FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms FREE PRESS Vol. XLII No. 119 | INDORE | MONDAY | OCTOBER 6, 2025 | Pages 12 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. 38281/83 www.freepressjournal.in iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: INDORE MONEY Sports BATTLE OF REDEMPTION AT HOLKAR ESTD-1983 Macros, H2FY26 earnings in focus HEAVY RAIN RAVAGES DARJEELING, 23 DEAD Aritra Singha KOLKATA Nature’s Wrath n 51 killed in landslides, floods after downpour in Nepal n Floods hit Bhutan, Indian Army joins in rescue missions n 1,000 trapped in blizzard on Tibetan side of Mt Everest n Typhoon Matmo hits south China, 347,000 people evacuated SEE NATION, WORLD caught off-guard as landslides buried roads and snapped PUNE communication lines across the region. Many described a night of fear and helplessness, with hillsides collapsing and entire roads disappearing. “We heard a deafening sound around 2 am. When we came out in the morning, the road was gone — just a heap of mud and trees. We are com- pletely cut off. We just want to get home safely,” said Praveen Sinha, a tourist from Kolkata staying in Mirik. “We haven’t slept properly. The hotel staff are kind, but they are as helpless as we are,” added Ananya Das, who travelled from Mumbai with her husband and 5-year-old daughter. The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) has since suspended all tourist operations in high-risk zones. Popular spots like Tiger Hill, Rock Garden, and Batasia Loop have been temporarily closed. Toy train services between Darjeeling and Ghum have also been halted. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed deep concern over the situation, calling it “grave” and announcing compensation for victims, although details are yet to be confirmed. She is scheduled to visit North Bengal on October 6 to assess the damage. “Due to incessant rainfall in Bhutan, water has overflowed into North Bengal. This disaster is beyond human control. I’ve been monitoring the situation since 6 am and have held virtual meetings with officials of five affected districts,” Banerjee told a TV channel. 4Continued on | P8 BHOPAL NASHIK fp Briefs CHENNAI TN stampede: SIT begins probe The SIT, appointed by the Madras HC, has formally begun its inquiry into the deadly stampede that occurred during TVK leader and actor-turned-politician Vijay’s campaign rally in Karur, which left 41 people dead and more than 100 injured. The tragedy had sent shockwaves across the country and raised serious questions about public safety at political events. NEW DELHI India reigns supreme India’s unbeaten streak against arch-rivals Pakistan in World Cup history stayed intact — and in emphatic fashion — as Harmanpreet Kaur’s brigade romped to a dominant 88run victory in their second match of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 at the R Premadasa Stadium on Sunday. Detail on Sports Page Agencies Bihar voters list purified, says CEC Dheeraj Kumar WASHINGTON DC PATNA US President Donald Trump on Saturday (local time) said that Israel agreed to the initial withdrawal line, and after Hamas confirms, a ceasefire will be implemented. Trump said that after Hamas agrees, prisoner and hostage exchange will take place. "After negotiations, Israel has agreed to the initial withdrawal line, which we have shown to and shared with Hamas. When Hamas confirms, the Ceasefire will be IMMEDIATELY effective, the Hostages and Prisoner Exchange will begin, and we will create the conditions for the next phase of withdrawal, which will bring us close to the end of this 3,000 YEAR CATASTROPHE. Thank you for your attention to this matter and, STAY TUNED!" Trump said in a post on Truth Social. US White House Press Secretary earlier in the day reposted a video of Trump thanking all the Arab nations who backed him in his plan to end the Gaza crisis. "I want to thank the countries that helped me put this together. Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and so many others. So many people fought so hard. This is a big day. 4Continued on | P8 Claiming a major electoral milestone, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar on Sunday announced that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise has "purified" Bihar’s voter list for the first time in 22 years, ahead of the upcoming state assembly elections. He also said a range of new initiatives have been introduced, aimed at strengthening transparency and voter convenience, many of which are set to be replicated across the country in the future. Addressing a press confer- For someone to say that the roll revision should be conducted after the elections is unjustified. Gyanesh Kumar, Chief Election Commissioner ence during his two-day visit to Bihar, Kumar said the elections for the 243member Assembly will be completed before its term ends on November 22. 4Continued on | P8 Respect our red lines: EAM on US trade deal FP News Service NEW DELHI External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday stressed the importance of reaching a trade understanding with the US, not only because it is the world’s largest market, but also due to the fact that many countries already have such arrangements in place. Speaking at a panel discussion during the Kautilya Economic Forum, Jaishankar acknowledged that India and the US are yet to arrive at a “landing ground” in ongoing trade negotiations. He noted that certain tariffs imposed on India by the US were "unfair" and pointed to energy-related tariffs targeting India's sourcing from Russia as disproportionate, especially given that other countries with more adversarial ties to Moscow continue similar practices. “There are problems, there are issues — nobody is in denial. But I don't think we should take this to a point where it affects every dimension of the relationship,” Jaishankar said, responding to moderator NK Singh. 