Bengaluru Lake Crisis: No Potable Water In India's 'Silicon Valley'

According to data published by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, water quality analysis conducted across 147 monitoring locations between April and November 2025 shows that not a single lake in the city consistently met potable or safe bathing standards.

No Lake Achieves Safe Water Quality

The report categorised lakes under standard water quality classes:

Class A: Potable without treatment

Class B: Safe for bathing

Class D & E: Severely polluted, unsuitable for human use

Shockingly, no lake achieved Class A or Class B status during the monitoring period. Most lakes were classified under D or E, indicating heavy contamination.

Iconic Lakes Among Worst Affected

Several of Bengaluru's most well-known lakes recorded disturbing pollution levels:

Bellandur Lake: Rated E in April, briefly improved to D during summer, before slipping back to E by November.

Varthur Lake: Fluctuated between D and E categories.

Hebbal Lake: Maintained D status for most months before deteriorating to E.

Other severely affected lakes include Madiwala, Kaikondanahalli, Kundalahalli, and Ulsoor (all D/E), while Sankey Tank maintained a D rating. The report notes that the Bommanahalli and Mahadevapura zones emerged as the worst-hit regions, largely due to rapid urbanisation and untreated waste discharge.

Experts Warn of 'Ecological Emergency'

Environmental activist Madhuri Subbarao, co-founder of Friends of Lakes, said the findings confirm long-standing concerns.

"Many lakes in Bengaluru are on the brink of ecological collapse," Ms Subbarao said. "Today, we cannot point to a single lake with healthy water quality, stable ecology, or safe biodiversity. Most lakes fall below acceptable standards, with water unfit even for animal consumption."

She called for urgent government intervention, including the formation of a dedicated lake restoration task force, the scientific identification of pollution sources, and stronger collaboration with citizen groups.

Summer Water Stress Likely to Worsen

The findings come at a critical time as Bengaluru prepares for peak summer, a period when dependence on groundwater and tanker supplies traditionally rises.

With the city's primary surface water bodies now officially declared unfit for use, residents face a mounting challenge in securing safe water as temperatures climb.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/R0ItjDV
via IFTTT

Watch: Gurugram Man, 31, Shares Rs 2.44 Lakh Monthly Expense Breakdown

A 31-year-old corporate professional from Gurugram has sparked online discussion after sharing his monthly expenditure of over Rs 2.4 lakh. In a now-viral video titled ‘Monthly spends of corporate gym rat living in Gurgaon,' Gagan Saini detailed his January outgoings, ranging from rent and groceries to long-term investments.

Saini detailed that he was living in a 2.5 BHK flat in the Millennium City, with the rent coming around Rs 53,500. He said, although the rent was not cheap, his priorities had shifted post-marriage and comfort, location and safety came first. As for cook, maid and car cleaning, he was shelling out Rs 8,450 per month.

Being a regular at the gym, Saini said he was spending Rs 8,682 on membership and supplements, which also inflated his grocery costs to Rs 15,927 as he preferred to cook most of the meals at home. The homemade meals greatly reduced his eating-out tendencies, which meant that the dine-out bill stood at Rs 3,161.

Saini added that he was renting most of the furniture in his flat at a monthly cost of Rs 18,926, while home decor to make the space feel cosy set him back by Rs 4,848. Wi-fi and other OTT subscriptions increased the expenses by another Rs 1,728, and petrol cost him Rs 6,000.

"Home setup is still in progress so rented fridge and washing machine for now, but yes, got the recliner. Small home and kitchen touches to make the space feel like ours," he wrote.

As a content creator, Saini said he spent Rs 4,022 on buying some equipment and professional software subscriptions, whilst investing Rs 1,20,000. In the end, his total expenses for the month of January came to around Rs 2,44,244.

Check The Viral Post Here:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Gagan Saini (@03gagan)

Also Read | Viral Baby Monkey Punch Finally Accepted By His Troop With Heartwarming Hug

Social Media Reacts

As of the last update, the video had garnered over 171,000 views, as social media users joked that Saini's monthly expenses far exceeded their annual salaries.

"This is the annual package at our college," said one user while another added: "Bro, the amount you have spent is not even the salary of most people."

