Telangana

TGTDC inaugurated the Hot Air Balloon Festival at Secunderabad’s Parade Grounds on Friday evening, with Tourism and Culture Minister Jupally Krishna Rao presiding. The festival will continue through the weekend, featuring balloon flights and glow shows to attract more visitors.

Indian animation filmmaker Suresh Eriyat has won the Jury Award for Best Commissioned Film at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2025 for his work Desi Oon. Desi Oon has already won multiple awards, including at the WAVES Awards of Excellence 2025, and was shortlisted at Cannes Lions.

TGSRTC has arranged 1,200 special bus services to manage the heavy return traffic of passengers heading back to Hyderabad after Sankranti celebrations. With schools reopening on January 17, officials anticipate peak travel on Sunday, continuing into Monday.

Ahead of the Medaram Maha Jatara, locals are selling hot water for Rs 50 per bucket to devotees during the Sankranti rush. Over one lakh devotees visited on Friday, causing traffic jams in Mulugu near key temples and roads

Jangaon police arrested 15 members of a gang involved in a land registration scam on Dharani and Bhu Bharathi portals in Jangaon and Yadadri districts, while nine suspects remain absconding. The fraud caused a Rs 3.90 crore loss to the State exchequer.

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy said he would continue meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Telangana’s development despite criticism. Addressing a public meeting in Nirmal, he announced new projects, infrastructure promises and additional funds for key initiatives.

Ahead of the Samakka-Saralamma Jatara, Asia’s largest tribal festival, scheduled from January 28 to 31 at Medaram in Mulugu district, the TGSRTC has introduced a doorstep delivery service for prasadam.

The Cyberabad Cybercrime Police cracked 13 cases and arrested 25 suspects in a nationwide operation between December 31, 2025 and January 15, 2026. Trading fraud was the most common offence, with multiple scams involving fake apps and crypto investments amounting to over Rs 3.47 crore.

The Department of School Education, in collaboration with the Visvesvaraya Industrial & Technological Museum, will organise the Southern India Science Fair (SISF)–2026 at The Gaudium School, Kollur, RC Puram, from January 19 to 23.

Durgam Cheruvu, once a popular tourist attraction in Hyderabad’s IT corridor, is facing severe weed and algal infestation. Visitors have complained of foul smell and limited boating, blaming administrative inaction for the lake’s deteriorating condition.

In Sangareddy’s Nizampet, a man allegedly set his in-laws’ house on fire after his wife refused to reconcile with him. The blaze destroyed the house and two motorcycles. Police identified the accused as Ravi, married to Sayavva for 15 years, with three children.

Ramagundam Police Commissioner Amber Kishore Jha announced a target to reduce road accidents by 30 per cent annually within commissionerate limits. As part of the ‘Arrive-Alive’ programme, a coordinated plan involving municipal, education, health, transport and other departments is being prepared.

The Supreme Court has given the Telangana Assembly Speaker two weeks to decide on disqualification petitions against 10 BRS MLAs who defected to the Congress. While petitions against nine legislators may be dismissed citing lack of evidence, their cases are expected to face judicial review. Petitioners presented photos and videos of the MLAs joining Congress, but the legislators relied on affidavits denying defection.

In a special enforcement drive, Secunderabad Zone Police arrested 12 persons and seized 162 bobbins of banned Chinese manja worth Rs 1.88 lakh. Raids were conducted in Chikkadpally, Gandhinagar and Osmania University areas.

Despite festive celebrations, incidents involving banned Chinese manja caused injuries and deaths during Sankranti. City Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar said accidents declined compared to previous years, attributing the reduction to awareness drives and strict enforcement.

BRS working president KT Rama Rao said Telangana should be proud of NITI Aayog naming TS-iPASS the best industrial policy in the country. He said the recognition reflects K Chandrashekhar Rao’s role in building a strong industrial ecosystem

Shortage of veterinary doctors and poor infrastructure at animal hospitals in Kothagudem district are causing hardship to dairy farmers and pet owners. Many centres lack staff and medicines, forcing farmers to seek private treatment for their cattle.

Members of the Mesram clan have camped at Keslapur village ahead of the five-day Nagoba Jatara beginning January 18. Sacred rituals, including Mahapuja and Banpen Puja, will be performed as lakhs of tribals from across India gather to worship the serpent god.

The Hyderabad Task Force arrested two drug peddlers in Attapur on Friday and seized MDMA and OG worth Rs 1 lakh. Police said the accused procured the narcotics from a Bengaluru-based supplier, who is currently absconding.

The Hyderabad Traffic Police have announced the closure of all flyovers across the city on the night of January 16 in view of Shab-e-Meraj celebrations. Restrictions will begin after 10 pm, though key routes including PV Narasimha Rao Expressway will remain open.

The Supreme Court has issued a final warning to the Telangana Assembly Speaker, directing him to decide pending disqualification petitions against three BRS MLAs within two weeks, expressing concern over repeated delays despite earlier court orders.

The BRS has demanded a Special Investigation Team probe into allegations of land encroachment, extortion and abuse of power against AICC secretary and former MLA Sampath Kumar. Party leaders cited complaints by private firms and accused him of intimidating officials and contractors.

Ahead of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy inaugurating the Chanaka-Korata and Sadarmat barrages, BRS working president KT Rama Rao claimed the irrigation projects were largely completed during the previous BRS regime, with trial runs and major construction finished before December 2023.

The Sammakka-Sarakka temple at Medaram will reopen on January 19 after renovation, Panchayat Raj Minister Dansari Anasuya said. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy will reopen the shrine following a cabinet meeting at Medaram, while development works continue at major temples and riverfronts.