More than 52,000 Indians stranded in West Asia have returned on commercial flights during March 1-7 and more flights are planned in the coming days, the external affairs ministry said on Saturday against the backdrop of escalating tensions over the Iran-US conflict.. New Delhi, Mar 03 (ANI): Indian passengers reunite with their family members as they arrive safely from a flight via Dubai amid the international tensions in the Gulf region at Indira Gandhi International Airport, in New Delhi on Tuesday. (ANI Photo) (Vipin Kumar). The Indian side has repeatedly emphasised the safety of more than 10 million Indian nationals in West Asia and the maintenance of energy and trade supply chains since Israel and the US launched military strikes on Iran last month. Follow updates on Gulf news. The government is monitoring the evolving situation in West Asia and the Gulf region, especially with regard to the welfare of Indian nationals who have been stranded during transit or on short duration visits, the external affairs ministry said in a statement.. Also read: ‘Our munitions are low’: US loses key THAAD radar, Ukraine holds low-cost key against Iran’s Shahed drones. Following the partial opening of airspace across West Asia in the past few days, Indian and foreign airlines are operating commercial flights, including non-scheduled flights, to enable the return of Indian passengers in transit or on short-term visits, the statement said.. “By now, more than 52,000 Indians have availed of these flights and travelled safely from the Gulf region to India between March 1-7,” the statement said.. Also read: ‘Heavy attacks will continue’: Iran renews threat to US allies as Trump sees victory in its ‘apology’ to neighbours. Out of the total number, 32107 travelled on Indian carriers. “More flights are planned in the coming days,” the statement said.. In countries where commercial flights are unavailable, Indian nationals were advised to contact embassies and consulates for information and advice regarding the nearest available commercial flight options.. The ministry advised all Indian nationals in West Asia to follow guidelines from local authorities and advisories issued by Indian embassies or consulates. Indian missions in these countries have issued detailed advisories and set up 24×7 helplines to address concerns on account of the ongoing situation.. Also read: Delhi woman’s Uttarakhand solo trip turns into a night of horror: How she hid in jungle, escaped rape bid by taxi driver. The external affairs ministry has set up a dedicated special control room to monitor and respond to queries affected and their families. Details of the helplines are available at: https://www.mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/40846/Special_Control_Room_in_MEA. “The safety and welfare of Indian nationals abroad is of utmost priority to the government, which remains engaged with the governments across the region to work towards facilitating all those in need of assist 

 The central government on Saturday called out a ‘fake’ social media post claiming that a new Union Territory comprising districts from Bihar and West Bengal is being developed near the Siliguri corridor.. Posts also cited Home Minister Amit Shah’s 3-day visit to Seemanchal, stating that the discussions have intensified. (PIB/X). In an X post, the Press Information Bureau said that social media posts are claiming that planning is underway for a new UT. Calling the claim fake, it said that there is no such proposal under consideration by the government of India.. It also urged users to always verify information from official sources before sharing on social media.. The posts that were going viral claimed that the proposed areas include Bihar’s Purnia, Araria, Kishanganj, Katiha and West Bengal’s Malda and Dinajpur.. Some posts also claimed that the BJP-led NDA government has issued a whip to all its MPs for March 9-11, indicating that an important bill or constitutional move could be tabled in the Parliament.. Posts also cited home minister Amit Shah’s three-day visit to the Seemanchal region in Bihar, stating that the discussions have intensified. Last month, Amit Shah embarked on a three-day visit to Bihar’s Seemanchal districts with a focus on concluding the fight against insurgency led by the Left Wing Extremism by making the region and the country “Naxal-Mukt”.. India’s “chicken’s neck”, the Siliguri corridor, is a narrow strip of land measuring 22-35 km in width, that connects the northeast region with the rest of India.. Earlier, a similar “fake” claim was circulated stating that finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman is promoting an investment project offering returns of ₹10 lakh per month on an investment of ₹22,000. PIB declared the advertisement as fake, stating that the union minister has not endorsed any such scheme. 

