News from Bhubaneswar

Despite heavy rainfall in upper catchment areas, Odisha's major rivers like Mahanadi and Brahmani are not facing floods, as per Chandra Sekhar Padhi, Engineer in Chief of Water Resources Department. Hirakud Dam to open 12 gates for controlled water discharge.

The associated cyclonic circulation extended upto 7.6 km above mean sea level tilting southwestwards with height. It is likely to move slowly west-northwestwards across Jharkhand and north Chhattisgarh during next 2-3 days, the IMD said.

The e-admission process will be conducted for Madhusudan Law University in Cuttack,  University Law College ( Utkal University), Bhubaneswar and  Lingaraj Law College in Berhampur.

The Directorate of Higher Secondary Education, Odisha, outlines e-Admission modalities for Plus 2 colleges under Project SAMS for 2025-26, detailing schedules, document requirements, and the Slide-up process.

In one Delhi operation, over 2,500 non-compliant helmets were seized from nine manufacturers with expired or cancelled licences. Similar action at 17 retail and roadside locations led to the seizure of around 500 substandard helmets, with legal proceedings underway.

The Odisha government confirms no flood threat as all rivers flow below danger levels, with Hirakud and Rengali dams under watch but no immediate need to open gates.

According to reports, on July 1, heavily armed terrorists affiliated with Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an Al-Qaeda-linked jihadist group, launched a brutal attack on the Diamond Cement factory. 

Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's upcoming visit to Bhubaneswar on July 11 aims to revitalise the party in Odisha, amidst growing discontent over PCC chief Bhakta Das's abrupt leadership decisions. Speculations are doing the rounds ‘whether his visit will help revitalise Congress in Odisha'.

Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi condemned the assault on BMC Additional Commissioner Ratnakar Sahoo, stressing 'zero tolerance' for such acts. She mentioned arresting her own son if he behaved similarly, highlighting the incident's gravity. The MP firmly condemned the misbehaviour, calling it completely unacceptable.

Inquiry Commission head Anu Garg appeals for public-submitted videos of the Puri Rath Yatra stampede near Gundicha Temple, which caused 3 deaths and over 50 injuries, to aid the investigation. Garg emphasised that many individuals were seen recording videos during the incident and appealed to them to contribute by sending the footage.

Chief Minister Mohan Majhi announced that Puri Municipality will be upgraded to a Municipal Corporation, addressing its growing urban and pilgrimage needs, marking it as Odisha's sixth. Providing qualitative and basic amenities to the local residents along with lakhs of devotees coming to Puri is his prime duty, the CM said in a press conference.

Minister Pradeep Bal Samanta's controversial remark that big chit fund investors are favoured by God sparks outrage, amid delays in refunds and justice for depositors. His statement that big investors should not complain and that divine favour protects them has been called ‘insensitive’ by critics and the opposition.

Several OAS officers defied their association's protest call following an attack on BMC Additional Commissioner Ratnakar Sahoo, showing a split in solidarity. While some officers boycotted work, many continued their duties across departments and district offices on Thursday. The OASA had demanded action against BJP leader Jagannath Pradhan for his alleged involvement.

Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari appeals to striking OAS and ORS officers to resume duty amid floods and Rath Yatra, assuring justice for BMC Additional Commissioner Ratnakar Sahoo's assault.

Odisha faces administrative standstill as OAS and ORS officers protest the assault on BMC Additional Commissioner Ratnakar Sahoo, disrupting services in Nabarangpur, Rourkela, Ganjam, Gajapati, and Kalahandi.