Myanmar Earthquake Updates: Death toll surpasses 1,600; humanitarian operation hindered due to damaged roads

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team has arrived in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, on Saturday, where they were warmly received by Indian Ambassador Abhay Thakur and Maung Maung Lynn from Myanmar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. India is the first country to send rescue personnel to Myanmar's capital. The NDRF team will proceed to Mandalay on Sunday morning to begin rescue operations, making them the first to respond in the area. The airport remains partially operational after the earthquake. At a special press briefing on Operation Brahma, DIG NDRF Mohsen Shahedi confirmed the deployment of 80 rescuers, with a second team on standby in Kolkata. Commodore Raghunath Nair stated that four ships carrying humanitarian aid are en route, with two expected to arrive in Yangon on March 31. The earthquake has claimed over 1,600 lives in Myanmar, according to military reports.

Delhi's Karkardooma Court has granted bail to Tahir Hussain, a former AAP councillor and AIMIM leader, in connection with a money laundering case related to the 2020 North East Delhi riots. However, he will remain in custody due to his involvement in the larger conspiracy behind the riots. Hussain was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 6, 2020, and is also facing charges in the broader Delhi riots conspiracy case. The court granted bail after considering that he has already served half of his sentence in the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case.

Two C-17 aircraft are set to land in Myanmar late tonight, delivering a field hospital to offer medical assistance to the victims of the recent earthquake.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported on Saturday that humanitarian efforts in Myanmar are being significantly hampered by damage to roads and critical infrastructure caused by the 7.7-magnitude earthquake on Friday. Major bridges and roads have been destroyed, making it difficult for relief teams to reach affected regions. The collapse of key transport routes, including the Yangon-Nay Pyi Taw-Mandalay expressway, has disrupted services, and part of Mandalay Airport has also been damaged. With key transport links broken, delivering aid to those in need has become even more challenging.

Myanmar Earthquake Live: C130 flight with NDRF team reaches Nay Pyi Taw for Myanmar relief efforts

A C130 aircraft carrying an 80-member NDRF search and rescue team has arrived in Nay Pyi Taw, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)

The CBI court has acquitted Justice Nirmal Yadav in a corruption case. She was accused of accepting Rs 15 lakh in cash while serving as a judge in the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2008. Advocate Vishal Garg Narwana, representing Nirmal Yadav, said, "The case started in 2008. Today, the verdict was announced. There were five accused. One of the accused had already died. The remaining four, including Justice Nirmal Yadav, have been acquitted..."

India has become the first country to send rescue teams to earthquake-stricken Myanmar. The first C-130 aircraft landed in Naypyidaw, Myanmar, where the NDRF team was welcomed by the Indian Ambassador and Myanmar's Ambassador-at-large Maung Maung Lynn. Despite the airport's limited functionality after the earthquake, India was the first to deploy rescue personnel. The NDRF team will head to Mandalay early tomorrow morning to conduct rescue operations as the first team to arrive in the region.

Hundreds are trapped beneath the rubble of collapsed buildings as the death toll from the earthquake in Myanmar exceeds 1,600.

Senior IAS officer Sujata Karthikeyan, who is the wife of former IAS officer and politician VK Pandian, has resigned from the Indian Administrative Service by opting for voluntary retirement (VRS), according to sources.

Police have implemented heightened security measures for Eid celebrations. DCP Outer Delhi Sachin Sharma said, “Eid will be celebrated tomorrow or the day after, depending on the sighting of the moon. Strong security measures have been put in place across Outer Delhi.... Drone surveillance is also being conducted. A detailed security plan has been prepared, with around 800-900 district police personnel deployed, along with additional forces.”

Stage-I of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) has been lifted in Delhi-NCR due to an improvement in air quality

The NDRF has deployed an 80-member urban search and rescue team to Myanmar. The team was sent in two flights, with one already en route and the other about to depart from Hindon Air Base. The next 24-48 hours are critical for the rescue operations. Additionally, a reserve team is stationed in Kolkata, ready to deploy as soon as confirmation is received to send them.

MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “A massive earthquake struck Myanmar yesterday. Massive loss of life and property has been reported. Soon after the tragedy struck Myanmar, our Prime Minister conveyed his concerns and expressed that India was ready to provide all possible support to the people of Myanmar and the Government of Myanmar in this hour of crisis… Today, Prime Minister spoke to Senior General Min Aung Hlaing of Myanmar. He conveyed deepest condolences on behalf of the people and the Government of India for the loss of lives. He also conveyed that we stand in solidarity with the government and people of Myanmar and we would do our best to provide relief, rescue and whatever assistance is required to deal with this calamity…”

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar announced on Saturday that the Indian Navy ships, INS Satpura and INS Savitri, are on their way to Yangon port in Myanmar with 40 tonnes of humanitarian aid as part of Operation Brahma. In a post on X, Jaishankar stated, "Under Operation Brahma, Indian Navy ships INS Satpura & INS Savitri are carrying 40 tonnes of aid and are headed to the port of Yangon."

