TUESDAY 25 AUGUST, 2026 epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard D - D AY Syed Akbaruddin PAGE 9 Janmejaya Sinha EX-DIPLOMAT AKBARUDDIN, TWO OTHERS JOIN RBI CENTRAL BOARD US PRESIDENT SAYS IRAN ‘COLLAPSING’ Donald Trump said on Monday that Iran was “collapsing” as Washington prepared to announce the details of a new economic pressure campaign Annie George Mathew PART-TIME, NON-OFFICIAL DIRECTORS A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS  NEW DELHI   J8.00 PAGES 12 They were appointed as part-time, non-official directors for four years. Syed Akbaruddin is a 1985-batch Indian Foreign Service officer and served as India’s permanent representative to the UN from 2016 to 2020. Annie George Mathew retired as special secretary of the Union finance ministry. Janmejaya Sinha is the chairman of Boston Consulting Group, India 15 incoming flights to IGIA diverted, many outgoing planes delayed S L A L I T H A @ New Delhi (Above) students brave a waterlogged road in Sangam Vihar. School buses pass through heavily inundated road at Subhash Chowk in Gurugram on Monday | PARVEEN NEGI/PTI Work from home advised in rain-battered Gurugram Widespread waterlogging and traffic jams in Millennium City, Delhi E X P R E SS N E WS S E R V I C E @ New Delhi/ Chandigarh GURUGRAM has advised corporate offices and government and private schools and institutions to allow employees and staff to work from home on August 25 as heavy rain triggered widespread waterlogging and traffic congestion across the Millennium City on Monday . In Delhi, heavy showers, thunderstor ms and gusty winds swept several parts of the capital, bringing relief from the humidity but causing waterlogging and traffic disruptions. The India Meteorological Department issued red and orange alerts for the city and forecast moderate to heavy rain, thunderstorms, lightning and winds of 30-40 kmph through the evening, with more rain expected on Tuesday . In Gurugram, the District Disaster Management Author- ity issued the work-from-home advisory in view of the possibility of waterlogging and traffic congestion. Deputy Commissioner Uttam Singh said heavy rainfall could lead to waterlogging and traffic congestion at several locations. The advisory is also aimed at allowing civic agencies to carry out road and drain repair work. The downpour once again exposed the city’s vulnerability to flooding. Four-wheelers were stranded on roads while twowheelers made their way through waist-deep water in several stretches. Golf Course Road, known for its luxury condominiums and corporate towers, was among the badly hit areas, with knee-deep water reported within hours of rain. The Signature Tower flyover, one of the city’s busiest junctions, also became a major chokepoint, while several stretches along the National Putin offers to step up fertiliser supply to India J AYA N T H J A C O B @ New Delhi RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin has offered to increase fertiliser supplies to India, signalling Moscow’s intent to deepen one of the most important pillars of the bilateral economic relationship. The offer came during when External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called on Putin in Moscow on Monday . Putin—who is expected to visit India next month for the BRICS summit—said Russia is ready to help meet India’s agricultural requirements. He highlighted fertilisers alongside fuel as an important component of Russia’s economic support to India. “One of these issues— not just fuel—is the supply of mineralisers (fertilisers). We are doing everything we can to resolve the issue for Indian farmers, for agriculture; we are increasing these exports and are prepared to continue doing so,” he said. The offer comes as fertilisers have become an important element of India-Russia economic ties. Russia has emerged as India’s largest supplier of fertilisers, particularly urea, with Indian fertiliser imports from Russia rising by almost 40% in 2025. Putin also pointed to the broader expansion in bilateral trade. Jaishankar conveyed Prime Minister Modi’s plans for future meetings with Putin, saying Modi looked forward to meeting the Russian president at the forthcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Kyrgyzstan and welcoming him to India for the BRICS Summit. The two leaders are also expected to hold their annual bilateral summit at a mutually convenient time. 4-fold jump in trade Jaishankar said the trade between India and Russia has increased 4-fold in 5 years, from around $13 billion in 202122 to nearly $60 billion in 2025-26 S Jaishankar with Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday | PTI Highway witnessed slow-moving traffic and long delays. Commuters reported being stuck for hours as vehicles moved through flooded and slushy roads. Videos of waterlogged roads and