Residents said damaged drains with broken lids and blocked channels at many places have made the situation worse

Residents said damaged drains with broken lids and blocked channels at many places have made the situation worse

Residents said damaged drains with broken lids and blocked channels at many places have made the situation worse

Residents said damaged drains with broken lids and blocked channels at many places have made the situation worse

Residents said damaged drains with broken lids and blocked channels at many places have made the situation worse

Gurgaon: with monsoon With less than a month to go, residents of Sector 31 fear another season of severe waterlogging and floods due to the lack of a functional drainage system in the area. He alleged that the area remains unsafe during heavy rains due to poor coordination among multiple agencies, clogged drains and delay in implementation of sanctioned projects.Residents said the situation is particularly serious in low-lying areas and areas along the highway, where rainwater accumulates due to blocked natural slopes and inadequate storm water drainage connectivity.“Most parts of Sector 31 either lack proper drainage network or the existing drains are in poor condition. Many drains are filled with silt and debris, while some stretches have been encroached upon. “Proper desilting has not been done for almost five years,” said BS Yadav, RWA president of Sector 31.Residents alleged that despite repeated complaints, civic agencies have failed to execute sanctioned projects aimed at mitigating floods. Sudhir Yadav, a resident, said, “Every monsoon, the same roads and houses get submerged. Plans were earlier approved to increase green belt absorption areas to reduce rain water runoff, but the work was never executed.”Residents said damaged drains with broken lids and blocked channels at many places have made the situation worse. Residents said immediate desilting and repair works are needed to prevent flooding during the upcoming monsoon.Residents also blamed overlapping jurisdictions between civic bodies for the delay in resolution. “There are a lot of agencies involved – mcgGMDA, NHAI and HSVP – but no one takes ownership of the problem. Meetings were held earlier also and a tender for a sump and lifting system to divert excess rainwater was also approved, but the project never took off,” said Arvind Chadha, general secretary of the RWA.Meanwhile, MCG chief engineer Vijay Dhaka could not be reached for comment.

Stephen Colbert (file photo)

TOI correspondent from Washington: American late-night television, that unique, bizarre institution where presidents are mocked, celebrities are fawned over and audiences applaud on cue, is preparing for a funeral. After 33 years, CBS is shutting down The Late Show stephen colbertIts eponymous host took his final bow this week — marking the end of not just a show, but perhaps an era when comedians doubled as political opposition.CBS emphasizes that the decision is “purely financial”, which, as one article stated, may be true in the same way that there was a “water management issue” with the Titanic. According to the network, late-night television is losing money in the streaming age, with young viewers migrating to social media memes, clips and podcasts hosted by hosts broadcasting from basements and bunkers. Advertising revenues for late night TV have declined dramatically in recent years, even as production costs have increased.Yet some people in America believe that money is the reason for the demise of the top-rated late-night franchise. Suspicion deepened after Colbert blamed Paramount Global – CBS’s parent company – for settling a lawsuit brought by President Trump, and called the payment a “big fat bribe.” A few days later, CBS announced the show’s cancellation as Paramount sought regulatory approval for its merger with Skydance Media, as the late-night show had become politically and commercially radioactive.At MAGA USA, comedians are now treated less like clowns and more like hostile political actors. Trump has long viewed late-night hosts as enemies, regularly attacking Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel and Seth Meyers on social media. The trio, along with Jon Stewart and John Oliver, have leaned into political satire since the rise of Trump, turning the monologue into a nightly prosecution summary. Critics called it liberal quacking, but for fans it was therapy.As the end of the week approached, late at night the fraternity closed ranks with surprising tenderness. Kimmel and Fallon reportedly opted for a rerun rather than compete with Colbert’s farewell episode, and they, along with Meyers and Oliver, appeared in a symbolic on-air group hug. He joked that Jon Stewart, who was not with him, was a “designated survivor”. Even David Letterman, the patron saint of sardonic late-night television and Colbert’s predecessor, recently joined him in throwing CBS office furniture off the roof in a mock revolt. Apparently American television executives can cancel the show – but not their beloved drama.Colbert himself alternated between gallows humor and visible bitterness, saying with some disbelief that his staff would be effectively laid off immediately after the final show. And what’s next for the 62-year-old host? Amid reports that he will co-write a Lord of the Rings film with his son Peter, he is also expected to shift towards streaming and podcasting.Interestingly, India has often featured in Colbert’s comic universe. During Trump-era outsourcing concerns, he once joked that American jobs were being sent to “a call center in Bangalore, which has better customer service even for scam calls.” He often chided Indian-Americans for their academic knowledge, joking that spelling-bee champions “sound less like kids and more like junior tax consultants.” When PM Modi visited the US, he quipped that Trump and their bonding at big rallies was the geopolitical version of two DJs comparing crowd sizes.“But the broader resonance may lie elsewhere, including India. As political polarization deepens globally, comedians on both sides of the globe are learning that satire now comes with legal notices, troll armies, and ideological surveillance. Indian stand-up comics know this pressure intimately from police complaints, canceled venues and legal cases. America’s late-night readers are now discovering only what they have long understood: Power laughs loudest at jokes aimed not upward, but downwards. Late night television once promised Americans catharsis before bed. After this it will be morning soon.

Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag (AP Photo)

Riyan Parag after this there was no turning back Rajasthan RoyalsA five-wicket defeat against Delhi Capitals in a crucial IPL 2026 encounter at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, openly admitting that his team let the game slip away from a winnable position. RR were firmly in control at 160 for 2 in 14 overs, and looked set for a score of 220-230, but a dramatic collapse began Mitchell StarcWith the help of four wickets, their score became 193 runs for 8 wickets. After this, Delhi Capitals achieved the target in just 19.2 overs. Parag, who led the way and scored 51 runs, described the middle and death overs as the turning point. “Actually, almost everything. We were in a pretty good position after 14 overs. After I got out, we just couldn’t take advantage of it. It had to be 220-230, something like that,” he said. He also defended his tactical call of bringing Donovan Ferreira into the attack during the middle overs, a move that did not yield results. “Ferreira was not a gamble. I know it looks like a gamble on TV, but then you have two left-handers. I would rather bowl Donovan than have Shanaka bowl another over, take a chance. It didn’t really work out.” Parag was equally critical of RR’s overall performance, especially in the field. “Too bad. I think if you want to win trophies, if you want to be competitive every year, you have to be better than what we did today. Extremely disappointed.” He also pointed to a worrying drop in standards compared to recent games. “I think we are a much better team than what we have played or shown in the last 4-5 games. But today… energy-wise, skill-wise, execution-wise, it was definitely not up to the mark. And if we keep playing like this, we should not be in the race for the top 4.” With RR still in the race for the playoffs but under pressure, Parag made it clear that there can be no reliance on other results. “I don’t like leading like this… We had the opportunity, we didn’t take it. So if we don’t deserve, it’s our fault. Not anyone else’s.” First, KL Rahul (56), Abhishek Porel (51), Akshar Patel (34*) and Ashutosh Sharma gave DC the win after Starc’s match-turning magic broke RR’s strong start.

Candidates appearing for JEE Advanced 2026 exam in Patna on Sunday. ANI

Patna: More than 14,000 students appeared for JEE Advanced 2026 across Bihar on Sunday, of which around 9,000 candidates took the exam at around 18 centers in Patna.The exam was conducted in two shifts – Paper 1 from 9 am to 12 noon and Paper 2 from 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm. Students emerging from centers across Patliputra found the paper a bit tough, with Mathematics in Paper 1 and Physics in Paper 2 emerging as the toughest sections.According to the candidates, more importance was given to coordinate geometry and vectors in mathematics, while questions from integration were less than expected. Physics in Paper 2 was described as long and calculation-heavy.“Topics like ray optics and rotation dominated the paper. On the other hand, Chemistry was relatively easy compared to other subjects. Overall the paper was difficult. Now, it all depends on how many questions I solve correctly. For this, I will match it with the answer key,” said Shashank Srivastava, a student.Students said Paper 1 consisted of four categories of questions – single correct question (SCQ), multiple correct question (MCQ), matrix matching and integer-based questions.Abhyanand, an academic and former Bihar DGP (retired IPS), said the negative marking pattern has been comparatively relaxed this year. “It was not as rigorous as it used to be in previous years. However, the Physics questions were a little tougher than before. Mathematics was challenging but possible with good practice. For Chemistry, the questions were a little better than the standard level – we can call it moderate,” he said.Physics expert Anand Kumar Jha said that Physics in Paper 2 and Mathematics in Paper 1 will probably decide the rank. “This year’s JEE Advanced was a little easier compared to last year’s paper, so a slight increase in the cutoff is expected,” he said.This exam, conducted by IIT Roorkee this year, is the gateway for admission to other premier institutes including IIT and IISc Bengaluru.

