Pioneer in short
NCR, Rajasthan Hit by Frost
Northern India shivered through one of the coldest nights of the season on Monday, with sub-zero temperatures and dense fog affecting large parts of Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi-NCR, Himachal Pradesh, and Kashmir. Gurugram and Bathinda recorded near-freezing lows of 0.6°C, while Fatehpur in Rajasthan dipped to -0.4°C. The NCR, including Faridabad and Rewari, experienced ground frost, frozen windshields, and brittle grass. Delhi recorded a minimum of 3.2°C, marking its coldest January day since 2023. Rajasthan saw widespread near-freezing conditions, with Lunkaransar at 0.4°C, Churu at 1.3°C, and other districts under severe cold waves. Farmers reported frost affecting vegetable crops, though wheat benefited. Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh also faced severe cold, with temperatures ranging from 1.2°C in Narnaul to 3.3°C in Chandigarh. Kashmir recorded slight relief, though minimums remained below zero, with Pulwama at -6.5°C and Srinagar at -2.4°C. Himachal Pradesh warned of dense fog and a potential wet spell in high hills from January 16-18. The India Meteorological Department forecast continued cold wave conditions across northern states.
SEC intervenes in Ladki Bahin row
The State Election Commission (SEC) on Monday barred the Maharashtra government from releasing the January instalment of the flagship ‘Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana’ in advance, citing the enforcement of the model code of conduct (MCC) for upcoming municipal elections. The clarification followed complaints triggered by media reports and statements by BJP leader and minister Girish Mahajan, who claimed eligible women beneficiaries would receive a combined payment of ?3,000 for December and January before Makar Sankranti on January 14 as a “special gift” from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The SEC wrote to Chief Secretary Rajesh Agarwal seeking clarification on whether the government intended to release two months’ instalments together ahead of polling on January 15 across 29 municipal corporations.
Himachal fire leaves three dead
Three people, including an eight-year-old child, were killed in a massive fire that gutted parts of the Old Bus Stand area of Arki market in Himachal Pradesh’s Solan district, police said on Monday. The blaze broke out around 2.45 am on Sunday night and rapidly spread through closely packed structures, destroying several shops and residential buildings. Rescue operations are underway to trace six people feared trapped under the debris. All nine affected persons are Nepalese nationals from Salyan district in Nepal’s Karnali province, officials said, adding that five of them are minors. So far, three bodies have been recovered from the site, according to Solan Superintendent of Police Gaurav Singh. Deputy Commissioner Manmohan Sharma said an inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the fire, which reportedly originated in a wooden building before spreading to adjoining structures.
