What Caused Deadly Fire At Swiss Bar That Killed 40 On New Year's Eve

Swiss investigators said Friday that they believe sparkling flares atop Champagne bottles ignited the fatal fire at a ski resort when they came too close to a crowded bar's ceiling.

Forty people were killed, and another 119 were injured in the blaze as it ripped through the busy Le Constellation bar at the ski resort of Crans-Montana while revellers were celebrating New Year's Eve, authorities said.

Among the crowd was Axel Clavier, a 16-year-old from Paris, who said he felt as if he was suffocating inside the Swiss Alpine bar where moments before he had been ringing in the new year with friends and dozens of other people.

The teenager escaped the inferno, which broke out early Thursday, by forcing a window open with a table. But about 40 other partygoers died, including one of Clavier's friends, falling victim to one of the worst tragedies in Switzerland's history.

Many of the wounded were in their teens to mid-20s, police said.

Clavier told The Associated Press that two or three of his friends remained missing hours after the disaster.

Late Thursday, mourners left candles and flowers in an impromptu memorial near the bar. Hundreds of others prayed for the victims at the nearby Church of Montana-Station.

Pope Leo sent a telegram on Friday to the bishop of Sion to express condolences and pray that "the Lord will welcome the deceased into His abode of peace and light, and will sustain the courage of those who suffer in their hearts or in their bodies."

On Instagram, an account filled with photos of people who remained unaccounted for, with their friends and relatives begging for tips about the whereabouts of the missing.

"We have numerous accounts of heroic actions, one could say, of very strong solidarity in the moment," Valais regional government head Mathias Reynard told RTS radio Friday. He lauded the work of emergency officials on the day after the fire but added "in the first minutes it was citizens - and in large part young people - who saved lives with their courage."

Clavier, the Parisian teenager, said he didn't see the fire start, but did see waitresses arrive with Champagne bottles with burning sparklers.

Two women told French broadcaster BFMTV they were inside when they saw a male bartender lifting a female bartender on his shoulders as she held a lit candle in a bottle. The flames spread, collapsing the wooden ceiling, they told the broadcaster.

One of the women described a crowd surge as people frantically tried to escape from a basement nightclub up a flight of stairs and through a narrow door.

Another witness speaking to BFMTV described people smashing windows to escape the blaze, some gravely injured, and panicked parents rushing to the scene in cars to see whether their children were trapped inside.

Gianni Campolo, a Swiss 19-year-old who was in Crans-Montana on vacation, rushed to the bar to help first responders after receiving a call from a friend who escaped the inferno. He described a scene of people trapped on the ground, severely injured and burned.

"I have seen horror and I don't know what else would be worse than this," Campolo told TF1.

The severity of the burns has made it very difficult to identify bodies, bringing fresh agony for families who now must hand over DNA samples to authorities. In some cases, wallets and any ID documents inside turned to ash in the flames.

Emanuele Galeppini, a promising 17-year-old Italian golfer who competed internationally, is officially listed as one of Italy's missing nationals. His uncle Sebastiano Galeppini told Italian news agency ANSA that their family is awaiting the DNA checks, though the Italian Golf Federation on its website announced that he had died.

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said 13 Italian citizens were injured and six remained missing by midday Friday. Galeppini's name was on the missing persons list.

In a region busy with tourists skiing on the slopes, the authorities have called on the local population to show caution in the coming days to avoid accidents that could further strain the area's already overwhelmed medical resources.

With high-altitude ski runs rising around 3,000 meters (nearly 9,850 feet) in the heart of the Valais region's snowy peaks and pine forests, Crans-Montana is one of the top venues on the World Cup circuit. The resort will host the best men's and women's downhill racers, including Lindsey Vonn, for their final events before the Milan-Cortina Olympics in February. The town's Crans-sur-Sierre golf club stages the European Masters each August on a picturesque course.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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In Pune, Sena 'Candidate' Tears, Swallows Party Colleague's Nomination Form

The municipal elections in Maharashtra, already a hot topic across the state, has got juicier, with allegations that a contest in Pune got duplicate candidates from Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena and one of them, upset at the news, tore up and ate the AB form of his rival in public. 