A third commented: "Apart from rent, everything else is pretty reasonable, good to know you are spending a good amount on your diet and stay."

A fourth said: "Seeing your rent made my heart sink. I feel lucky that I don't have to pay any rent. Rest everything is good."

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/1Sakedj
via IFTTT

Gambhir Holds One-On-One Chat With Abhishek, Team Management Breaks Silence

All that Abhishek Sharma needs is a start, but there hasn't been any discussion about the talented opener's wretched run in the T20 World Cup so far, bowling coach Morne Morkel said ahead of India's first Super Eights game against South Africa here on Sunday. Abhishek is yet to open his account in the current edition of the tournament and during Friday's training, he was seen spending considerable time with head coach Gautam Gambhir. Gambhir was seen trying to explain to him certain finer points and like a diligent student, the flamboyant southpaw nodded in agreement.

After that he went for a high catch session.

At times, excess training can prove to be counter productive and Abhishek was seen bowling to the other batters for better part of the game.

When asked if there's discussion in general within the team on Abhishek, Morkel denied emphatically.

"Absolutely no discussion. He's a world class player. So far in the tournament, luckily, there's been some guys standing up for Abhishek (others scoring runs)," Morkel told the media.

However, he agreed that Abhishek needs to score runs as they enter the business end of the tourney.

"But we're going through a very important phase of the World Cup now and we expect him to do well.

"And I'm pretty sure, not just for the team, but also for all the viewers watching the game. Because he's (Abhishek) entertaining, and we love to see that.

"So yeah, I'm pretty sure he's hitting the ball well. It's just a matter of getting that start and Abhishek will get going," Morkel said.

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

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/LbD4WH1
via IFTTT

India vs SA Clash Divides Morkel Family: Mother Doesn't Know Who To Support

The Morkel household in Pretoria, South Africa, is in two minds. The reason: the India vs South Africa T20 World Cup Super 8 clash on Sunday. The elder son of the family, Albie Morkel, is the consultant coach of South Africa, while the younger son, Morne Morkel, is the Indian bowling coach. So when India take on South Africa in the Super Eight at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on February 22, Mariana Morkel may be the most conflicted cricket fan on the planet.

At her home in Pretoria, Mariana will be torn between supporting South Africa - the country for which Albie Morkel played one Test, 58 ODIs and 50 T20Is and now serves as consultant coach during the ongoing Men's T20 World Cup - or India, where her younger son Morne Morkel, who represented the Proteas in 86 Tests, 117 ODIs and 44 T20Is, is now the bowling coach.

When asked in the pre-match press conference whether he had exchanged coaching notes with Morne, Albie said, "No, we don't talk to each other. I think my mother, she's more worried than us. She doesn't know who to support - India or South Africa."

Morkel declared that the real tournament begins now, insisting that South Africa's passage through the group stage was merely the first box ticked on what he expects to be a demanding road to the title.

"I think the World Cup really starts now, even though we had a tough group. Now you face India, possibly Australia or Zimbabwe, and the West Indies in our group. So it's really tough. It's going to be all good games. Yes, there will be more pressure on those games as you get closer to the playoffs.

"But I feel we've got a very experienced group of bowlers, and the batting is better. Guys have been exposed to pressure situations - whether in the IPL, other leagues, or international cricket. It's a little bit different, but players who can handle pressure will actually thrive in those circumstances, where there's a bit more pressure on the games. So I'm not too worried," he added.

With IANS inputs

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/Jb9oK7h
via IFTTT

Andrew Can Be Kept In Custody For 4 Days At Most, Likely To Be Released In 1

In one of the gravest crises to affect the House of Windsor, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office in connection with his close relationship with late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

He was taken into custody on Thursday morning by the Thames Valley Police in Sandringham, where the former prince is currently living after his brother King Charles III stripped him of his titles and honours and evicted him from his royal residence.

However, the former prince can be kept in custody only for 24 hours per CNN, after which the police would have to formally charge him with a crime or release him. If the police need to hold him for longer - 36 to 96 hours - extensions from senior officers and the Magistrate's Court would be required.

Read | Former UK Royal Andrew Arrested Amid Probe Into Epstein Ties

The longest the police can hold Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor for is 96 hours, which is the longest amount of time a suspect can be held for a serious crime.

