Delhi’s iconic Red Fort witnessed heightened security on Saturday after authorities received a bomb threat targeting the historic monument. Following a detailed inspection and sanitisation drive, Delhi Police confirmed that the threat was a hoax and no explosives were found.

Threat call routed through Mumbai Police

According to officials, the threat was initially received by the Mumbai Police Control Room. The caller allegedly claimed that the Red Fort would be blown up.

Mumbai Police immediately shared the information with the Delhi Police Control Room, which alerted the North District Police. Security personnel were deployed at the monument, and a comprehensive search operation was launched to ensure public safety.

After completing the inspection, officials ruled out any security risk and declared the threat to be false.

Security concerns remain high after previous terror incident

The latest threat comes around eight months after a deadly vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (IED) blast near the Red Fort Metro Station claimed 15 lives and left several others injured.

Investigators had alleged that the blast was carried out by Umar-un-Nabi, a Kashmiri doctor associated with Al-Falah University in Faridabad, who was driving a Hyundai i20. The explosion occurred on the same day security agencies recovered around 2,900 kg of explosives, including ammonium nitrate, from neighbouring Faridabad in Haryana.

According to investigators, the accused allegedly triggered the explosion after two suspected associates were arrested and the explosives were seized during the operation.

Authorities had identified several other accused linked to the case. Investigators alleged that the group was part of a white-collar terror module associated with Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, an al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist organisation.

Earlier arrests linked to alleged attack plots

In May, Delhi Police’s Special Cell arrested nine men who were allegedly linked to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim.

Police alleged that the accused were planning attacks on critical infrastructure and security personnel in Delhi, Mumbai and other parts of the country. According to investigators, potential targets included airports, railway stations, power plants and other vital installations.

Although Saturday’s bomb threat was found to be fake, the incident once again prompted swift security measures at one of the country’s most significant heritage sites.

Heavy monsoon rainfall continued to affect large parts of India on Friday, triggering landslides in the Himalayan states, flooding rivers in the Northeast and causing rain-related deaths in multiple regions. Authorities intensified rescue and relief operations as highways remained blocked, roads were damaged and thousands of people were moved to safer locations.

While several northern and northeastern states continued to receive heavy rainfall, Delhi-NCR and Rajasthan witnessed relatively dry weather after days of persistent showers.

Himachal Pradesh faces widespread disruption

Heavy to extremely heavy rainfall affected several districts in Himachal Pradesh, damaging roads, bridges and public infrastructure while disrupting daily life. Many educational institutions remained closed as a precaution.

A 70-year-old man died in Kullu district after falling boulders struck him on the Buanda-Chwai road. In Solan district, two people were injured when a boulder hit their vehicle in the Arki area.

Authorities said 27 link roads in Shimla district remained closed, causing inconvenience to commuters. Rockfall incidents were reported at multiple locations along the Kalka-Shimla National Highway.

Officials also expressed concern over a potential landslide threat near the Sangla bridge in Kinnaur district. Any significant damage to the bridge could disconnect Sangla Valley from the rest of the district.

According to the Meteorological Department, Sirmaur and Solan districts recorded the highest rainfall since Thursday evening.

Landslides block key roads in Uttarakhand

Heavy rainfall over the past 24 hours triggered landslides across Uttarakhand, resulting in the death of a teenager, injuries to several people and the closure of schools in affected areas.

Officials said 118 roads across the state, including the Yamunotri National Highway, were blocked due to landslides. A nearly 100-metre stretch of the Yamunotri Highway near Syanachatti in Uttarkashi district was damaged, with restoration work underway.

The Gangotri National Highway also experienced repeated disruptions because of falling rocks and boulders. Continuous rainfall caused the Ganga, Yamuna and several tributaries to swell, prompting authorities to remain on high alert following forecasts of more heavy rainfall.

Floods affect Jammu and Kashmir and Northeast

Flash floods inundated parts of the Ari area in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, damaging houses and leaving several residents stranded. Police personnel rescued at least 25 people from flooded areas.

In Mizoram, more than 80 families in Lunglei district were shifted to safer locations after the Khawthlangtuipui River overflowed following days of continuous rain. Authorities also reported landslides and rockfalls at more than 29 locations across the state.

A massive landslide blocked National Highway 54 near Bualte village, leaving several tourists stranded for four days and cutting off Lawngtlai and Siaha districts from the rest of Mizoram. The Aizawl-Thenzawl-Lunglei highway also remained blocked because of major rockfalls.

