Sudhanshu Mani, the creator of Vande Bharat trains and former General Manager of Indian Railways' Integral Coach Factory, remarked that the "railway made a mistake" by not catering to common passengers. He criticized the focus on AC coaches for high-end travelers, noting it reduced non-AC options and pushed unreserved passengers into AC classes. Mani urged the government to restore and increase non-AC coaches, arguing for balanced travel solutions that address both comfort and affordability. This shift, he argued, is essential to meet the needs of all passengers and correct the current imbalance in the railway's offerings.

A curfew has been imposed in Odisha's Balasore town after a clash between two communities over alleged cow slaughter. The violence led to the arrest of 34 individuals from both sides, with more expected. To prevent further escalation, the administration has deployed 43 platoons of police and mobilized an additional 15. Internet services have also been suspended in the area. The state government has dispatched four IPS officers and senior police officials to monitor the situation. The curfew comes after initial prohibitory orders under CrPC Section 144 failed to contain the tension. The situation remains volatile, with authorities working to restore peace.

A curfew has been imposed and internet suspended in Odisha's Balasore after communal clashes broke out between two communities on Monday. The violence erupted over allegations of cow slaughter during a religious celebration, leading to stone pelting and arson. At least 15 people, including five policemen, were injured. The situation escalated at night, with houses and vehicles set on fire. Police resorted to blank firing to control the situation. Section 144 of the CrPC has been imposed in the area. The district administration is working to restore peace and normalcy in the region.

The Kanchanjunga Express, which was involved in a deadly collision with a goods train in Siliguri on Monday, has arrived at its destination in Kolkata's Sealdah station after undergoing repairs. The train, which killed nine people and injured several others, reached Sealdah at 3:16 am, leaving behind the damaged compartments at the accident site where repair work is ongoing. The train's arrival marks a somber end to a tragic journey, as investigators continue to probe the cause of the devastating crash.

A tragic collision between a goods train and the Sealdah-bound Kanchanjunga Express near Rangapani station in West Bengal has claimed the lives of at least nine people and left around 60 injured. The incident occurred when the goods train collided with the rear compartments of the express, causing derailment. Railway officials attribute the accident to initial signs of signal disregard, indicating human error. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw visited the site, overseeing rescue operations and announcing enhanced compensation for victims. The Commissioner of Railway Safety has initiated an investigation into the cause of the collision.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticized the central government after the Kanchanjunga Express collision, which killed 9 and injured 60 near New Jalpaiguri. Banerjee, a former Railways Minister, condemned the absence of the anti-collision device, Kavach, calling the railways "parentless." She emphasized the need for better passenger safety and criticized the current focus on "grand inaugurations and beautifications" instead of essential amenities. Banerjee demanded improved attention to railway staff and passenger protection, urging the government to prioritize governance over election strategies.

A power outage at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport disrupted operations at Terminal 3 on Monday. The outage lasted several minutes, affecting air conditioning, baggage collection, and e-gates. Passengers described the terminal as "totally choked" on social media, with long queues and no functioning services. One passenger complained about not being able to buy water or food. A Delhi Airport spokesperson said a voltage imbalance from the Delhi Transco Limited grid caused the issue. Although services were delayed, no flights were affected. Air conditioning was quickly restored after the outage.

Survivors of the Kanchanjunga Express crash in Darjeeling recounted the harrowing moments when a speeding goods train collided with their train on Monday morning. Kisan Chettri, from Shillong, was playing games on his phone when he felt a huge jerk and heard a loud bang. "Our coach started tumbling. I lost my bags and couldn't find two fellow passengers," he said. Johnson Chettri, also from Meghalaya, was on the phone when he was jolted. "I lost sense for a couple of minutes," he recalled. Abinash Mukherjee from Barasat and Narayan Ghosh from Assam described the chaos and the swift response of locals, who rescued the injured and helped calm the panicked passengers.

A shocking discovery was made by journalist Mathures Paul on an Air India flight from Bengaluru to San Francisco. While enjoying his in-flight meal, he bit into a metal blade hidden in the roasted sweet potato and fig chaat. Fortunately, he spat it out without injury. Paul shared his ordeal on social media, criticizing Air India's catering service and highlighting the potential danger, especially if the meal had been served to a child. The incident raises concerns about the airline's food safety and quality control. An investigation is likely to follow.

A collision between a goods train and the Kolkata-bound Kanchanjunga Express resulted in the deaths of eight passengers and injuries to over 50 others. The accident occurred on tracks where the Kavach safety system, designed to prevent such incidents, had not been installed. Currently, Kavach covers more than 1,500 km of India's extensive railway network, which spans over 1 lakh km. Plans are underway to expand Kavach to 6,000 km by next year, focusing on critical routes like Delhi-Guwahati and Delhi-Howrah. Officials highlight Kavach's potential to prevent accidents, though some cite concerns over its operational costs.