A CBI court in Chandigarh has acquitted former High Court judge Nirmal Yadav in the 2008 cash-at-judge's-door case, according to defense counsel Vishal Garg.

Russian forces have taken control of Veselivka, a settlement in Ukraine's northeastern Sumy region, according to a report from the Russian state-run news agency TASS, citing the Russian defense ministry.

"I will be in Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh tomorrow, 30th March to attend various programmes. Upon landing in Nagpur, I will go to Smruti Mandir and thereafter to Deekshabhoomi. After that, will lay the foundation stone for Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre at Nagpur. I will also have the opportunity to visit Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited’s ammunition facility," posts PM Modi

A fire erupted on the Porbandar-Somnath highway in the Juri forest. Firefighters are on-site, and efforts are underway to contain the blaze. Forest department officials are also present at the location. Further details are awaited.

Another aftershock of 4.7 magnitude jolted Myanmar on Saturday.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi responded to the Kunal Kamra controversy, saying, "Kunal Kamra is a standup comedian. He is not a politician. He has no interest in contesting elections. He has not named Eknath Shinde, but Eknath Shinde, his party, and the Chief Minister of Maharashtra have taken it on a personal level that how can you call him a 'gaddar'? The biggest traitor in this country is one who forgets the rule of law. The biggest traitor in this country, or 'gaddar' in this country, is the one who applies the law selectively. Why is CM Fadnavis forgetting that in his own state when Eknath Shinde was the Chief Minister, one person had talked complete rubbish and lies in a very demeaning way about our Prophet Muhammad? That didn't hurt CM Fadnavis? That didn't hurt the ego of Eknath Shinde?"

Afghanistan was struck by two significant earthquakes on Saturday, each with a magnitude exceeding 4, as per the National Centre for Seismology. The first quake, measuring 4.3, hit northern Afghanistan at 4:51 am IST, followed by a stronger aftershock at 5:16 am IST, registering 4.7. Both tremors had their epicenters about 280 km from Kabul, with a depth of over 180 km. Fortunately, no immediate reports of casualties or severe damage have emerged.

The bodies of an elderly couple were discovered in their home in Beedi village, with initial indications suggesting suicide. A two-page death note was found, revealing that they had fallen victim to a cybercrime, losing more than Rs 50 lakh, with the total amount potentially higher. Investigations into their bank accounts are underway. The deceased have been identified as Diego Santan Nazareth (82) and his wife Flavia (79), residents of Christian Galli, Beedi, according to Belagavi SP Dr. Bhimashankar Guled.

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi has accused the Central government of preventing discussions in Parliament.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to X and stated, "I spoke with Senior General Min Aung Hlaing of Myanmar. We conveyed our deep condolences on the loss of lives in the devastating earthquake. As a close friend and neighbour, India stands in solidarity with the people of Myanmar in this difficult hour. Disaster relief material, humanitarian assistance, and search and rescue teams are being expeditiously dispatched to the affected areas as part of #OperationBrahma."

Two more Indian Air Force aircraft are being loaded with relief material for Myanmar. Planes will depart from AFS Hindon soon.

Earlier today, approximately 15 tonnes of relief material was sent to Myanmar on an IAF C-130 J aircraft from AFS Hindon.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami held a roadshow from Hathibarkala Police Chowki to Survey Stadium Dehradun on the completion of three years of his government in the state.

A powerful earthquake has killed at least 1,000 people and injured over 1,600 others in Myanmar on Friday, authorities said, according to AFP.

16 Naxals have been killed in an encounter with security forces in the forest of Upampalli Kerlapal area at the Sukma-Dantewada Border. 2 jawans sustained minor injuries: Bastar IG, Sundarraj P told ANI.

India News Live: Delhi CM Rekha Gupta reaches Jagannath temple in Odisha's Puri

• Delhi CM Rekha Gupta arrives at Jagannath temple in Odisha's Puri.
• Delhi Minister Parvesh Verma and BJP MP from Puri, Sambit Patra, also accompanied her.

An earthquake of magnitude 4.7 on the Richter Scale struck Afghanistan on Saturday morning, a day after an earthquake of magnitude 7.7 hit Myanmar.

According to the National Center for Seismology, the earthquake struck at around 5.16 am at a depth of 180 km.

Approximately 15 tonnes of relief material is being sent to Myanmar on an IAF C 130 J aircraft from AFS Hindon, including tents, sleeping bags, blankets, ready-to-eat meals, water purifiers, hygiene kits, solar lamps, generator sets, essential Medicines (Paracetamol, antibiotics, canula, syringes, gloves, cotton bandages, urine bags, etc), sources told ANI.

A massive earthquake of magnitude 7.7 hit Myanmar on Friday, killing hundreds and causing widespread damage.