The rupee gained 42 paise to close at 91.51 (provisional) against the U.S. dollar on Monday (February 2, 2026), a day after the Union Budget 2026-27 was presented, largely as crude oil prices retreated from their elevated levels. Also Read | Rupee hits all-time low of 92 against U.S
The Union Budget 2026 has proposed a significant change that directly affects investors who borrow funds to invest in dividend-paying stocks or mutual funds. The proposal removes the existing tax benefit that allowed investors to claim a deduction on interest paid for such borrowings
West Bengal emerged as a major beneficiary of railway-led infrastructure expansion this weekend, with a series of announcements signalling a significant boost for connectivity in the state, particularly in North Bengal. A day after the Ministry of Railways cleared three new railway line projects
Hours before she was scheduled to lead a Trinamool Congress (TMC) delegation to meet Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in Delhi over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday alleged that Bengalis in the Capital were being
The NFL's 2025 season has provided the most wide-open race for the Super Bowl in years. Now just the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks remain and they will meet on Sunday to decide the NFL champions. It is a title New England have held six times but this is their first Super Bowl since
Shimla houses develop cracks; over 40 evacuate their homes — 'stop the blasting'
Shimla houses develop cracks; over 40 evacuate their homes, blame tunnel construction — 'stop the blasting'
Several families evacuated their homes after cracks developed in houses and roads near an under-construction four-lane National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) tunnel in the Chalaunthi area near Sanjauli in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh.
According to news agency PTI, around 15 families were rendered homeless overnight in the cold after two residential buildings and a hotel developed cracks in the Chaulanti area.
"Over 40 people from 15 families residing in two buildings and tourists and staff from a hotel vacated their buildings on Friday night after cracks developed in three buildings in the Chaulanti area," sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) (rural), Shimla told the PTI on Saturday.
The officer said the majority of the families have been provided a place to stay, while some chose to move to the house of their friends and relatives.
What could have led to the cracks?
The affected families alleged that blasting of rocks to bore a tunnel for the four-laning of a road between Bhattakufar and Chalaunthi led to cracks in their buildings.The project has been undertaken by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and is being executed by a private company.
The families claimed several complaints were made, but no attention was paid, and now their houses are at risk due to the blasting.
The affected families also accused the tunnel construction company of misbehaviour.
"Minor cracks started appearing in the walls about three days ago, and the construction company, along with the district administration, was informed about it, but the company officials denied any major danger,” Puja, whose house has developed cracks, told PTI.
She said that on Friday evening, the cracks suddenly widened and the company officials asked residents to vacate their houses.
"What is the need to do blasting when we have been complaining of vibrations, and now cracks have developed in houses. We have put all our earnings into constructing our houses. Where will we go now?" said another resident.
'Stop the blasting'
There is widespread anger among the public against the NHAI and the tunnel construction company, and locals are adamant about stopping the tunnel work.The vehicular traffic has been stopped on the Sanjauli-Dhali bypass as cracks also developed on the road, PTI reported.
Rural development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh, who visited the site on Saturday, told PTI that directions have been issued to stop the blasting.
The NHAI has also been instructed to provide immediate compensation to the affected families, he said.
Singh further said that he has spoken to the Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and NHAI officials regarding the matter.
On June 30, 2025, a five-storey building collapsed in Bhatakuffar, and the residents had alleged irregularities in the construction of four lane by NHAI.
Joshimath crisis
Around three years ago, the Joshimath town in Uttarakhand showed signs of severe land subsidence, wherein several buildings developed large cracks and started sinking due to unstable foundations on debris, exacerbated by unchecked construction, hydropower projects, and drainage issues.Joshimath, which is a gateway to famous pilgrimages, such as Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib, and an international skiing destination Auli, had started facing a major challenge due to land subsidence.
An ISRO report had then revealed that slow subsidence of 8.9 cm was recorded over a period of seven months at Joshimath, while the rapid subsidence of 5.4 cm happened over a period of 12 days.
