IndiGo has cancelled more than 600 flights in the last two days, leaving thousands of passengers stranded across India. The airline said the disruption happened because of planning mistakes while changing crew duty rules. On Wednesday, IndiGo’s on-time performance fell to just 19.7 per cent. Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad airports saw the most cancellations. The civil aviation minister reviewed the situation with the airline. IndiGo has asked for time till February 10, 2026, to return to normal operations. More cancellations are expected over the next few days as the airline works to fix its schedule. (PC: HT)

IndiGo cancelled a record-breaking 550 flights Thursday, marking unprecedented disruptions for the 20-year-old airline as operational chaos entered its third day. The airline's on-time performance plummeted to 19.7% Wednesday from 35% Tuesday. CEO Pieter Elbers acknowledged normalizing operations won't be an "easy target." Major cancellations hit Mumbai (118 flights), Bangalore (100), Hyderabad (75), Kolkata (35), Chennai (26), and Goa (11). IndiGo admitted misjudging crew requirements under new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) Phase 2 norms implemented November 1, alongside cabin crew shortages and technology issues. The Civil Aviation Ministry and DGCA met with IndiGo officials today. More cancellations expected over the next two-three days from India's largest carrier operating 2,300 daily flights.

A new study by the Esya Centre surveying 1,063 people across ten cities reveals that 91% of Indians feel safer due to street dogs. The research shows a dramatic 90% decline in rabies deaths, dropping from 534 in 2004 to just 54 in 2024. Most respondents (73.5%) describe free-ranging dogs as friendly, with only 10.8% calling them aggressive. Additionally, 91.4% believe these dogs deter crime, while 52% say they enhance safety for women and children. The study notes 74% of feeders consider dog feeding a religious practice. Researchers recommend policy shifts away from removal-based approaches toward better sterilization programs, waste management, and community collaboration. (PC: The New York Times)

A resident of Delhi used ChatGPT to trace an online scammer who posed as a former class-mate and offered “Army transfer/cheap goods” deals. After suspecting the impersonation, he bypassed the scammer’s QR code payment push by creating a fake payment portal with AI assistance, capturing the fraudster’s geolocation, IP address and front-camera snapshot. The scammer panicked and begged for forgiveness, while the incident sparked broader discussion on how AI is changing both scams and counter-measures in India. (PC: Reddit)

In the Kenduadih-Basti neighbourhood of Dhanbad district (Jharkhand), two women died after an alleged toxic-gas leak, and over a dozen people were hospitalised. Locals claim exposure to gas caused the deaths; officials say post-mortem results will confirm the cause. The site lies within the mining zone of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), which has begun evacuating residents from affected areas with about 10,000 people impacted. Protests erupted early Thursday, with residents blocking the Dhanbad-Ranchi highway and demanding relocation and relief measures. 

The Supreme Court of India has ordered state governments and union territories to allocate additional personnel for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls conducted by the Election Commission of India, in order to ease the heavy workload on booth-level officers (BLOs). The court acknowledged reports of excessive pressure on BLOs, including stress-related incidents, and emphasised that administrations are “obligated” to support the exercise and ensure welfare of staff deployed for this key electoral process. (PC: PTI)

A morning ride in a posh colony in Gurugram turned fatal when a cyclist and businessman, Amitabh Jain (58), was struck from behind by a Hyundai Santro around 7:15 am. CCTV footage shows him riding in the left lane before the car overtook and hit him. He was critically injured and later died. The driver fled the scene; police traced the registration via CCTV but found no car or owner at the registered address and have launched a manhunt. 

IndiGo cancelled over 200 flights on Thursday due to staff shortages and operational disruptions, affecting major airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad, and Kolkata. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has called IndiGo officials for a meeting to investigate the crisis. Flight delays are also impacting other airlines as IndiGo planes occupy parking bays, straining airport capacity. The Federation of India Pilots blamed the airline’s hiring freeze and lean staffing strategy, while ALPA India raised concerns over crew management and regulatory oversight. IndiGo cited technical glitches, weather, congestion, and new crew rules as reasons for disruptions. (PC: India Today)

Delhi is on high alert as Russian President Vladimir Putin prepares to visit India for two days. Over 5,000 police personnel, SWAT teams, snipers, and anti-terror units have been deployed across the capital. Anti-drone systems and secured VVIP routes are in place, with traffic advisories planned to reduce commuter inconvenience. During the visit, Putin will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a private dinner and attend the 23rd India-Russia annual strategic summit. Discussions will include trade, defence, industrial cooperation, technology, healthcare, and space exploration. Security officials are closely monitoring every movement to ensure the safety of both leaders. (PC: HT)

Delhi is battling toxic air, with AQI levels touching 400, but city officials are still cutting large tree branches in the name of pruning. Residents say the Municipal Corporation of Delhi is hacking trees instead of doing light and scientific trimming. Social media is filled with complaints from areas like Vasant Kunj, Defence Colony and Greater Kailash. Experts warn this will reduce green cover at a time when trees are the only natural defence against pollution. Despite rules that restrict pruning without permission, poor coordination and alleged corruption continue. Citizens say this careless approach is worsening Delhi’s pollution crisis. (PC: India Today)