NEW DELHI: The Congress will hold a major rally at Ramlila Maidan in the national capital on Sunday, stepping up its campaign over alleged “vote chori” and the SIR issue, party leaders said. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi are expected to address the rally. Ahead of the rally, senior leaders will assemble at the party’s Indira Bhawan headquarters and proceed together to Ramlila Maidan in a bus.

The rally comes days after a fiery debate in the Lok Sabha, during which the government and the Opposition clashed over the special intensive revision of electoral rolls and “vote chori” allegations.

Senior leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, K C Venugopal, Jairam Ramesh and Sachin Pilot, are also set to participate, while former Congress president Sonia Gandhi is also likely to be present.“Our party has organised the ‘Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod’ rally at Ramlila Maidan. The Congress party has taken a step towards a decisive battle, and a large number of people will attend this rally,” Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel was quoted as saying by ANI.Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy is also expected to attend the rally.According to a party spokesperson, 1,027 Congress leaders and activists set out from Jammu on Saturday to attend the rally. The group raised slogans of “vote chore, gaddi chhore” and “Delhi chalo” while en route, as cited by PTI. Jharkhand Congress president Keshav Mahto Kamlesh said the Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee has undertaken extensive preparations for the rally. Describing the programme as historic, Kamlesh added that party leaders, workers and representatives from across Jharkhand have already arrived in Delhi in large numbers.

Congress MP K C Venugopal on Saturday criticised the Election Commission of India, saying the country was “lacking a neutral umpire” to conduct elections. He also referred to earlier press conferences addressed by the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, which highlighted alleged electoral malpractices.“We are lacking a neutral umpire in this country for conducting elections. This is actually very dangerous to democracy. That is why we are going completely for a campaign and movement. The five-crore signature has to be submitted to the President of India. We are seeking an appointment… In Parliament, we also discussed this vote chori issue. Our LoP has given straightforward suggestions. Not only criticising, but we are also providing clear suggestions...There are a lot of complaints about the machines, the EVMs. Lakhs of people will participate in that… This is an internal party program,” Venugopal was quoted as saying by ANI. Venugopal said the Congress has gathered over five crore signatures nationwide to highlight alleged vote theft, calling it a core democratic issue. He alleged the presence of “bogus” and duplicate votes, claimed that Rahul Gandhi’s press conferences exposed irregularities favouring the BJP, and said the Election Commission ignored the party’s complaint while instead targeting the Congress.

Tensions flared in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday as Union home minister Amit Shah and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi sparred over allegations of “vote chori.” Gandhi repeatedly challenged Shah to debate the issues raised during recent press conferences, including claims of irregularities in electoral rolls.Moreover, Rahul launched a sharp attack on the government and the Election Commission, raising three questions that he said demonstrated how the BJP was “directing and using” the EC to undermine India’s democracy.Rahul also put forward a series of proposals, including providing machine-readable voter lists to all political parties a month before elections, scrapping the provision that allows CCTV footage to be destroyed after 45 days, granting access to EVMs, and amending laws that, he alleged, allow election commissioners to “get away with whatever they want to do.”Responding sharply, Shah said Parliament would not function according to Rahull’s wishes and asserted that he would address the questions in his own sequence. He defended the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists, describing it as a necessary exercise to “sanitise” the electoral rolls.Accusing the Opposition of double standards, Shah said the Election Commission was praised after electoral victories but criticised after defeats. The exchange ended with Opposition MPs staging a walkout during Shah’s reply, forcing an adjournment of the House.

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NEW DELHI: Chaos, screams and desperate struggles for space have marked India’s major public gatherings in 2025. From temples and festivals to railway stations, political rallies, and sporting celebrations, narrow pathways, overcrowding, and insufficient planning turned moments of joy and devotion into scenes of horror. Across the year, eight stampedes in different states claimed 127 lives, revealing a recurring pattern of preventable tragedies and raising urgent questions about crowd safety in the country’s growing urban and religious gatherings.

