Jan 12 News Live: Nipah scare in West Bengal: Two nurses on ventillator suppot

Nipah cases in West Bengal: Two nurses critical

We have more Nipah scare updates coming in from West Bengal.

Two nurses working at a private hospital in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district are showing symptoms of being infected with Nipah virus, a senior official of the state health department said on Monday.

The condition of the two nurses, one male and another female, are stated to be "very critical", he said.

"Both nurses work in the same hospital in Barasat. They are suspected of being infected with Nipah virus. Samples of both nurses were sent to Kalyani AIIMS for testing, and preliminary reports indicate a possible Nipah infection," the official told PTI.

While one nurse is a resident of Nadia district, the other lives at Katwa in Purba Bardhaman district, he said.

"Both are currently admitted to the Barasat hospital where they work, and have been placed in the isolation ward with ventilator support," he elaborated.

According to health department sources, one of the nurses had recently returned from her hometown in Katwa, where she fell ill and was initially admitted to a local hospital on December 31.

"Her condition worsened, leading to her transfer to Bardhaman Medical College, and then by special ambulance to Barasat hospital. The male nurse exhibited similar symptoms and was also placed on ventilator support," he said.

Nipah cases in West Bengal?

Two suspected cases of Nipah virus were detected at the Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, ICMR, at AIIMS Kalyani, West Bengal, on January 11, official sources said on Monday.

Given the serious nature of the Nipah virus infection, a zoonotic disease with high mortality and potential for rapid spread, the situation is being handled with utmost priority, they said.

Immediately upon the receipt of the information, the Union health secretary held discussions with the chief secretary and principal secretary (health), government of West Bengal, to review the situation and ensure swift and coordinated action.

CBI grills Vijay for six hours

TVK chief and actor Vijay was questioned for nearly six hours by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in New Delhi on Monday in connection with the Karur stampede case.

Vijay reportedly told investigators that he and his party were not responsible for the tragedy. The Tamil actor will be called again for questioning as some queries need to be clarified further, they said.

The CBI wanted him to come on Tuesday for questioning, but the actor asked for another date, citing Pongal. The agency has agreed to his request and will give him a fresh date, the officials said.

Vijay reached the heavily barricaded CBI headquarters at 11.29 am in a black Range Rover.

After completion of the necessary formalities, he was taken to a team in the anti-corruption unit of the agency that is investigating the September 27, 2025, stampede, which claimed 41 lives and left more than 60 injured in Tamil Nadu's Karur. He left the CBI headquarters at around 6.15 pm after nearly six hours of questioning by a team of officials where he was asked various questions related to the rally in which the tragic incident took place, the officials said.

The CBI also questioned Tamil Nadu's former ADG (law and order) S Davidson Devasirvatham in the case.

UDF skips LDF protest against Centre, alleges CPI(M)-BJP nexus in Kerala

The Congress-led Opposition UDF in Kerala on Monday (January 12) refused to join the ruling Left in any protest against the Centre, accusing the CPI (M) leadership in the state of striking an "unholy understanding" with the BJP. His remarks come on a day the state ministers, led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, staged a protest against the BJP-ruled Centre.

Speaking to reporters, Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, V D Satheesan, said that the UDF would not join forces with Vijayan and the LDF government, alleging that they had "bowed before Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah."

Read the full story here. 

ED moves SC seeking FIR against Mamata Banerjee, flags obstruction in I-PAC probe

The ED on Monday (January 12) approached the Supreme Court seeking directions for the registration of an FIR against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the state DGP and the Kolkata Police Commissioner, alleging obstruction of investigation, tampering with evidence and destruction of crucial documents in a money laundering probe linked to I-PAC.

In its submission to the Supreme Court, the ED alleged that Banerjee, along with the state’s DGP Rajeev Kumar, Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma, and a large contingent of police personnel, forcibly entered the residence of I-PAC founder Pratik Jain during an ongoing search operation.

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Petition claims Ajmer Dargah was originally Shiva temple, seeks ASI survey

A petition asserting that the Ajmer Dargah was originally a “Shiva temple” and seeking a survey of the site was filed in a district court on Monday (January 12). The plea was moved by Rajvardhan Singh Parmar, national president of the right-wing group Maharana Pratap Sena, before an Ajmer court.

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Budget 2026 to be presented on Sunday, February 1

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Retail inflation rises to 1.33% in December

Retail inflation climbed to a three-month high of 1.33 per cent in December 2025, driven by higher prices of vegetables, pulses, meat, eggs and personal care items. Despite the rise, food inflation remained negative at (-) 2.71 per cent, and overall inflation stayed below the RBI’s lower tolerance limit for the fourth straight month.

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Delhi HC: Higher education not fundamental right, but cannot be curtailed lightly

The Delhi High Court ruled that while higher or professional education is not a fundamental right, the State has an affirmative obligation to ensure it and cannot restrict it lightly. The court allowed a NEET-UG 2024 candidate to continue his MBBS course, holding there was no evidence linking him to alleged exam irregularities.

Read the full story here.