Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is understood to have prepared a contingency plan to flee the country should nationwide protests overwhelm the regime’s security forces, according to an intelligence assessment shared with The Times. Khamenei, 86, would leave Tehran with a tightly controlled group of fewer than 20 people, including close aides and family members, as per the report. Among them would be his son Mojtaba, widely viewed as his preferred successor. Intelligence sources say preparations include securing overseas assets, properties and liquid cash to enable a rapid exit should the regime lose control.Khamenei controls a vast financial empire through opaque charitable foundations, including Setad, estimated in the past to be worth tens of billions of dollars. Many senior figures close to the leadership already have relatives living abroad, including in the United States, Canada and the Gulf.Meanwhile, protests have continued for an eighth consecutive day, spreading to at least 222 locations across 78 cities in 26 provinces, according to Human Rights Activists News Agency. At least 20 people have been killed, including one member of the security forces, while dozens have been injured. Demonstrations began with labour strikes and economic grievances but have evolved into open calls for regime change.Videos circulating online show protesters burning images of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and Khamenei, chanting nationalist slogans and lighting fires in streets from Isfahan province to Karaj. Despite heightened security deployments, authorities have failed to contain the unrest.The protests are driven by deep economic strain. Iran’s currency has collapsed amid renewed sanctions, inflation is running at around 40 per cent, and the cost of basic goods has surged. A recent rise in subsidised fuel prices further inflamed anger.US President Donald Trump warned Iran that they will be “hit very hard if they start killing people.” “If they start killing people like they have in the past, I think they are going to get hit very hard by the United States,” Trump warned.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has revealed that he has zero interest in leading a publicly traded company, despite acknowledging that the ChatGPT maker will likely need to go public to secure capital and manage growth. Speaking on the “Big Technology Podcast” last month, Altman said, “Am I excited to be a public company CEO? 0%.” He expressed mixed feelings about a potential initial public offering for OpenAI, adding, “Am I excited for OpenAI to be a public company? In some ways, I am, and in some ways I think it’d be really annoying.” However, the AI startup’s CEO recognised the practical reasons pushing toward an eventual IPO, noting that OpenAI needs substantial capital and will eventually exceed shareholder limits.Altman said, “I do think it’s cool that public markets get to participate in value creation. And in some sense, we will be very late to go public if you look at any previous company. It’s wonderful to be a private company. We need lots of capital. We’re going to cross all of the shareholder limits and stuff at some point.”

OpenAI’s path toward becoming a publicly traded company

OpenAI was co-founded in 2015 by Altman and eleven others. The company has grown considerably since launching its AI chatbot, ChatGPT, in 2022. ChatGPT now has around 800 million weekly users, and OpenAI has signed deals worth about $1 trillion with major tech companies, including Oracle, Nvidia, and AMD.Signs point to the company preparing for an IPO. In October, Reuters reported that OpenAI is considering filing with securities regulators as early as the second half of 2026. However, when asked earlier this year on a podcast whether OpenAI would go public next year, Altman said, “I don’t know.”Recent reports claim OpenAI is taking early steps toward an IPO, with the company in early discussions and being valued at about $830 billion. A higher estimate from Reuters in October 2025 suggested OpenAI could be valued at as much as $1 trillion, citing three sources. The Reuters report also stated that chief financial officer Sarah Friar is aiming for a stock market listing in 2027, with a possible IPO filing in late 2026.Going public would help OpenAI raise the large amounts of money needed to compete in the AI industry. OpenAI was founded as a nonprofit in 2015 but completed a significant restructuring in October that turned it into a more traditional for-profit company.Under this change, the nonprofit that controls OpenAI received a $130 billion stake. The restructuring also reduced Microsoft’s stake to 27% and expanded its research access, while allowing OpenAI to partner with other cloud-computing companies.OpenAI’s push to keep pace with competitors became clear in December when Altman issued a “code red” in an internal memo after Google quickly launched its Gemini 3 model. The “Code red” called for an eight-week focus on accelerating OpenAI’s core work while pausing other initiatives such as advertising and e-commerce expansion.The strategy seems to be working, as OpenAI recently launched its new GPT-5.2 model and followed it with a new image-generation model to rival Google’s Nano Banana. OpenAI’s apps CEO Fidji Simo said the release was not a direct response to Gemini 3 but added that the extra resources from the “code red” helped speed up the launch.

