News Dabba for 30 January 2025: Five stories for a balanced news diet

Indie Journal brings you the daily updates that the internet is talking about through various news websites. Here's a glance through some of the National and International news updates, from Washington DC plane crash, Chandigarh Mayor Election, to Maha Kumbh stampede.

BJP wins Chandigarh Mayor Election, NDTV reports

The BJP registered a victory in the Chandigarh mayoral elections, NDTV reports, winning with 19 votes against the 17 votes of the AAP-Congress alliance. The election saw BJP candidate Harpreet Kaur Babla emerge victorious over AAP's Prem Lata. The Chandigarh mayoral poll was a high-stakes contest between the BJP and the AAP-Congress alliance. The report says thatpolling for the post began at 11:20 am in the assembly hall of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation and ended at 12:19 pm. Read the full report here.

BBC reports 19 bodies recovered after passenger jet collides with helicopter over Washington DC river

An American Airlines flight collided in mid-air with a Black Hawk helicopter in Washington DC, BBC reports with both crashing in the Potomac River. The jet, which was coming from Wichita, Kansas, was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members. Three soldiers were in the helicopter. The report adds that 19 bodies have been recovered so far. The US Figure Skating association confirms "several members of the skating community" were on board the plane. Read the full report here.

India Today on a second stampede at Maha Kumbh hours after first

There was a second stampede at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj just hours apart and 2 km from the spot of the first crowd crush near Sangam Nose on Wednesday, India Today reports. While the site of the first stampede was Sangam Nose, the second crowd crush took place at Jhusi. Official sources on Thursday told India Today Digital that the toll of 30, included the dead from both the sites. Read the full report here.

Rohingya refugees’ boat runs aground in Indonesia’s Aceh province, Al Jazeera

More than 70 Rohingya refugees fleeing persecution in Myanmar have arrived at a tourist beach in Indonesia’s Aceh province. As per Al Jazeera's report, local police chief Nova Suryandaru said a wooden boat carrying 40 men, 32 women and four children ran aground in Pereulak region in East Aceh on Wednesday after its engine broke down. Nova said the refugees were taken to temporary shelters and that authorities were collecting information about their identities. The boat had arrived at the beach in the afternoon but was blocked from landing by locals until about 8pm local time. Read the full report here.

Maharashtra scraps egg funding for midday meals, The Wire

In a recent move, the Maharashtra government on Tuesday (January 28) has announced that it will no longer provide funding for eggs and sugar in midday meal programmes for government-run schools. This decision comes after the state introduced eggs as part of the midday meal scheme in November 2023 to combat protein deficiency among students, The Wire reports. According to a government resolution, schools that wish to continue providing eggs to their students will have to generate funds through public contributions, the report adds. Read the full report here.