Machhindra Davale and Uddhav Kamble were given AB forms by the Shiv Sena from Ward No. 36A in the Dhankawadi-Sahakarnagar area of Pune. 

Uddhav Kamble had allegedly found out when he went to file his papers at the Election Commission. The proof in hand, he allegedly tore it and promptly swallowed the balled up pieces in full view of the Election Commission officials.

A police case has been filed and his in-house rival said he has been asked to file duplicate papers. Sources said the police have taken this act very seriously. 

The police said that the complaint from the Election Commission was that Kamble had taken Davale's form during scrutiny, tore it up and put it in his mouth and rushed towards the washroom. "We are investigating the matter," said Rahul Khilare, a senior officer of the Bharati Vidyapeeth police station.

Kamble, though, denied that he had eaten the form. He said he had heard reports that there was a second candidate from the party. "I don't know who this "Davale" person is. He has no connection to our party and isn't a party official. I've never even met him," he said.

When he tried to verify it with senior party officials, he was assured that no other party worker had been given the form.

He had received similar replies from the party's district heads and even the Election Commission officials. 

But he searched by himself and "when I found the other form, out of anger and frustration, I tore it up... I was deeply upset that the election commission, a government body, would lie to an official candidate from a national party like the Shiv Sena," he said. 

Asked where the torn form is and that the election officials have filed a complaint saying he ate it in front of them, he said: "In the middle of the chaos, I don't know where the pieces went. But if they're claiming I ate it, I'm here at the police station to challenge that... I should undergo a medical examination. If the form is found in my stomach, then they can proceed with legal action. But if it's not, they should withdraw the false complaint".

Davale said he was not there to witness the moment. He said he had heard that his form was torn up and eaten but did not hold any grudges, since "he (Kamble) is from our party and a good friend of mine, I don't have any ill will toward him".

Declaring himself the official candidate of the Sena, he said now that two candidates have surfaced, the party will take a final call. 
Sena, though, is yet to say who is the "real" candidate.

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Sriram Raghavan Reveals Why Dhurandhar Is Not The Kind Of Film He Would Make

Even as Aditya Dhar's Dhurandhar continues its triumphant box-office run, Sriram Raghavan has made it clear that the blockbuster spy thriller sits firmly outside his own creative comfort zone. 

Speaking to The Hindu ahead of the release of his next film, Ikkis, Raghavan explained why the Ranveer Singh-starrer, despite being well-crafted, represents a cinematic language he would not personally adopt.

Why Dhurandhar's Success Does Not Define His Filmmaking Choices

Addressing comparisons between Dhurandhar and the kind of spy films he and his brother Shridhar Raghavan have made in the past, Sriram stressed that it is less about quality and more about worldview.

"It is a well-made film with terrific performances, but it is not our kind of film. We must understand that we are living in different times. The earlier James Bond films starring Sean Connery and Roger Moore were fun movies. Later on, Bond films started to get serious. Dhurandhar is one movie. It is doing spectacularly well, and it should. But this is not the only format. If I start following it, it will be the silliest thing to do," he said.

Sriram Raghavan Praises Aditya Dhar

While distancing himself from Aditya Dhar's stylistic choices, Raghavan was careful to underline his admiration for the filmmaker. The two directors share a significant career milestone, having both won National Awards in the same year - Dhar for Uri: The Surgical Strike and Raghavan for Andhadhun.

Reflecting on that moment, Raghavan said, "Aditya and I shared the National Award stage when he made Uri, and I had Andhadhun. He has a different kind of sensibility and craft, and I love watching his films, but it is not something I would make."

That philosophy also shapes his upcoming project Ikkis, a biographical war drama based on the life of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, India's youngest Param Vir Chakra awardee. In the movie, Agastya Nanda steps into the role of the 21-year-old war hero and Dharmendra portrays his father.

