In a horrific incident, six people died in a car accident in Uttarakhand’s Dehradun earlier this week while returning from a party. The incident occurred around 1.30 am at the ONGC Chowk on November 12 when the car they were in collided with a truck, reducing their vehicle to a mangled wreck.

A video of the incident is doing rounds across social media platforms which shows the impact of the collision was so strong that it tore off the Toyota Innova’s roof and twisted it. Two passengers were left decapitated in the incident. The disturbing video also showed one of the victim’s head ripped off, while another person’s body can be seen twisted inside the crushed car. Multiple other body parts of the victims are also seen scattered around the road.

Reports stated that a group of seven friends were returning from a party that night and were drunk. The police identified the victims as Kumal Kukreja (23), Atul Agrawal (24), Rishabh Jain (24), Navya Goel (23), Kamakshi (20), and Guneet (19). The officials added that the seventh person, Siddhesh Agrawal (25), who had reportedly hosted the party in Dehradun, is the sole survivor but remains in a critical condition.

The officials said that while six victims hailed from Dehradun, Kukreja is from Himachal Pradesh. The police asserted that it was not immediately clear where the group was coming from and an investigation is underway.

Reacting to the incident, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has expressed grief at the loss of lives in the incident. He said that the news of the death of six youths in a road accident in Dehradun is extremely heart-rending. He prayed that God might grant the departed souls a place at his sacred feet and give strength to the bereaved families to bear the immense pain.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Birsa Munda’s 150th birth anniversary in Bihar’s Jamui. He tried his hand at playing traditional tribal instruments for the Janjatiya Gaurav Divas celebrations.

A video shows the Prime Minister enthusiastically beating a traditional dhol, engaging with the local tribal customs as part of the 150th birth anniversary year commemoration of Bhagwan Birsa Munda. He also received a traditional tribal welcome, during which he participated by playing an indigenous musical instrument.

Furthermore, PM Narendra Modi also unveiled a commemorative coin and postal stamp in honor of the revered tribal freedom fighter, acknowledging his legacy and contributions to India’s independence.

In a major boost to development in Bihar, PM Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for projects worth over Rs 6,640 crore. Reportedly, these initiatives are aimed at driving infrastructure and socio-economic growth across the state. He also virtually took part in the Grih Pravesh ceremony for 11,000 tribal family dwellings constructed under the PM Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN).

In a bid to strengthen healthcare facilities in distant tribal regions, he launched 23 mobile medical units (MMUs) as part of PM-JANMAN, alongside 30 additional MMUs under Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA). Reports said that the inauguration included 10 Eklavya Model Residential Schools and 300 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras, designed to support enterprise development and enhance living standards.

He also inaugurated two Tribal Freedom Fighters’ Museums situated in Chhindwara and Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, and two Tribal Research Institutes in Srinagar and Gangtok, dedicated to preserving tribal community heritage.

Additionally, he also laid the foundation for 500 km of fresh roadways and 100 multi-purpose centres serving as community facilities in tribal areas. PM Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for construction of 25,000 new residences under PM-JANMAN, 1.16 lakh houses under DAJGUA, and 370 accommodation facilities for tribal students.

To prevent further deterioration of air quality in the national capital region, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Thursday decided to invoke Stage III of the GRAP in Delhi NCR with effect from 8:OO am on November 15 in addition to all actions under Stage I and II.

According to the statement released by CAQM, the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) will not permit BS-III and below diesel-operated LCVs (goods carriers) registered outside Delhi, to enter Delhi, except those carrying essential commodities providing essential services.

The construction work, except the projects needed for national security, healthcare, and certain public infrastructure work, will be banned.

The GRAP III measures to mitigate the effects of air pollution in Delhi NCR include intensifying the frequency of mechanised sweeping of roads, daily water sprinkling along with dust suppressants, before peak traffic hours, on roads and right of ways including hotspots, heavy traffic corridors and proper disposal of the collected dust in designated sites/ landfills.

All demolition works, earthwork for excavation and filling including boring and drilling works, and any transportation of demolition waste are banned with the implementation of GRAP III measures to fight air pollution.

With the implementation of Stage 3, the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi may decide on discontinuing physical classes in schools for children up to Class V and conducting classes in an online mode following the implementation of the  GRAP III.

Earlier in the day, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said the third phase of the Graded Response Action (GRAP 3) will not be imposed for now. He said that for the first time, the Air Quality Index has gone above 400 in Delhi.

Pointing out the reason behind severe category air quality after poor and very poor AQI since October 14, the Environment Minister said that meteorologists have reported that due to snowfall in the mountains, a drop in the temperature of Delhi has been recorded. Owing to this, dry conditions have been created in the morning and evening in the entirety of North India, he said.