Orange alert as rain leaves Gurugram waterlogged; disrupts traffic The Sector 52A market was among the most affected areas, with visuals showing commuters wading through knee-deep water Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 14:14:38 IST By Sampurna Panigrahi, Mihika Shah
‘Buy buy buy!’: Foreign tourist reacts to duty-free shopping after Delhi immigration A foreign tourist has posted a video of his Delhi airport experience, questioning the shopping pitches he encountered just after immigration. Published on: Aug 24, 2026
India security chief visits China for border talks India security chief visits China for border talks Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 14:06:38 IST AFP Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link India's top security official arrived in Beijing on Monday for talks on the countries' disputed Himalayan border
‘Jo bhi hai, tera ghar hai’: American compares Indian and US hospitality An American Hindi speaker’s take on Indian hospitality has viewers discussing the differences between socialising in India and the US. Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 13:31:09 IST By Vaishali Kapila Prefer HTon Google Share
Manipur: 1 CRPF personnel injured, 2 houses burnt by unknown armed individuals The gunfight broke out after two houses belonging to separate communities were set ablaze by an unidentified group of people Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 13:49:38 IST By Thomas Ngangom
Checkpoints everywhere and queues for bread: Fear in Iran as US-Israeli strikes intensify
"The number of explosions, the destruction, what is happening - it's unbelievable," says Salar, whose name has been changed.
Iran's capital, Tehran, is under heavy attack since strikes began on 28 February, as the US and Israel target military and political sites in a bid to weaken the Islamic regime.
However, other areas have been hit as a consequence of the strikes. Iranian officials said more than 160 people, including children, were killed when a girls' school was hit in the city of Minab on Saturday. The White House says the US is investigating the incident but does not target civilians.
More than 1,100 Iranian civilians have been killed since hostilities began, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRNA).
"What we are experiencing now is beyond what we experienced during the 12-day war," one local living in Tehran tells BBC Persian, referring to the conflict between Israel and Iran last year.
While some Iranians say the ongoing attacks have left them fearing for their families, others characterise the regime as fearful and express hope for the country's future.
The first wave of strikes killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, but air attacks have shown little sign of relenting in the days since.
Each day has felt like a month," Salar says. "The volume of attacks is so high.
He said a recent air strike left his whole house shaking and described having to leave his windows opens so the glass wouldn't shatter.
International news organisations are often refused visas to Iran, which severely limits their ability to gather information about what is going on inside the country. Internet blackouts make the situation even harder.
Most people are staying indoors, only venturing out for supplies. The regime appears to have increased its security presence on the streets, which Iranians have seen as a response to the dissent shown following the ayatollah's death.
"There are checkpoints everywhere. They're scared of their own shadows," says one 25-year old student in Tehran.
We're waiting for the grand moment, the final moment, when we all go out and we will be victorious.
The price of staples like eggs and potatoes has also skyrocketed, he said, and the queues for petrol and bread "are unbelievable".
Another resident of the capital tells the BBC that most shops are closed and some cash machines out of service, though supermarkets and bakeries remain open.
Tehran feels "empty" and anyone leaving their home must have an "urgent reason", she says.
On the first day, people were chanting and everyone seemed happy. But now there are police forces around.
Salar described threats from security forces about speaking out against the country's regime.
While getting access to independent information has been hard, Salar says Iranian security forces have been making their demands clear.
"Every day they send SMS messages warning that if we go outside, they will deal with us harshly," he says.
A message came saying that if anyone among you goes out and protests 'we consider you Israeli collaborators'.
He believes the tone of the message suggested that anyone who disobeyed would be dealt with forcefully, or even killed.
BBC Persian also spoke to Kaveh, whose name has also been changed, who lives in Zanjan, a city around 275km (170 miles) north-east of Tehran, which has also been targeted.
In the first three days, our city was heavily bombed," he says. "We live in an area where fighter jets constantly pass overhead.
He adds that, following the outbreak of war, the sky had been constantly cloudy from the columns of smoke rising from the sites of air strikes - an image he describes as "simultaneously beautiful and horrifying".
Salar says he sent his parents north, though he wasn't sure which cities would be safe. There house is in the Shariati neighbourhood of Tehran, where there are many military facilities that have been targeted.
"My mother was in very bad shape - she was very frightened," he says, adding that the current strikes are worse than any she experienced during the eight-year Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s.
More people continue to leave Tehran as each day passes, he adds, but it is not an option for everyone.
My friend's grandmother is ill and they can't move her.
