PSU banks and metals look attractive despite muted market, says expert

A massive fire broke out at Bacha Furniture in the Nampally area of Hyderabad on Saturday, January 24, 2026. The blaze erupted in a four-storey building, leaving at least six people, including a lady and a child, reportedly trapped inside for over two hours. An unidentified speaker at the scene stated, 'We have been inside for two and a half hours and they have not given us any information.' Rescue operations involving fire engines, police, and Hydra teams are currently underway, though thick smoke is significantly hindering efforts to reach those stuck in the cellar and upper floors. The cause of the fire, which originated in a furniture warehouse filled with combustible foam, remains unknown. Local rescue teams and officials are working continuously to control the intense flames and ensure the safety of the trapped individuals. Traffic in the surrounding Nampally area has been affected as emergency services prioritize the ongoing rescue mission.

In this special report, Secunderabad Cantonment MLA Sri Ganesh Rao highlights the ongoing crisis regarding the lack of local body elections and development funds in the Cantonment area. Speaking from his relay hunger strike, which has entered its fifth day, Rao states, 'The issue is we want the Cantonment Board merger in GHMC' to ensure justice and adequate funding for the residents. He criticises the Central Government for allegedly withholding ₹1,200 crores in dues and failing to conduct elections since the board was dissolved in 2020. Rao argues that the absence of elected representatives has silenced the people's voice and stalled civic progress. He also questions the silence of the local Member of Parliament, Eatala Rajender, on the merger issue. The MLA asserts that the state government is ready to take responsibility for the area's development if the merger with the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is finalised, vowing to continue the protest until their demands are met.

On this report, India Today’s Anupam Mishra provides details on a violent clash between Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers in the Sakhir Bazaar area of Behala, Kolkata. The conflict reportedly began over the use of loudspeakers during simultaneous programmes held by both parties. Anupam Mishra stated, 'TMC workers, they came to the stage of the BJP which was there and the program was almost finished and then they set fire to the stage'. The BJP alleged that TMC supporters obstructed their meeting with loud music and flags, leading to retaliatory vandalism of an event organised by TMC councillor Sudeep Kohli. In response, the BJP's meeting stage was set ablaze. Police personnel were deployed to the area to douse the fire and restore order. The incident highlights rising political tensions in West Bengal ahead of the elections, as both parties accuse each other of provocation and violence in the state capital.

On this Special Report, the focus is on the political row erupting in Maharashtra following the announcement of the Padma Awards. The Shiv Sena (UBT) has strongly criticised the decision to confer a Padma honour upon Bhagat Singh Koshyari, the former Governor of Maharashtra. The party alleged that the 'man who murdered democracy to install BJP-Shinde government in state is being honoured' by the Modi government. The transcript highlights the friction stemming from the 2022 political crisis when the Uddhav Thackeray-led government lost its majority. While the opposition views the award as a reward for enabling the current Eknath Shinde-BJP administration, the report also notes Koshyari's long political career, including his time spent in jail during the Emergency and his tenure as the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand. The programme explores the deepening divide between the Sena UBT and the ruling alliance over this controversial recognition.