The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has revised the timings of the last metro services on Diwali day, November 12. On account of the festival, the last train services from all stations of Delhi Metro will start at 10pm from their terminal stations on Sunday, the DMRC said in a statement. All other train services will run as usual for the rest of the day on Diwali, the officials added. 

“On account of the Diwali festival, the last Metro train service on November 12 will start at 10 PM (instead of the routine 11 pm) from terminal stations of all lines, including Airport Express Line,” the DMRC said.

On account of the Diwali festival, the last Metro train service on 12th November 2023 (Sunday) will start at 10:00 PM from terminal stations of all Lines including Airport Express Line.

— Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (@OfficialDMRC) November 8, 2023

The revised schedule for Diwali can affect the late-night travellers of the Delhi Metro. On Sunday, the train services will commence from 6:00 am onwards on all lines from 4:45 am on the Airport Express Line, said DMRC. 

Metro train services will commence from 06:00 AM onwards on ALL LINES/SECTIONS and from 4:45 AM on Airport Express Line on this Sunday (Diwali).

— Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (@OfficialDMRC) November 8, 2023

On regular days, the last service in all Delhi Metro corridors will leave at 11 pm. The revised timing for Diwali day on Sunday is applicable for all metro lines in the national capital. From Monday onwards, the services will be functioning as usual. 

The Delhi Metro has 12 lines and 288 stations including the Noida-Greater Noida Aqua line and Rapid Metro in Gurugram. 

Meanwhile, in the wake of rising air pollution in the national capital, the DMRC has begun 20 extra train trips for the convenience of daily commuters. The move is aimed at encouraging people to ditch their personal transport and opt for public transport in Delhi and its adjoining areas of Noida, Ghaziabad and others. 

Notably, Delhi Metro is already running 40 additional train trips on weekdays (Monday-Friday) from October 25 onwards when GRAP-II stage had come into force. GRAP categorises actions into four stages: Stage I – ‘Poor’ (AQI 201-300); Stage II – ‘Very Poor’ (AQI 301-400); Stage III – ‘Severe’ (AQI 401-450); and Stage IV – ‘Severe Plus’ (AQI >450). 

Days after back-to-back earthquakes rattled the remote mountain areas of western Nepal, a third shipment of 12 tonnes of relief material from India reached the country on Thursday.

On November 3, a 6.4-magnitude earthquake jolted western Nepal’s Jajarkot and Rukum districts killing 153 people and injuring over 260 others. On November 7, three tremors of over magnitude 4 hit Jajarkot injuring at least 16 people. The quakes damaged around 8,000 buildings, both public and private.

The November 3 quake caused the worst human and infrastructure losses since the devastating jolt of April 2015.

Soon after an Indian Air Force plane carrying over the emergency aid landed in Nepal on Thursday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar tweeted: “@IAF_MCC. Flight 3 carrying another 12 tonnes of relief material lands in Nepal. India will always remain a trusted and reliable partner.”

Flight #3 of @IAF_MCC carrying another 12 tonnes of relief material lands in Nepal.

India will always remain a trusted and reliable partner. pic.twitter.com/K0tqgjJLX1

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) November 9, 2023

A banner with the words ‘Nepal India Cooperation’ surrounding the flags of the two countries and a label “Gift from people of India to People of Nepal” below it adorned the area where the neatly packed aid material was kept after it was delivered by the IAF plane.

This consignment came three days after the second such aid of nine tonnes reached here on November 6 for the quake-affected families in the northwest mountainous region where people are facing a shortage of food, warm clothes and medicines as a fresh tremor struck the region.

The second consignment was transported to Nepalgunj by a special Indian Air Force C-130 and comprised essential medical and hygiene supplies, tents, sleeping bags and blankets.

The first consignment of more than 11 tonnes of relief materials was provided by India which included tents, tarpaulin sheets, blankets, and sleeping bags along with essential medicines and medical equipment on November 5.

As its immediate neighbour with centuries of relations, India was the first country to dispatch emergency relief materials to the earthquake-hit districts in Nepal.

“India’s support to Nepal remains strong and steadfast in this difficult hour,” Jaishankar had posted on X on November 6.

In 2015, a 7.8 magnitude quake damaged nearly 800,000 houses besides killing nearly 9,000 people, according to the Post Disaster Needs Assessment Report, 2015.

The Bihar Legislative Council was disrupted by protests from both the ruling JD(U) and opposition BJP over CM Nitish Kumar’s birth control remarks. The JD(U) members responded by bringing up personal issues concerning PM Narendra Modi’s family life. The protests continued even outside the House, with the opposition accusing the JD(U) of protecting their leader. The opposition also raised the issue of lathicharge and use of water cannons on protesting Anganwadi sevikas.