The internet blackouts have also made it extremely difficult for Iranians to contact their loved ones.
Kaveh says that, alongside survival, his biggest concerns have been trying to maintain some contact with family and friends, and getting access to reliable news.
His internet connection cut off around midday on the first day of the attacks, he recalls, and he was not able to get back online for two days.
Both Kaveh and Salar are using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), which allow them to access internet sites that are blocked by the Iranian government, but this is no easy feat.
When he does get online, Kaveh tries to help "friends outside Iran who have no news from their families - to get updates or pass along messages".
Due to the tight security situation in Iran, it is not possible to gauge the overall reaction to death of the supreme leader.
While some took to the streets to celebrate, others took part in public displays of mourning led by government authorities.
Kaveh found the news of Khamenei's killing difficult to believe at first.
"I had always imagined that moment would feel like happiness, but it didn't," he says.
Almost all the years of my life and the lives of millions like me were destroyed and thousands lost their lives - and yet he himself was removed from the scene in a single moment, [which] made me truly angry.
Saleh says he didn't expect the celebrations on the street to news of the supreme leader's death.
The city atmosphere after the attack was very security-heavy. It still is.
Neither of the men know what the war will mean for them, their families or their country.
"I doubt any of us will ever be the same as before," Salar says, adding that many people are severely stressed.
"Those abroad, especially monarchists," he says - referring to the supporters of the son of Iran's former royal family who have supported the US and Israeli military action - "really don't know what we are experiencing".
He adds: "I hope they never have to."
Kaveh says he feels the war "won't end as quickly as we thought".
But even so, my hope hasn't decreased. If anything, it grows stronger each day.
"I don't know what will happen after this 'operation'," he says, but adds that, without it, "something worse would definitely have happened".
This way, at least there is still a chance for life and for tomorrow.
Additional reporting by Alex Boyd, Ghoncheh Habibiazad, Caroline Hawley and Tom McArthur
Source: BBC
Related Posts: Latest News
No need to panic over H1N1 surge in K'taka: Minister Khader No need to panic over H1N1 surge in K'taka: Minister Khader Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 13:51:09 IST PTI Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Bengaluru, Karnataka Health Minister U T Khader on Monday assured the public that there was no
8 hours ago
‘You endorse misogyny, cut the crap’: Shehzad Poonawalla joins BJP attack on Rahul Gandhi's ‘smash patriarchy’ call Shehzad Poonawalla and BJP were responding to Rahul Gandhi's call to "smash the patriarchy" during his party's 'Chhatro ki Goonj' programme in Pune. Updated on: Aug 24, 2026
11 hours ago
For Delhi-NCR residents, Guleria struck a reassuring note while explaining why this year’s wave has felt worse, but citizens need not panic The H1N1 virus driving Delhi-NCR’s current flu surge appears to be changing its structure — a process that is making it spread faster and slip past the
11 hours ago
A job applicant’s unusual rejection from a software engineering internship has left the internet divided after the candidate was reportedly turned down over the name of their resume file. The incident was highlighted in a now-viral post on X by user @adnaannasir_
11 hours ago
Elderly woman killed, husband injured in SUV hit-and-run at Delhi's posh GK-1 The woman, identified as Shashi, was declared brought dead at the hospital, while her husband Kulbhushan (65), was left injured. Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 11:00:26 IST By HT News Desk Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy
11 hours ago
Woman reflects on high-rise living in big cities: ‘Even the slice of the sky is fixed for us’ A woman shared her thoughts on high-rise life, saying big-city living can feel confined despite better work opportunities. Published on: Aug 24, 2026
11 hours ago
Governor Abdullah Sarhadi gives money to treat a boy's broken arm and hands out funds for a local mosque - then, in his office in northern Afghanistan, an astonishing exchange unfolds. A young woman tells the grey-bearded former Taliban commander that she wants to divorce her husband
11 hours ago
Andy Burnham is marking his first foreign visit as prime minister with a trip to Kyiv - and will hand over blueprints so Ukraine can build its own long-range missiles. The prime minister will chair his first meeting of the "coalition of the willing"
11 hours ago
Apple’s next iPhone launch is getting closer, and the company’s usual September schedule is beginning to take shape. According to a recent Forbes report, Apple could hold its special event on Wednesday, September 9, where it is expected to introduce the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max
11 hours ago