Apple Inc’s manufacturing push in India has resulted in a dramatic surge in iPhone exports, with shipments crossing the $50 billion mark under the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme period. The milestone was achieved by December 2025, just four years after the world’s second-largest company by market capitalisation joined the smartphone PLI programme in FY22, according to data cited by ET. With three months still left in the five-year tenure applicable to Apple, the export figure might climb further. “In the first nine months of FY26 alone, Apple has already exported nearly $16 billion, taking the cumulative iPhone exports past $50 billion within the PLI period,” ET cited the official familiar with the data. Apple’s performance under the scheme has far outpaced that of its closest global rival, South Korean electric gaint, Samsung. Samsung, another mobile phone exporter, shipped nearly $17 billion worth of devices from India, during its five-year PLI window from FY21 to FY25. India’s growing role in Apple’s global supply chain has been supported by five iPhone manufacturing units, three operated by the Tata Group and two by Foxconn. Together, these factories support a network of nearly 45 component suppliers, including a large number of micro, small and medium enterprises, catering to both domestic demand and global exports. Driven largely by iPhone shipments, smartphones now account for around 75% of India’s total mobile exports. The category has emerged as the country’s top export item in FY25, a dramatic jump from its 167th position in 2015. Although the smartphone PLI scheme is scheduled to end in March 2026, government officials have indicated that support for the sector will continue in some form. A new incentive framework is expected to be designed in consultation with industry stakeholders to sustain manufacturing growth. “We agree that there is still a disability with Indian manufacturers when compared with countries like China and Vietnam and we will continue to offer support to the industry,” an official told ET.Though some mobile phone exports were recorded before the PLI scheme was introduced, officials said the real momentum came after its rollout, particularly following Apple’s decision to bring its supplier ecosystem to India. India is currently the only country outside China where iPhones are manufactured at scale. Samsung was the only one among the 10 PLI beneficiaries to conclude its participation in FY25, having met production targets in FY21, the first year of the scheme, due to its existing manufacturing base. Apple, on the other hand, was still setting up new facilities and, along with companies such as Dixon, failed to meet initial targets amid the pandemic and worsening Sino-Indian relations. This prompted the government to extend the scheme by one year. Under the revised terms, companies were allowed to claim incentives for any five consecutive years within the six-year scheme period. Samsung opted for FY21 to FY25, while Apple and others selected FY22 to FY26. To maintain momentum beyond smartphones, Apple’s vendors and Samsung have now been included in the electronics component manufacturing scheme. Samsung plans to manufacture display module sub-assemblies, a move expected to generate incremental employment for 300 people. The Apple ecosystem, however, is set to dominate the next phase of expansion. Five of its vendors have been selected under the second tranche of the scheme, with Apple-linked companies expected to contribute over 60% of the total investments and employment generation. Major suppliers such as Motherson, Tata Electronics and Foxconn will manufacture iPhone enclosures, while Amperex Technology Limited (ATL) will produce lithium-ion cells. Hindalco will undertake aluminium extrusion for components, ET reported.India has also begun exporting electronic components to China and Vietnam for the manufacture of Apple products including MacBooks, AirPods, Apple Watch, Pencil and iPhones, marking a significant shift in global electronics supply chains.

File Pic: Dwayne Bravo and MS Dhoni (TOI Photo)

NEW DELHI: Former West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo has offered a rare insight into MS Dhoni‘s famed man-management, recalling a telling moment from the 2018 Indian Premier League that summed up why the former India captain remains one of cricket’s most instinctive leaders.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Speaking on the Beard Before Wicket podcast, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) stalwart described how Dhoni once stopped him from diving in the field, making it clear that his value to the team lay elsewhere. Bravo, who played for CSK across two stints from 2011 to 2015 and again from 2018 to 2022, winning three IPL titles with the franchise, called Dhoni a “brother from another mother”.

“Then in 2018, when we came back after the ban, I dived for a ball while fielding at long-on. Obviously, I was older then, 34,” Bravo said. “He called me into the ring, and after the over, as he walked past, he said to me, ‘Do not ever dive on my cricket field again. Your four overs are more important than saving four runs.’ When he said that, I was like, wow.”Bravo explained that the instruction completely changed how he operated on the field. “After that, I started fielding in the circle. That is the kind of thing he does. He knows what you are good at, and he wants you for that reason. He does not want you to try to do anything or be anybody else,” he said. “This is what I want from you, this is your job, and I’m happy with this.”

