BHUBANESWAR l sunday l march 01, 2026 l `12.00 l PAGES 24 l JEYPORE EDITION above-normal heatwave days between March and May: IMD entire gangetic plain under heatwave The regions under a severe heatwave risk include West Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, southern and eastern Maharashtra, eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Gangetic West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and parts of north Karnataka and northern regions of Tamil Nadu, said IMD DG Mrutyunjay Mohapatra Above-normal heatwave days are expected over most parts of the country between March and May, the IMD said in its forecast on Saturday risks to vulnerable population ■ The likelihood of a severe heatwave may pose risks to vulnerable populations such as the elderly, children, outdoor workers, and individuals with pre-existing medical conditions Many parts of the country are may experience above-normal rainfall in March, while northeast India may get below normal rainfall ■ Third highest minimum temperature witnessed this feb since 1901 CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI Tehran hits back against Tel Aviv, Gulf allies of the US Syria Combo footage of social media videos — verified by AFPTV teams — of an explosion in Tehran on Saturday, after the US launched its attack on Iran | AFP Regime change war a g e n c i e s @ Tehran/Tel Aviv THE US and Israel launched a major attack on Iran on Saturday with Presi, dent Donald Trump calling on the Iranian public to “seize control of your destiny” by rising up against the Islamic leadership that has ruled the nation since 1979. Iran retaliated by firing missiles and drones toward Israel and US military bases in West Asia. Some of the first strikes on Iran appeared to hit areas around the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Smoke could be seen rising from the capital as part of strikes that Iranian media said occurred nationwide. It wasn’t immediately clear whether the 86-year-old leader was in his offices when the attack occurred. A strike on a school in southern Iran killed 63 people, a local official said. AFP was unable to immediately access the site in order to verify the toll. Iran then launched a counter missile salvo, whose impact could be heard in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and the UAE, as well as Israel. “The Iranian armed forces consider as legitimate targets the sites from which the US and Zionist operations were carried out,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Iranian TV . Plumes of black smoke hung over Tehran on Saturday, including in the Pasteur district, site of the home of Khamenei, and there was a huge security deployment in the capital. “Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian were among the targets of the attack,” Israel’s public broadcaster reported, citing an Israeli source. Iranian local media reported Khamenei, Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and “all the command- ers” of Iran’s army were in good health. The attacks came after US President Donald Trump expressed frustration at Iran’s stance in negotiations over its nuclear and missile programmes. “We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground,” Trump said, warning of possible US casualties. Explosions were heard over central Doha and near Al-Udeid military base, the largest US facility in the region. Witnesses in Dubai saw missiles streaking across the sky. The famed Fairmont The Palm hotel and Atlantis The Royal, were attacked, and the area was evacuated. Kuwait and the UAE reported intercepting incoming Iranian missiles. Abu Dhabi said it “reserves its full right to respond”, slamming the attacks as “a dangerous escalation”. Naveen names two RS candidates, draws Congress support B i j ay C h a k i @ Bhubaneswar Putting to rest all speculations, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Saturday announced Santrupt Misra and Dr Datteswar Hota as the party’s candidates for the Rajya Sabha elections. Misra, political secretary to party president Naveen Patnaik, had unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha election from Cuttack in 2024. However, the nomination of Dr Hota, a noted urologist of the state, came with a political twist, with the Congress offering its support to his candidature. This is for the first time that both the BJD and the Congress have come within handshaking distance to take on the BJP in Odisha. Announcing the nominees, Naveen said, “The party has decided to field two candidates. The first candidate is senior party leader Santrupt Mishra, and the second candidate, Datteswar Hota, a renowned doctor from Odisha, is a common candidate. Since he is a common candidate, I appeal to all parties to support him and send him to the Rajya Sabha.” The BJD’s decision to field Santrupt Misra Dr Datteswar Hota Dr Hota as a common candidate could tweak the political arithmetic, as the regional party does not have the numbers to win two seats on its own. Soon after Naveen made the announcement, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Bhakta Charan Das extended his party’s suppor t to Dr Hota’s candidature. Das said he had met the BJD president at Naveen Nivas on Monday and discussed fielding a common candidate for the Rajya Sabha elections. Talking to this paper, however, he said Dr Hota would have to file his nomination papers as an Independent candidate for the Congress to support him. “If Dr Hota files his nomination papers as a BJD candidate, then Naveen Babu will have to seek the support of the Cong ress openly,” he Continued on P5 added.  