Fresh violence erupted in Manipur's Imphal West on Wednesday night as at least two houses were torched and several rounds of bullets fired in the New Keithelmanbi area. The perpetrators fled after the attack which triggered tensions locally. Security forces controlled the resulting blaze and prevented a mob of Meitei women from proceeding further. Additional forces have been deployed to maintain order. The incident follows prolonged ethnic clashes stemming from a 'Tribal Solidarity March' on May 3 which led to over 180 deaths so far. The violence highlights persisting tensions between Meiteis in the valley and Nagas/Kukis in Manipur's hill districts.

  Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has urged the central government to declare the recent devastating floods in Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh as national disasters. Expressing condolences for lives lost, Kharge stressed the need for urgent rescue efforts and long-term collaboration between Union and state governments for sustainable rebuilding of infrastructure. He demanded adequate funds and a strategic approach for ecologically fragile Himalayan states. The Congress highlighted the urgency of declaring the floods national disasters to activate resources and coordinated action for relief and rehabilitation.

  Flash floods in north Sikkim, triggered by a glacial lake outburst, have claimed 14 lives, with 102 people missing so far. The incident occurred after a glacial lake at 17,000 ft burst due to incessant rains, leading to downstream flooding in Teesta river and affecting four districts. Rescue operations have saved 2,011 individuals, including 22 Army soldiers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured support, and schools in affected districts will remain closed until October 8. In neighboring West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reported 10,000 people rescued from flash floods in northern areas sharing the border with Sikkim.

Scientists and experts who visited the site are exploring if the massive Nepal earthquake Tuesday led to the sudden flooding from Sikkim's Lhonak Lake causing havoc in the Teesta basin on Wednesday. Both Nepal and Sikkim lie in the actively rising Himalayan zone that is prone to tremors. A CWC official said the quake may have triggered the vulnerable 168-hectare lake's flooding, with more than 100 hectares of water breaching banks. ISRO data showed the expanding lake drastically shrunk from 168 hectares before the quake to just 60 hectares after it struck. The Sikkim disaster also breached the Chungthang hydropower dam, the biggest hydropower project in the state.

ISRO satellite images show around 65% or 105 hectares of Sikkim's Lhonak Lake has drained after a cloudburst caused it to overflow. Photos from before and after the flash floods hitting Teesta River indicate the lake's dramatic shrinkage in size from 162.7 hectares on September 17 to just 60.3 hectares on October 4 post the cloudburst. At least 8 people have died so far while 45 were rescued and 23 soldiers are missing. The heavy rains and flooded lake wreaked havoc, killing some and washing away parts of a hydroelectric project. ISRO said it will keep monitoring the satellite images of the lake that has lost over 100 hectares of water due to the cloudburst and resultant breaching.

The Enforcement Directorate has turned its attention to Mahadev Online Book app following a lavish ₹200-crore wedding in the UAE, paid entirely in cash. Promoter Sourabh Chandrakar's February nuptials in Ras Al-Khaimah raised eyebrows, leading to a probe into Mahadev App's financial dealings. Actor Ranbir Kapoor, associated with the app, was summoned for questioning. The ED revealed that digital evidence indicates ₹112 crore was transferred through hawala transactions, and ₹42 crore in cash was used for UAE hotel bookings. The cash-fueled extravagance has prompted a closer look at Mahadev App's transactions. (Image Courtesy: @dir_ed on X)

Pro-Khalistan graffiti was discovered on a government office's walls in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh. The police swiftly covered the slogans with white paint, launching an investigation to identify the culprits behind the anti-India vandalism. This incident, occurring just before the cricket World Cup matches in Dharamshala, follows a similar event on Delhi's Kashmiri Gate flyover. Sikh separatist activities have intensified, partly fueled by allegations from Ottawa implicating India in the murder of designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. India denied the claims, leading to strained India-Canada relations, marked by expulsions of diplomats and a visa services suspension.

NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha and HR head Amit Chakravarty were arrested under India's anti-terror law, UAPA, due to allegations that the portal received funds for pro-China propaganda. The arrests followed a New York Times report claiming the website received money from an American millionaire supporting "Chinese propaganda." Delhi Police conducted searches at 30 locations related to NewsClick, questioning journalists and sealing the office. The Enforcement Directorate had previously probed the portal's funding sources. Purkayastha and Chakravarty were remanded in police custody for seven days, while investigations under the UAPA continued. The Press Club of India has resolved to continue protests by several journalist bodies for defending media freedom.

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared a sneak peek of the upcoming 'Concept train - Vande Bharat (sleeper version)' on social media. Set to debut in 2024, the high-speed sleeper trains are designed for overnight journeys, reaching speeds of 160 km/h. With 16 bogies accommodating 887 passengers, 75 Vande Bharat rakes are planned in the Chair Car version, and 400 in the Sleeper version. The ambitious plan also includes proposing 8000 Vande Bharat Coaches under Budget 2023-24, signaling a transformative shift in India's railway landscape.

A flash flood struck North Sikkim, triggered by a sudden cloudburst over Lhonak Lake. At least 23 Army officers are missing, and several Army establishments in Lachen valley were impacted. The flood, caused by water release from the Chungthang dam, submerged 41 Army vehicles and affected Bardang near Singtam. Rescue operations face challenges due to low internet connectivity, hindering communication between command officers and ground teams. Four NDRF teams are on-site, aiding in the rescue efforts. Sikkim Chief Minister is monitoring the situation, and search operations continue amidst difficult conditions.