The former all-rounder also highlighted Dhoni’s trust in players’ cricketing instincts. “In my first over, he asked me about my field. I told him what I wanted… after that moment, he never told me anything about field placement again. I felt he trusted me.”Bravo also praised the leadership culture fostered by Dhoni and head coach Stephen Fleming. “They are not judgmental. Their moods do not change whether you perform or not. That consistency is the uniqueness of that franchise,” he said.

Suvendu Adhikari and Mamata Banerjee (Images/Agencies)

NEW DELHI: West Bengal leader of the opposition Suvendu Adhikari on Monday sent a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, dismissing CM Mamata Banerjee‘s “desperate lies” about the SIR exercise and her latest request to the Election Commission to halt it. The BJP leader said her concerns were “nothing but pure fiction.”Adhikari’s letter to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar came two days after Banerjee wrote expressing concern over what she described as “serious irregularities, procedural violations and administrative lapses” during the SIR.In his counter-argument, Adhikari described Banerjee’s allegations as a “desperate attempt to sabotage a vital and timely democratic exercise.”“The SIR is not, as she falsely portrays, an ‘unplanned, ill-prepared, and ad hoc’ farce, but a meticulously orchestrated national initiative aimed at purging the system of duplicate, bogus, and ineligible entries that have inflated voter lists and undermined the sanctity of our democracy,” the letter read.Adhikari further accused her administration of attempting to disrupt the exercise.“It is clear as daylight that the Hon’ble Chief Minister’s outrage stems from the counterfactual reality: the SIR is proving devastatingly counterproductive to her party’s prospects in the upcoming 2026 Assembly Elections, as it lays bare the ‘extras’ – fictitious voters, ghosts of the deceased, and illegal infiltrators; that her Administration and Party Cadres have systematically shielded and thrived upon,” the letter further read.The BJP leader emphasised that the SIR had been implemented after “extensive nationwide consultations with comprehensive training modules disseminated to over 50,000 Booth Level Officers and Electoral Registration Officers in West Bengal alone.”He rejected the chief minister’s allegations of server failures and data mismatches during the SIR exercise.“IT systems, far from being ‘defective and unreliable,’ have processed millions of entries seamlessly, with real-time dashboards ensuring transparency,” Adhikari further wrote.He also accused the Trinamool Congress of attempting to disrupt the SIR by intimidating officials, orchestrating protests and spreading disinformation online.“The Hon’ble Chief Minister’s litany of grievances is not only factually inaccurate but a deliberate distortion designed to malign the ECI as ‘politically motivated’ and to manufacture a false narrative of widespread discomfort and disenfranchisement. In truth, it is her own Administration and Party machinery that have colluded to sabotage the SIR at every turn: intimidating field officials (as in the case of Electoral Roll Observer; Shri C Murugan) through mob vandalism, veiled threats and bureaucratic hurdles, flooding social media with disinformation campaigns, and orchestrating orchestrated protests to create an atmosphere of negativity and fear. These unholy acts seek to portray the ECI’s lawful diligence as harassment, when in reality, the Commission’s actions are safeguarding the franchise of genuine voters while weeding out the fraudulent. Such tactics are a shameful assault on Democratic institutions, and I urge the ECI to remain vigilant against these machinations,” Adhikari’s letter read.Responding to allegations of excessive verification and procedural gaps, Adhikari wrote that checks for “logical discrepancies” such as spelling or age mismatches are part of a gold standard verification process.He defended the appointment of neutral observers and the exclusion of booth-level agents from hearings. Adhikari further stated that these steps were necessary to prevent partisan interference. Regarding document deletions and rejections, he stressed that all removals follow strict due process under the Representation of the People Act, 1950, with appeals mechanisms in place.Adhikari urged the EC to continue the SIR “undaunted, fortified by the unwavering support of the democratic masses.” He further described the exercise as “not an assault on the Constitution but its truest vindication, purging the shadows that have eclipsed our polls for too long.”