Temple in Tirumala Hills: Morning rush turns fatal

Six killed in Tirumala temple rush amid overcrowding

Chaos erupted at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Tirumala Hills, Andhra Pradesh, on 9 January. Six devotees died during a morning rush inside the temple complex. Narrow corridors and high-density crowds quickly turned the sacred space into a trap. Despite later improvements, stronger railings and adjusted crowd routes, a repeat incident in November suggested that safety measures were either insufficient or poorly maintained.Mahakumbh stampede: Pilgrims trapped in Prayagraj

Thirty pilgrims die in Mahakumbh stampede on narrow Prayagraj pathway

Just weeks later, on 29 January, tragedy struck the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj. Pilgrims moving through a narrow pathway became stuck when the flow slowed. A barricade tilted, causing people to stumble and panic to spread rapidly. By the time authorities restored order, thirty people had lost their lives. The incident highlighted the dangers of old pathways struggling to handle surging crowds, even during heavily planned events.New Delhi Railway Station: Footbridge surge

Eighteen killed in New Delhi station footbridge crush

On 15 February, an overcrowded footbridge at New Delhi Railway Station became a scene of panic. A delayed train caused passengers to surge in multiple directions, creating a dangerous bottleneck. With no immediate announcements or guidance, eighteen people died and many were injured. Witnesses said the confusion in the first critical minutes allowed the situation to spiral out of control.Goa’s Lairai Jatra: Weak barricades, deadly pressure

Six killed during the Shree Lairai Zatra festival in Shirgao village of Bicholim in Goa

During the Lairai Jatra on 3 May in Shirgao village, Goa, six devotees were killed. A surge near a fire ritual overwhelmed temporary barricades that were too weak to withstand the crowd. Residents said previous warnings about crowd movement in the area had not led to meaningful safety improvements.Bengaluru IPL celebration: Victory marred by tragedy

11 people died in the stampede on June 4 after RCB’s first IPL title win in Bengaluru

The celebrations outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium on 4 June, after RCB’s first IPL title win, turned deadly. Tens of thousands of fans filled the streets, and a narrow opening between barricaded sections became a critical choke point. Pressure built rapidly, leaving people unable to breathe or move. Police struggled to reach the center of the crowd, and by the time a path was opened, eleven people had died. The incident sparked national debate about urban crowd management.Haridwar pilgrimage: Narrow path, fatal surge

8 killed in stampede at Haridwar’s Mansa Devi temple

On 27 July, eight pilgrims died along the steep and narrow route to the Mansa Devi temple in Haridwar. Sharp turns and limited walking space caused the crowd to compress dangerously when movement stalled. Several victims were elderly and unable to withstand the force from behind, highlighting the ongoing risks of traditional pilgrimage routes.Karur political rally: When enthusiasm turns lethal

Thirty-nine die in Karur rally stampede during Vijay event

On 27 September in Karur, Tamil Nadu, a political rally addressed by actor-turned-politician Vijay drew crowds far exceeding expectations. A sudden surge pushed people into metal barricades, while those behind continued moving, unaware of the danger ahead. Thirty-nine people died, making it the deadliest stampede of 2025. Observers criticised the lack of planning, especially for a state with a history of crowd-control challenges during large rallies.Kasibugga temple: Year closes with tragedy

Nine killed in Kasibugga temple stampede, puja items amid broken railings

On 1 November, nine devotees died at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Kasibugga, Andhra Pradesh. A narrow entry point became overcrowded, creating a bottleneck. Survivors said they could not move, and officials struggled to reach the victims in time. This incident brought the year’s death toll to 127, highlighting how recurring patterns of overcrowding and poor infrastructure continue to claim lives.Expert insight: Why stampedes happenExperts say these tragedies follow predictable dynamics. Once crowd density exceeds five people per square metre, individuals lose control over movements. Most deaths occur from compressive asphyxia, not panic. Narrow, uneven, and poorly lit pathways, combined with weak barricades and slow emergency responses, make even routine events dangerous. Survivor accounts from across the country describe fear, helplessness, and the inability to move once pressure builds.Global lessons and the road aheadCountries like Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Nigeria, and Indonesia have reduced crowd fatalities through technology, training, and strict protocols. Experts urge India to adopt a national crowd-safety framework, enforce density limits, train marshals, redesign high-risk pathways, conduct drills, and educate the public on safe behavior.The human tollBeyond fatalities, these incidents leave lasting trauma. Families grieve, survivors experience long-term anxiety, local communities are shaken, businesses face disruption, and first responders bear psychological burdens. Repeated tragedies show that effective crowd management is possible—but only when planning, infrastructure, monitoring, and enforcement work together consistently.

