At least six people were killed and dozens were injured in a stampede at the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) temple in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. The incident occurred as devotees gathered in large numbers to receive tokens for the Vaikunta Ekadasi festival. The Chief Minister has ordered an inquiry into the incident and will visit the temple on Thursday to announce ex-gratia for the families of the deceased.
The arrest of one Maddilety, a relative of the Deputy CM of Andhra Pradesh, has sparked controversy in Yemmiganur, Kurnool district. Maddilety, who worked as a librarian in a girls' college, was accused of molesting a student. Despite previous complaints, the college principal did not take any action, leading to a physical attack on him by the student's parents. Students are now demanding the removal of all male teachers from the college, claiming that they are being dismissed whenever they raise harassment complaints.
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu paid tribute to social reformer Savitribai Phule on her 194th birth anniversary. CM Reddy highlighted her contributions to promoting women's education and fighting against discrimination, while CM Naidu acknowledged her trailblazing efforts in starting the first girls' school in India. Former CM Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy also honored Savitribai Phule as a pioneer in the girls' education movement.
Four schoolboys from Andhra Pradesh went missing after watching the recently released film 'Lucky Baskhar', starring Dulquer Salmaan. They were reportedly inspired by the film's plot about a man who exploits loopholes in the banking system to make quick money, and decided to do the same. The distraught parents have filed a missing persons report and the boys are currently being actively searched in public locations.
The 55th GST Council meeting in Jaisalmer resulted in a flood of demands for disaster-specific levy by several states, following a request from Andhra Pradesh for a 1% GST levy to fund their flood recovery efforts. A Group of Ministers has been formed to examine the legal and structural issues surrounding this proposal, which was discussed in detail during the council meeting. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that other states such as Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Telangana have also expressed interest in being a part of the committee. The issue of a similar flood-cess levy by Kerala in 2019 was also brought up, with other states showing support for Andhra Pradesh's demand.
The Kurnool District Police in Andhra Pradesh received the prestigious ABCD Award for their exceptional investigation into a murder case in 2024. The department also ranked first in the state for resolving a total of 7,913 cases in the National Mega Lok Adalat. This successful initiative involved identifying eligible cases in advance and promoting mutual compromises, saving valuable court time. The DGP and Director General of Police praised and encouraged the police for their collaborative efforts.
The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan's controversial decision to boycott assembly sessions unless accorded the status of opposition leader is causing tension within his own party. People are questioning his motives and demanding answers as to why he and his 10 party MLAs should be allowed to stay away from the assembly without facing consequences. The situation is only escalating as Jagan continues to make impossible demands, leading to concerns about the party's political future.
The BJP and BRS have slammed the Congress government in Telangana for the arrest of Telugu actor Allu Arjun, with BJP leader Bandi Sanjay Kumar calling it a "disgraceful act of mismanagement and disrespect". The Union Minister and actor's fans have accused the government of treating the star "like a common criminal". Meanwhile, BRS's KT Rama Rao also criticised the arrest, calling it "unwarranted and inappropriate" and stressing the need for "respect" and "dignified conduct".
Eluru MP Putta Mahesh Kumar has urged Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to take action on several railway-related issues in the Eluru parliamentary constituency. These include the sanctioning of a new 96 km railway line connecting Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, modernization of Nuzvid railway station, and approval of a broad-gauge line via Sathupalli to connect Bhadrachalam and Kovvur. The MP highlighted the economic benefits of these projects, calling for their inclusion in the Union Budget 2025 and addressing rising construction costs due to delays. Additionally, he proposed halts for several express and passenger trains at various stations in the constituency to facilitate easy travel for pilgrims and boost the local economy.
The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy quarter-final between Uttar Pradesh and Delhi is set to be a thrilling encounter as both teams are in top form. Uttar Pradesh narrowly beat Andhra in their previous match, while Delhi has had an impressive run in the tournament. With their sights set on the semi-finals, both teams will battle it out on the field for a chance to move forward in the competition.