IPL Qualifier 2 in Chennai, Modi in Punjab as heatwave continues… Headlines today – Firstpost

It’s a chaotic Friday in the subcontinent, with weather events dominating the day.

As a heat wave continues to sweep across northern India, a cyclone is brewing in the Bay of Bengal. Further south, in Kerala, the state experiences incessant rains.

In Chennai, the field is set for an IPL qualifying tournament where Rajasthan and Hyderabad will face off for a place in the final.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Himachal Pradesh to campaign for the BJP in this 2024 Lok Sabha election.

There is one place left!

In Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 Qualifier 2, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will aim to overcome their disappointing performance in Qualifier 1 when they take on Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai today.

SRH missed their first opportunity to secure a place in the final, suffering a heavy defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders, who have already secured their place in the IPL 2024 final.

Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals broke their poor run in the latter stages of the IPL by ending Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) six-game winning streak.

Modi joins Ranaut

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a rally in support of BJP’s Mandi candidate Kangana Ranaut at Padda Maidan in Mandi. Modi was scheduled to address two public rallies in the state today.

In Mandi, Modi will rally support for Ranaut, who faces a tough battle against Congress candidate Vikramaditya Singh, son of six-time chief minister Virbhadra Singh and current Mandi MP Pratibha Singh. This rally is crucial for Kangana who is aiming for her first electoral victory.

Himachal Pradesh will vote in the final phase of elections on June 1.

The heatwave continues

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that severe heatwaves are expected in many areas, including Punjab, Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi, western Rajasthan, parts of western Uttar Pradesh, eastern Rajasthan and northwest Madhya Pradesh, from May 20 to 24.

Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat and northeast Madhya Pradesh are also expected to experience heatwaves from May 20 to 24. Warm nights are expected to prevail in western Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan during the same period.

SC to hear ECI-related case

The Election Commission of India (ECI) is yet to provide the actual number of voters for the Lok Sabha elections which were held in five phases. As a result, attention has turned to the Supreme Court, which is scheduled to hear the case today.

Recently, the Supreme Court issued a notice to the EC based on a petition filed by the NGO Association of Democratic Reforms. The NGO has requested the ECI to publish the absolute number of votes from all polling stations in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. Furthermore, the NGO demanded that the ECI disclose the number of votes polled on its website within 48 hours of the polls.

Will cyclone “Remal” intensify?

A low pressure area located over the southwest and adjacent to the west-central Bay of Bengal has moved towards the northeast. It is expected to intensify and concentrate into a depression over central parts of the Bay of Bengal by today morning. According to the IMD, this system is expected to further intensify into a cyclonic storm over the east-central Bay of Bengal by May 25.

Thereafter, the cyclonic storm is expected to move almost northwards and approach the vicinity of Bangladesh and adjacent coasts of West Bengal on the evening of May 26, potentially as a severe cyclonic storm.

Heavy showers in Kerala

As heavy rains persist in several parts of Kerala, the IMD has issued a red alert for two districts of the state, forecasting extremely heavy rains in these areas. Pathanamthitta and Idukki have been placed on red alert as per the latest update from the weather agency.

Additionally, authorities warned of high waves ranging from 0.4 to 3.3 meters and the possibility of maritime incursions along the Kerala coast, from Vizhinjam in the south to Kasaragod in the north, up to Thursday evening.

Today in History – May 24

May 24 is celebrated as Commonwealth Day, marking the birthday of Queen Victoria of England, born in 1819. The day is recognized by countries that were once part of the British Empire.

World events on this day

• 1689: The Toleration Act was passed by the British Parliament. This important legislation granted limited religious freedom to nonconformist Protestants, allowing them to worship outside the Church of England and reducing persecution against dissenting Protestant groups.

• 1883: The Brooklyn Bridge opened after 14 years of construction, connecting New York and Brooklyn across the East River.

• 1970: Engineers have launched the Kola Superdeep Borehole project, aiming to drill the world’s deepest hole. The project continued for several years, reaching a depth of approximately 12 kilometers before being discontinued in 1992.

With the contribution of agencies