FRIDAY NGT SHOOTS NOTICES TO 6 CRICKET STADIUMS FOR NON-COMPLIANCE 24 APRIL, 2026 epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard B’DESH MEASLES TOLL 194, CASES SURGE TO 28K PIC: SAYANTAN GHOSH IN FOCUS: GROUNDWATER TO MAINTAIN STADIA The country has recorded 194 child deaths due to measles in an outbreak that began last month, while the number of cases has exceeded 28,000. A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS PAGE 9  NEW DELHI  J8.00 Transport chaos: Commuters endure massive traffic gridlock in Chennai Thousands heading out of Chennai to exercise their franchise in hometowns were caught in an unprecedented gridlock. The traffic jams on GST Road, Chennai Bypass, and other arterial stretches which began around 9 pm on Wednesday, persisted until 1 pm on Thursday  PAGES 12 The plea was against use of groundwater or fresh water to maintain cricket grounds, instead of the sewage treatment plant (STP)-treated water, and also against not installing rainwater harvesting systems. The NGT bench said six stadiums failed to submit their replies despite repeated directions; only Hyderabad has sought time to reply | P3 & P11 Small & big: State’s smallest booth of 5 voters in Theni witnesses 100% polling Polling booth at Vellimalai in Theni, one of the smallest in the country, recorded 100% voting with all its five voters exercising the franchise. A nine-member team of polling officials and policemen travelled nearly 80km through rugged hilly terrain to set up the booth Administrative mismatch: 2K voters of 6 villages boycott poll in Pudukkottai Aggrieved over access to govt services, 2,000 residents of six villages in R Palakuruchi panchayat boycotted poll. Though its revenue area comes under Pudukkottai, the panchayat is part of Tirupathur seat in Sivaganga, making it hard for residents to access services Super massive polling again Screen grab from undated video footage released by Iran’s IRGC showing its naval personnel boarding a ship attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz | AFP Trump’s hell-hole jibe on India ‘in poor taste’: Govt ‘Shoot and kill’ order P R E E T H A N A I R @ New Delhi IN a sharp response to US President Donald Trump’s repost of a derogatory comment against India on social media, New Delhi on Thursday said that the comments are “uninformed, inappropriate and in poor taste”. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the remarks do not reflect the reality of the India-US relationship, which has long been based on mutual respect and shared interests. “We have seen the comments, as also the subsequent statement issued by the US Embassy in response. The remarks are obviously uninformed, inappropriate and in poor taste,” said Jaiswal. Hours after Trump reposted American political commentator and radio host Michael Savage’s podcast, the US went into DAY a damage control. Responding to queries from Indian media, a US embassy spokesperson said: “The President has said ‘India is a great country with a very good friend of mine at the top’.” In the podcast, Savage also termed Indian and Chinese immigrants as “gangsters with laptops” who have “stepped on our flag”. Trump shared the transcript and video of the podcast Savage Nation, calling for changes in the US’ birthright citizenship law. “A baby here becomes an instant citizen, and then they bring in their entire family from China, or India, or some other hell-hole on the planet,” it said. The social media post invited scathing criticism from Opposition parties. “Modiji’s dear friend, ‘Namaste Trump’ has shared a note abusing India and using an extremely disparaging term. Modi ji remains absolutely mum on these ridiculous utterances,” said Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge. P9 55 Trump on Thursday issued shoot-at-sight orders on Iranian boats laying mines to choke traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. “I have ordered the United States Navy to shoot and kill any boat, small boats though they may be... that is putting mines in the waters of the Strait,” he said Not safe to travel to Iran now: Indian embassy The Indian embassy in Tehran cautioned against travelling to Iran in view of resumption of flights. “Airspace restrictions and operational uncertainties due to regional tensions continue to affect flight operations to and from Iran,” it said in its advisory EXPRESS READ NCB warns of anti-drug law changes in Maldives The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Thursday isued a stern warning to Indians planning a visit to the Maldives to remain extremely vigilant about their belongings as the island country has strengthened its anti-drug laws, including harsh punishments like the death penalty in extreme cases. “Be aware that ignorance of the law is not a defence and any legal violations may result in severe punishments,” the federal anti-narcotics agency said. MEA trashes B’desh claims on India-made ammo Reports in the Bangladesh media alleging the presence of Indianmade ammunition in Chittagong Hill Tracts drew a cautious response from New Delhi, which declined to comment on “unverified media reports.” “It would not be appropriate to comment on unverified media reports. It may be noted that all Indian Ordnance Factories operate under strict regulations and are governed by stringent accountability norms,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. TN sees unprecedented 85% turnout At 92%, West Bengal