The death toll from the devastating Punjab floods has risen to 48, officials said on Sunday. Crops on 1.76 lakh hectares have been damaged. Schools, colleges, and universities across the state will reopen from September 8, Education Minister Harjot Bains announced. Government schools will resume classes from September 9. Over 20 lakh people in 2,050 villages across all 23 districts have been affected. Nearly 3.9 lakh people have been displaced, with 22,938 evacuated. Relief operations by NDRF, Army, BSF, and police continue. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Punjab on September 9 to review the flood situation. (PC: NDTV)

The longest total lunar eclipse visible in India since 2022 will occur during the night of September 7–8, 2025. All phases—from the penumbral start through partial and total eclipse—will be observable across India’s major cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and more. Totality will begin around 11:00 PM IST and last approximately 82 minutes, ending around 12:22 AM IST. The moon’s red appearance ("Blood Moon") results from sunlight bending through Earth's atmosphere. No special equipment is needed—just head out, find a clear sky, and enjoy the cosmic spectacle. (PC: NDTV)  

Several Punjabi and Bollywood celebrities have rallied to support flood-hit Punjab. Sonu Sood launched a helpline and ensured aid for displaced families, while Satinder Sartaaj’s foundation distributed ration and cattle feed in Ajnala, Ferozepur, and Fazilka . Karan Aujla arranged rescue boats, Gippy Grewal sent cattle fodder, and artists like Ranjit Bawa, Babbu Mann, and Sunanda Sharma pledged ground-level support . Randeep Hooda joined Global Sikhs relief efforts in Gurdaspur, and SRK, Sanjay Dutt, Kapil Sharma, and others offered emotional and digital support via social media messages.

Two powerful aftershocks, with magnitudes of 6.2 and 5.4, jolted eastern Afghanistan just 12 hours apart, intensifying devastation in a region already devastated by two initial earthquakes that claimed around 2,205 lives and injured 3,640 people . Over 6,700 homes were destroyed across Nangarhar and Kunar provinces . The mountainous terrain, landslides, and blocked roads are severely hampering rescue and relief operations . Survivors, fearing more tremors, are staying outdoors in makeshift shelters, facing dire shortages of food, medical supplies, and clean water . The WHO has appealed for an additional $4 million, while the UN has released $10 million, and an emergency global funding appeal is being prepared. (PC: Reuters)  

The Indian Air Force initiated a rescue mission on the morning of September 5, 2025, evacuating pilgrims stranded during the Manimahesh Yatra pilgrimage in Himachal Pradesh’s Chamba district. A first Chinook flight carried 50 devotees from Bharmour to Chamba, under the oversight of Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi. Simultaneously, three IAF Chinooks airlifted 135 more pilgrims to safety amid clearing weather. On Thursday, a small helicopter had already completed seven sorties, rescuing 35 ailing and elderly devotees. Nearly 500 pilgrims are also being escorted by road with food, water, and transport arranged en route. (PC: ANI)  

A 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck northeastern Afghanistan late on September 4, 2025, at 22:26 IST, with its epicenter located at 34.58° N, 70.66° E, at a depth of about 160 km. Tremors were widely felt across Jammu & Kashmir and Delhi-NCR, though no immediate reports of damage or casualties emerged. This quake comes on the heels of a devastating magnitude-6 disaster earlier this week in eastern Afghanistan that has claimed over 2,200 lives, left thousands injured, and caused widespread destruction across remote regions, compounding the humanitarian crisis in the quake-hit country. (PC: ANI)

A 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan on Thursday, with tremors felt in Delhi-NCR and Jammu and Kashmir. The quake hit at a depth of 160 km in Nangarhar and nearby regions. Earlier, a 4.8 quake also struck Afghanistan. This comes days after a deadly 6.0 quake killed over 2,200 people, mostly in Kunar province, and injured more than 3,600. Thousands of homes made of mud and stone collapsed, leaving families trapped. India has sent 21 tonnes of relief to Kabul, including medicines, tents, and food supplies. Rescuers and aid agencies continue searching for survivors in remote mountain villages.

A devastating landslide struck the congested Inner Akhara Bazaar in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh early on September 4, 2025, burying two to three houses while residents slept. Rescue teams recovered one body and rushed three critically injured individuals to Kullu’s regional hospital. However, five people—including three Kashmiri laborers and a woman—remain missing amid difficult conditions of treacherous terrain and continuous rain. An earlier landslide in the same area had already trapped two others, and an NDRF team member rescued after 24 hours remains in critical condition. Authorities have urged vulnerable residents to stay alert and avoid high-risk zones. (PC: PTI)  

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for parts of Delhi and NCR as heavy rain continues. Faridabad and Gurugram are likely to see heavy to very heavy showers with thunderstorms. The NDMA said nearby areas like Jhajjar, Karnal, Panipat, and Sonipat may also get strong rain in the next few hours. South Delhi, South East Delhi, South West Delhi, and New Delhi can expect moderate rain with lightning. A yellow alert is in place for other areas. Continuous rainfall has raised the Yamuna River above the 207-metre danger mark, a level crossed five times since 1963. (PC: HT)

In a dramatic rescue in Uttarakhand’s Pauri district, a herd of elephants saved a young calf swept away by the raging Khoh River near Dugadda Range. As dusk fell, the calf lost footing and was carried downstream. Its distress call triggered an immediate response—seven to eight elephants charged in, trumpeting for help. Mobilizing swiftly, about 25–30 elephants coordinated their effort, plunged into the turbulent water, and pulled the calf to safety. According to forest ranger Umesh Joshi, they rescued the calf near Lalpul bridge by Siddhabali Temple. Wildlife expert Ranganath Pandey credited the rescue to elephants’ low-frequency communication, allowing the herd to mount such a precise, collective effort.