According to English law, suspects can be released on bail if there is not enough evidence. The released suspects do not have to pay the bail amount, but they are required to return to the police station for questioning if needed.

Danny Shaw, a policing commentator, told the BBC that the former prince will be placed in "a cell in a custody suite" with just "a bed and a toilet", where he is supposed to wait till the police interview him. He also added that "there'll be no special treatment for him".

Read | "Full, Fair, Proper Process": King Charles After Brother Andrew's Arrest

The arrest follows a ratcheting up of allegations against Mountbatten-Windsor in the wake of the release of millions of pages of files last month related to Epstein by the US Justice Department.

Many of the recent allegations centre on sexual impropriety on the part of Mountbatten-Windsor, specifically that a woman was trafficked to the UK by Epstein to have a sexual encounter with the then-prince.

Thames Valley Police said it was "assessing" reports that Mountbatten-Windsor sent confidential trade reports to Epstein in 2010, when the former prince was Britain's special envoy for international trade.

Read | "Was Never A Prince": Victim Virginia Giuffre's Family On Andrew's Arrest

The Crown Prosecution Service, which decides on whether a charge has the potential to lead to a successful prosecution, defines misconduct in public office as the "serious willful abuse or neglect of the power or responsibilities of the public office held."

(With inputs from agencies)

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/GPpjcBI
via IFTTT

AI Summit 2026 Day 4 Highlights: PM Modi Addresses AI Impact Summit

AI Summit 2026 Highlights: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed global leaders at India AI Impact Summit 2026 and called to democratise artificial intelligence, making it a tool for inclusion and empowerment. "Artificial intelligence marks a transformative chapter in human history. India is not just a part of the AI revolution, but is leading and shaping it," PM Modi said in the presence of world leaders.

The inaugural session featured addresses by Union Minsiter Ashwini Vaishnaw, Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and French President Emmanuel Macron.

The exhibition will remain closed to the general public today and to make up for the closure, the government has extended the expo by an additional day, keeping it open until Saturday, February 21.

Here are the Highlights of India AI Impact Summit 2026, Day 4:

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/EURj79o
via IFTTT

Mrunal Says Her Ex Was Insecure About Hrithik Roshan's Good Looks In Super 30

Amid swirling speculation about her personal life, Mrunal Thakur has spoken candidly about insecurity, relationships, and how fame can impact private lives.

Mrunal Thakur On Her Ex's Insecurity During Super 30

While promoting her upcoming film Do Deewane Seher Mein, Mrunal appeared on Raunaq Rajani's YouTube channel, where she reflected on a past relationship and the challenges that came with it.

She revealed that her former partner became insecure when she was shooting Super 30 alongside Hrithik Roshan.

Recalling the incident, she said, "So this guy, who was a Scandinavian, he thought that I was hanging around and shooting with a lot of men who were good-looking, like Hrithik Roshan. So he started working out, lost like 15-17 kgs, and he got muscles. Later, I found out, because there was a point he just stopped working out and started eating and gained 20 kgs. And I was like what's happening? And he told me, 'I'm just tired catching up.'"

Mrunal further clarified that the decision was never influenced by her, adding, "But I was like, I never asked him to lose weight, but it was his insecurity that I was hanging around with such good-looking men."

She also admitted that while she sometimes feels insecure in relationships, she prefers addressing issues openly rather than letting them grow.

Marriage Rumours With Dhanush 

In recent times, Mrunal has been dealing with persistent marriage rumours linking her to Dhanush.

Speaking to Galatta Plus, she dismissed the speculation and said, "No, I think 14th Feb is going to be 1st April, April Fools day. Because I don't know who started this. First of all, I have been quoted but I never said anything. And they just said Mrunal said so."

The rumours gained momentum after Dhanush attended a special screening of Son of Sardaar 2, starring Mrunal, and when she later appeared at the success party of Tere Ishk Mein.

Clarifying her stand, Mrunal reiterated that neither she nor Dhanush has confirmed any romantic relationship, and urged people to be cautious about misleading online content.

ALSO READ: Mrunal Thakur Reveals How Her Address Was Leaked Amid Wedding Rumours With Dhanush: "Had To Hire A Team To Sort Things"

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/BuVavSL
via IFTTT