Argus News - News Headlines, April 4

Madhuri Praises Odisha Handlooms
Actor Madhuri Dixit praised Odisha’s textile heritage, calling its weaves “stories woven with love and patience.” In an Instagram post, she highlighted the craftsmanship, saying each handloom reflects generations of skill, culture and dedication passed down by artisans.

Pravesh Utsav Begins
Odisha launched Pravesh Utsav and 'Khadi Chuan' to mark the beginning of the academic year. CM Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated the programme, guiding children in the symbolic 'Khadi Chuan' ritual. The initiative from April 6 to 8 aims to boost enrolment and promote foundational learning under NEP 2020.

Firecracker Blast Victim Dies
Bapi Nahak from Minagadia village died at AIIMS Bhubaneswar after injuries in the Nayagarh firecracker blast. The explosion in Korada village on Friday injured six people during illegal preparation for the April 7 Lanka Podi festival. Five others remain under treatment.

Jharsuguda Hottest in Odisha
Jharsuguda recorded 41.6°C, the highest in Odisha in the last 24 hours. IMD forecast Kalbaisakhi rains till April 8 across several districts. Rainfall may intensify from April 5, with temperatures likely to drop by 1–2°C after April 10.

Puri Airport Clearance
The long-awaited Shree Jagannath International Airport project in Puri has taken a significant step forward with the Central Government granting Stage-I approval for diversion of forest land. The approval is conditional, with compliance required before final Stage-II clearance is granted.

Green Sanvi Crosses Hormuz
One more Indian-flagged LPG tanker, Green Sanvi, has crossed the war-affected Strait of Hormuz and is now en route to India. The tanker is estimated to be carrying around 44,000 tonnes of LPG, roughly equivalent to half a day’s LPG consumption in India before the ongoing West Asia conflict.

Auxiliary Polling Stations in Bengal
The Election Commission has approved the creation of 4,660 auxiliary polling stations to facilitate Voters, where the number of voters exceeded 2,200 in West Bengal. The total number of polling stations, including auxiliary polling stations, now stands at 85,379.

Iran Rejects US Proposal
Iran has formally rejected a United States proposal for a 48-hour ceasefire. The offer was conveyed through a third country, but Tehran responded by intensifying operations on the ground rather than pausing.

US Jets Shot Down
A US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down over Iran. However, both crew members ejected from the aircraft. In a separate incident the same day, a US Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft was also lost in the region. Its pilot was rescued safely

Family Killed In Mishap
A major tragedy struck Nashik, Maharashtra, when nine members of the same family, including six children, died after their car plunged into a roadside well in the Shivajinagar area. The accident took place around 11:30 pm on Friday in Dindori taluka, about 40 km from Nashik.