Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, will be visiting Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday to meet the families of those affected by the recent clashes between India and Pakistan. In a statement on platform X, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh announced, “Shri @RahulGandhi will be visiting Poonch tomorrow, May 24th, to connect with families impacted by the recent shelling from Pakistan.”

This marks Mr. Gandhi’s second trip to Jammu and Kashmir following the tragic Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which resulted in the deaths of 25 civilians and one individual from Nepal.

Ramesh further noted that Mr. Gandhi previously visited Srinagar on April 25 to meet with the injured and various stakeholders, including discussions with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

During his day-long visit, Mr. Gandhi is expected to be joined by senior Congress leaders, including AICC General Secretary and Jammu & Kashmir in-charge Naseer Hussain.

Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated following the Indian defense forces’ Operation Sindoor, a retaliatory action in response to the Pahalgam attack.

Delhi’s Environment Minister, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to train 80 ‘Paryavaran Sanrakshaks’ as eco-leaders, marking a significant advancement in the city’s efforts to combat climate change. This agreement between the Department of Environment of the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), a local climate think tank, has initiated a sensitization program aimed at educating young people about the effects of climate change on biodiversity and ecosystem services.

“When our youth grasp the importance of clean air, green spaces, and balanced ecosystems, they will spearhead the change our planet urgently requires,” said Sirsa.

The project primarily focuses on outreach initiatives that promote sustainable lifestyles and raise awareness about the consequences of climate change. The department will allocate ₹40 lakh to TERI to implement this program across 2,000 educational institutions.

According to the official statement, 80 ‘Paryavaran Sanrakshaks’, comprising both students and educators, will be designated as eco-leaders to enhance and maintain the awareness initiative.

The Minister further emphasized, “The Delhi Government is diligently addressing pollution from multiple fronts. We are not only focusing on enforcement and technology but also investing in awareness, education, and community involvement.”

The program will incorporate innovative communication methods, including storytelling, games, and hands-on eco-activities, to embed environmental awareness into students’ mindset and daily lives.

Outreach campaigns are set to run from June to November 2025, utilizing eco-clubs in Delhi’s educational institutions to empower students as climate ambassadors.

“This is more than just an awareness initiative; it aims to instigate a transformative change in behavior,” the official document states. “This initiative highlights the Delhi Government’s commitment to inclusive environmental governance,” it added.

On Friday, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) reported that the crew of an IndiGo flight from Delhi to Srinagar on Wednesday sought permission to enter Pakistani airspace to avoid turbulence caused by severe weather conditions; however, their request was denied.

According to the DGCA, flight 6E 2142, operated by an Airbus A321 Neo registered as VT IMD, was cruising at 36,000 feet when it encountered a violent storm near Pathankot. The aircraft was hit by hail and faced significant turbulence, leading to major disruptions in its flight systems.

The crew indicated they requested Northern control (under the Indian Air Force) for a deviation towards the left, near the International Border, due to adverse weather along the flight route, but this request was not approved. They subsequently contacted Lahore for permission to enter Pakistani airspace to circumvent the severe weather, which was also denied.

The DGCA reported that the crew initially attempted to return, but as they neared the thunderstorm, they decided to navigate through the weather and ultimately encountered a hailstorm and severe turbulence. They chose to maintain their course to exit the weather as quickly as possible en route to Srinagar.

The aviation regulator explained that while within the thunderstorm, several warnings were triggered, including Angle of Attack faults and loss of Alternate Law protection, leading to unreliable backup speed indications. The aircraft experienced significant updrafts and downdrafts, causing autopilot disengagement and wide variations in speed.

As a result, warnings for Maximum Operating Speed and Maximum Operating Mach (VMO/MMO) were activated, along with multiple stall alerts, while the aircraft’s descent rate reached as high as 8500 feet per minute. The crew manually operated the aircraft until they exited the hailstorm. After conducting all necessary checklist actions, they declared a PAN PAN to Srinagar’s ATC and safely landed with the Auto Thrust functioning normally.

Fortunately, no passengers were injured during the flight. A post-flight inspection revealed damage to the aircraft’s nose, according to the DGCA statement.