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Delhi poll results: AAP’s shock loss and BJP’s big comeback sparks meme frenzy on social media

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New Delhi, Feb 8: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has crossed the majority mark as per latest trends of Delhi Assembly election results. Trends till 12:45 PM showed that the BJP secured 48 seats, while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) stood at 22 seats.

These developments have ignited a veritable meme fest on social media, with internet users taking playful jabs at Arvind Kejriwal’s APP and the Congress.

One X user shared a meme depicting contestants ready for a race, with the BJP and AAP positioned toward the finish line while Congress is humorously shown heading in the opposite direction — a sarcastic commentary on Congress’ absence from the lead.

Adding to the humour, the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) took to X, posting, “According to sources Bhagwant Mann Singh has blocked the phone number of Arvind Kejriwal.”

The meme parade continued with another image featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Arvind Kejriwal inside a wrestling ring, where Kejriwal is shown taking a severe beating at the hands of the Prime Minister.

In a further display of satire, a meme circulated showing a recent video of SP MP Awadhesh Prasad sobbing, with the caption referring to him as “Arvind Kejriwal after seeing Delhi Election Result.”

Another video clip portrays him crying as he views the election results, emphasising that the AAP has not even managed to touch the halfway mark.

Yet another meme depicts Delhi voters fervently hyping the BJP while illustrating the AAP struggling to stay afloat and the Congress figuratively underwater.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also joined in on the social media banter by taking a swipe at the INDIA bloc — particularly Congress and the AAP — after early leads suggested a sweeping victory for the BJP in Delhi.

In a social media post, he quipped, “aur lado aapas mein” (fight each other some more).

The jest continued with a meme showing Congress Minister Rahul Gandhi checking the number of zeroes, a pointed dig at his party for failing to secure even a single seat.

One X user compared former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to cricketer Virat Kohli, humorously portraying him as wiping away tears. Kejriwal, contesting from the New Delhi constituency, is locked in a three-cornered fight against BJP’s Parvesh Verma and Congress’ Sandeep Dikshit, and is currently trailing.

The overall contest in Delhi appears increasingly to be a battle between just two parties — AAP and BJP. In one meme, Kejriwal is seen declaring, “Desh mein Modi ki koi hawa nahin hai!!” (There is no Modi wave in the country), only for Prime Minister Modi to retort humorously by urging Kejriwal to remove his muffler and feel the air.

Another meme takes a dig at the former Chief Minister’s renovated residence, referred to as ‘Sheesh Mahal,’ with a caption reading, “Utho Sunita, Sheesh Mahal khaali karne ka waqt aa gaya hai.”

A viral video shows two young girls dancing in a manner that has been compared to Swati Maliwal and Bansuri Swaraj celebrating Kejriwal’s fall, while yet another meme features Game of Thrones’ Khalisi — likened to Swati Maliwal — laughing as the AAP government appears to burn behind her.

The single-phase Delhi Assembly elections were held on February 5, and votes are being counted at the moment. Today’s results will determine whether Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP will return to power for a fourth term or if the BJP will make a significant comeback in the national capital.

Currently, top AAP leaders, including Arvind Kejriwal, Atishi, Manish Sisodia, and Satyendar Jain, are in the fray, while BJP’s Ramesh Bidhuri and Kailash Gahlot have taken clear leads.

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241 dead, one survivor as Air India Dreamliner crashes after takeoff from Ahmedabad: Air India

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New Delhi, June 13: In what is being described as one of the worst aviation disasters in Indian history, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 242 people crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport.

The aircraft, operating as Flight AI-171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, plunged into a residential complex near BJ Medical College, killing 241 people on board.

The ill-fated flight had 230 passengers, 10 cabin crew, and two pilots. According to officials, only one person, a British national of Indian origin seated in 11A, survived the crash and is currently undergoing treatment at a local hospital.

The aircraft took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1.38 p.m. (IST) on Thursday before losing control moments later and crashing into a densely populated area, igniting a massive blaze and triggering emergency response teams across the city.

Air India confirmed the accident in an official statement on X: “UPDATE: Air India confirms that flight AI171, operating from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick on 12 June 2025, was involved in an accident. The 12-year-old Boeing 787-8 aircraft departed from Ahmedabad at 1338 hrs, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew. The aircraft crashed shortly after take-off. We regret to inform that, of the 242 aboard, there are 241 confirmed fatalities. The sole survivor is being treated in a hospital.”

The airline also shared the nationality breakdown of passengers: 169 Indian nationals, 53 British, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian.

“Air India offers its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased. Our efforts now are focused entirely on the needs of all those affected, their families and loved ones. A team of caregivers from Air India is now in Ahmedabad to provide additional support,” the statement added.

The national carrier has pledged full cooperation with authorities investigating the cause of the crash and has established dedicated helplines for families seeking information.

