Dhenkanal: A Special Judge for Vigilance in Dhenkanal Monday sentenced former Assistant of the Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund (OECF), Niaranjan Panda, to two years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) and imposed a fine of Rs 50,000. Panda, who had retired from OECF, was chargesheeted by Odisha Vigilance under Section 13(2) read with 13(1)(e) of the Prevention of Corruption...

Nandapur: Days after a major drug seizure on Chitalpada islet in Jolaput reservoir here in Koraput district, over 100 Kadaknath and more than 150 Turkey varieties of fowls and hens, as well as over 50 ducks, have gone missing from the riverine settlement, residents said. Notably, a joint team of Koraput police and Padua police raided Chitalpada...

Bhubaneswar: In view of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Chief Secretary Anu Garg Monday directed officers to remain alert, continuously monitor developments, and ensure readiness to respond to any emergency involving people from Odisha staying in the affected regions. The Chief Secretary’s direction came during a high-level meeting to assess the safety and security of...

Jharsuguda: A major fire broke out in a small forest close to Veer Surendra Sai Airport Monday morning, triggering panic in the area, even as it took around two hours for the firefighters to extinguish the raging blaze. According to officials, the fire was first noticed around 11 am in bushes and dry vegetation located in front...

Bhubaneswar: The Higher Education department has issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for heatwave management in all higher education institutions across the state ahead of the summer of 2026. The directive aims to ensure preparedness and protect the health and safety of students, faculty and staff during extreme heat conditions. According to the department, colleges and universities...

Jagatsinghpur: Heritage enthusiasts under the aegis of Jagatsinghpur Heritage Walks (JHW) set out on their 13th venture Sunday to explore the lesser-known and vibrant hot-spots which have deep-rooted links to the socio-religious fabrics of the region with references to Buddhism and Hinduism. While visiting the ancient Nagarjuna Temple and the Janardana Vishnu Temple in Kaduapada, located in...

Bhubaneswar: Holi celebrations in the Capital this year are set to go beyond the usual splash of vibrant colours and joyous gatherings, with a renewed focus on responsibility and sustainability. Across the City — from residential colonies to community grounds — preparations are in full swing for a grand yet eco-friendly Holi. Markets are witnessing brisk business...

Bhubaneswar: Police have arrested two men and their mother in connection with the illegal sale of country and foreign liquor in the City. They have also been accused of attacking a police patrol team under Chandaka Police Station limits here, officials said Monday. The accused have been identified as Prakash Behera (34), Sridhar Behera (40) and their...

Bhubaneswar: A three-day international artists’ camp, ‘Pratibimba 3’, was recently organised by the Global Artist Forum at the Konark Sun Temple. As many as 35 painters from different countries and various states of India participated in the camp, creatively capturing the architectural beauty of the temple on canvas in their unique styles. On the occasion, former Secretary...

Bhubaneswar: The four-day IndiaSkills Regional Competition 2025–26 for the eastern region concluded at the SDI Auditorium Monday. Organised under the aegis of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) with support from the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), the event saw over 200 youths from Odisha, Bihar, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and the Andaman and Nicobar...