Ilam Jordan Shiraz Busherhr Saudi Arabia The champagne was on ice since Friday evening. After 66 years of hardships and painful wait, Jammu and Kashmir, who was once considered the punching bag of North Zone cricket, lifted the Ranji Trophy title, getting better of a more fancied side Karnataka. The team was ecstatic and celebrated with every ounce of what- J&K players celebrate after winning their first Ranji Trophy title | d hemanth Minab Qatar Sites hit in Iran Iran’s retalition Mapping the attack and counter-attack The map shows the joint US-Israel strikes targetting key military installations in Iran such as Isfahan, Bushehr, Minab, Tabriz and a host of other regions. In response, Iran struck Gulf allies of the US such as Qatar, UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and parts of Israel talking heads Iran has continued to develop its nuclear program. When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations Ensuring nuclear safety and preventing any actions that could further escalate tensions or undermine the global nonproliferation regime is of key importance Ursula von der Leyen, EU chief Donald Trump Baramati air crash’s report faults plane operator, airport S L a l i t h a @ New Delhi The preliminary report on the Baramati air crash that killed Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar last month revealed the aircraft operator VSR Ventures’ failure to adhere to Standard Operating Procedures, and the bypassing of the visibility norms for safe operation of flights at the aerodrome. The Aircraft Accident Investiga- No windsock tion Bureau (AAIB) at Runway 11 on Saturday made The airport lacked public its report on navigational aids the accident involv- other than wind ing Learjet-45XR. socks. “Two Despite poor visi- windsocks have bility (3 km instead of been installed at the mandatory 5 km), the aerodrome, t h e c o ck p i t c rew both towards RWY chose to land and 29 side. No wind those manning the sock was available control gave the go- towards runway 11 ahead, the re por t side,” it said specified. It pointed to the poor infrastructure and maintenance at the airport where the runway markings, which guide the pilots in landing, had faded as recarpeting was done 11 years ago. The airport also lacked navigational aids. “The last runway re-carpeting was carried out in March 2016 and thereafter no runway re-carpeting was carried out which resulted into fading of all the runway markings and presence of loose gravels on the runway surContinued on P5 face,” the report read.  ever energy left after five days of toil. They were dancing, hugging, yelling and shouting. Their chief minister Omar Omdullah was in attendance and stood there watching the team scripting history The . team was not a hurriedly assembled cast. It was years in the making, brick by brick. They have beaten the likes of Mumbai and came close to making their first semifinals last Bahrain UAe Baa-Hubballi, the beginning: J&K’s crowning moment A m i t S U pa d h y e @ Hubballi Lorestan Province Isfahan Oman Israel Brazen bid to disturb peace, say Russia, China Tabriz Tehran Urmia Karaj Damavand Zanjan Qom Iran Kermanshah Iraq year when Kerala took a one-run lead. On Saturday a draw was all J&K , needed after taking a 291-run lead in the first innings. Skipper Paras Dogra, a veteran of many seasons puts it succinctly. “I cannot explain and I don’t have any words. It is the biggest thing in my life. Biggest gratitude I will have in my life before I leave this word,” he said. WITH THIS ISSUE US, Israel launch a flurry of strikes on Iranian targets Eat Play Talk PLUS 12 P AGES New Delhi urges restraint, respect for sovereignty J aya n t h J a c o b @ New Delhi India on Saturday voiced deep concern over the escalating situation in Iran and the wider Gulf region, urging all sides to exercise restraint and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states. In a statement, the External Affairs Ministry said: “India is deeply concerned at the recent developments in Iran and the Gulf region. We urge all sides to exercise restraint, avoid escalation, and prioritise the safety of civilians.” The government underscored that dialogue — not military confrontation — must guide the path forward. “Dialogue and diplomacy should be pursued to de-escalate tensions and address underlying issues. Sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states must be respected,” the statement added, reiterating India’s longstanding position on adherence to international law and regional stability . The remarks come at a time of heightened volatility in West Asia following military actions and retaliatory strikes that sparked fears of a broader regional conflict. The Gulf region hosts over 10 million Indians, making stability there both a strategic and humanitarian priority for New Delhi. The MEA said Indian missions across the region remain in contact with the diaspora. “Our missions in the region are in touch with Indian nationals and have issued appropriate advisories asking them to remain vigilant, stay in contact with the missions, and follow local security guidance.” India also has deep economic stakes in the region, with a significant share of its crude oil imports and trade flows linked to Gulf nations. Any prolonged instability could have implications for global energy markets. INSIDE BJD expels Biswal for challenging Naveen’s I P3 20 killed in Kakinada cracker unit blast I P5