4Continued on | P8 BHOPAL In the wake of at least 16 children dying in the last few days, the police on Sunday arrested paediatrician, Dr. Praveen Soni of Civil Hospital, Parasia, in Chhindwara.  An FIR was earlier registered against Dr Soni, who had allegedly prescribed the allegedly contaminated cough syrup that led to the deaths, and the directors of Tamil Nadu-based Sresan Pharmaceuticals, the company that manufactured the cough syrup.  . Soni, who prescribed the syrup to children during their visit to his private clinic, has been accused of negligence in discharging his duty and has also been suspended.  The FIR has been filed under Sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 276 (adulteration of drugs) of the Bharatiya CONTROVERSY, CONFUSION AND NO HANDSHAKES Agencies High drama unfolded at the R Premadasa Stadium as the much-anticipated India–Pakistan Women’s ODI World Cup clash began amid controversy, confusion, and cricketing chaos. The storm began even before the first ball was bowled. During the toss, India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur spun the coin, Pakistan captain Fatima Sana called tails — but Australian presenter Mel Jones announced heads! Match referee WHAT DOES THE RULE STATE? According to law 30.1 of the MCC laws, 30.1 A batter shall be considered to be out of her ground unless some part of her person or bat is grounded behind the popping crease at that end. Shandre Fritz missed the mixup and wrongly awarded the toss to Pakistan, who opted to bowl first. The error, caught by cameras, set social media 30.1.2 However, a batter shall not be considered to be out of her ground if, in running or diving towards her ground and beyond, and having grounded some part of her person or bat beyond the popping crease, there is subsequent loss of contact between the ground and any part of her person or bat, or between the bat and person. ablaze, sparking calls for a review of match officiating protocols. 4Continued on | P8 Asia Cup 2025 Cricket fan approaches Dubai cops over trophy ‘theft’ Biswajeet Banerjee LUCKNOW A cricket enthusiast from Lucknow, Sanjay Sharma, has lodged a formal complaint with the Dubai Police over the alleged theft of the Asia Cup 2025 trophy during the final match held on September 27. According to the complaint sent on September 30, Sharma accused Mohsin Naqvi, President of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), of unlawfully retaining the trophy instead of handing it over to the victorious Indian cricket team. Sharma described the alleged act as a serious breach of sportsmanship that has sparked outrage among Indian cricket fans. In his complaint, he urged the Dubai Police to conduct a fair and speedy in- vestigation, take strict legal action against those responsible, and ensure the trophy’s return to its rightful owners. Copies of the complaint have also been forwarded to the International Cricket Council (ICC), the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), and other relevant cricketing authorities. The Dubai Police have acknowledged receiving the com- Assam investors show interest in MP projects CM Yadav says state offers best opportunities for business Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Investors and industrialists from Assam have expressed strong interest in investing across several sectors in Madhya Pradesh during an interactive session on investment opportunities held in Guwahati on Sunday. The meeting marked Chief Minister Mohan Yadav’s first visit to Assam to promote the state as a key investment destination. During one-on-one discussions with the chief minister, investors proposed a range of projects including advanced pharmaceutical and hygiene product manufacturing by Dr Ghanshyam Dhanuka (GERD Pharmaceuticals & FICCI Assam), plastic and packaging units by Kailash Chandra Lohia (Lohia Group), and eco-lodge and boutique river cruise ventures on the Narmada and Chambal rivers by Ashish Phukan (Assam Bengal Navigation). CM bats for direct Bhopal-Guwahati flight C hief Minister Mohan Yadav on Sunday met Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at his residence in Guwahati, where the two leaders discussed measures to strengthen tourism, trade and cultural exchange between the two states. Yadav said that efforts will be made to start a direct flight from Bhopal to Guwahati to boost future tourism and business activities. He said deeper cultural ties will be built through increased cooperation among youths, artists and universities of both states. Madhya Pradesh and Assam will also work together to promote handicrafts, silk and bamboo products, creating new markets and employment opportunities for local artisans and entrepreneurs. The two leaders also held a positive discussion on the exchange of wild animals and ongoing efforts for wildlife conservation. Other proposals discussed were eco-tourism clusters and sustainable hospitality projects by Joydeep Gupta (BMG Informatics Pvt Ltd), inland water and wildlife tourism initiatives Paediatrician suspended after arrest, FIR on TN pharma firm India-Pakistan Women’s World Cup Clash COLOMBO E-paper Brand Sutra Macaron-omics P.12 Our Staff Reporter Trump says Israel accepted ‘withdrawal line’ MUMBAI Edit OBC backlash to Maha GR P.6 P.10 HILL HAVOC | Landslides devastate North Bengal; roadblocks on key routes; tourists stranded; Mamata to visit spot today At least 23 people, including several children, were killed and dozens injured as relentless downpours triggered massive landslides across Mirik and Darjeeling