ALSO READ: Dhurandhar Actor Naseem Mughal Was "Uncomfortable" About Viral Assault Scene, Reveals Ranveer Singh's Reaction

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Helped Boost Ties: PM In Letter To Tarique Rahman After Khaleda Zia's Death

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his condolence letter to Tarique Rahman - the son of Bangladesh's former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and the acting chairman leader of Bangladesh Nationalist Party - recalled his association with her and expressed hope that the people of Bangladesh, who have shown "remarkable strength and dignity throughout their history... will continue to be guided by their shared values, democratic traditions, and a deep sense of national unity".

PM Modi's letter was delivered today by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who represented India at the funeral of Khaleda Zia.

On arrival in Dhaka, met with Mr Tarique Rahman @trahmanbnp, Acting Chairman of BNP and son of former PM of Bangladesh Begum Khaleda Zia.

Handed over to him a personal letter from Prime Minister @narendramodi.

Conveyed deepest condolences on behalf of the Government and… pic.twitter.com/xXNwJsRTmZ

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) December 31, 2025

Expressing his condolences in the letter, PM Modi had said, "I warmly recall my meeting and discussions with Begum Sahiba in Dhaka in June 2015".

"She was a leader of rare resolve and conviction and had the distinction of being the first woman Prime Minister of Bangladesh. She made many important contributions to the development of Bangladesh, as well as to the strengthening of India-Bangladesh relations," he wrote.

"While her passing leaves an irreplaceable void, her vision and legacy will endure," PM Modi added. "I am confident that her ideals will be carried forward under your able leadership of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and will continue to serve as a guiding light to ensure a new beginning and the enrichment of the deep and historic partnership between India and Bangladesh," he wrote.

Zia, the three-time Prime Minister of Bangladesh who headed the BNP, died on Tuesday after a long illness. Her funaral today was attended by thousands, including dignitaries from various nations. She was laid to rest with full State honours this afternoon beside her husband, the country's former President Ziaur Rahman, at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in Dhaka.

Rahman, a front-runner for the prime minister post in the election due on February 12, is Khaleda Zia's eldest son.

During his meeting with Rahman, Jaishankar acknowledged Zia's contribution to democracy. He also expressed optimism about closer India-Bangladesh ties -- which have been frayed since the government led by Mohammad Yunus came to power -- after the elections due in February. Dhaka's growing closeness with Pakistan and its all-weather ally China lately has been a situation that is being closely watched by India.

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Techie Reveals How Moving From Bengaluru To Hyderabad Changed Her Life

Shreya Prasad, a techie who works at Uber, has recently shared her experience of moving to Hyderabad. In her post on LinkedIn, she said that leaving Bengaluru was one of the best decisions she made this year. She listed a few reasons for leaving Bengaluru, such as potholes, time spent on travelling, waiting hours for cabs, insane traffic, hard water, low-quality food and healthcare and expensive living costs. 

Shreya further said that life has become calmer, happier, and healthier in Hyderabad. She highlighted that Hyderabad offers a better work-life balance, with improved infrastructure and lower living costs.

"A small career + life update - I moved from Uber Bengaluru to Uber Hyderabad earlier this year. Looking back, it's been one of the better decisions I've made for myself," she wrote in the post, which gained significant traction. "I didn't realise how much mental energy was being drained by everyday things until they were gone." 

Also read | Watch: Google Techie Takes "Proud Parents" On Office Visit, Shares Emotional Moment

"Hyderabad is calmer. That has translated into better health, more energy, and sharper focus at work. Bengaluru gave me a lot professionally. Hyderabad is giving me balance between personal and professional life," she said.

"Sometimes growth isn't about changing roles, it's about changing environments."

Also read | "Dear Indians, Stop Behaving Like This": Man Calls Out Tourists For Littering Kerala Beach

The post resonated with many, with one user saying, "That's the precise reason we migrated from Bangalore to Hyd over 6 yrs back. Hyd is simply much better than Bnglr."

"Hyderabad is way better than Bangalore," a second user said.

"100% true-and that's exactly why I'd never want to move back to Gurgaon or any other city," a third wrote.

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CBSE Cancels Affiliation Of Jaipur School Over Class 4 Student's Suicide

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) today cancelled the affiliation of a school in Jaipur where a 9-year-old girl, a Class 4 student, died by suicide on November 1.

