Heavy monsoon rainfall continued to affect several parts of the country on Sunday and Monday, disrupting air travel, inundating roads and prompting weather alerts in multiple states. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that a depression over the Bay of Bengal is likely to bring widespread heavy to very heavy rainfall across eastern India over the next 24 hours.

Mumbai bears the brunt of heavy rainfall

Mumbai experienced one of the most severe impacts of the ongoing monsoon spell after heavy overnight rain and strong winds temporarily halted runway operations at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport for around an hour.

The disruption led to the cancellation of four IndiGo flights, while 13 incoming flights were diverted before operations gradually returned to normal. Flight tracking data also showed significant delays, with nearly 90 per cent of departing flights delayed by more than an hour on average and almost half of arriving flights running behind schedule.

The IMD maintained a red alert for Mumbai after several areas recorded more than 200 mm of rainfall within 24 hours, with some locations receiving close to 300 mm.

IMD forecasts widespread heavy rainfall

According to the IMD, a well-marked low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal has intensified into a depression and is expected to cross the north Odisha coast within the next 24 hours.

The weather system is expected to bring widespread heavy to very heavy rainfall across eastern India, while several other regions continue to remain under rainfall alerts due to active monsoon conditions.

Delhi under orange alert after hottest July day in two years

The IMD has issued an orange alert for Delhi, forecasting a generally cloudy sky with moderate rainfall across the national capital.

The alert comes after Delhi recorded its hottest July day in two years on Sunday, with the maximum temperature reaching 38.6 degrees Celsius. Despite the heat, moderate showers provided temporary relief in several areas of Delhi-NCR.

Chhatarpur recorded the highest rainfall in the region, receiving 49 mm of rain by Sunday afternoon. However, waterlogging was reported in parts of the locality, affecting commuters and residents.

Heavy rain forecast for Tamil Nadu

The IMD has also forecast heavy rainfall at isolated locations in Coimbatore and the Nilgiris on Monday.

According to the Regional Meteorological Centre in Chennai, multiple weather systems, including a trough extending from south Gujarat to Kerala and the depression over the Bay of Bengal, are expected to support widespread rainfall across parts of Tamil Nadu. Other districts along the Western Ghats are also likely to receive moderate rainfall accompanied by gusty winds.

Rain-related incidents reported in Maharashtra

Heavy rainfall also led to several rain-related incidents in Maharashtra’s Thane and Palghar districts.

A 17-year-old boy drowned in the swollen Kamvari River in Bhiwandi, while two people were injured after part of a second-floor balcony collapsed in Navi Mumbai’s Vashi area. Authorities said continuous rainfall also triggered structural collapses and tree-fall incidents in several locations.

With active monsoon conditions continuing across large parts of the country, authorities have urged residents in affected regions to remain cautious and follow official weather advisories.

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is scheduled to hold an important meeting on Monday in Ayodhya as investigations into the alleged embezzlement of temple donations continue. The deliberations are expected to focus on the resignations submitted by the Trust’s general secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra, along with other administrative matters.

The meeting will be held at Mani Ram Chhawni, the monastery of Trust president Nritya Gopal Das. It will be the Trust’s first formal gathering since allegations related to the alleged theft of donations came to light.

Trust treasurer Govind Dev Giri has invited all regular and ex-officio members to participate in the meeting. The ex-officio members include Union Home Ministry Additional Secretary Prashant Lokhande, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister’s Additional Chief Secretary Sanjay Prasad, Ayodhya District Magistrate Shashank Tripathi and former Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Nripendra Mishra.

According to sources, Trust president Nritya Gopal Das is expected to attend the meeting after recently being discharged from hospital. The 89-year-old had been admitted in Lucknow on June 29 due to a urinary tract infection and breathing-related complications before being discharged on Friday.

Senior trustee K Parasaran, who is unable to travel because of age-related health issues, is likely to participate through video conferencing, according to sources.

Administrative changes may be discussed

The Trust is expected to consider the resignations of Champat Rai and Anil Mishra, who stepped down after their names surfaced in connection with the donation theft controversy. If the resignations are accepted, discussions may also take place on restructuring the Trust’s administrative setup.

The role of special invitee Gopal Rao is also likely to come up during the meeting. Besides leadership issues, trustees are expected to receive a briefing on the interim findings of the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is conducting an administrative inquiry into the alleged embezzlement case.

The Trust may also review its future management framework, including the possible appointment of a chief executive officer to oversee the administration of the Ram Temple.

Financial statements to be placed before trustees

Sources said the meeting agenda also includes the presentation of the unaudited income and expenditure statement, balance sheet and other financial documents for the 2025-26 financial year for approval.

Speaking to reporters, special invitee Gopal Rao said all 14 trustees had been invited for the meeting and expressed hope that every member would attend. He added that Trust treasurer Govind Dev Giri had informed all members about the scheduled deliberations.

At present, the Trust has 11 regular members, including president Nritya Gopal Das, Vasudevanand Saraswati, Vishwaprasannatirth, Parmanand Giri, Govind Dev Giri, Krishna Mohan, Dinendra Das and K Parasaran.

Following the resignations of Champat Rai and Anil Mishra, along with the recent demise of trustee Bimlendra Mohan Pratap Mishra, the Trust currently has no vice president to chair meetings in the absence of the president.

Two parallel investigations underway

The meeting comes while two separate investigations into the alleged donation embezzlement are ongoing. The Special Investigation Team is carrying out an administrative probe, and its tenure has been extended until the end of July.

Meanwhile, the police are conducting a criminal investigation after an FIR was registered on the Trust’s complaint.