What Mamata Banerjee wrote

Banerjee, in her letter to the Chief Election Commissioner, warned that if the SIR was allowed to continue in its present form, it would result in “irreparable damage, large-scale disenfranchisement of eligible voters, and a direct assault on the foundational principles of democratic governance.”She called the exercise “unplanned, arbitrary and adhoc” and urged the poll body to halt it if glitches remained unrectified.The chief minister highlighted the strain on Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and other frontline staff, claiming the process had been “crippled from day one” due to poor training, server failures, confusion over mandatory documentation and the near impossibility of meeting voters during their work hours.She said BLOs were being forced to work “far beyond human limits” while managing their primary duties as teachers or anganwadi workers, and cautioned that the credibility of voter rolls itself was at risk.

Mustafizur Rahman (Getty Images)

NEW DELHI: Mustafizur Rahman’s recent post on X summed up both his mindset and his response to a turbulent phase in his career. “Pleased to step up when it matters. Glad to contribute in the victory. Onto the next one,” the Bangladesh left-arm pacer wrote after producing a decisive performance for Rangpur Riders in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). The brief message came at a time when Mustafizur has been under intense scrutiny following his controversial exit from the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.Mustafizur was bought by KKR for Rs 9.20 crore at the auction last month, a move that underlined his value in T20 cricket.

However, the franchise later released him following directives from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) amid political tensions related to minority issues in Bangladesh. The development sparked debate across the cricketing fraternity, placing the focus firmly on the bowler rather than his performances.True to his reputation, Mustafizur has allowed his bowling to do the talking. Turning out for Rangpur Riders in the BPL, the Satkhira-born pacer delivered a match-winning final over against Dhaka Capitals on Sunday at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. Defending a modest total of 156, Rangpur appeared under pressure as the Capitals needed 10 runs off the final over with six wickets in hand. With Mohammad Mithun having already struck a half-century and Sabbir Rahman well set, the chase seemed firmly in Dhaka’s control.What followed highlighted why Mustafizur remains one of the most trusted death-over specialists in the game. Showing remarkable composure, he conceded just four singles in the final over, turning the contest on its head and guiding Rangpur to a dramatic five-run victory. He finished with figures of 4-0-23-1, a spell that proved decisive despite the Capitals moving to second place on the points table.After the match, Rangpur captain Nurul Hasan Sohan heaped praise on his senior bowler, stressing that the IPL setback had not unsettled him. “For us, Mustafiz is a world-class bowler. He has been proving that for a long time. Everyone has confidence in him. There’s nothing more to say about him—everyone is always impressed,” Sohan said. He added that while some disappointment over the KKR issue was natural, Mustafizur appeared relaxed, calm and focused on performing for his team and country.Earlier in the tournament, Mustafizur had also reached a significant milestone, becoming the fastest fast bowler to claim 400 T20 wickets with a three-wicket haul against the Sylhet Titans.

“History will tell who the traitors were,” deposed Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro’s son Nicolas Maduro Guerra has said after his father and First Lady Cilia Flores were captured following a US military operation.In a audio message circulated on social media, Guerra warned of possible betrayal within the ruling movement, and history would expose those responsible.“History will tell who the traitors were, history will reveal it. We will see,” Guerra said.“We are fine, we are calm. You will see us in the streets, alongside these people. They want to see us weak; we are going to raise the banners of dignity. Does it hurt us? Of course it hurts us, of course it makes us angry, but they won’t be able to, damn it! I swear to you on my life, on my mother, on Cilia: they won’t be able to,” he said in the audio recording, El-cooperative reported.He also called supporters to take part in public mobilisations on January 4 and 5 to regroup and strengthen unity around the leadership. He also spoke of the need for “political and military coordination” to respond to what he described as “external aggression”.Maduro Guerra is a lawmaker from La Guaira state and member of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV).Also known as “The Prince,” Guerra’s role is Venezuela’s drug operations is detailed in newly US indictments.According to US federal prosecutors, Guerra is a key orchestrator of a sprawling narcotics network that allegedly leveraged state assets, military personnel, and political influence to transport cocaine from Venezuela to the United States.This comes as Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores remain detained in the United States. They are expected to appear before a federal court in the Southern District of New York on Monday,Maduro is facing charges related to alleged “narco-terrorism and conspiracy to traffic drugs”.Earlier on Saturday The United States launched coordinated attacks on civilian and military installations across several Venezuelan states, with US President Donald Trump claiming that President Nicolas Maduro had been captured in what he described as a “large-scale” American strike.Both were taken from their residence, moved to the USS Iwo Jima warship, and later flown to the United States. They arrived in New York on Saturday afternoon to face criminal proceedings in US courts.

