. Sambalpur recorded the highest temperature at 42.5°C.

Ranjit Majhi was awarded the Shambhavi Puraskar for his efforts in implementing the Forest Rights Act and empowering villagers in Sundargarh. The event, organized by the Bansidhar & Ila Panda Foundation, also recognized Sasmita Mangaraj for her work in women's empowerment.

Anubhav Patnaik, after resigning from BJD, criticized the party for nominating Sabitri Pradhan, whose husband is allegedly involved in illegal ganja trade and a murder case. He filed his nomination as an independent candidate for the Khandapada Assembly seat, citing past injustices and lack of development work by previous candidates.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and BJP National President JP Nadda are set to visit Odisha on May 4 and 5, respectively, as part of the BJP's intensive campaign ahead of the crucial Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. The visits aim to bolster the party's prospects and energize its cadre.

The Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Commissionerate Police is enhancing public awareness on combating cyber frauds. Victims can immediately report fraudulent calls using the 1930 helpline or the Chakshu App, part of the Sanchar Saathi initiative, to block suspicious numbers and prevent fund transfers.

Naba Nirman Krushak Sangathan had filed an FIR against Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for his involvement in a controversial land acquisition by Vedanta Foundation. The Supreme Court criticized the Odisha government's actions, leading to legal challenges by local farmers' groups.

The BJD in Odisha, despite its anti-dynasty stance, has given election tickets to multiple family members, including Pranab Prakash Das and his mother. This move contradicts their earlier campaign against political dynasties, raising questions about their commitment to ending such practices.

Bhubaneswar experienced a historic heat wave, recording temperatures of 40°C or above for 17 consecutive days in April, surpassing the previous record from 1969.

The party has fielded Purnachandra Mohapatra from the Barabati-Cuttack Assembly seat, while Sudhanshu Nayak has been named party candidate for the Bhandaripokhari seat.

In the Dhenkanal Assembly seat, BJD candidate Sudhir Samal has mounted an intense campaign with the help of his son Jagdish and nephew Abinash. Incidentally, Abinash is also fighting the poll as BJD’s MP nominee from the Dhenkanal parliamentary seat. 

Following a court order, the Commissionerate Police had earlier tried to ascertain the owners of the seized vehicles.  Some owners were identified and their vehicles were handed over to them by examining their credentials and documents. 

The BJP alleged that Congress is behind such doctored videos while BJD MP Nominee Pradeep Majhi has been spreading misinformation using these fake videos at the time of elections to draw political mileage.

The traffic shade was arranged at Nalco Soubhagya Nagar on Wednesday. A polythene canopy has been erected overhead with the support of bamboo poles and strings. It has brought much relief for residents during their halt at traffic signals under the blazing sun.

As per initial reports, the windshield of the Vistara flight reportedly developed crack in the hailstorm that lashed several parts of Odisha this afternoon.