Gurpreet Singh, Author at National Times

30 Apr

Unsettled Weather Continues in Punjab; Yellow Alert Issued for Winds and Thunderstorms

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjab, TrendingPunjab

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): A shift in weather patterns has brought relatively cooler conditions to Punjab and Chandigarh, with authorities maintaining a yellow alert for strong winds, lightning and scattered rainfall on Thursday. The region recorded a slight decline in daytime temperatures, now hovering below seasonal averages. Despite this dip, Bathinda remained the warmest location in the state, recording close to 39°C. The India Meteorological Department has warned of gusty winds reaching speeds of up to 50 km/h in certain districts, along with the possibility of thunderstorms. Areas including Pathankot, Hoshiarpur, Rupnagar and Mohali are expected to experience heightened weather activity…

30 Apr

6 Kg Heroin Seized in Amritsar; Police Trace Links to Overseas Handler

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjab, Trending

Amritsar (Gurpreet Singh): In a targeted operation, the Counter Intelligence wing of the Punjab Police has uncovered a drug smuggling racket in Amritsar, leading to the arrest of one suspect and the recovery of a large quantity of heroin. The action was carried out near Adda Manawala along the Amritsar–Jalandhar highway after officials received specific intelligence about the movement of narcotics. During the interception, approximately 6 kilograms of heroin was seized from the accused. Investigators said early findings suggest that the arrested individual was allegedly operating under instructions from a handler based in Dubai. The handler, identified as Antarpreet Singh…

29 Apr

West Bengal Shatters Historical Records with Unprecedented 92.47 Per Cent Voter Turnout

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAssembly Polls, Election Commission, Record Turnout, West Bengal, Women Voters

Kolkata (Gurpreet Singh): West Bengal has rewritten its electoral history by recording a staggering 92.47 per cent voter turnout in its two-phased assembly elections, marking the highest participation rate since Independence. The Election Commission confirmed on Wednesday that this monumental level of engagement reflects a massive surge in civic activity across the state’s vast voter base of 6.81 crore people. This landmark achievement comfortably eclipses the previous record of 84.72 per cent, which was established during the 2011 assembly elections. The second phase of polling, which concluded on Wednesday evening, saw a participation rate of 91.66 per cent by 7:45…

29 Apr

Multi-State Exit Polls Point Towards Reshaped Political Landscape as Counting Day Looms

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaAssam NDA, Assembly Elections 2026, Exit Polls, Kerala UDF, Political Forecast, Tamil Nadu TVK, West Bengal BJP

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): The political landscape across India stands on the precipice of a significant transformation as the latest exit polls released on Wednesday suggest a high-stakes realignment in several crucial states. With voting concluding for the 2026 assembly elections, early projections indicate a formidable performance by the Bharatiya Janata Party in the eastern theatre of West Bengal and Assam, while the southern states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala appear poised for historical shifts. While the data varies significantly between different polling agencies, the overarching narrative points toward an intense battle for power that will only be settled when…

29 Apr

Punjab Government Launches Massive Canal Water Initiative to Recharge Groundwater

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjab

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday announced a major relief for farmers ahead of the paddy season, declaring that canal water for irrigation will be made available from May 1 itself, with 21,000 cusecs of water to be released across the state, marking a decisive shift away from Punjab’s heavy reliance on groundwater. Backed by a ₹6,700 crore investment in irrigation infrastructure, a 14,000 km pipeline network, and the activation of 7,000 newly constructed watercourses and channels, the Bhagwant Mann Government has paired this масштаб push with an 8-hour power supply schedule across four zones…

29 Apr

Renowned Wrestler Pritpal Phagwara Joins Aam Aadmi Party

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsBusiness

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): The Aam Aadmi Party’s organizational presence in Punjab received a significant boost on Wednesday as celebrated wrestler Pritpal Singh Phagwara officially joined the party ranks. The induction took place in Chandigarh in the presence of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, marking a high-profile transition for the athlete into active politics. Known for holding prestigious traditional titles such as Rustum-e-Hind and Hind Kesari, Phagwara is a prominent figure in the Indian wrestling circuit, and his entry is expected to strengthen the party’s influence, particularly within the sports community and the Doaba region. During the induction ceremony, Chief Minister Mann…

29 Apr

Punjab Government Implements Four-Zone Paddy Sowing Plan to Save Groundwater

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabBhagwant Mann, Groundwater Conservation, Paddy Sowing, Punjab Agriculture

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann officially announced a staggered paddy sowing schedule for the 2026 season on Wednesday, aimed at curbing the state’s rapidly depleting groundwater levels and optimizing the power grid. Under this strategic initiative, the state has been partitioned into four distinct zones to ensure that transplantation does not occur simultaneously across all districts. This phased approach is designed to prevent a massive, localized surge in electricity demand while also addressing the perennial issue of agricultural labour shortages by extending the overall transplantation window. According to the government mandate, the Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR)…

29 Apr

Punjab Hikes Milk Procurement Price by ₹20/kg Fat to Boost Dairy Farmers

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsEntertainment, Punjab, TrendingMilkfed, Punjab News

Gurpreet Singh :- In a significant move aimed at strengthening the rural economy, the Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has announced an increase in the milk procurement price for farmers associated with Milkfed Punjab (Verka brand), effective from May 1, 2026. The decision entails a hike of ₹20 per kilogram of fat, a step expected to enhance the income of dairy farmers and reinforce the cooperative dairy framework in the state. According to official sources, the initiative has been undertaken to safeguard the interests of nearly 2.5 lakh dairy farmers linked with Milkfed, who…

29 Apr

SGPC Announces Key Administrative Appointments at Golden Temple

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabSGPC

Gurpreet Singh :- The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Wednesday carried out significant administrative reshuffle, appointing Major Singh as the new General Manager of Sachkhand Sri Harmandir Sahib. The position is considered crucial as it oversees the day-to-day management and operations of the shrine. In another key decision, Balwinder Singh Kahlwan has been assigned charge of the important Section-85 of the SGPC, where he will supervise administrative functioning. Meanwhile, Gurinder Singh Mathrewal has been appointed as the new secretary of the Dharam Prachar Committee and will be responsible for handling religious outreach and related activities. The SGPC stated that…

29 Apr

Major Fire Breaks Out at Warehouse on Banur-Tepla Road

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndia, Punjab

Gurpreet Singh :- A major fire broke out at a private company’s warehouse on the Banur-Tepla road, triggering panic in the area. Two fire brigade tenders rushed to the spot and efforts were underway to bring the blaze under control. According to initial information, the warehouse stored a large quantity of incense sticks, which caused the fire to spread rapidly. Thick smoke was seen billowing from the site as flames engulfed the premises. The affected warehouse is located within a boundary that also houses two other godowns containing detergent, liquid products and grocery items. These facilities are reportedly linked to…