According to sources, statements of Champat Rai, Anil Mishra and special invitee Gopal Rao have been recorded by both the SIT and the police. However, no FIR has been registered against any of the three Trust functionaries so far.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said India successfully managed one of the world’s most challenging energy crises by expanding its energy sourcing, strengthening diplomatic partnerships and shielding citizens from the impact of rising global fuel prices.

Addressing a public gathering after inaugurating the country’s first greenfield integrated refinery-cum-petrochemical complex in Pachpadra, Rajasthan’s Balotra district, the Prime Minister said India adopted proactive measures during the recent Middle East crisis that helped maintain energy security despite global uncertainties.

According to PM Modi, India significantly diversified its energy imports as tensions disrupted global fuel markets.

“When the crisis began, India was importing energy from around 25 to 26 countries. During the crisis, we expanded imports to more than 40 countries,” he said, crediting India’s diplomatic outreach for ensuring uninterrupted supplies.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the financial measures taken by the government to cushion consumers from soaring international crude oil prices. He said public sector oil companies absorbed losses exceeding Rs. 75,000 crore between April and June while the Centre reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs. 10 per litre to prevent a steep rise in fuel prices for consumers.

PM Modi added that despite attempts by some groups to spread rumours and create panic during the crisis, the government’s efforts ensured stability.

He said those who expected India to struggle during the crisis had been proven wrong as the country successfully overcame the challenge.

India strengthening refining capacity

Speaking about India’s energy infrastructure, the Prime Minister said the country has become the world’s fourth-largest refining hub and continues to expand its refining capabilities to meet future energy demand.

He also said the government’s long-term planning helped India deal with disruptions in fuel and fertiliser supplies triggered by the conflict involving Iran and the US-Israel alliance.

Pachpadra refinery inaugurated in Rajasthan

During the visit, PM Modi inaugurated India’s first greenfield integrated refinery-cum-petrochemical complex at Pachpadra, marking Rajasthan’s first refinery project. He launched the facility by remotely activating the project after inspecting the refinery complex.

The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for several development projects in the state.

Highlighting the government’s approach towards infrastructure development, PM Modi said the BJP governments focus not only on announcing projects but also on ensuring their timely completion.

He also remarked that work on the Pachpadra refinery had remained largely stalled during the Congress government’s tenure in Rajasthan between 2018 and 2023 before gaining momentum again.

Diljit Dosanjh’s film Satluj, which premiered on ZEE5 on July 3, has been removed from the streaming platform in India just two days after its release. The platform confirmed the development through an official statement, saying the film will remain unavailable in the country until further notice.

Originally titled Punjab 95, the film had been awaiting certification for several years after it was submitted to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in 2022. It was eventually released on ZEE5 under the title Satluj.

ZEE5 thanks viewers for support

In its statement, ZEE5 expressed gratitude to viewers for the response the film received after its release.

The platform said the audience’s support and appreciation had been overwhelming and thanked subscribers who watched and backed the film.

ZEE5 also reiterated its confidence in the project, stating that it continues to support Satluj and the creative vision behind it. According to the platform, it believes meaningful storytelling can create a lasting impact and remains committed to backing authentic narratives.

Film unavailable in India until further notice

The streaming service confirmed that Satluj has been withdrawn from its Indian catalogue for the time being.

In its statement, ZEE5 said it is exploring all appropriate avenues through due process to make the film available again at the earliest opportunity. The platform added that it remains committed to supporting creators and stories made with artistic integrity and purpose.

While the film is currently unavailable to viewers in India, ZEE5 has not specified when it is expected to return to the platform.

The leader of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), Sardar Aman Khan, has appealed to India for humanitarian assistance amid the ongoing unrest in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), claiming that the region is facing severe shortages of essential supplies following a crackdown by Pakistani authorities.

According to Khan, residents are struggling to access food and medicines as security operations against protesters continue. He also urged India to consider opening the Line of Control (LoC) to allow humanitarian assistance and provide civilians with the option of crossing into India if the situation worsens.

JAAC chief calls for humanitarian assistance

Speaking at a public gathering, Khan claimed that an economic blockade imposed after the crackdown had created serious hardships for people in the region.

In a video that has circulated widely on social media, he is heard saying that PoK residents need India’s assistance due to shortages of essential commodities.

He also appealed for the opening of crossing points along the LoC, particularly in the Poonch and Doda sectors, alleging that the ongoing restrictions had further intensified the humanitarian situation.

During the rally at Rawalakot’s Eidgah Ground, Khan asked the crowd whether they should move towards the Line of Control. The gathering repeatedly responded in support of the proposal.

He further warned that if public demands continued to be met with force, people could consider other options.

It is important to note that the authenticity of the viral video, reportedly from Khan’s June 30 rally, has not been independently verified.

Protests continue across PoK

The appeal comes as demonstrations continue across Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, where protests against the Pakistani administration have been ongoing since last month.

During a recent rally at Eidgah Ground, protesters raised slogans including “PoK is not part of Pakistan” and “We want freedom,” indicating that the movement has expanded beyond demands for reforms to include calls for independence from Pakistan’s political control over the region.

Crackdown follows ban on JAAC

The unrest intensified after Pakistani authorities banned the Joint Awami Action Committee on June 5, designating the grassroots organisation as a terrorist group.

According to a recent report by the International Centre for Peace Studies, Pakistan has historically exercised significant political control over Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan through mainstream political parties aligned with Islamabad.

The report also noted that the ruling party in Islamabad has consistently won elections in both regions, suggesting a long-standing pattern of political influence.

Meanwhile, several analysts have argued that the ongoing crisis reflects growing dissatisfaction among local residents with the regional administration, which they describe as lacking independent authority. They also contend that the ban on the JAAC and the use of force against protesters are part of broader efforts to suppress the expanding protest movement.