Vadodara, also known as Baroda, is the second-largest city in the Indian state of Gujarat. The city is prominent for landmarks such as the Laxmi Vilas Palace, which served as the residence of the Maratha royal Gaekwad dynasty, that ruled over Baroda State. Vadodara is located at 22.30°N 73.19°E in western India at an elevation of 39 metres. The city is located on the fertile plain between the Mahi and Narmada Rivers. The most followed religion in the city is Hinduism, practiced by 85 percent of the population. The city is named for its abundance of Banyan (Vad) plants. It is situated on the banks of the Vishwamitri River. It is believed that early man lived on the banks of the Mahi River, which formed the floodplain during that age. The movements of these hunter-gatherers, living on the banks of the river, grubbing the roots and killing animals with crude stone tools made out of the cobbles and pebbles available on the river bank, were necessarily controlled by the availability of convenient raw materials for their tools.
The city in one period was called Chandanavati after the rule of Chanda of the Dodiya Rajputs. The capital was also known as Virakshetra or Viravati (Land of Warriors).
Vadodara features a borderline tropical savanna climate. Gujarati, Marathi, Hindi, and English are the languages spoken in the city.
On this special broadcast, Air Marshal Sanjeev Kapoor (Retd) provides expert insights into the Republic Day flypast, highlighting the integration of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. He notes, 'The cameras from the aircraft are bringing the live coverage to your TV sets and this is what the new warfare is all about.' Air Marshal Kapoor discusses the induction of the C-295 transport aircraft, with 40 units being manufactured in the Vadodara factory to replace the ageing Avro fleet. The program also features Admiral Sinha discussing the P-8I maritime patrol aircraft's role as a game-changer in the Indian Ocean and its intelligence contributions during the Galwan crisis. The flypast involved 29 aircraft operating from five different bases, culminating in a high-speed vertical charlie maneuver at 1,000 km/hr. The display showcased India's aerial prowess and the seamless coordination required to fly at precise intervals over Kartavya Path, embodying the IAF motto 'Nabha Sprisham Deeptam'.
A video showing the killing of a crocodile has gone viral from Chorbhuj village in Karjan taluka of Gujarat’s Vadodara district. The incident took place at night when two locals allegedly beat the crocodile with sticks after it strayed out of a nearby pond, killing it and later throwing the body back into the lake.
In a special report, India Today's Consulting Editor, Nikhil Naz, breaks down India's tense four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the first ODI at Baroda. Naz points out that while India appeared to be cruising towards an easy win, the match became a '50-50 sort of an encounter' following the dismissal of Virat Kohli for 93. He states, 'While he was there on the crease, it looked like India are in cruise control, driver's seat, cruising to an easy win.' Naz also highlights that dropped catches by an otherwise proficient New Zealand side proved critical. He notes that the visiting team was not at full strength, with several key players missing, yet they still managed to give India a tough fight before KL Rahul finished the match.
On this Special Report, Senior Executive Editor Gaurav Sawant anchors a debate on Defense Minister Rajnath Singh’s controversial statement that Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru wanted to use government funds to build the Babri Masjid. Speaking at a Unity March in Vadodara, Singh claimed, ‘Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru wanted to build the Babri Masjid using public funds. If anyone opposed this proposal, it was Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.’ BJP National Spokesperson Dr. Ajay Alok defends the claim citing 1949 cabinet archives, while Congress National Spokesperson Dr. Shama Mohammed dismisses it as a distraction from pollution and demands documentary evidence. Activist Saira Shah Halim and Professor Geeta Bhatt also debate the historical accuracy and the definition of secularism.
In this Special Report, India Today's Managing Editor Gaurav Sawant moderates a fiery debate on Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's claim that Jawaharlal Nehru wanted to use government funds to rebuild the Babri Masjid. BJP National Spokesperson Dr. Ajay Alok defends the statement, citing 'cabinet archives of 1949' and claiming Sardar Patel rejected the proposal. He also references the 'Inside Story of Sardar Patel' and Maniben Patel's diary. Countering him, Congress National Spokesperson Dr. Shama Mohammed dismisses the claims as a distraction from issues like pollution, demanding 'archival or documentary evidence' and questioning the authenticity of the cited books. The debate turns heated with personal remarks and demands for facts.
In a special report from Gujarat, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh claims that India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, proposed using the government treasury to fund the construction of the Babri Masjid. Singh asserts that then Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel prevented this move. Contrasting this with the Somnath temple, Singh states Patel ensured its '30 lakh rupees facelift was fully funded by the people', not the government. The Congress party has vehemently denied these allegations, terming them 'diversionary tactics' with 'no evidence'. India Today's Mausami Singh reports on the escalating political war of words.
