Shorts
Helicopter crashes near Kedarnath: 6 pilgrims, pilot dead
A helicopter carrying pilgrims crashed near Kedarnath in Uttarakhand. Seven people, including a pilot, were killed in the incident. Reportedly, bad weather and poor visibility caused the crash.

Helicopter crash near Kedarnath
The helicopter crashed near Garud Chatti at around 11.40 am on October 18, said C Ravi Shankar, CEO, Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority, adding that all seven bodies have been recovered.
President Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared condolences on twitter
केदारनाथ धाम के पास हुए हेलीकॉप्टर दुर्घटना में पायलट सहित कई तीर्थयात्रियों के निधन का समाचार बहुत दुखद है। अपने प्रियजनों को खोने वाले परिवारों के प्रति मैं गहन शोक-संवेदनाएं व्यक्त करती हूं।
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) October 18, 2022
Anguished by the helicopter crash in Uttarakhand. In this tragic hour, my thoughts are with the bereaved families: PM @narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 18, 2022
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Entertainment
Nagpur’s first OTT platform unleashes supernatural thrills in game-changing feature film
Nagpur’s first-ever OTT platform, AJCPlay, is all set to make a significant impact with its upcoming feature film, “Shinigami’s Box: Origins.” Breaking away from conventional narratives, this supernatural thriller brings a fresh genre to the city’s film landscape, captivating audiences with its intriguing storyline and talented cast.

Shinigami’s Box: Origins by Nagpur’s AJCPlay OTT platform
With only a handful of movies made in Nagpur, AnuragJha Creations has taken on the challenge of producing this groundbreaking film, aiming to set new benchmarks for the local film industry. Unlike movies driven by political backing, social issues, or commercial motives, “Shinigami’s Box: Origins” sets itself apart with its commitment to a fresh story, pure talent, and captivating presentation.
The film’s journey began three years ago, with meticulous scripting and development before it was brought to life. “Shinigami’s Box: Origins” follows Inspector Kabir of the Special Crimes Unit as he races against time to uncover the mysterious connection between a captured masked criminal and an otherworldly box that appears in a secluded village on the city’s outskirts, as revealed on the film’s IMDb page.

Shinigami’s Box: Origins by Nagpur’s AJCPlay OTT platform
Directed by Anurag Jha, the film features an ensemble cast, with the director himself portraying the enigmatic character of Shinigami. Joining him are Yash Krishnani, Shreeyanshi Katre, Rishi Raj, Avani Arya, Abhijeet Daigavane, and other talented actors in prominent roles, collectively showcasing the city’s pool of acting talent.
The entire film is shot on location in Nagpur, further emphasizing the production’s commitment to highlighting the city’s vibrant culture and aesthetics. Set to release in the later half of 2023, “Shinigami’s Box: Origins” promises an immersive cinematic experience that will leave audiences on the edge of their seats.

Shinigami’s Box: Origins by Nagpur’s AJCPlay OTT platform
As AJCPlay aims to provide a platform for local talent and storytelling, “Shinigami’s Box: Origins” serves as a milestone for Nagpur’s film industry. With its fresh approach and unwavering dedication to quality, this supernatural thriller is poised to captivate viewers and establish a new standard for filmmaking in the city.
COVID-19
Thane Municipal Corporation adds 25 beds as COVID cases rise
Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) added 25 additional beds in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital Kalwa apart from arranging a special ward dedicated to COVID-19 patients. The total number of active patients in the city stood at 252 while five succumbed to the virus. Meanwhile, TMC Commissioner Abhijit Bangar said a ‘death audit’ of patients who died of COVID would be conducted. The TMC has ensured it has additional stock of oxygen concentrators, testing kits, medicines, to name a few. Bangar told HT, “Due to the increasing number of Covid patients, it is necessary for everyone to be alert.”
He added, The number of Covid tests should be increased to stay one step ahead of the disease. As a result, the number of patients is likely to increase due to increased testing. However, as per the ‘test, isolate, treat’ protocol for Covid, it becomes necessary to isolate and treat more and more patients. The testing centres will not remain closed even for a single day. At the same time, more arrangements for testing will be made immediately in public places, markets, railway stations, malls.”
India recorded 3,095 new COVID cases and five deaths in last 24 hours.
Also read: Nagpur records 22 COVID cases in 24 hours
Politics
After Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification, his namesake who contested from Wayanad disqualified

Rahul Gandhi
An independent candidate for Lok Sabha elections named Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from contesting polls for failing to lodge account of election expenses. Gandhi, who’s name figures as ‘Rahul Gandhi K E S/o Valsamma’ in an Election Commission list of persons, had contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections as an Independent and had received 2196 votes from the Wayanad seat in Kerala – a constituency from where ex-Congress MP Rahul Rajiv Gandhi had won with over seven lakh votes.
However, since it is mandatory for all contestants to submit their account of election expenses among other mandatory requirements under EC rules and the Representation of the People Act.
Rahul Gandhi K E S/o Valsamma stood disqualified to contest polls from September 13, 2021 till September 13, 2024. According to Section 10A, the Election Commission can disqualify a contestant for a period of three years from the date of the order if he/she has failed to lodge an account of election expenses within the time and in the manner required by law and has no good reason or justification for the failure.
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