In a detailed eight-page order dated December 30, the CBSE said the incident exposed "grave, flagrant and wilful non-compliance" with mandatory child safety norms, concluding that the Neerja Modi School was "not fit for continuation of affiliation".

The board described the case as one involving systemic failure, negligence, and lack of accountability, adding that the tragedy was entirely preventable.

What The CBSE Found

According to the official order, a two-member fact-finding committee appointed by CBSE conducted surprise inspections, examined CCTV footage, interacted with staff and parents, and reviewed school records. The findings revealed multiple serious lapses:

- No safety grills or steel nets in open areas on upper floors

- No effective CCTV surveillance of student movement and failure to preserve footage

- No vigilant or dedicated staff monitoring corridors and staircases

- Absence of a functional counselling mechanism

- Non-existent or non-functional anti-bullying systems

- Repeated complaints by parents about bullying were ignored

- Teachers, staff, and students found without identity cards

- No floor-level supervision, the child's movement to the fourth floor went unnoticed

Most critically, the CBSE noted that the bloodstained area at the site of the fall was cleaned almost immediately, which it said amounted to tampering with potential forensic evidence.

"The removal of vital material evidence within minutes of the incident demonstrates a serious breach of legal and procedural obligations," the order stated.

Counselling And Bullying Failures

The Board rejected the school's claim that the child was happy and academically active, stating that such arguments were irrelevant to the core issue of safety compliance.

"It is evident that despite repeated approaches by the parents, the school confined its response to discussions during Parent-Teacher Meetings, without initiating any structured or proactive intervention," CBSE said.

The absence of documented counselling, referrals, or remedial action, the Board added, reflected a complete failure of the safeguarding mechanism mandated under affiliation by-laws.

School's Defence Rejected

Neerja Modi School argued that it had complied with building safety norms, fire safety regulations, and had constituted mandatory committees. CBSE dismissed these submissions, stating:

"Mere possession of structural or fire safety certificates cannot substitute mandatory child safety measures required under the Affiliation By-Laws."

The Board also noted that documents submitted showed committees existed only on paper, with no evidence of meetings, actions, or case handling.

'Completely Preventable Incident'

In one of its strongest observations, the CBSE said:

"The only answer to the fundamental question is that this incident was completely preventable had the required provisions been followed."

The failure to monitor the child after she left for the washroom, the Board said, was a serious lapse of duty of care.

CBSE's Final Orders

Based on the findings, CBSE imposed the severest penalty available under its rules:

- Affiliation up to Senior Secondary level withdrawn with immediate effect

- Class X and XII students allowed to appear from the same school for the 2025-26 session

- Class IX and XI students to be shifted to nearby CBSE schools by March 31, 2026

- No new admissions or promotions to Class IX and XI allowed

- School may apply for restoration up to secondary level only after one academic year, from 2027-28, subject to full compliance

- Senior secondary affiliation can be sought only after two additional academic years

- The future of Classes I to VIII will be decided by the Rajasthan State Education Department

'Zero Tolerance On Child Safety'

CBSE underlined that schools are expected to be "safe havens for children" and warned that violations impacting student safety strike at the very foundation of affiliation.

"Such negligent actions constitute serious breaches directly impacting student safety and warrant strict and immediate action," the Board said.

The order has been issued with the approval of the Competent Authority of the CBSE and sent to the school management for compliance.

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4 Dead, 9 Injured After Mumbai's BEST Bus Crashes Into Pedestrians

Four people were killed after they were hit by a BEST bus while it was reversing in Mumbai tonight. Nine others were injured. The incident happened in Mumbai's Bhandup.

The injured people have been admitted to a hospital.

BEST, short for Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport, runs the country's largest public bus fleet.

The Mumbai Police said the bus lost control before it hit pedestrians. What led to the bus going out of control is not yet known.

Soon after the accident, a large police presence was deployed at the site to manage the situation and regulate traffic in the area.

Senior officials rushed to the spot to help with emergency response teams.

The authorities have started an investigation to determine the sequence of events leading to the accident, including whether mechanical failure or other factors were involved.

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