hills in West Bengal on Sunday. The torrential rains swept away homes, severed road networks, isolated entire villages, and left hundreds of tourists stranded, officials said. According to data compiled by the NDRF and the district administration, fatalities were reported from Sarsaly, Jasbirgaon, Mirik Basti, Dhar Gaon (Mechi), Nagrakata, and the Mirik Lake area. Mirik, one of the most severely affected areas, accounted for 11 deaths, with seven injured people rescued, according to an NDRF statement. In Darjeeling, seven people lost their lives, and rescue operations were ongoing with the help of local police, disaster response teams, and administration officials. Hundreds of tourists who had flocked to the Darjeeling hills for Durga Puja and post-festival holidays were stranded after the rains battered popular destinations such as Mirik, Ghoom, and Lepchajagat from Saturday night. Families from Kolkata and other parts of Bengal were UJJAIN plaint and assured a response within 48 working hours. The incident has raised questions about transparency and accountability in international cricket. Indian cricket fans have expressed strong support for Sharma’s move and appreciated the swift response from the Dubai authorities, hoping that justice will be delivered soon. CHHINDWARA COUGH SYRUP CASE SIT formed Chhindwara Collector Harendra Narayan said, “An SIT has been constituted after the arrest of Dr Pravin Soni and an FIR registered against him and the Kanchipuram-based pharmaceutical company (manufacturer) of poisonous cough syrup. Dr Soni is a government doctor, but he prescribed this syrup in his private clinic.” Dr. Praveen Soni Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Section 27A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. Following the Chief Minister’s directive, Commissioner of Public Health and Medical Education, Tarun Rathi, issued an immediate suspension Centre gives nod to NaMo semicon lab IANS order against Dr Soni. The action was taken under Rule 9(1) of the Madhya Pradesh Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1966, due to Dr Soni’s serious negligence in treating infants in his private practice and his failure to discharge his official duties with integrity. The syrup allegedly caused high fever and difficulty in urination, leading to adverse effects on their kidneys. While he remains suspended, Dr Soni’s headquarters will be under the Regional Director, Health Services, Jabalpur. 4Continued on | P8 by Prashant Gupta (Hotel Polo Towers), a cement plant and logistics hub by Pradeep Purohit (Star Cement Pvt Ltd), 4Continued on | P8 Toll at 16; 8 children still in hospital FP News Service CHHINDWARA Sixteen children, including two from Betul district, have died due to kidney failure allegedly caused by a contaminated cough syrup supplied by Tamil Nadu-based Srisan Pharmaceuticals. Officials said 14 children from Chhindwara and two from Betul died after consuming the syrup, while eight others remain hospitalised. Meanwhile, drug inspectors are conducting raids to trace and seize the suspected medicine. Authorities have also criticised Nagpur doctors for failing to alert Chhindwara officials about the sudden surge in kidney failure cases, which could have saved several young lives. Govt assistance for kin of deceased- ADM Dhirendra Singh stated that, as announced by the CM, the families of the 14 children who have succumbed to kidney failure in Chhindwara so far have received the assistance of Rs 4 lakh. INDIA, UK BEGIN MEGA WARGAME NEW DELHI In a major step towards strengthening India’s semiconductor ecosystem, Union Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, has approved the setting up of the ‘NaMo Semiconductor Laboratory’ at IIT Bhubaneswar, Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY) said on Sunday. The project, estimated to cost Rs 4.95 crore, will be funded under the MPLAD Scheme.The NaMo Semiconductor Lab aims to empower India’s youth with industryready semiconductor skills and contribute to the country’s growing pool of chip design talent.“It will help position IIT Bhubaneswar as a leading centre for semiconductor research, training, and innovation,” the ministry said.“The facility is expected to play a key role in preparing skilled professionals for the upcoming chip manufacturing and packaging units across the country,” the ministry added.The new lab will act as a catalyst for the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Design in India’ initiatives by supporting research and innovation in semiconductor design and fabrication. PTI NEW DELHI The navies of India and the UK kick-started an eight-day mega wargame in the Western Indian Ocean in line with their focus to boost overall military ties. The UK's Carrier Strike Group (CSG), led by HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier, has been deployed for the Exercise Konkan. The exercise is a reaffirmation of the shared commitment to ensuring secure, open and free seas and will exemplify the "comprehensive strategic partnership" outlined in the India-UK Vision 2035, the Indian Navy said. The exercise is aimed at in- creasing combined maritime and air capabilities between the UK and Indian navies on the high seas. "The UK and India believe in an Indo-Pacific that is free and open. We share an ambition for a modern defence and security partnership, a fundamental pillar of UK-India Vision 2035, agreed by our prime ministers this year," Lindy Cameron, the British High Commissioner to India, said. "The engagements between the Carrier Strike Groups of our two navies demonstrate our commitment to maintaining the rules-based international order in the region and lay the groundwork for future cooperation," she said.