traffic snarls circulated on social media. Between 8.30 am and 11.30 am, Chhatarpur recorded the highest rainfall in Delhi at 28 mm, followed by Lodi Road at 24.6 mm and Pitampura at 18.5 mm. The Ridge recorded 5 mm, Mayur Vihar 1.5 mm, Safdarjung 1 mm and Ayanagar 0.1 mm during the period. Waterlogging was reported around New Ashok Nagar Metro Station, Burari, CR Park and Alaknanda, while commuters reported traffic snarls and flooded stretches in other areas too. The capital recorded a minimum temperature of 27.8o Celsius at Safdarjung, 1.4oC above normal. The Ridge recorded the lowest minimum of 24oC. P3 Haryana stays wet, no rain in most of Punjab According to the meteorological department, Palwal recorded 98 mm of rainfall, Faridabad 58 mm, Gurugram 38 mm, Mewat 48.5 mm, Rewari 11 mm and Karnal 0.5 mm. Punjab reported no rainfall. 21 days of August see rainfall above 235 mm Delhi received 235.3 mm rain at Safdarjung in the first 21 days of August, above normal monthly rainfall of 233.1 mm. The weather department said the monthly normal had been crossed, but later revised the figures. Rainfall due to weather condition in Bengal, UP IMD attributed intense rainfall to the interaction of a middle- and upper-level western disturbance with a lower tropospheric trough extending from West Bengal towards southwest Uttar Pradesh. ENTRY THUNDERSTORMS and heavy rain forced the diversion of 15 incoming flights to Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) to Jaipur, Chandigarh and Lucknow on Monday afternoon. All landed safely in Delhi by evening. Hundreds of departing flights were also delayed through the day “Of the . 15 flights diverted from Delhi airport due to weather conditions, three are international. Twelve were diverted to Jaipur International Airport, two to Chandigarh and one to Lucknow,” a Delhi airport source said. Of the international flights, an Air India flight from Singapore was diverted to Lucknow, while flights from Dubai and Sharjah were diver ted to Jaipur. A Jaipur airport source said the first diverted flight arrived at 12.25pm and the last at 1.05pm. Passengers were kept on board as the flights were expected to depart for Delhi once the weather cleared. The last diverted flight left for Delhi around 4pm. According to Flightradar24, flights diverted to Jaipur included Air India flights from Singapore (AI 2381), Chennai (AI 2526) and Bhubaneswar (AI 1814); Air India Express flights from Sharjah (IX 136), Indore (IX 1236), Ranchi (IX 1047) and Imphal (IX 1462); SpiceJet’s flight from Leh (SG 126); and IndiGo flights from Chennai (6E 404), Siliguri (6E 6125) and Goa (6E 2102). IndiGo flights from Dibrugarh (6E 6373) and Bengaluru (6E 830) were diverted to Chandigarh, while an Akasa Air flight from Mumbai (QP 1834) was diverted to Lucknow. The Airports Authority of India and airlines issued advisories asking passengers to reach the airport well in advance, warning that road traffic could be affected by the rain. 71-yr-old woman killed, husband injured after SUV crashes into multiple vehicles A 71-year-old woman was killed, and her husband was injured, by a speeding electric car in south Delhi’s Greater Kailash area. The car hit several vehicles before hitting the couple. The incident took place on Sunday near Kailash Colony metro station. The couple sustained injuries and was shifted to Moolchand Hospital, a senior police officer said. While the woman, Shashi, was declared brought dead, her husband, Kulbhushan, 65, initially injured, was later declared fit for making a statement, DCP (south) Anant Mittal said. A case under Sections 281 (rash driving or riding on a public way), 125(a) (act endangering life or personal safety of others), and 106 (causing death by negligence) of the BNS has been registered. SC panel to prioritise sexual assault probe S U C H I T R A K A LYA N M O H A N T Y @ New Delhi THE Supreme Court on Monday said that it has asked the High-Powered Enquiry Committee (HPEC), which had been set up to examine allegations of police violence during the NEET paper leak stir, to prioritise complaints of sexual assault faced by women protesters. A bench comprising CJI Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana issued the direction after senior advocate Shobha Gupta urged the court to take suo motu cognisance of the alleged sexual assault and molestation of women protesters during the ‘Chalo Sansad’ march on July 20. Gupta asked the court to create mechanism for alleged victims to directly send complaints. CJI Surya Kant — although he did not take suo motu cognisance— however, said, “the committee has been requested to examine it on a priority basis, and immediately submit an interim report.” Justice Bagchi said an independent writ petition was filed on the same cause, and the HPEC has been asked to examine the issue. CJP calls for Sept 