A power outage at London Heathrow Airport caused severe travel disruptions on March 21, 2025, leaving thousands of passengers stranded. With flights to various destinations, including Australia, Iceland, and the U.S., canceled or delayed, travelers faced significant chaos. "We are stuck," said James Porritt, a passenger whose flight to Australia was canceled. Many passengers, including those attending weddings or funerals, were forced to wait for new flights at Heathrow and Gatwick airports, while others anxiously sought help from airline staff. The disruption affected travelers globally, causing widespread frustration and stress.

  To accommodate cricket fans attending the IPL 2025 opening match between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and others at Eden Gardens on March 22, Kolkata Metro will offer special late-night services on the Blue Line and Green Line-2. This decision follows a request from the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) and aims to ensure smooth travel for fans coming from various parts of the city and surrounding areas. The extended service hours will make it easier for spectators to attend the much-anticipated match and return home comfortably after the event.    

Mumbai Indians welcomed Rohit Sharma as “Mumbaicha Raja” as he rejoined the squad ahead of IPL 2025. After leading India to the Champions Trophy title, Rohit returned from a Maldives vacation to join MI. Despite being replaced as captain by Hardik Pandya, Rohit remains MI’s biggest icon. Suryakumar Yadav will lead MI in their opener against Chennai Super Kings on March 23 due to Pandya’s suspension. Rohit, the IPL’s third-highest run-scorer, will have a new opening partner in Ryan Rickelton. MI also strengthened their squad with key signings, including Trent Boult and Mitchell Santner.

The fire at an electricity substation near Heathrow Airport that led to a massive power outage and travel chaos is now “under control,” according to London Fire Brigade Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne. Firefighters worked in challenging conditions to contain the blaze and prevent further spread. The fire forced Heathrow to shut down, affecting 1,300 flights and 200,000 passengers. The airport remains closed until 11:59 p.m. local time, with disruptions expected worldwide. Authorities continue investigating the cause of the fire, which also impacted a backup generator at the substation. Airlines are scrambling to manage the fallout from the shutdown.

The US has deported 388 Indians under Donald Trump’s second term, with 295 more set to return soon, the External Affairs Ministry (MEA) informed Parliament. Deportations soared to 6,135 during Trump’s first term (2017-2021) but dropped to 3,652 under Joe Biden (2021-2025). Protests erupted in Parliament over reports that deportees were shackled, including women. The MEA said concerns were raised with US authorities, leading to policy changes. Nearly 40% of those deported last month were from Punjab and 34% from Haryana. Trump’s administration continues a sweeping crackdown on illegal immigration, impacting Indian nationals disproportionately.

London’s Heathrow Airport remains closed after a fire at a nearby electrical substation caused a massive power outage. More than 1,300 flights and 200,000 passengers are affected, with disruptions expected to continue beyond 24 hours. The airport, which served 83.9 million passengers last year, has urged travelers to stay away until reopening at 11:59 p.m. local time. British Energy Secretary Ed Miliband called the incident "unprecedented," as the fire also impacted a backup generator. The cause remains under investigation, according to the London Fire Brigade. Airlines worldwide are bracing for cascading disruptions due to the closure.

Indonesia’s Lewotobi Laki-laki volcano erupted on March 21, 2025, sending ash clouds up to 8 kilometers high and prompting authorities to raise the alert to the highest level. The eruption followed several smaller ones since March 13. One person was injured during evacuations, though further details are unclear. Australian airline Jetstar canceled flights to Bali, while some international and domestic flights were disrupted. The Bali airport remains operational, though seven international flights were canceled. The eruption has raised concerns, as the volcano previously killed nine people and displaced thousands in November 2024.

A fire at the North Hyde Electricity Substation near Heathrow Airport, involving a transformer with 25,000 litres of cooling oil, continues to burn, with 10% still alight, according to London Fire Brigade Deputy Commissioner Jonathan Smith. The Met Police declared it a major incident as firefighters faced challenging conditions. Hillingdon Council confirmed the closure of six schools in Hayes, including Pinkwell Primary and The Global Academy, for safety reasons. Emergency services remain on-site, and authorities are monitoring the situation closely. Residents have been advised to avoid the area as efforts continue to fully extinguish the fire.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticized Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK for using language issues to divert attention from corruption. In a Rajya Sabha address, he proposed the establishment of the Bharatiya Bhasha Abhiyan, a new department aimed at promoting all Indian languages. Shah announced plans to communicate in regional languages with state leaders and citizens from next year. He warned against using language to divide the country and emphasized that Hindi should be seen as a friend, not a rival to other languages. He also vowed to expose DMK’s alleged corruption.

  Elon Musk's social media platform X has filed a lawsuit against the Indian government, alleging that the country's IT ministry unlawfully expanded its censorship powers. The lawsuit claims that the new mechanism allows easier removal of online content without the stringent legal safeguards previously required, such as harm to sovereignty or public order. X argues that countless government officials now have the authority to issue content removal orders, bypassing the oversight of top officials. In response, India's IT ministry referred Reuters’ request for comment to the home affairs ministry, which has yet to respond.