The news that matters from across Bharat, good and bad
Welcome to Today’s Bharat. Here is what you need to know this week, in five minutes.
1. Cyclone Murasu damages 30,000+ hectares of crops
Severe cyclone Murasu crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast with winds of around 120 kmph. Standing crops on more than 30,000 hectares across 15 districts have been damaged, with Krishna, Bapatla and Nandyala the worst hit.
Rain alerts were also issued for Chennai and several Tamil Nadu districts. For farmers who were close to harvest, the losses will be felt well beyond this week. Source
2. Commercial LPG up ₹10, the third hike in a row
Commercial LPG cylinders are now ₹10 costlier after a third consecutive monthly increase, and jet fuel is up ₹1.37 a litre. Household cylinders are not part of this hike, but restaurants, dhabas, caterers and tiffin services will feel it straight away. Source
Small businesses cannot control the price of gas. What they can control is how easily new customers find them.
That is the problem OpenMap is working on: giving local businesses and service providers their own page and AI agent, so people (and the AI assistants they use) can find them and send them requests. We are launching in London first.
If you know caterers, tradespeople, tutors or shop owners who deserve to be found more easily, in London or wherever your circle reaches, help us bring them on board. Become an OpenMap partner
3. Indian seafarer killed in vessel attack off Oman
One Indian seafarer was killed and 13 crew were rescued after a vessel was struck off the coast of Oman. India has urged de-escalation in the region. It is another reminder of the risks Indian crews face on some of the world’s busiest shipping routes. Source
4. Pune Metro’s Pink Line opens, with ₹13,500 crore more cleared
Prime Minister Modi unveiled Pune Metro’s Pink Line and cleared a ₹13,500 crore expansion plan. The line links the Hinjawadi IT hub with Shivajinagar, a corridor whose foundation stone was laid in December 2018. Source
5. Tasmac suspends 245 supervisors after staff protest
Tamil Nadu’s state liquor retailer Tasmac suspended 245 shop supervisors and issued show-cause notices to 1,729 others over what it called unauthorised closures during a two-day statewide protest. Uncertainty remains over shop operations. Source
Also this week
IIT Delhi is still India’s highest-ranked university in the QS Asia University Rankings, but slipped seven places. Source
That’s this edition of Today’s Bharat. Forward it to someone who wants the week’s news without the noise.
See you in the next edition.
Team Today’s Bharat