voter turnout highest since Independence T M U R U G A N A N D H A M @ Chennai THE high-stakes campaign of political parties for the Assembly poll in Tamil Nadu received an equally enthusiastic response from the electorate on the day of polling as the state recorded an unprecedented 85.14% voter turnout on Thursday. Though the sharp jump from 73.6% in 2021 Assembly polls is predominantly driven by the shrinking of the state’s electorate by about 68 lakh from 6.41 crore to 5.73 crore due to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the scenes at polling booths indicated palpable enthusiasm from voters, particularly from the youth, in participating in the democratic process. The entry of actor C Joseph Vijay through his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam has already raised the expectations on the surprises the election results may throw up on May 4, when the final results are expected to reveal whether these numbers will translate into substantial realignment of the political order in Tamil Nadu. All districts registered above 75% voter turnout, and around 20 districts registered above 85%. Significantly, of the 234 Assembly constituencies, only seven recorded a voter turnout below 75%, while 42 have recorded voter turnout above 90%, indicating that the participation was widespread. In absolute numbers, the total number of people who voted S U B H E N D U M A I T I @ Kolkata WEST Bengal on Thursday recorded its highest-ever voting percentage since Independence at 91.78% for the first phase of assembly elections, 7.06% more than the previous best of 84.72% in 2021. Voter enthusiasm was visible though the Election Commission of India’s ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) axed 91 lakh names from the electoral rolls citing various reasons. Hundreds of voters wait in queue to cast their vote at a polling booth in Kallikuppam Murshidabad, Bankura, Cooch Behar, Malda, Jhargram and in Ambattur, Chennai, on Thursday | P JAWAHAR Paschim Medinipur reported turnout around or over 90%. Kalimpong was relatively lower around 81%. What also stood out was the rather peaceful polling as no loss in the polls went up by 24 lakh ple expecting change. In the of life was reported, though stray incidents of violence were from 4.63 crore in 2021 to rough- 2011 Assembly elections, the reported from a few districts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi ly 4.87 crore in 2026. In 2024 Lok state witnessed a high voter congratulated the Election Commission for the peaceful polling. Sabha polls, 4.39 crore voters turnout of 78,29%. The incum“For the first time in the last 50 years Bengal witnessed peaceful had exercised their franchise. bent DMK government lost, elections with less incidents of violence in the first phase. I conWhile incumbent Chief Min- and the AIADMK came to powgratulate the Election Commission…” he said. ister and DMK president M K er. However, there is a need for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the high turnout reStalin is pitching his re-elec- caution since 2016 witnessed a flected “fear among people that if they don’t vote, they may lose tion as a battle for state auton- higher turnout of 74.8% than their voting rights and citizenship”, linking it to SIR. omy against central overreach, 73.6% in 2021, but the incumPolling was held in 152 of the total 294 seats in the state in the AIADMK general secretary bent AIADMK retained power first phase. The second phase for the remaining 142 Edappadi K Palaniswami and in 2016 and it lost seats is scheduled for April 29. Women (92.69%) outthe BJP were campaigning on power in 2021. numbered men (90.92) at the polling booths, which the economic promise of a As of 11 pm ECI made it more difficult to read the mandate. How“double-engine government”. portal data, Veeraever, both the Mamata-led TMC and the BJP preActor Vijay is riding on youth pandi constituendicted a decisive mandate in their favour. support to challenge the long- cy polled the highViolence erupted in Nawda in Murshidabad s t a n d i n g D M K - A I A D M K est (93.40%), district after supporters of the TMC and duopoly . followed by Humayun Kabir’s Aam Janata Unnayan The high voter turnout is K a r u r Party clashed with each other, promptusually read as a signal of peo- (93.38%). ing the Central Armed Paramilitary Force to resort to lathi charge. Kabir, DECODING ‘HISTORIC’ an expelled TMC leader, is a candidate ASSEMBLY VOTER TURNOUT I P5 there. In Kumarganj, BJP candidate ELECTIONS Subrata Sarkar was assaulted by BENGAL POLLING MOSTLY PEACEFUL I P8 goons. Also, BJP MLA Agnimitra A newlywed couple after casting vote Paul’s car was attacked near Rahmat ‘I ATE JHALMURI, BUT in Pettai, Tirunelveli | V KARTHIK ALAGU SPICE HIT TMC’ I P8 Nagar in Asansol Dakshin. P8 Death due to strangulation after assault: Autopsy N I T I N R A W AT @ New Delhi THE probe into the rape-murder of the 22-year-old daughter of a senior IRS officer in south Delhi’s Kailash Hills has revealed robbery as the main motive of the accused, while postm o r t e m f i n d i n g s h av e confirmed death due to strangulation following a violent sexual assault, bringing together evidence about the sequence and brutality of the crime. The accused, Rahul Meena, was seen exiting the building, holding his phone to his ear, appearing to be in conversation. However, police said he was not calling anyone and had deliberately done so to avoid