Source: LiveMint
Related Posts: From The Beckhams To Indian Families Maharashtra matinee runs full house as Shinde-led Shiv Sena & MNS join hands Karnataka governor’s House speech sparks row Kuki group calls for shutdown in Kangpokpi district after homes Yami Gautam Shares Glimpse Of ‘Quick Getaway’ To Her Nani House With Sister Surilie Has China developed a cure House Republicans propose voting changes as Trump administration eyes the midterms Worried families in India urge return of crew on ship seized by Iran Ex-Andhra Minister Jogi Ramesh's house set on fire in Ibrahimpatnam Ex-Army chief’s book sparks row in House
Nabha Natesh's mesmerizing first look as Parvathi intensifies the divine mystery of Nagabandham. New Delhi: One of the most anticipated pan-India films of 2026, Nagabandham, has been steadily building excitement with a series of striking posters and character reveals
1 days ago
A Bangladesh court on Monday (February 2, 2026) sentenced deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to 10 years in jail in two separate corruption cases related to alleged irregularities in allocations of land in a government housing project. Dhaka Special Judge's Court-4 Judge Rabiul Alam handed down
1 days ago
Tom Banton hit 54 not out off 33 balls and England won the second T20 against Sri Lanka by six wickets with two balls remaining under the DLS method to clinch the series. England has a 2-0 lead in the three-match series ahead of cricket's T20 World Cup, which starts on Saturday (February 7, 2026)
1 days ago
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee met families affected by the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) at Delhi's Banga Bhavan on Monday, accusing Delhi Police of failing citizens. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met families affected by the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) at Banga Bhavan in
1 days ago
The global ratings anticipates that these growth rates continue to place India above sovereign peers at similar income levels and should continue to support fiscal revenue increase. New Delhi: Robust consumer spending and public investments will maintain India's real GDP growth at 6
1 days ago
A political row broke out after Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in Parliament quoted an excerpt from the unpublished memoir of former Army chief MM Naravane. The excerpt was about the political decision-making during the 2020 border tensions between India and China
1 days ago
Goa has long been a favourite beach destination for Indian travellers, celebrated for its vibrant parties, delicious food and stunning sea views. However, recent concerns about rising prices, poor cleanliness, traffic jams, and a lack of basic civic sense have dampened the experience for many
1 days ago
Brett Ratner, the director of the newly-released documentary on US First Lady Melania Trump, has appeared in the files concerning the probe into late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking network. The US Department of Justice, on Friday, released the latest cache of the Epstein Files
1 days ago
Actor-politician Vijay stated his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, has grown significantly due to public support. He asserted that TVK alone possesses the strength to defeat the DMK in the upcoming Assembly elections. Vijay believes the electoral battle will be a direct contest between TVK and the
1 days ago
Vijay Sales has introduced limited-period Valentine's Day deals on Apple's latest smartphones, offering price cuts on the iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro, along with further savings through select bank card transactions. Customers using ICICI Bank credit or debit cards on EMI purchases can access
1 days ago
A Bangladeshi court on Monday sentenced deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to 10 years imprisonment in two corruption cases relating to alleged irregularities in the allocations of land in a government housing project in Dhaka, The Daily Star reported
1 days ago
Former Indian cricketer Subramaniam Badrinath has taken a swipe at Pakistan following the government's decision to have its men's team boycott the group-stage clash against India in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup. Former Indian cricketer Subramaniam Badrinath has taken a swipe at Pakistan following
1 days ago
Civil society groups and rural employment activists have criticised the Union Budget's allocations for rural job schemes, alleging that the government has offered little clarity on the transition from the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) to the new Viksit
1 days ago
The partial US government shutdown entered its third day on Monday without resolution as Democrats continued to demand immigration reforms as part of any funding deal to reopen the government. Senate Democrats and Republicans agreed to a package of five spending bills on Thursday
1 days ago
The Supreme Court on Monday granted bail to three persons accused of tampering with blood samples in connection with an investigation into a car crash in Pune in May 2024 that killed two, Bar and Bench reported. A bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan granted bail to Aditya Avinash Sood
1 days ago
On World Cancer Day, India must confront a hard truth. Head and neck cancers represent one of the largest and most neglected cancer burdens in the country, and tobacco is the single biggest driver behind it. This is not a disease of rare genetic bad luck. It is a man-made
1 days ago
In the footage, a group of uniformed firefighters is seen using buckets from a nearby water source to pour over the flames. The video raises broader concerns about the country's emergency response systems. Several netizens pointed out that in the footage
1 days ago
Actor posted a video of the matter, in which he can be seen confronting the waiter and demanding an explanation while waiter and manager are seen seeking apologies. A waiter at a popular pub on Park Street in Kolkata was taken into custody on Saturday after Bengali actor and social media influencer
1 days ago
The BJP Parliamentary Board has appointed Tarun Chugh as the central observer for the election of the legislature party leader in Manipur. This move signals the potential formation of a new government in the northeastern state. NDA MLAs from Manipur have arrived in the national capital for
1 days ago
Iran said negotiations with the United States over a new nuclear deal could begin in the coming days, as diplomatic efforts intensify to avert a potential military conflict between the two sides. President Masoud Pezeshkian has ordered the start of negotiations with Washington “within the
1 days ago
As protesters filled the streets of Milan this weekend over the presence of ICE agents in Italy, a very different reality awaits athletes heading into the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, which begin next week. While politics are bubbling loudly outside the venues
1 days ago
Reaching for an antacid has become almost as routine as drinking a cup of tea. For many people, acidity is seen as a harmless daily discomfort, something to suppress and move on from. But this common habit hides a dangerous misunderstanding. Acidity is not a disease; it is a symptom
1 days ago
The year 2026 could bring a significant turning point for salaried employees. A major decision related to the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is expected soon. The central government is seriously considering increasing the EPF wage ceiling. If this proposal is approved
1 days ago
A 20-year-old female student was found dead in her hostel room at the BITS Pilani campus in South Goa, police said on Monday. The student, identified as Vishnavi Jitesh (20), was a third-year engineering student. Police said she was found hanging from a ceiling fan with a bedsheet tied around her
1 days ago
A key issue in achieving the target set by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to increase expected years of schooling in India to 15 years (it is currently 13 years) was the “uneven distribution of schools”, the Union government said on Thursday (January 29
1 days ago
Three PGA Tour victories and two near misses in the majors have left Justin Rose feeling vindicated by his decision to reject offers from the Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf series. The Englishman claimed his 13th PGA Tour title on Sunday after a dominant week at Torrey Pines in California
1 days ago
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has launched an attack on Election Commission after meeting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in Delhi over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) issue. Speaking with the press after meeting the EC officials
1 days ago