GRAP-IV triggers hybrid learning in Delhi schools as AQI crosses severe levels

Delhi schools hybrid classes 2025: Schools across Delhi shifted to hybrid classes for students from Classes 1 to 9 and Class 11 with immediate effect as air quality deteriorated to severe levels and authorities enforced stricter measures under the Graded Response Action Plan, stage IV.The Directorate of Education issued directions to all government, government-aided and unaided recognised private schools, as well as institutions run by NDMC, MCD and the Delhi Cantonment Board, to allow both physical and online attendance wherever feasible.Hybrid learning for most classesThe order stated that schools must conduct classes in a hybrid mode, combining in-person teaching with online lessons, for children up to Class IX and Class XI, while Classes X and XII were excluded from the arrangement.In the circular, the Directorate clarified that the option to attend online classes, where available, would rest with students and their guardians, and schools were instructed to immediately inform parents of the change.Monitoring and compliance measuresDistrict and zonal education officers were directed to visit schools under their jurisdiction to ensure proper compliance with the instructions, according to officials quoted by the TNN in the report.Air quality triggers GRAP-IVDelhi recorded its worst air quality of the year, with the 24-hour average AQI standing at 431, while readings later crossed 450, pushing pollution into the severe plus category, officials said in statements cited by the TNN.The Commission for Air Quality Management imposed stage III measures earlier in the day before escalating to stage IV as conditions worsened, citing unfavourable meteorological factors, calm winds and pollutant accumulation, according to details shared with the TNN.

Work-from-home and transport restrictionsAlongside school measures, the Delhi government ordered all public and private offices to operate with no more than 50 per cent staff physically present, while the remaining employees were required to work from home.The restrictions also included a ban on construction and demolition activities, limits on non-essential truck entry, and prohibitions on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel vehicles, while essential services such as hospitals, public transport and utilities were exempted, officials told the TNN.Officials said the measures were aimed at preventing further deterioration in air quality, advising children, the elderly and people with chronic illnesses to avoid outdoor activities until pollution levels show sustained improvement, according to advisories referenced by the TNN.Authorities stated that all stages of GRAP remain in force across Delhi-NCR, and enforcement agencies have been instructed to ensure strict implementation of the curbs until further orders, a senior official said in conversation with the TNN. No timeline for easing restrictions was indicated in the communication issued to concerned departments.

NEW DELHI: Delhi and its neighbouring areas were blanketed in dense smog on Sunday, as the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) soared to hazardous levels. Early morning readings from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed the AQI at 491 at 7 am, categorising the air as “severe plus”.A thick layer of smog severely reduced visibility across the capital, causing discomfort for commuters.

All 40 monitoring stations in the city recorded “severe” pollution levels, with Rohini in northwest Delhi topping the chart at 499. Jahangirpuri and Vivek Vihar followed closely with AQI readings of 495.The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) — the strictest pollution control measure under the winter plan — following the record-high readings.Under Stage IV measures

Experts attributed the spike to high emissions combined with low wind speeds, winter inversion conditions, and poor pollutant dispersion. Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director at the Centre for Science and Environment, said: “This is a stark reminder of the urgent need to reduce emissions from vehicles, industries, waste burning, construction, and household fuels.”The India Meteorological Department (IMD) also issued a yellow alert for dense fog in isolated parts of Delhi, with visibility dropping below 200 metres in some areas. Moderate fog is expected throughout the day.Delhi last experienced a “severe plus” AQI day on 19 December last year, when the index hit 451. Authorities have warned that meteorological conditions are likely to remain unfavourable in the coming days.CM Rekha Gupta stated that no stubble-burning incidents had been recorded in Delhi this year, crediting coordinated efforts by agriculture and environment departments. However, data from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute reported five cases in the north district.Residents have been urged to minimise outdoor activity and follow all safety measures issued by CAQM and government authorities.

In a light-filled workshop in eastern China, a robotic arm moved a partially assembled autonomous vehicle as workers calibrated its cameras, typical of the incremental automation being adopted even across smaller factories in the world’s manufacturing powerhouse.China is already the world’s largest market for industrial robots, and the government is pouring billions of dollars into robotics and artificial intelligence to boost its presence in the sector.

