India news Live Updates, 16 September 2026: Six children feared drowned in Odisha’s Ganjam, Sundergarh districts, say police

Six children, including 3 girls are feared drowned in Odisha's Ganjam, Sundergarh districts, police were quoted as saying by PTI. In a post on X, Stalin said that the raid was launched over "false speech" and was aimed at diverting public attention from a series of crises facing the state.

Kerala government is holding discussions with several states and power companies to purchase electricity, Chief Minister V D Satheesan said, as the state explores options to meet power requirements. The Chief Minister assured that the government can likely bring the power crisis in the state under control within a week.

“The government is working to resolve the current electricity crisis. We approached 7 states to purchase power. A team from Keralam went to Mumbai for a discussion with the Nuclear Power Corporation for more electricity purchase.

We’re planning to formulate a long-term contract to resolve this crisis,” he said. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay's fan event outside The Shard in London was called off on Tuesday after the Metropolitan Police intervened, citing safety concerns.

Hundreds of fans who had queued for hours to catch a glimpse of the actor-turned-politician were left disappointed as a member of the Chief Minister's team announced over a loudspeaker: "For public safety concerns, we are calling off the programme because we don't have permission." Vijay is in the UK leading a state trade delegation that has signed MoUs worth approximately Rs 12,300 crore and is expected to generate over 9,400 jobs in Tamil Nadu, positioning the state as a hub for advanced manufacturing and technology.

He is scheduled to return to India on Wednesday. Delhi University faces a severe shortage of hostel accommodations across its affiliated colleges, driven by funding constraints, space limitations, regulatory hurdles such as forest protections and heritage statuses, and a lack of administrative resources.

While hundreds of thousands of students enrol annually, total residential capacity remains woefully inadequate—particularly in South Campus colleges—forcing outstation students to rely heavily on paying guest accommodations or explore alternatives like vertical expansion and alumni-supported housing networks.

Starting October 1, end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) will be barred from refuelling in the Haryana NCR districts of Gurgaon, Faridabad, Sonipat, and Jhajjar. To enforce this initiative and improve regional air quality in compliance with the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) directions, Transport Minister Anil Vij announced that 775 Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras will be installed at petrol pumps across these districts by September 30.

Cabinet approves raising EPFO wage ceiling to Rs 25,000 per month from Rs 15,000, says Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Six children, including 3 girls are feared drowned in Odisha’s Ganjam, Sundergarh districts, police were quoted as saying by PTI.

Shaju Philip reports from Kerala that a special investigation team of the Kerala Police raided five premises, including the office of Reporter TV, in connection with a cheating and criminal conspiracy case involving the channel's failure to bring Lionel Messi to Kochi for a proposed international match.

While managing director Anto Augustine defended the channel and termed the action an attempt to silence the media, the Opposition strongly condemned the raids, comparing them to emergency-era measures. A court in Gurugram sent accused Kalyan Bainsla and Lavnish Bainsla to two days of police custody in the hit-and-run case.

They will be produced again on September 18, according to reports. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, on Wednesday (Sep 16), launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging a complete failure of India's foreign and trade policies in the face of escalating economic pressure from the United States.

"Your dear friend “Abki Baar Trump Sarkar” dictates, you capitulate and 140 Cr Indians are left to bear the consequences! The threat of up to 100% US tariffs on Indian goods shows how your Govt’s Foreign and Trade policies have miserably failed!!

Pharmaceuticals, textiles, engineering goods, chemicals, auto components, gems and jewellery, electronics and technology could face a severe tariff shock," he said. The Congress president further highlighted the trade barriers from Washington and said that key Indian export sectors face severe disruption from potential tariff shocks of up to 100%.

"Meanwhile, the Modi Govt agreed to a trade framework that expands American access India’s agricultural products, mortgaging the interests of our farmers! The framework virtually forces to buy $500 billion worth of American goods over five years.

Yesterday’s surrender on the MDR on UPI is another stark example of your govt’s meekness! From tariffs and trade to H1B1 immigration, visas and digital payments, the pressure from Washington keeps mounting, and you, ‘Howdy Modi ji’ keeps surrendering," he said in his post.

Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha and Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa laid the foundation stone for a new two-storey Accident & Emergency Unit at Mannar District General Hospital.

Supported by an Indian grant of SLR 600 million, the project will also supply the unit with essential medical equipment, ensuring timely emergency care during the critical "golden hour." MPs raised concerns at a Parliamentary Standing Committee meeting over the government’s decision to levy a fee on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000.