interaction with people familiar to him in the locality Police have . taken him into custody and will recreate the sequence while verifying all claims. The incident occurred on Wednesday morning, when the victim, an IIT-Delhi graduate preparing for the UPSC exam, was alone at home because her parents had gone to the gym. When they returned around 8 am, they found her lying unconscious on the floor and rushed her to hospital, where she was declared brought dead. Police were informed thereafter. Sources said the victim was first raped and then killed. The accused allegedly attacked her repeatedly on the head with a lamp rod, dragged her by her legs to a locker, and attempted to force her fingers onto the digital lock. When it did not open, he broke it and stole approximately `2.5 lakh in cash and jewellery worth several lakhs. He then changed his bloodstained clothes before fleeing. “The preliminary investigation has found that his only intention was to take the money to return the debt. Everything else was the circumstantial happenings to achieve this motive. He was not calling anyone as he exited the building. He was holding the phone to deceive people so that no one would talk to him, as he knows most of the servants of that area,” sources stated. Post-mortem findings revealed multiple abrasions and abraded contusions on the arms, hands and legs, along with facial lacerations and a nasal-bone fracture indicating blunt-force impact and resistance. Dr Sudhir Gupta, head of the Forensic Department at AIIMS-Delhi, said the external examination revealed multiple injuries consistent with resistance. “In addition, multiple lacerations accompanied by abrasions were found on the face, along with a fracture of the nasal bone, suggesting blunt-force impact,” he said. “The findings show death due to strangulation following assault. The preserved swabs and nail scrapings have been sent for further analysis to ascertain whether rape took place,” he added. Police said the victim was allegedly strangled with a mobile phone charging wire and that samples, including viscera, ligature material with tape lift, nail scrapings, blood and swabs have been preserved for forensic analysis. P3 Cracker unit blast shadow over Thrissur Pooram, no fireworks FRANCE G O P I K A V A R R I E R @ Thrissur KERALA’S cultural capital, which was in a festive mood until Tuesday when the blast at a , firecracker making unit killed 14 people, is now in a mourning. Keeping in mind the sentiments of the devotees, it was decided to make this year’s Thrissur Pooram a low-key affair. The fireworks display will be completely avoided. A meeting was convened on Thursday in which Union Min- Meet over scaling down of celebrations A meeting was convened in which Union Minister Suresh Gopi, several Kerala ministers were in attendance along with district collector Sikha Surendran to discuss the concerns of devaswoms and other temples over the scaling down of celebrations. ister Suresh Gopi, Revenue Minister K Rajan, Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan and Higher Education Minister R Bindhu were in attendance along with district collector Sikha Surendran and other officials. The meeting discussed the concerns of devaswoms and other participating temples on the scaling down of celebrations. The devaswoms have booked elephants and percussion artists in advance, spending huge sums. The elephant parades and melam, including that of eight participating temples will happen as it is. “Pooram will be conducted without compromising on the rituals. But, Kudamattam will be curtailed to a 15-minute ceremony Elanjithara Melam and . the elephant parades at night will be conducted as per the tradition,” an official said. Soon after the reports on cancellation of fireworks came up, the bookings in majority of hotels in the city got cancelled. However, the public sentiment is against the conduct of pooram in all its splendour this time in view of the tragedy . LIFTS TRANSIT VISA BAN ON INDIANS Indian nationals transiting through French airports in the mainland European territory will no longer require an airport transit visa, as France has made the exclusive exemption operational, the MEA confirmed on Thursday. | P7 Two ISI-linked operatives held for planning attacks in city N A M I TA B A J PA I @ Lucknow THE Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Thursday arrested two ISI-linked operatives who were planning to execute grenade attacks at multiple cities in the state and Delhi. In their early 20s, the accused have been identified as Tushar Chauhan alias Hizbullah Ali Khan, from Baghpat currently staying in Meerut, and Sameer Khan of Delhi. ATS officials said Tushar’s interrogations revealed a conspiracy for terror strikes. “The arrests have exposed a chilling recruitment pattern through social media in which youth were radicalised and incentivised to carry out violent acts,” an ATS official said. Tushar revealed that he had been assigned the task of carrying out grenade attacks in Delhi and UP to eliminate people identified by his handlers in Pakistan, the official said. “In return, he was promised `3 lakh and logistics support, besides his relocation to Pakistan via Dubai,” the official said. ATS sources said Tushar was radicalised after he came in contact with Pakistan-based gangsters Shahzad Bhatti and Abid Jat through Instagram. Communication later shifted to encrypted channels, including voice and video calls.