As the world celebrates World Hypertension Day, Punjab Government’s Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana (MMSY) is emerging as an important safety net for patients suffering from hypertension and related diseases by ensuring affordable and timely health care.High blood pressure, often called the “silent killer” by doctors, gives little warning before it triggers stroke, heart failure or kidney disease. This condition is now common in all age groups.With hypertension rising as a major health concern in Punjab, the state government is focusing on prevention, early detection and treatment. While CM Di Yogshala promotes healthy living, Aam Aadmi Clinic ensures prompt diagnosis – over 1 crore people have been screened and 24 lakh have been treated – and MMSY provides cashless care, helping prevent serious complications.According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the burden of hypertension is increasing rapidly in India due to poor eating habits, stress, tobacco use, lack of physical activity and irregular daily routine. Doctors warn that many patients remain unaware of their condition until serious complications develop. Amid this crisis, Punjab’s Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana has become a vital safety net, helping thousands of people receive treatment without the burden of unaffordable medical bills.Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh said that regular check-ups are being done at all health facilities including 990 Aam Aadmi Clinics, where people aged 30 years and above are being screened for high blood pressure and linked to timely treatment. He said more than 1 crore people aged 30 and above have been screened and 24 lakh have been enrolled for treatment. “Monthly follow-ups, free medicines and timely referrals ensure continuous care with strong rural-urban primary health care coverage,” he said.A landmark initiative of the Punjab Government aimed at making yoga accessible to every section of the society, CM The Yogashala has conducted over 10,600 yoga classes with approximately 3 lakh participants. The initiative promotes yoga, stress management and healthy lifestyle to help control high blood pressure and other lifestyle diseases.Hospital admissions related to stroke, heart emergencies and kidney diseases caused by uncontrolled blood pressure are covered under the MMSY scheme, providing financial relief to families already struggling with emotional distress.Most of the hypertensive patients in Punjab belong to the middle-aged and elderly population, with the highest burden seen in people aged 40 to 80 years. Data from the State Health Agency (SHA) shows that Gurdaspur recorded patients up to 94 years of age, while SAS Nagar recorded cases up to 98 years of age, underscoring the deep reach of the disease among senior citizens.The highest and widespread cases in both genders were reported in districts like Patiala, SAS Nagar, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar and Faridkot. In Amritsar and Ludhiana, hospital records show a particularly high concentration among women aged 50 to 77 years.Dr Saurabh Sharma, associate professor and head of the department of cardiology at Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, says hypertension is no longer just an old person’s disease.“Modern lifestyle brings a different set of health challenges for all age groups. While most cases of hypertension are seen in people aged 40 to 90 years and above, we are also seeing cases in teenagers and people in their twenties and thirties,” he says.Dr. Sharma says that lifestyle factors like stress, poor diet, lack of exercise and irregular routine play a major role. He warned that complications are emerging earlier than before. “What we’re seeing now is not just high blood pressure, but its complications coming from earlier — stroke, heart failure and kidney disease.”On schemes like Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana, Dr Sharma says they are important as they ensure that patients do not delay treatment due to financial fear. “In a hypertensive emergency, delay is often the difference between recovery and tragedy.”Health officials say the importance of the scheme lies not only in treatment but also in timely intervention. In earlier years, many families used to delay hospitalization due to financial fear. Such delays often prove dangerous, sometimes even fatal. Under the Sehat Yojana, patients are increasingly seeking medical attention earlier, thereby increasing their chances of recovery.For middle-class families, pensioners and government employees, the scheme has become a buffer against catastrophic health care expenditure.

The International Center for the Art of Living in Bengaluru hosted senior political leaders, spiritual figures and dignitaries as part of its ongoing 45-year celebrations in honor of founder Gurudev. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and humanitarian initiatives of the organization. The guests included Karnataka Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot and Union Minister of State for Defence, Sanjay Seth, who participated in a special satsang and meditation program at the newly constructed Dhyana Mandir. Addressing the gathering, Governor Gehlot said, “Hate and violence can be controlled through love and knowledge. This message of Gurudev Ji is being transformed into actions and results through the Art of Living.” He also highlighted the organization’s work in areas including education, river revitalization, chemical-free farming, ethics in business, disaster relief and conflict resolution. Meanwhile, Union Minister Sanjay Seth lauded Gurudev’s efforts in making meditation and wellness practices more accessible. He said, “People used to think that meditation was done in caves and the Himalayas, but you have taken meditation to every home.” The celebration marks 45 years of the Art of Living and coincidentally with Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar turning 70 on May 13. The organization said that policy makers, faith leaders, industry representatives and artists from India and abroad have participated in these events. During the event, Gurudev launched Psychosocial Peacebuilding: A Guide into the Heart of Sustainable Peace, a book by peacekeeping expert Dr Katrian Hertog, which focuses on sustainable peace-building practices. In this program folk music was also presented by Rajasthani singer Swaroop Khan. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Inaugurated the Dhyana Mandir at the Ashram and launched several nationwide service initiatives related to education, health care, environmental protection and sustainable development.