BHUBANESWAR l wednesday l april 01, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 16 l JEYPORE EDITION more heatwave days than usual this april-june, cautions imd Above-normal heatwave days are likely over east, central, northwest and the southeast between April and June, the IMD said Tuesday predicts above normal rainfall in april The IMD said normal to above-normal rainfall is likely over most parts of the country except Northeast India in April. Currently, neutral El NinoSouthern Oscillation (ENSO) conditions are prevailing over equatorial Pacific. ENSO-neutral conditions are most likely to continue between April and June. Thereafter, El Nino conditions could develop gradually, it said ■ 32 march rain due to western disturbances ■ Reviewing weather conditions that prevailed during March, the IMD said that rainfall over India during the month was the 10th highest since 2001. Rain in March was due to western disturbances IMD said the long period average of rainfall over India during April based on data from 1971 to 2020 is about 39.2 mm people died in march from lightning accidents, imd said 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 Go get your own oil: Trump Won’t help you, a livid Trump tells allies who are not supporting the US in its war with Iran a g e n c i e s @ Dubai EGGED by a massive wave of disapproval for US-Israel’s unilateral decision to invade Iran, President Donald Trump on Tuesday expressed frustration with allies who have been unwilling to do more to support the US war effort, telling them to “go get your own oil” as the conflict with Iran and its closure of the Strait of Hormuz roiled global markets. The president’s social media tirade came after US strikes hit a city home to one of Iran’s main nuclear sites, sending a massive fireball into the sky. Iran rubbished this claim and soon attacked a fully loaded Kuwaiti oil tanker in the Persian Gulf. Trump, who has vacillated between insisting there is progress in diplomatic talks with Iran and threatening to expand the war, directed blame at US allies like the UK and France that have refused to enter a war with no clear endgame that they were not consulted on. “You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the USA. won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us. Iran has been, essentially, decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil!” Trump wrote. He singled out France for not letting planes fly over French territory, saying Paris has been “VERY UNHELPFUL,” and that “The USA is going to REMEMBER THIS forever!!!” E x p r e s s N e w s S e r v i c e @ Bhubaneswar A screengrab from a video shared by US President Donald Trump which shows a US military strike in Isfahan, Iran, on Tuesday | X day 32 US IT firms on Iran’s radar  Iran said Tuesday it would target leading US technology firms like Apple, Google and Meta in the Gulf if more Iranian leaders were killed. It listed the names of 18 firms and asked their staff to leave the region Airfares hit roof on all routes  Airfares across key metro routes and popular tourist destinations are registering a sharp spike in the backdrop of West Asia conflict. On metro routes, airfares have risen by 15–20%, and over 35-40% for last minute bookings | P14 Iran approves Hormuz toll  Iran’s Parliament approved the Strait of Hormuz Management Plan, which includes measures to impose a rialbased toll system on the waterway, security arrangements, ship safety and financial arrangements First oil cargo from Iran headed to Guj A g e n c i e s @ New Delhi INDIA’s first Iranian crude oil cargo since 2019 may be headed towards a port in Gujarat, according to ship tracking data. Indian refiners have been looking to purchase a few cargoes of Iranian oil on water following the recent sanctions waiver by Washington. “Following the US administration’s decision to grant a 30-day window for Iranian oil “on the water” due to regional conflict, the vessel Ping Shun is now en route to Vadinar (in Gujarat) with 600,000 barrels of crude. This is the first such delivery since May 2019 and comes at a critical time for Indian refiners facing tightening inventories,” said Sumit Ritolia, Lead Research Analyst, Refining and Modelling at commodity market analytic firm Kpler. While the identity of the buyer is unknown, Vadinar is home to the production of oil for Rosneft-backed Naraya Energy . IndiGo taps IATA chief Walsh as CEO A R S H A D K H AN @ New Delhi InterGlobe Aviation, the parent company of India’s largest airline IndiGo, on Tuesday appointed seasoned William Walsh as CEO. Walsh, popularly known as Willie, is currently the director-general of International Air Transport Association (IATA) and was formerly CEO of British Airways and International Airlines Group, a holding company which owns Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, Level and Vueling. His tenure at IATA comes to a close on July 31, William Walsh 2026 and he is expected to join IndiGo not later than the August 