Somnath… hearing this word instils a sense of pride in our hearts and minds. It is the eternal proclamation of India’s soul. This majestic temple is situated on the western coast of India in Gujarat, at a place called Prabhas Patan. The Dwadasha Jyotirling Stotram mentions the 12 Jyotirlings across India.The stotram begins with “Saurashtre Somnatham Ch”, symbolising the civilisational and spiritual importance of Somnath as the first Jyotirling.It is also said: Somalingam Naro Drishtva Sarvapapaih PramuchyateLabhte Phalam Manovaanchitam Mritah Svargam SamaashrayetIt means: Just the sight of Somnath Shivling ensures that a person is freed of sins, achieves their righteous desires and attains heaven after death.Tragically, this very Somnath, which drew the reverence and prayers of millions, was attacked by foreign invaders, whose agenda was demolition, not devotion.

The year 2026 is significant for the Somnath Temple. It has been 1,000 years since the first attack on this great shrine. It was in Jan of 1026 that Mahmud of Ghazni attacked this temple, seeking to destroy a great symbol of faith and civilisation, through a violent and barbaric invasion.Yet, one thousand years later, the temple stands as glorious as ever because of numerous efforts to restore Somnath to its grandeur. One such milestone completes 75 years in 2026. It was during a ceremony on May 11th, 1951, in the presence of the then President of India, Dr Rajendra Prasad, that the restored temple opened its doors to devotees.The first invasion of Somnath a thousand years ago in 1026, the cruelty that was unleashed upon the people of the town and the devastation that was inflicted upon the shrine have been documented in great detail in various historical accounts.When you read them, the heart trembles. Each line carries the weight of grief, cruelty and a sorrow that refuses to fade with time.Imagine the impact it had on Bharat and the morale of the people. After all, Somnath had great spiritual significance. It was also on the coast, giving strength to a society with great economic prowess, whose sea traders and seafarers carried tales of its grandeur far and wide.Yet, I am proud to state unequivocally that the story of Somnath, a thousand years after the first attack, is not defined by destruction. It is defined by the unbreakable courage of crores of children of Bharat Mata.The medieval barbarism that began a thousand years ago in 1026 went on to ‘inspire’ others to repeatedly attack Somnath. It was the start of an attempt to enslave our people and culture. But, each time the temple was attacked, we also had great men and women who stood up to defend it and even made the ultimate sacrifice. And every single time, generation after generation, the people of our great civilisation picked themselves up, rebuilt and rejuvenated the temple. It is our privilege to have been nurtured by the same soil that has nurtured greats like Ahilyabai Holkar, who made a noble attempt to ensure devotees can pray at Somnath.In the 1890s, Swami Vivekananda visited Somnath and that experience moved him. He expressed his feelings during a lecture in Chennai in 1897 when he said, “Some of these old temples of southern India and those like Somnath of Gujarat will teach you volumes of wisdom, will give you a keener insight into the history of the race than any amount of books. Mark how these temples bear the marks of a hundred attacks and a hundred regenerations, continually destroyed and continually springing up out of the ruins, rejuvenated and strong as ever! That is the nationalmind, that is the national lifecurrent. Follow it and it leads to glory. Give it up and you die; death will be the only result, annihilation, the only effect, the moment you step beyond that life current.”The sacred duty of rebuilding the Somnath Temple after Independence came to the able hands of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. A visit during Diwali time in 1947 moved him so much that he announced that the temple will be rebuilt there. Finally, on May 11th, 1951, a grand temple in Somnath opened its doors to devotees and Dr Rajendra Prasad was present there. The great Sardar Sahib was not alive to see this historic day, but the fulfilment of his dream stood tall before the nation.The then Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, was not too enthused with this development. He did not want the honourable President as well as ministers to associate with this special event. He said that this event created a bad impression of India. But Dr Rajendra Prasad stood firm and the rest is history. No mention of Somnath is complete without recalling the efforts of KM Munshi, who supported Sardar Patel very effectively. His works on Somnath, including the book, ‘Somanatha: The Shrine Eternal’, are extremely informative and educative.Indeed, as the title of Munshi Ji’s book conveys, we are a civilisation that carries a sense of conviction about the eternity of spirit and of ideas. We firmly believe that that which is eternal is indestructible, as outlined in the famous Gita verse “ Nainam Chhindanti Shastraani …”. There can be no better example of our civilisation’s indomitable spirit than Somnath, which stands gloriously, overcoming odds and struggles.It is this same spirit that is visible in our nation, one of the brightest spots of global growth, having overcome centuries of invasions and colonial loot. It is our value systems and the determination of our people that have made India the centre of global attention today. The world is seeing India with hope and optimism.They want to invest in our innovative youngsters. Ourart, culture, music and several festivals are going global. Yoga and Ayurveda are making a worldwide impact, boosting healthy living. Solutions to some of the most pressing global challenges are coming from India.Since time immemorial, Somnath has brought together people from different walks of life. Centuries ago, Kalikal Sarvagna Hemchandracharya, a respected Jain monk, came to Somnath. It is said that after praying there, he recited a verse, “ Bhavabijaankurjananaaraagaadyaah Kshayamupagataa Yasya” . It means: Salutations to That One in whom the seeds of worldly becoming are destroyed, in whom passion and all afflictions have withered away. Today, Somnath holds the same ability to awaken something profound within the mind and soul.A thousand years after the first attack in 1026, the sea at Somnath still roars with the same intensity as it did back then. The waves that wash the shores of Somnath tell a story. No matter what, just like the waves, it kept rising again and again. The aggressors of the past are now dust in the wind, their names synonymous with destruction. They are footnotes in the annals of history, while Somnath stands bright, radiating far beyond the horizon, reminding us of the eternal spirit that remained undiminished by the attack of 1026. Somnath is a song of hope that tells us that while hate and fanaticism may have the power to destroy for a moment, faith and conviction in the power of goodness have the power to create for eternity.If the Somnath Temple, which was attacked a thousand years ago and faced continuous attacks thereon, could rise again and again, then we can surely restore our great nation to the glory it embodied a thousand years ago before the invasions. With the blessings of Shree Somnath Mahadev, we move forward with a renewed resolve to build a Viksit Bharat, where civilisational wisdom guides us to work for the welfare of the whole world.Jai Somnath!(Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister of India and is also the chairman of the Shree Somnath Trust)