Tripura continued to battle flood conditions, with over 4,000 houses damaged and nearly 11,000 people taking shelter in relief camps. Officials said no fatalities had been reported in the state.

Uttar Pradesh records heavy rainfall and fatalities

Heavy rainfall continued across many parts of Uttar Pradesh, leading to multiple rain-related deaths.

A 28-year-old man died after reportedly falling into a rainwater-filled roadside drain in Noida. In Muzaffarnagar, a 60-year-old woman was killed after her mud house collapsed, while her husband sustained injuries. In Balrampur, a 21-year-old farmer lost his life after being struck by lightning.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the active southwest monsoon over Uttar Pradesh has been strengthened by an upper-air cyclonic circulation over central parts of the state and a well-marked low-pressure area over northwest Madhya Pradesh.

Mawana in Meerut district recorded the state’s highest rainfall at 315 mm during the 24-hour period ending Friday morning, followed by Jansath in Muzaffarnagar with 270.1 mm.

The IMD has issued an orange alert for Uttar Pradesh, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall until July 11.

Delhi and Rajasthan likely to see a break from heavy rain

After two consecutive days of rainfall, Delhi experienced clearer skies on Friday. Weather experts indicated that rainfall activity is expected to remain subdued until around July 15 as the monsoon trough has shifted towards the Himalayan foothills.

The weather office also forecast weaker monsoon activity over Rajasthan, with mostly dry conditions expected across much of the state for about a week and only isolated areas likely to receive light rainfall.

West Bengal, Arunachal and Assam remain on alert

Heavy rain continued across parts of West Bengal, causing waterlogging and traffic congestion in Kolkata. Cooch Behar recorded the highest rainfall in the state at 143 mm during the previous 24 hours, while Dum Dum received 96 mm.

In Arunachal Pradesh, fresh floods and landslides damaged houses, roads and agricultural land in West Kameng, Upper Subansiri and Tirap districts. The flood-related death toll in the state rose to seven after the body of a missing woman was recovered in Papum Pare district.

Authorities in Assam advised residents to remain cautious as the IMD forecast widespread rainfall across the state, including Guwahati, over the coming days. The weather agency warned that heavy rainfall could lead to waterlogging, flash floods, slow traffic movement and localised landslides.

The IMD also forecast widespread rainfall across Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura until July 16, while rainfall activity is expected to remain subdued over central and southern Peninsular India during the next week.

Meanwhile, light rainfall was reported in parts of Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh. In Kerala, recovery operations at the Wayanad landslide site continued, with one more body recovered, taking the death toll to seven.

The Assam government has announced an extensive investment plan worth Rs 77,353 crore to expand the state’s power infrastructure under the 2026-27 Budget. The proposals cover electricity generation, renewable energy, storage facilities and transmission networks as the government looks to improve energy availability and support future demand.

Presenting the Budget on Friday, Finance Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah said the state aims to significantly increase its power generation capacity through a combination of thermal, hydroelectric and solar projects while strengthening the electricity transmission system.

Among the largest proposals is an investment of Rs 40,000 crore for a 3,200 MW ultra-supercritical thermal power plant, expected to become one of Assam’s biggest power generation facilities. Another Rs 27,100 crore has been earmarked for pumped storage projects with a combined capacity of 4,900 MW.

Renewable energy projects receive boost

The Budget also places emphasis on renewable energy development. It includes plans for 137 MW of small hydropower generation, 75 MW of solar power capacity and a 25 MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Kamrup district.

In addition, the 120 MW Lower Kopili Hydroelectric Project has reached the trial commissioning stage.

The government has also proposed setting up 11 small hydropower projects across Karbi Anglong, West Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao, Udalguri, Biswanath and Sivasagar districts. New solar power installations are also planned in Sonitpur and Namrup to further expand the state’s clean energy capacity.

Transmission network to be modernised

Apart from increasing power generation, the government has proposed major investments to strengthen electricity transmission infrastructure.

Around Rs 4,600 crore has been allocated for new 400 kV transmission corridors and grid substations aimed at improving power supply across Assam.

Over the next five years, the state plans to add nearly 15,000 circuit kilometres of transmission and distribution lines, establish 120 substations and install around 20,000 High Voltage Distribution Systems (HVDS). The government also aims to reduce transmission and distribution losses from 13.4 per cent to 8 per cent.

Private sector projects to support capacity expansion

The Budget announcement comes alongside major private sector investments in Assam’s power sector. Projects awarded to the Adani Group, including a 3,200 MW thermal power plant and 2,700 MW of pumped storage capacity, are expected to contribute significantly to the state’s future electricity generation capacity.