3. IndiGo’s appointment of a new CEO comes weeks after the sudden departure of Pieter Elbers. The airline’s promoter and MD Rahul Bhatia has taken interim charge of the company’s management. The changes in top-level management came three months after operational disruptions at the airline that crippled India’s aviation sector. Last week, IndiGo had appointed Air India Express MD and CEO Aloke Singh as chief strategy officer. In his new role, Walsh will be responsible for the overall management and strategic direction of the airline with a focus on transformational initiatives to strengthen the operational performance, advance the company’s network and commercial strategy while enhancing customer experience. “The aviation landscape is evolving rapidly, and IndiGo is well-positioned to be at the forefront of this change,” Walsh said. SHining Odisha The Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Commissionerate Police headquarters lit up on a riot of colours on the eve of Utkal Divas, in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday | DEBADATTA MALLICK Pratibha Ray gets Sahitya Akademi Fellowship Eminent litterateur Dr Pratibha Ray has been conferred the prestigious Fellowship by the Sahitya Akademi along with two other acclaimed writers Lakhmi Khilani and Abdus Samad | P3 At least nine dead in Bihar temple stampede ‘Poor crowd management led to deaths’ R AMAS H AN K A R @ Patna At least nine devotees, eight of them women, were killed and 10 others injured in a stampede at a temple in Bihar’s Nalanda district on Tuesday . The incident took place around 8.30 am when a large number of devotees gathered at the Maa Sheetla Mandir located at Maghra village to offer morning prayers. Nalanda district magistrate Kundan Kumar said eight women died on the spot, while a man succumbed to his injuries later. The condition of four persons is critical. “When devotees were entering the temple, several women CM slams Oppn for Assly washout, seeks constructive debate Scene at the Maa Sheetla Mandir after the stampede on Tuesday morning | pti collapsed due to dehydration and suffocation,” he said. The district administration has suspended four policemen, including the SHO of Deepnagar police station, under whose jurisdiction the temple comes. Sources said 2,500 police personnel were deployed for security of President Draupadi Murmu, who was attending an event at Nalanda University . Official sources said 25,000 30,000 people assembled at the temple on the last Tuesday of the month, considered an auspicious day. Locals said there was not enough police force to manage the crowd and alleged the authorities were busy with the President’s visit Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the Opposition for its conduct in the Assembly over SCB Medical College and Hospital fire mishap, accusing it of politicising a sensitive issue instead of engaging in a constructive debate. In his reply to the discussion on the Appropriation Bill, Majhi criticised the Opposition for disrupting proceedings and staging protests outside the House. He took a swipe at what he described as the “growing bonhomie” between the Congress and the BJD, referring to their joint demonstration at Lower PMG demanding the resignation of Health minister Mukesh Mahaling on the issue. “I am personally very happy with this development. However, I have a suggestion for them that before forming such alliances, parties should ensure internal unity and retain the confidence of their own legislators, so as to avoid defections,” Majhi remarked. He urged the two parties to continue their cooperation in a constructive manner and raise all important public issues within the Assembly ensuring that dis, cussions ultimately serve the interests of the people. “The Assembly is the appropriate forum to discuss such serious issues. They should come here and debate. People are watching their activities both inside and outside the House, and they will give a proper reply at the right time.” Highlighting his government’s response to the SCB fire mishap, Majhi asserted that swift and decisive Continued on P5 action had been taken.  2 workers die of asphyxiation inside septic tank at Kuchinda E x p r e s s N e w s S e r v i c e @ Sambalpur Two workers were asphyxiated to death while as many became critically ill after entering a newly-constructed septic tank at Kesaibahal village under Mahulpali police limits in Kuchinda sub-division here on Tuesday . The deceased were identified as Susil Naik (40) and Bhikari Charan Behera (42), both residents of Kesaibahal. Hemant Behera (48) and Anand Majhi (39), who became critical due to suffocation, are currently undergoing treatment at Kuchinda hospital, said police. Sources said the mishap took place during construction of a toilet at the house of Lokanath Behera in the morning. Susil first entered the newly-built septic tank to dismantle the centering structure while Lokanath’s brother C Bhikari and the rest two waited outside.  ontinued on P5