The first essentially humanlessfactoriesare already in operation, even as widespread automation raises questions about job losses as well as the cost and difficulty of transition for smaller and medium-sized companies. The answer for many is a hybrid approach, experts and factory owners told AFP. At the autonomous vehicle workshop, manager Liu Jingyao told AFP that humans are still a crucial part of even technologically advanced manufacturing. “Many decisions require human judgement,” said Liu, whose company Neolix produces small van-like vehicles that transport parcels across Chinese cities. “These decisions involve certain skill-based elements that still need to be handled by people.”At the Neolix factory, 300 kilometres (186 miles) north of Shanghai, newly built driverless vehicles zoomed around a testing track simulating obstacles including puddles and bridges.In a closed-off room, workers assembled vehicles’ “brains”, testing their cameras and computer chips.“Automation… primarily serve(s) to assist humans, reducing labour intensity rather than replacing them,” Liu said.But Ni Jun, a mechanical engineering expert at Shanghai’s Jiaotong University, said China’s strategy of focusing on industrial applications for AI means full automation is already feasible in many sectors.Among others, tech giant Xiaomi operates a “dark factory” — where the absence of people means no need for lights — with robotic arms and sensors able to make smartphones without humans.– Digital divide –Ni described a “digital divide” between larger companies with the funds to invest heavily in modernisation, and smaller businesses struggling to keep up.For Zhu Yefeng’s Far East Precision Printing Company, part of China’s vast network of small independent factories employing up to a few dozen people each, full automation is a distant dream.At the company just outside Shanghai, workers in small rooms fed sheets of instruction manuals into folding machines and operated equipment that printed labels for electronic devices.The company used pen and paper to track its workflow until two years ago, with managers having to run around the factory to communicate order information.“Things were, to put it bluntly, a complete mess,” Zhu told AFP.The company has since adopted software that allows employees to scan QR codes that send updates to a factory-wide tracker.On a screen in his office, Zhu can see detailed charts breaking down each order’s completion level and individual employees’ productivity statistics.“This is a start,” Zhu told AFP. “We will move toward more advanced technology like automation, in order to receive even bigger orders from clients.”Financial constraints are a major barrier though. “As a small company, we can’t afford certain expenses,” said Zhu. His team is trying to develop its own robotic quality testing machine, but for now humans continue to check final products.– Employment pressures –The potential unemployment caused by widespread automation will be a challenge, said Jacob Gunter from the Berlin-based Mercator Institute for China Studies. “Companies will be quite happy to decrease their headcount… but the government will not like that and will be under a lot of pressure to navigate this,” Gunter told AFP.Beijing’s push to develop industrial robots will “intersect with the need for maintaining high employment at a time when employment pressure is considerable”, he added. Going forward, manufacturers must strike a balance “between the technical feasibility, social responsibility, and business necessity”, Jiaotong University’s Ni told AFP.Zhou Yuxiang, the CEO of Black Lake Technologies — the start-up that provided the software for Zhu’s factory — told AFP he thought factories would “always be hybrid”. “If you ask every owner of a factory, is a dark factory the goal? No, that’s just a superficial description,” Zhou said. “The goal for factories is to optimise production, deliver things that their end customers want, and also make money.”

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A chilling text message sent by a Brown University student to his mother during a mass shooting on campus has surfaced on social media, capturing the fear and chaos that unfolded at the Ivy League school during final exams.“Text I get from my son is that mom, there’s a live shooting on campus, I’m going to run, I love you,” the mother of the student could be heard saying in the audio clip. “We have been texting and I am getting live updates from him,” she said.“He is in a supply closet room on campus,” she said and went on to describe the shooting scene. “They have turned off the lights, put chairs on their doors. One of the classmates is having a panic attack. Her friends are trying to keep her quiet, so no sounds are made,” she said.The shooting took place on Saturday at Brown University’s Providence campus in Rhode Island. Authorities said a shooter dressed in black opened fire, killing at least two people and injuring eight others.Brown University senior and biochemistry student Alex Bruce was working on a final research project in his dorm across the street from the affected building when he heard sirens and received an alert about an active shooter shortly after 4pm. Describing the tense moments that followed, Bruce said, “I’m just in here shaking,” as he watched armed officers in tactical gear surround his dorm, adding that he feared for a friend he believed was inside the engineering building at the time, news agency AP reported.“Everyone is the same as me, shocked and terrified that something like this happened,” said 20-year-old Mari Camara, who was coming out of the library and rushed inside a taqueria to seek shelter.After receiving an alert about the shooting, students in a nearby laboratory took cover under desks and switched off the lights, AP cited engineering doctoral student Chiangheng Chien saying, who was roughly a block from the scene.The attack triggered a large-scale emergency response, with students urged to shelter in place as police searched for the suspect.Law enforcement officials said the incident occurred amid final examinations, adding to the panic as students and faculty scrambled for safety.