5 Delhi march The Cockroach Janta Party on Monday called for a protest march in Delhi on September 5, accusing the Centre of failing to honour its promises. The march will begin at India Gate and proceed to Delhi Police Headquarters P4 After a CJP team ‘inspected’ a govt school in Jaipur, leading to an unruly situation, the education officers in UP have instructed schools to disallow outsiders in schools. The order applies to social media influencers as well | P8 NOT ALLOWED FOR OUTSIDERS IN UP SCHOOLS E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ New Delhi CJP PROTEST Fatal visit to dentist The victim’s family said she and her husband had gone to a dentist and were waiting for an auto-rickshaw when the electric SUV hit them. The woman died on the spot. The accused driver, identified as Tapan Ahir, 59, has been arrested, and his blood sample has been sent for an alcohol test. Ahir had been working as a driver with the same employer since 1997. He was going to pick the employer’s brother from Kailash Colony Market. According to Kulbhushan’s family he had gone with his wife , to a dental clinic in East of Kailash. The couple was returning home when the accident occurred. The family added that Shashi was excited about Raksha Bandhan and was shopping for her grandson. The family was busy preparing for the festival, but the tragedy turned celebrations into mourning, the relatives said. Charu, a relative of the deceased, said that her uncle and aunt were waiting for an auto-rickshaw near the Moolchand metro station when they were hit by the car. “My aunt passed away on the spot, and uncle was seriously injured. His face has been severely affected and completely changed because of the accident. It is an extremely heartbreaking incident. They have two daughters who live in Lajpat Nagar and Punjabi Bagh,” she said. Amit Shah at the Security Strategies Conference | X Shah push for AI-led intel analysis of security threats E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ New Delhi UNION Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday called for greater use of artificial intelligence to analyse intelligence inputs and strengthen India’s response to emerging national security threats, while directing security agencies to take strict measures against infiltration. Speaking at the inaugural session of the ninth two-day National Security Strategies (NSS) Conference-2026 here, Shah directed agencies to develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) for tackling national security challenges based on AI-driven analyses of information available on the Multi Agency Centre (MAC) platform. Shah stressed on an integrated approach to counter terrorism and radicalisation, including cases under the UAPA. He emphasised strengthening implementation of MHA’s PRAHAAR scheme, expediting trials and making greater use of provisions allowing trials in absentia. The first day’s deliberations focused on major security challenges, including counter-terrorism, intelligence fusion, narcotics control, deportation of illegal migrants, cybercrime and Pakistan-backed proxy warfare. Held in hybrid mode, the conferences has more than 850 participants, including DGPs and domain experts from specialised fields. Before inaugurating the conference, Shah paid tribute at the Martyrs’ Column. EXPRESS READ We are doing everything we can to meet the needs of Indian farmers and agriculture sector Vladimir Putin, Russian president Food licences of Amazon, Swiggy and BigBasket suspended over toxic fruit sale Another retired IFS officer gets SIR notice in Punjab to prove citizenship Bengal okays ‘anti-goonda law’ provision to recover cost of public property damage The Karnataka food safety and drug administration department on Monday ordered the suspension of the food licences of e-commerce platforms Amazon, Swiggy Instamart and BigBasket over the online sale of poisonous Datura fruits and seeds meant for human consumption. The authorities have also directed the platforms to stop sales of the toxic fruit and remove related listings. P5 After former diplomat Navdeep Suri received SIR notice, 75-year old retired IFS officer Ramesh Chander has been asked to furnish citizenship documents to establish his eligibility as a voter in Punjab. He was an ambassador at several Indian missions abroad, including Belarus, Japan and Prague. He said he submitted Aadhaar and other papers to a Jalandhar BLO, but still received the notice. The state government has invoked a special portion of the West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Act, 2026, also known as the “anti-goonda law”, with effect from Monday. CM Suvendu Adhikari said that Governor R N Ravi has given nod for the new act, enabling arrest of those attacking the police and recovery of cost from those who cause damage to public property.