Telangana

A fake video showing a leopard in Manala forest triggered panic among villagers in Rajanna-Sircilla district after it was widely circulated on WhatsApp and social media. Though a leopard had killed a cow in Lingampet village a week earlier, officials clarified that the viral video was fake and unrelated to Manala forest.

Seven passengers were injured when an RTC bus travelling from Godavarikhani to Hyderabad collided with a stationary lorry on Rajiv Rahadhari near Nagulabanda under Kukunoorpally police limits. The injured, including Sushmitha, Bhulakshmi, Ayansh, Priyanka, Chandu, Pavan and Ammayya, were taken to Siddipet government hospital.

Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka urged government employees in Khammam to introspect daily on their performance and stressed accountability to the public, noting that salaries come from taxpayers’ hard work. Addressing a review meeting, he warned that negligence would not be tolerated as the State enters its third year.

In a major joint operation, Telangana’s Elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement (EAGLE), RNCC, Khammam and Dammapet police seized ganja worth Rs 1.52 crore in Kothagudem. Four suspects were arrested, while four others remain absconding.

Malkajgiri MLA Marri Rajasekhar Reddy met HMDA Commissioner Sarfaraz Ahmed and CPO Ravinder Reddy in Hyderabad, submitting a representation to de‑notify colonies affected by the HMDA Master Plan. He argued it was unfair to trouble residents who have lived in these areas for decades.

Senior BJP leader and former Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya said farmer suicides could be reduced if minimum support price was assured for crops. Speaking at the inauguration of the Kisan Gramina Mela at Ambedkar Stadium in Karimnagar, he described agriculture as a way of life rather than just an occupation.

A tragic incident occurred in Khammam city when two ninth-class students were swept away while swimming in the NSP canal at Ramanagutta in Raghunadhapalem mandal. One student’s body was recovered, while search operations are ongoing to trace the other.

Despite repeated claims by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy that Telangana’s finances are in distress, the Congress government has sanctioned Rs 59.60 lakh for interior works in the Secretariat. The expenditure has raised questions about the government’s spending priorities.

BRS working president KT Rama Rao launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, accusing him of resorting to abusive rhetoric to cover up the Congress government’s failures on Telangana’s water rights. He alleged that the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Project was being strangled and farmers betrayed.

A UKG student tragically lost his life in Khammam district after a pencil he was carrying pierced his throat when he accidentally fell while running back to his classroom. Despite being rushed to the local government hospital, doctors declared him dead.

Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar has demanded that the Telangana government release funds to gram panchayats within a month, warning of a mass agitation if delayed under the pretext of the model code of conduct.

A 64-year-old farmer from Bonkur village died of a heart attack at a maize procurement centre in Jogulamba Gadwal district while completing online formalities. BRS leader KT Rama Rao blamed Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and the Congress government for lapses in procurement, demanding Rs 25 lakh compensation for the family.

Hyderabad and nearby districts continue to experience cold wave conditions, with night temperatures dropping well below normal. IMD predicts chilly nights for the next two days, including Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, while daytime temperatures remain moderate.

Air quality apps show different AQI numbers, leaving people confused. This video explains how AQI is measured, why readings vary, and which figures are more reliable

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, speaking at a felicitation programme for newly elected sarpanches in Kosgi, dedicated much of his address to sharp criticism of BRS president and former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao. He also announced special grants of Rs 5 lakh for minor gram panchayats and Rs 10 lakh for major ones from the Chief Minister’s Special Fund.

South Central Railway has announced eight additional special trains for the Sankranti festival. Trains will run between Kakinada, Vikarabad, Nanded, and Machilipatnam, stopping at major stations like Vijayawada, Secunderabad, and Rajahmundry. Passengers are advised to book tickets in advance.

Radiation oncologists at Yashoda Hospital, Malakpet, successfully performed a rare surgery using precision radiotherapy on Siddipet resident Nimmala Suresh, diagnosed with neurocytoma, a rare low-grade brain tumour. The case underscores Yashoda Hospital’s advanced expertise in treating rare and complex brain tumours.

Retired employees in Kothagudem and Bhupalpally, under the banner of the Retired Employees Association and Telangana Government Pensioners JAC, staged a one-day fast demanding immediate clearance of pending retirement dues. Retired Police Officers Welfare Association president S Srinivasa Rao criticised the Congress government for failing to implement the promised cashless Employees Health Scheme even after two years.

A man lost nearly Rs 6 lakh after attempting to pay a Rs 500 traffic fine through a fake link sent via SMS. Cybercrime police warned citizens to avoid clicking unknown links and to remain alert to such scams.

Severe cold weather in Karimnagar has affected both mango orchards and paddy seedlings, with farmers reporting stunted growth despite the use of fertilisers and pesticides. Seedlings that usually grow within 25–35 days have failed to mature even after 45 days in the current Yasangi season.

Former Minister T Harish Rao extended support to Domadugu villagers in Sangareddy, who have been protesting against a pharmaceutical company accused of releasing effluents into Nallakunta lake and downstream agricultural fields. The villagers also staged a rally on the highway with cattle to highlight their plight.

Medak Cathedral Church, over 100 years old, has been decorated for Christmas celebrations. Devotees from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and other regions attended. Hotels are fully booked, traders have set up stalls, and children enjoy rides and festive activities.

Hyderabad leads India’s top seven cities in office vacancy rate, even as net absorption rises 10% year-on-year. Bengaluru leads new completions, while Pune, Chennai, and NCR see strong supply growth. Hyderabad and MMR witness slight declines in new office supply.

Two candidates were arrested at the University of Hyderabad for using AI and concealed Bluetooth devices to cheat in a Junior Office Assistant recruitment exam. The malpractice was discovered when a hidden scanner beeped during the test.