The phrase “come hell or high water” is going to have a chilling resonance for the people of Ladakh. On August 5, after a day of incessant rain and a sudden drop in the temperature, residents of Leh experienced continuous lightning for several hours on the night of August 4. Reactions ranged from being disconcerted to being frankly

The people of Leh and its neighbourhood continued to cremate or bury their dead on Monday as rescuers retrieved more bodies from under the rubble of flattened homes and other buildings or those overwhelmed by heaps of mud and slush.

Even as the Agni-III intermediate-range ballistic missile is “ready for induction into the services”, the government could soon clear a defence deal worth over Rs 20,000 crores for procurement of another 42 Russian-origin Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter aircraft that are currently being manufactured under license from Russia by the Bengaluru-

In perhaps an effort to apply some balm to simmering sentiments in the Kashmir Valley, and perhaps even look for a way out, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be meeting an all-party delegation from the troubled state here Tuesday evening.

With the operation of India’s new satellite-based air navigation system, Gagan, three years away, the government is moving one step closer, with the launch of the “final operational phase” on Tuesday by civil aviation minister Praful Patel. Airports Authority of India (AAI) sources said the final operational phase would include assembling of all equipment, getting the satellites in place and certification of the system.

The government on Monday gave its nod to a draft bill that aims to protect those who raise the alarm over corruption in Central and state government offices and agencies.

The top brass of the Congress, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and party chief Sonia Gandhi met here on Monday against the backdrop of three controversial issues; caste based census, tension in the Kashmir Valley and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill, 2010.

The Enforcement Directorate on Monday questioned a former CWG Organising Committee high official for six hours even as the Lok Sabha saw the Opposition demanding a joint parliamentary committee to probe the allegations of corruption in the Commonwealth Games. The government said the irregularities would be inquired into “exhaustively” and the corrupt pursued till the “ends of the earth”.

The Privileges Committee of Rajya Sabha on Monday said an article written by Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on north Indians has brought down the image of parliamentarians in the public eye. However, with Mr Raut expressing regret both orally and in writing, the committee recommended no action against the Shiv Sena leader, who is also the executive editor of Sena mouthpiece Saamna.

A 44-year-old man was arrested after he was found to be in possession of a country-made revolver while trying to enter the Metro station at Tilak Nagar in west Delhi on Sunday night.