In a controversial statement during a Unity March in Gujarat marking Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's 150th birth anniversary, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh claimed that India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, wanted to use public funds to construct the Babri Masjid. Singh asserted that Sardar Patel blocked this proposal, insisting that government money should not be used for religious structures. Drawing a parallel with the Somnath Temple restoration, Singh noted that Patel ensured it was funded entirely by public donations, a model also followed for the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. He termed this approach 'real secularism'. The Congress party strongly rebutted these claims, with leaders like Imran Masood demanding evidence and reminding the Minister that it was Patel who had banned the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Opposition leaders accused Singh of attempting to 'rewrite history' and spreading narratives based on 'WhatsApp University'.
On this broadcast, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh makes a controversial claim that India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, intended to use public funds to build the Babri Masjid. Speaking at an event marking Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's 150th birth anniversary, Singh asserts that it was Patel who 'thwarted Nehru's Babri plan' and ensured government money was not used. The programme features India Today's Aishwarya Paliwal providing context on the political row. BJP Spokesperson CR Kesavan also joins the discussion on Dr Rajendra Prasad's birth anniversary, alleging that the Congress party has historically held a 'Hindu Virodi mindset'. Kesavan cites the reconstruction of the Somnath Temple, claiming Nehru opposed it and that the government blacked out President Rajendra Prasad's speech at the inauguration. The report highlights the BJP's intensified attacks on the Congress regarding historical narratives and secularism.
On this Special Report, the focus is on Cyclone Ditwa, which is currently 160 kilometers away from Puducherry and 250 kilometers away from Chennai. The cyclone is moving parallel to the Northern Tamil Nadu coast and is expected to impact Nagapattinam, Vedaranyam, and Southern Andhra Pradesh. Five teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been airlifted from Vadodara to Chennai and are on standby. India Today's Shibimol KG reports from Puducherry that the situation is currently 'under control' with gusty winds of 50-60 kmph, though heavy rainfall is predicted. The programme also highlights that Puducherry Chief Minister N. Rangasamy has reviewed preparedness, ordering night shifts in factories to be cancelled.
On this Special Report, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) DIG Mohsen Shahedi details the preparedness for Cyclone Ditwa, which is set to impact the coastal regions of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Speaking exclusively to India Today, Shahedi confirms that the cyclonic storm, which caused devastation in Sri Lanka, is expected to be at its closest point to Tamil Nadu on the morning of November 30. He states, 'We have deployed 14 teams... in the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu. And also we have provided for the teams in Andhra Pradesh.' Additionally, 10 reserve teams have been airlifted from Pune and Vadodara to Chennai to assist in rescue operations. The DIG notes that the system is likely to weaken into a depression by December 1.
This episode of Get Real India segment focusses on a shocking incident in Jharkhand's Khunti district where school children are forced to cross a collapsed bridge over the Banai river using a fragile bamboo ladder.
India Today conducted a comprehensive investigation into the condition of bridges across Gujarat, following the deadly bridge collapse in Vadodara that claimed 16 lives.
The death toll in the Gujarat bridge collapse has risen to 16. Meanwhile, a 2022 letter from a panchayat leader to the Vadodara district collector, warning about vibrations in pillars and requesting a stability report, has surfaced.
A war of words has erupted over the bridge collapse in Vadodara, Gujarat, with Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece Saamana slamming the so-called Gujarat model. The editorial claimed the incident exposed the model's weaknesses, calling it a failure in infrastructure safety and governance.
The big focus of Newstrack is on the collapse of a 40-year-old bridge in Vadodara, Gujarat, which has resulted in at least 11 deaths, including two children aged 2 and 4.
The big focus of this episode of News Today is on the Gujarat bridge collapse and Rahul Gandhi versus the Election Commission over Bihar electoral roll revision.
The Gujarat government has announced compensation for victims of the Gambhira bridge collapse connecting Anand and Vadodara. The state will provide Rs 4 lakh to the families of each deceased and Rs 50,000 to each injured person.
A woman was seen crying for help to find her missing son who drowned in the Mahisagar river after a portion of the Gambhira Bridge connecting Vadodara and Anand collapsed on Wednesday morning, which left nine people dead.
A section of the Gambhira-Mujpur bridge in Padra taluka of Gujarat collapsed during peak morning traffic hours, resulting in nine fatalities. The bridge, connecting Anand and Vadodara districts, gave way, causing several vehicles to fall into the Mahisagar river.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a two-day visit to Gujarat, his home state. The tour includes a roadshow in Gandhinagar, inauguration of multiple development projects worth over Rs 80,000 crore, and addressing gatherings.
