The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved two multitracking projects across Indian Railways in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh to ensure seamless and faster transportation of both passengers and goods.

These projects include Ratlam-Nagda 3rd and 4th lines and Wardha-Balharshah 4th line. The total estimated cost of the projects is about Rs 3,399 crore and will be completed by 2029-30, according to the CCEA.

These projects, covering four districts across Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, will increase the existing network of Indian Railways by about 176 km. The projects will also generate direct employment for about 74 lakh human-days during construction.

The decision will improve travel convenience, reduce logistic cost, decrease oil imports and contribute to lower CO2 emissions, supporting sustainable and efficient rail operations.

Authorities in Jamnagar district of Gujarat destroyed a massive cache of English liquor and beer valued at Rs 41.83 lakh, an official said on Wednesday.

The operation was carried out under tight security in the presence of top officials from the administration and police department. A total of 17,497 bottles of English liquor and beer were crushed using a bulldozer at a government-designated waste disposal site in a rural area near Jamnagar.

The liquor had been seized from multiple police jurisdictions, including Panchkoshi A. Division, Panchkoshi B. Division, and Kalavad Rural Police Station.

According to officials, 14,657 bottles were confiscated from the Panchkoshi A. Division Police Station area alone. An additional 2,292 bottles were seized under the Kalavad Rural Police Station, while 548 bottles came from the Panchkoshi B. Division jurisdiction.

A government school teacher was shot dead by two unidentified bike-borne assailants early Wednesday morning in Bihar’s Darbhanga district, officials said.

The victim, Mansoor Alam, hailed from Teesi Parsauni village in Madhubani district and had been serving as a primary teacher at Nasirganj Primary School in the Singhwada block for the past 15 years.

According to officials, Alam was on his way to school on a bicycle -- as he did every day -- when two unidentified men on a motorcycle intercepted him near the Bharwada-Kamtaul road under the Singhwada police station limits.

The assailants shot him twice, in the head and shoulder, leaving him dead on the spot. The incident occurred around 6 a.m. on Wednesday, barely 500 meters from the school.

The India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) forecast of an above-normal monsoon is expected to lead to a robust increase in agricultural production and rural demand while helping to keep inflation under control, according to a Crisil report released on Wednesday.

The IMD has predicted above-normal rainfall during the southwest monsoon season (June to September), estimating it at 106 per cent of the long-period average.

“If the forecast, which would mark the second consecutive year of above-normal monsoon, comes true, the economy could expect another year of healthy agricultural output, strengthening rural demand, and keeping a check on food prices,” the report states.

The National Capital Region (NCR) continues to reel under strong sunlight, with temperatures soaring to uncomfortable levels on Wednesday, and a heatwave persisted throughout the day.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the maximum temperature was recorded at 39 degrees Celsius, while the minimum stood at 27 degrees Celsius.

Although no specific weather warning has been issued for Wednesday, the IMD has indicated a significant shift in weather patterns starting May 29, with strong winds, thunderstorms, and rainfall expected to hit the region.

The department has issued a Yellow Alert for Thursday, cautioning residents about gusty winds ranging between 30 to 40 km/h, accompanied by lightning and thunderstorm activity. The alert urges people to take necessary precautions and avoid open spaces during these weather events.

The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) is set to crack down on households and commercial buildings that illegally discharge sewage into the city’s stormwater drains (SWDs), a practice that has seen a sharp increase in recent years.

According to officials, the number of illegal sewage connections has surged from 1.3 lakh in 2023 to 2.1 lakh in 2025, posing significant risks to public health and causing frequent blockages during the monsoon.

Deputy Mayor M. Mahesh Kumar announced that the civic body will begin issuing notices to violators, giving them a week to disconnect illegal connections.

“If the connection is not removed within the stipulated time, it will be cut off by the corporation, and a fine of Rs 5,000 will be imposed. Larger buildings and commercial establishments will face higher penalties,” he said.

In the wake of relentless rainfall battering the Nilgiris for the third consecutive day, 17 houses have been damaged and 275 residents evacuated to temporary relief shelters, according to Nilgiris Lok Sabha MP A. Raja.

Raja, accompanied by Minister for Information and Publicity M.P. Saminathan and Coonoor MLA and Chief Government Whip K. Ramachandran, conducted an inspection of landslip-prone areas in Ithalar and Bembatty on Tuesday.

The team also visited temporary shelters set up for those displaced by the rains, distributing blankets and other essential relief materials to the affected families.

Speaking to the media, Raja assured that all government departments are working around the clock to ensure the safety of residents and mitigate further damage.

The Karnataka government on Tuesday announced that the system of towing vehicles parked in no-parking zones - stopped in February 2022 after widespread complaints - will be resumed in Bengaluru in a bid to mitigate the city's traffic woes.

Home Minister G. Parameshwara, addressing reporters after conducting a progress review meeting at the office of the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner, announced the decision, which was taken at a recent cabinet meeting.

"Vehicles are being parked indiscriminately, causing disruption to traffic. We must put an end to this. The towing system will be reintroduced. Department staff and vehicles will be used for towing operations. Several steps will be taken in coordination with the Bengaluru civic agency to resolve the traffic issues," he said.

The CBI has registered an FIR and launched a probe into the death of a Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) Chief Engineer whose family alleged harassment by his seniors and abetment to suicide in March, an official said on Tuesday.

The investigation into the death of HPPCL Chief Engineer-cum-General Manager Vimal Negi, a resident of Kinnaur district, was taken up by the federal agency on the direction of the Himachal Pradesh High Court after filing of an FIR on Monday.

As nearly 70 per cent of the population of the hill state lives in earthquake-sensitive zones four and five and also sensitive to other types of natural disasters, the Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (HPSDMA) will organise the ninth state-wide earthquake mock exercise in collaboration with National Disaster Management Authority in all 12 districts on June 6, officials said on Tuesday.

An orientation and coordination workshop was organised for all stakeholders here for this exercise where Principal Advisor of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Major General (retd) Sudhir Bahl gave detailed information on the outline and action plan of the mega mock exercise based on earthquake virtually.