Bengaluru rings in New Year with colour, music, people throng temples across state
Bengaluru (PTI): Colour, music and celebration marked New Year euphoria across Bengaluru from the night of December 31, with huge number of people stepping out to welcome 2026 amid lights, laughter and heightened security.
From the stroke of midnight, central business districts, IT corridors and residential neighbourhoods echoed with cheers.
Signature destinations of Bengaluru's cosmopolitan identity such as MG Road, Brigade Road, Church Street and Indiranagar turned into hubs of celebration, glowing with decorative lighting, live music, DJs and spontaneous frolic, while restaurants and pubs hosted special countdown events.
As the clock struck 12 am, fireworks lit up the skyline at multiple locations, with families and groups exchanging greetings, cutting cakes and sharing sweets.
Youngsters waved glowing props and mobile phones, capturing the moment, while many offered prayers at temples and churches that held special services to mark the New Year.
The Bengaluru Police had made elaborate arrangements to ensure peaceful celebrations, deploying additional personnel across sensitive zones and enforcing traffic diversions in crowded areas.
Barricades, CCTV surveillance and night-long patrolling helped regulate the festive crowds, with officials appealing to citizens to celebrate responsibly.
The blend of modern party culture and traditional rituals reflected Bengaluru's cosmopolitan spirit, as the city ushered in the New Year with hope, harmony and high spirits.
As the new year dawned on Thursday, devotees flocked temples in the state seeking the divine blessings for a good start in 2026.
People stood in long queues in front of temples with coconuts, incense sticks and flowers to offer to the deities.
In Bengaluru, there was a huge rush of devotees at 'Dodda Ganapati' and 'Dodda Basavanna' temples in Basavanagudi area.
People thronged the centuries-old Vasantha Vallabharaya temple in Vasanthapura.
Devotees also made a beeline to Banashankari Devi temple.
The rush in temples kept the priests busy from the morning, who were engaged in various rituals including 'Homa' (fire ritual).
In Mysuru, huge rush was witnessed in Chamundeshwari temple, the presiding deity of the historical city, and also in Yoga Narasimha shrine.
In Mangaluru, Kadri Manjunatha Swamy temple saw huge crowd since morning.
Prominent shrines in the state such as Sharada temple in Sringeri, Mookambika Devi temple in Udupi, Renuka Yellamma Temple in Savadatti in Belagavi, Manjunatha Swamy Temple in Dharmasthala, Kurudumale Ganapati temple and Kolaramma temple in Kolar district saw huge rush of devotees from the morning.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
MP HC sets up judicial commission to probe water contamination in Indore
Indore (PTI): The Indore bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court on Tuesday set up a commission of inquiry comprising a former HC judge to probe the issue of water contamination in city's Bhagirathpura, saying the matter requires probe by an independent, credible authority and "urgent judicial scrutiny".
It also directed the commission to submit an interim report after four weeks from the date of commencement of proceedings.
A division bench of Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi constituted the commission while hearing several public interest litigations (PILs) filed simultaneously regarding the deaths of several people in Bhagirathpura due to the consumption of contaminated water.
The HC reserved the order after hearing all the parties during the day, and released it late at night.
The state government on Tuesday told the HC that the deaths of 16 people in Indore's Bhagirathpura area was possibly linked to a month-long outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea caused by contaminated drinking water.
The government presented an audit report of 23 deaths from the current gastroenteritis epidemic in Bhagirathpura before the bench, suggesting that 16 of these fatalities may have been linked to the outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea caused by contaminated drinking water.
The report, prepared by a committee of five experts from the city's Government Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College, stated that the deaths of four people in Bhagirathpura were unrelated to the outbreak, while no conclusion could be reached regarding the cause of death of three other people in the area.
During the hearing, the high court sought to know from the state government the scientific basis behind its report.
The division bench also expressed surprise at the state government's use of the term "verbal autopsy" in relation to the report, sarcastically stating that it had heard the term for the first time.
The HC expressed concern over the Bhagirathpura case, stating that the situation was "alarming," and noted that cases of people falling ill due to contaminated drinking water have also been reported in Mhow, near Indore.
In its order, the HC said the serious issue concerning contamination of the drinking water supply in Bhagirathpura area allegedly resulted in widespread health hazards to residents, including children and elderly persons.
According to the petitioners and media reports, death toll is about 30 till today, but the report depicts only 16 without any basis or record, it said.
It is averred that sewage mixing, leakage in the pipeline, and failure of civic authorities to maintain potable water standards have led to the outbreak of water-borne diseases. Photographs, medical reports, and complaints submitted to the authorities prima facie indicate a matter requiring urgent judicial scrutiny, the HC said.
"Considering the gravity of the allegation and affecting the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India and the need for an independent fact-finding exercise, the Court is of the opinion that the matter requires investigation by an independent, credible authority," it said.
"Accordingly, we appoint Justice Sushil Kumar Gupta, former judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, a one-man commission of inquiry into the issues relating to water contamination in Bhagirathpura, Indore, and its impact on other areas of the city," the HC added.
As per the order, the commission shall inquire into and submit a report on the cause of contamination -- whether the drinking water supplied to Bhagirathpura was contaminated; and the source and nature of contamination (sewage ingress, industrial discharge, pipeline damage etc).
The panel will also probe the number of actual deaths of affected residents on account of contaminated water; find out the nature of disease reported and adequacy of medical response and preventive measures; suggest immediate steps required to ensure safe drinking water as well as long-term infrastructural and monitoring reforms.
It will also identify and fix responsibility upon the officers and officials found prima facie responsible for the Bhagirathpura water contamination incident, and suggest guidelines for compensation to affected residents, particularly vulnerable sections.
The commission shall have powers of a civil court for the purpose of summoning officials and witnesses; calling up records from the government department, hospitals, laboratories and civic bodies; ordering water quality testing through accredited laboratories; conducting spot inspections.
All state authorities involving district administration, Indore Municipal Corporation, public health engineering department and Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board shall extend full co-operation and provide records as sought by the commission, it said.
The state government shall provide office space, staff, and logistical support to the commission, it said.
During the hearing in the day, the state government also presented a status report to the court in this matter.
According to reports, a total of 454 patients were admitted to local hospitals during the vomiting and diarrhea outbreak, of whom 441 have been discharged after treatment, and 11 are currently hospitalised.
According to officials, due to a leak in the municipal drinking water pipeline in Bhagirathpura, sewage from a toilet was also mixed in the water.