 The central government on Saturday called out a ‘fake’ social media post claiming that a new Union Territory comprising districts from Bihar and West Bengal is being developed near the Siliguri corridor.. Posts also cited Home Minister Amit Shah’s 3-day visit to Seemanchal, stating that the discussions have intensified. (PIB/X). In an X post, the Press Information Bureau said that social media posts are claiming that planning is underway for a new UT. Calling the claim fake, it said that there is no such proposal under consideration by the government of India.. It also urged users to always verify information from official sources before sharing on social media.. The posts that were going viral claimed that the proposed areas include Bihar’s Purnia, Araria, Kishanganj, Katiha and West Bengal’s Malda and Dinajpur.. Some posts also claimed that the BJP-led NDA government has issued a whip to all its MPs for March 9-11, indicating that an important bill or constitutional move could be tabled in the Parliament.. Posts also cited home minister Amit Shah’s three-day visit to the Seemanchal region in Bihar, stating that the discussions have intensified. Last month, Amit Shah embarked on a three-day visit to Bihar’s Seemanchal districts with a focus on concluding the fight against insurgency led by the Left Wing Extremism by making the region and the country “Naxal-Mukt”.. India’s “chicken’s neck”, the Siliguri corridor, is a narrow strip of land measuring 22-35 km in width, that connects the northeast region with the rest of India.. Earlier, a similar “fake” claim was circulated stating that finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman is promoting an investment project offering returns of ₹10 lakh per month on an investment of ₹22,000. PIB declared the advertisement as fake, stating that the union minister has not endorsed any such scheme. 

 The central government on Saturday called out a ‘fake’ social media post claiming that a new Union Territory comprising districts from Bihar and West Bengal is being developed near the Siliguri corridor.. Posts also cited Home Minister Amit Shah’s 3-day visit to Seemanchal, stating that the discussions have intensified. (PIB/X). In an X post, the Press Information Bureau said that social media posts are claiming that planning is underway for a new UT. Calling the claim fake, it said that there is no such proposal under consideration by the government of India.. It also urged users to always verify information from official sources before sharing on social media.. The posts that were going viral claimed that the proposed areas include Bihar’s Purnia, Araria, Kishanganj, Katiha and West Bengal’s Malda and Dinajpur.. Some posts also claimed that the BJP-led NDA government has issued a whip to all its MPs for March 9-11, indicating that an important bill or constitutional move could be tabled in the Parliament.. Posts also cited home minister Amit Shah’s three-day visit to the Seemanchal region in Bihar, stating that the discussions have intensified. Last month, Amit Shah embarked on a three-day visit to Bihar’s Seemanchal districts with a focus on concluding the fight against insurgency led by the Left Wing Extremism by making the region and the country “Naxal-Mukt”.. India’s “chicken’s neck”, the Siliguri corridor, is a narrow strip of land measuring 22-35 km in width, that connects the northeast region with the rest of India.. Earlier, a similar “fake” claim was circulated stating that finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman is promoting an investment project offering returns of ₹10 lakh per month on an investment of ₹22,000. PIB declared the advertisement as fake, stating that the union minister has not endorsed any such scheme. 

 A solo trip in Uttarakhand turned into a nightmare for a Delhi woman who had to spend an entire night in the forest, hiding to escape an alleged rape attempt by her taxi driver.. The police were also able to identify the taxi through the registration number and tracked it through its GPS system, and arrested the accused. (HT Photo/Representational Image). The incident took place in Uttarakhand’s Kathgodam when a 22-year-old woman tourist, coming from Delhi, hired a taxi in Nainital.. Senior superintendent of police Manjunath TC said the woman had arrived in Haldwani by bus from Delhi via Dehradun on March 5, HT reported. From Haldwani, she travelled to Kathgodam by autorickshaw, and hired a taxi for Nainital at around 11 pm.. At 1:30 am, the taxi driver diverted the vehicle towards a deserted road in Patwa Dangar near the lake city, police said.. When the woman raised an objection to this, the driver stopped the vehicle and began abusing and assaulting her, probe officials said. He snatched her mobile and attempted to rape her, it is alleged.. Spent a night in forest, locals spotted her. In order to save herself, the woman immediately ran towards the woods and hid there overnight, injured and with no mobile phone. She then somehow managed to reach Patwa Dangar village on Friday morning and reached the police with the help of locals.. A local woman spotted the tourist on the morning of March 6 and informed the police before taking her to the Tallital Police Station. The police immediately collected evidence and sent the woman for a medical examination.. Police arrest taxi driver. Based on the woman’s complaint, a case under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections pertaining to punishment for rape, robbery and abduction was registered.. The police were also able to identify the taxi through the registration number and tracked it through its GPS system.. The 39-year-old taxi driver, named Deepak Singh Bora, was arrested in Bhawali near Pines on Saturday.. The victim’s stolen mobile phone was also recovered, and the police seized the vehicle of the accused.. SSP Manjunath TC said the safety of tourists and the general public is a top priority in Nainital, and that strict legal action will be taken against those who commit such crimes.