India is dispatching an 80-member National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team to assist in relief operations following a powerful earthquake that struck Myanmar and Thailand on Friday. The disaster has claimed over 1,000 lives in Myanmar, with rescue workers struggling to reach survivors trapped under collapsed buildings.

Under Operation Brahma, the NDRF contingent is being airlifted from Hindon Airbase in Ghaziabad aboard two Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft. The team, led by Commandant P.K. Tiwary of the 8th NDRF Battalion, includes specialized urban search and rescue (USAR) personnel equipped with concrete cutters, drilling machines, and seismic listening devices.

“Rescue dogs trained in detecting survivors under debris are also part of the mission,” an official said, adding that operations will follow protocols of the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG).

In addition to manpower, India has airlifted 15 tonnes of emergency relief supplies to Yangon aboard an IAF C-130J transport aircraft. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed solidarity with Myanmar, stating, “India stands ready to provide all possible assistance to our neighboring nation in this hour of crisis.”

In Mandalay, Myanmar’s cultural capital, devastation is widespread. A 7.7-magnitude quake—shallow and destructive—flattened buildings, including the 12-story Sky Villa Condominium, now halved in height with nearly 100 residents feared trapped.

Exhausted local rescuers scrambled through rubble, with time running out. At one site, a monastery’s collapsed clock tower bore silent witness, its hands frozen at 12:55 PM—minutes after the quake struck.

This marks India’s third major overseas NDRF deployment, following the 2015 Nepal earthquake and 2023 Türkiye-Syria quake. 

China is set to offer Myanmar aid valued at 100 million yuan (approximately $13.77 million) following a devastating earthquake that claimed over 1,000 lives, as announced by its embassy on Saturday, March 29.

This assistance will consist of tents, blankets, emergency medical kits, food, water, and other vital supplies, with the initial shipment scheduled to arrive on March 31, according to a post on the Chinese embassy’s Facebook page.

Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans, both coming from their opening losses, are set to lock horn against each other at Gujarat’s Narendra Modi stadium Stadium on Saturday. The statake of both the teams would be really high as when they took to the field as they aim to avoid a second consecutive loss and stay competitive in the league standings.

Mumbai Indians, despite a fighting debut from Vignesh Puthur, fell short against Chennai Super Kings in their tournament opener. While Gujarat Titans found themselves outplayed, with their bowling exposed by Shreyas Iyer and Shashank Singh. Their batting, though promising in the chase, faltered under pressure at a critical stage.

Adding intrigue to this matchup is the return of Hardik Pandya to the Mumbai Indians playing XI. The former GT captain, who led them to their title triumph in 2022, is back after serving a suspension. His inclusion is expected to bring balance to the side with both bat and ball, potentially replacing Satyanarayana Raju in the XI. Mumbai may also consider rotating their overseas picks, with options open to drop either Ryan Rickelton or Will Jacks to strengthen their bowling attack.

Gujarat Titans, on the other hand, may rethink their middle-order strategy. The exclusion of Glenn Phillips in the first match raised eyebrows, especially with the middle-order failing to capitalize. Phillips could slot in at No. 4, offering explosive batting, a handy bowling option, and exceptional fielding. However, Sherfane Rutherford’s impactful 46(28) might make the selection call a tough one.

A major highlight will be the early contest between Mumbai’s pace spearhead Trent Boult and GT’s top-order trio — Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, and Jos Buttler. GT’s strength lies at the top, and surviving Boult’s opening spell will be critical for their chances.

Both teams have quality in their line-ups but are still searching for rhythm and the right combinations. A win here could spark momentum, while a second loss might push either team into early pressure in a tightly packed table.

Probable Playing Xis:

Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Will Jacks, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (c), Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult, Vignesh Puthur

Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill (c), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (wk), Glenn Phillips, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Sai Kishore, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna

The Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) announced the Class 10 (Matric) Annual Examination 2025 results on March 29. With a total of 15,58,077 students appearing for the exam, the pass percentage stood at 82.11%, meaning around 12,79,294 students qualified, while 1,55,718 failed.

Among the top achievers this year are Sakshi Kumari, Anshu Kumari and Ranjan Verma, who have jointly topped the board by scoring 489 marks out of 500, equivalent to an impressive 97.8%. In a noteworthy trend, 123 students secured positions in the top 10 ranks, of which 60 are girls and 63 are boys.

In terms of division-wise performance, 4,70,845 students secured first division marks, followed by 4,84,012 in the second division and 3,07,792 students who obtained third division marks.

For those who did not pass or are dissatisfied with their marks, BSEB has opened the door for scrutiny and re-evaluation of answer sheets. The scrutiny application window will be available from April 4 to April 12, 2025.

Additionally, students who failed the exam can register for the Matric Special Exam or the Matric Compartmental Exam, also scheduled for the same registration period – April 4 to April 12, 2025. These exams are designed to ensure that students get another chance to save their academic year without delays.

The results of the scrutiny and compartment exams will be announced by May 31, 2025, allowing students to move ahead with higher education admissions without further waiting.

The official announcement of the results was made by BSEB Chairman Anand Kishore and Bihar Education Minister Sunil Kumar at the board’s headquarters in Patna.