INDORE: The health administration in Indore on Sunday declared the waterborne disease outbreak in Bhagirathpura locality an epidemic, calling in specialised teams from the Central and state govts to contain the spread and identify the root cause of contamination that has claimed 10 lives so far in the area.Chief medical and health officer (CMHO) Dr Madhav Hasani said, “An epidemic is defined by reporting more cases of a disease than usual for a specific area. We are now treating the outbreak on that scale. These national teams are analysing our survey data to determine if the contamination originated from a single source or multiple points.”A high-level meeting was chaired by district collector Shivam Verma at the Smart City office on Sunday morning to coordinate with specialists from across India, who include ICMR-NIRBI (Kolkata) scientists Dr Pramit Ghosh and Dr Gautam Chaudhary from the National Institute for Research in Bacterial Infections, Dr Anubhav from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), along with experts in community medicine and epidemiology from the State Surveillance Team (Bhopal).

The team from Kolkata collected random water samples using advanced scientific methods to pinpoint the exact bacterial strains involved.Verma said the Narmada water supply in the affected zone remained suspended and would be restored only after the experts certify the pipelines as fully decontaminated.Verma told the experts that, to manage the crisis at a micro-level, the entire Bhagirathpura area was divided into 32 beats. In each beat, dedicated teams worked with residents to ensure mandatory chlorination of all govt and private borewells. “Residents have been instructed to drain and clean basement storage tanks (hoj), followed by professional chlorination before any reuse,” he said.Addressing public anxiety regarding secondary health complications, Verma said, “I want to clarify that no cases of GBS (Guillain-Barre Syndrome) were found in the city,” dismissing rumours of the neurological disorder being linked to the current outbreak.

ICMR, NCDC Probe Source As Narmada Supply Suspended

Verma said the administration continued to supply clean drinking water via tankers, while health workers distributed liquid chlorine drops door-to-door.He said multi-departmental teams conducted house-to-house surveys, with random sampling extended to other areas of the city where complaints were received.“Affected patients are receiving free treatment, including necessary injections and medications, at various hospitals under the supervision of specialists called in from neighbouring districts,” he said.