Fugitive gangster Goldy Brar has, in an audio clip, purportedly claimed responsibility for the killing of Khalistani separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, The Indian Express reported. The newspaper said it could not independently verify the authenticity of the audio clip
11 hours ago
Dad crashes daughter’s late-night work meeting over parcels: ‘Ek paise ki saving nahi karti’ A father’s surprise appearance during his daughter’s work call turns into a lecture on spending and saving. Updated on: Aug 24, 2026, 10:56:44 IST By Vaishali Kapila Prefer HTon Google Share via
11 hours ago
A Zimbabwean content creator’s tongue-in-cheek take on life in India has caught the attention of social media users after he shared 10 everyday conveniences that have completely changed his standard of living. From paying for almost everything with just a phone to having food
11 hours ago
Starting September 1, passengers traveling internationally will be required to use an e-boarding pass on their smartphones for immigration clearance, as announced by immigration authorities. This significant change comes as the Bureau of Immigration (BOI)
14 hours ago
The September 2026 US Visa Bulletin brings a mixed picture for Indian green card applicants. While some family-sponsored categories have moved forward, several employment-based categories remain severely constrained, with two India-specific categories listed as unavailable and the State Department
14 hours ago
The Maharashtra Transport Department has issued notices to 777 drivers for lacking practical knowledge of Marathi, The Hindu quoted unidentified officials as saying on Saturday. A total of 5,211 drivers were tested during a statewide inspection campaign that began on August 20, including 3
14 hours ago
19-year-old killed, friend injured after truck hits motorcycle on Delhi's Indraprastha flyover A police team reached the spot and found a motorcycle lying in a damaged condition and two people seriously injured. One of them died in the hospital. Updated on: Aug 24, 2026
14 hours ago
Indian woman reveals why her family returned to India after 13 years in US: ‘You don’t really belong here’ A woman shared five reasons her family decided to leave the US and return to India after 13 years. Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 07:43:56 IST By Mahipal Singh Chouhan Prefer HTon Google
14 hours ago
New UK PM Andy Burnham to make visit to Kyiv on Monday: office New UK PM Andy Burnham to make visit to Kyiv on Monday: office Updated on: Aug 24, 2026, 07:41:28 IST AFP Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link British Prime Minister Andy Burnham will visit Kyiv on Monday on his first international
14 hours ago
Bengaluru vs Gurgaon? Man who lived in both cities explains why the comparison is ‘completely pointless’ A man said the Bengaluru versus Gurgaon debate was pointless and urged people to live in both cities before deciding. Published on: Aug 24, 2026
14 hours ago
Circle Wealth CIO and Managing Partner Chadha said the market was rewarding companies with strong earnings and improving outlooks, even as large-cap stocks remained under pressure. Diwali season is expected to bring a fresh boost for Indian equities following strong corporate earnings
14 hours ago
The restriction was imposed under Section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, which governs the import, manufacture, distribution, and sale of drugs and cosmetics. The central government on Saturday restricted the manufacturing, sale and distribution of all fixed-dose combinations (FDCs)
14 hours ago
Ukraine backers gather as war escalates, air defence runs low Ukraine backers gather as war escalates, air defence runs low Updated on: Aug 24, 2026, 07:41:29 IST AFP Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Ukraine on Monday hosts a meeting of its key European backers to press for critical
14 hours ago
'Trouble proving citizenship after representing India in 3 countries': Ex-envoy to ECI over Punjab SIR Suri served as India’s ambassador to the UAE and Egypt and high commissioner to Australia. Updated on: Aug 24, 2026, 07:34:33 IST By HT Correspondent Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link
14 hours ago
2 killed after illegal building in Hyderabad's Gachibowli caves in Officials alleged that the building was built over or adjacent to a drain without the required permissions. Published on: Aug 23, 2026, 14:41:02 IST By Srinivasa Rao Apparasu Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link At least two
1 days ago
J'khand: Compensation of ₹31 lakh each given to families of 3 engineers burnt alive at steel plant J'khand: Compensation of ₹31 lakh each given to families of 3 engineers burnt alive at steel plant Published on: Aug 23, 2026, 14:43:04 IST PTI Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Ramgarh
1 days ago
Jaiñtia Hills to the G7: Can Meghalaya turn ‘Lakadong’ into a global brand? The high-curcumin turmeric has gone from an obscure hill crop to a GI-tagged premium product showcased before world leaders. Updated on: Aug 23, 2026, 14:48:20 IST By David Laitphlang
1 days ago
Ex-NRI shares why she takes auto for 1 km ride to gym after moving to India: 'Life here is a compromise' The woman shared that she has to walk through an area where "everybody stares", while the pathway is "ubad-khabad", dirty and encroached. Updated on: Aug 23, 2026
1 days ago