Domestic callers can reach the support team at 1800 5691 444, while international callers are advised to dial +91 8062779200.

Regular updates will be provided through Air India’s official website and its X handle.

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Plastic nurdle spill from sunken cargo ship reaches TN’s Dhanushkodi sanctuary, raising alarm

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Chennai, June 10: A plastic nurdle spill from the sunken cargo ship MSC ELSA 3 has spread into the newly declared Dhanushkodi Greater Flamingo Sanctuary in Ramanathapuram district, threatening one of India’s most fragile coastal ecosystems.

The MSC ELSA 3, a Liberian-flagged vessel, sank off the Kochi coast a few weeks ago while carrying 640 containers, including 13 with hazardous materials, 12 with calcium carbide, 367 tonnes of furnace oil, and 84 tonnes of diesel.

The ship’s cargo manifest remains undisclosed, fuelling speculation about the full extent of environmental risk.

Dhanushkodi Sanctuary, located within the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve, supports 128 species of birds — including Greater and Lesser Flamingos — and is home to sea turtles, crustaceans, molluscs, and fish. Its dunes, marshes, and seagrass beds form part of the Central Asian Flyway for migratory birds.

The nurdles — tiny plastic pellets used in industrial manufacturing — resemble fish eggs and can be deadly to marine life. When ingested, they cause internal blockages, starvation, and often death. They also absorb toxins, entering the food chain and posing long-term health hazards.

About 80 bags, each weighing 25 kilograms, have reportedly washed ashore along a 12-km coastal stretch. Affected sites include the Dhanushkodi old church, Irattaithalai, Mugandharayan Chathiram, Gothanda Ramar temple, and Patchappatti village.

Carried by ocean currents from the Thiruvananthapuram-Kanniyakumari coast, the spill now threatens the adjacent Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, home to vital coral reefs and seagrass beds.

Experts warn these habitats could be smothered by plastic debris, blocking sunlight and disrupting photosynthesis.

Ramanathapuram District Collector Simranjeet Singh Kahlon said, “We’ve identified between 15 and 30 nurdle bags along the coast. A special team has been deployed for cleanup, and additional teams are monitoring for further debris.”

He urged the public not to panic, stating that swift action was underway.

The disaster evokes memories of the 2021 X-Press Pearl incident in Sri Lanka, where 1,680 tonnes of nurdles led to mass marine deaths and crippled fisheries.

Studies showed severe impacts on plankton and larval life forms, threatening entire food chains.

Cleanup efforts in Ramanathapuram face challenges due to the nurdles’ buoyancy and small size, worsened by monsoon waves that break them into microplastics.

With the 61-day annual fishing ban nearing its end, fishermen fear reduced fish catches and consumer hesitancy could harm their livelihoods if the spill worsens.

Environmentalists are calling for urgent intervention, cargo transparency, and long-term containment measures to prevent irreversible damage to one of India’s most critical marine ecosystems.

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Eight Punjab and Haryana HC judges take lead to boost Kashmir tourism post Pahalgam terror attack

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Srinagar, June 9: To give a boost to Kashmir tourism post Pahalgam terror attack, eight judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court are visiting the valley along with their families.

The visit of the legal personalities along with their families carries a powerful message for the revival of tourism in Kashmir, which got shattered after the Pahalgam terror attack.

On April 22, Pakistan-backed terrorists of Lashkar-e-Kashmir (LeT) killed 26 civilians, including 25 tourists and a local pony owner.

The pony owner sacrificed his life while trying to protect the tourists from the bullets of the terrorists.

The terror attack caused outrage in the entire country, and to avenge the killings of innocent civilians, the Indian Armed Forces carried out airstrikes against terror infrastructure in Pakistan under Operation Sindoor.

In retaliation for India’s attack on terrorist infrastructure, Pakistan resorted to heavy mortar shelling on civilian facilities in Poonch, Rajouri, Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora districts.

Eighteen civilians were killed in Pakistan shelling, 13 of them in Poonch district, in addition to the destruction of scores of homes, shops, a temple, a mosque, a church and a Gurudwara.

The itinerary of the visiting high court judges includes visits to the Mughal Gardens of Nishat and Shalimar, Shikara rides on the Dal Lake, a visit to the historic Pari Mahal and buying a few handicrafts at the local market.

There could be no better omen for the revival of tourism in Kashmir than the decision of the honourable justices of the High Court to come here along with their families.

Coinciding with the visit of these dignitaries, local tour and travel operators and hotel owners are reporting a gradual rise in the tourist bookings that had virtually stopped after the Pahalgam terror attack.

Tour and travel operators and others connected with the tourist industry have expressed hope that the visit by the most respected legal dignitaries, like the high court judges, will restore confidence among visitors, both domestic and foreign, that Kashmir is a safe tourist destination.

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