India Prime Breaking News Desk | July 18, 2026, Saturday Breaking News of this Hour . Amarnath and Vaishno Devi Yatras Temporarily Suspended.The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) has temporarily suspended the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra following a severe weather advisory issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Decision Taken for Safety

The precautionary decision has been taken in view of the forecast of heavy rainfall and adverse weather conditions in the region to ensure the safety and well-being of all pilgrims.

Services Affected

Due to rapidly changing weather conditions over the past few days, dense cloud cover over the Trikuta Hills has disrupted helicopter services. Earlier, battery car services on the Himkoti route were also suspended after heavy rainfall triggered landslides.

Amarnath Yatra Also Suspended

Following the same IMD weather advisory, the administration has decided to temporarily suspend the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra from 19 July on both the Pahalgam and Baltal routes.

Advisory for Pilgrims

The Shrine Board has urged all devotees to cooperate with the administration and refrain from starting their pilgrimage until further orders. Authorities are continuously monitoring weather conditions and the status of the routes. The yatra will resume only after conditions become safe. Pilgrims are advised to check the latest updates through the Shrine Board’s official communication channels before proceeding to Katra or the Bhawan.

Official Shrine Board Helpline Numbers

For assistance or live updates, pilgrims may contact:

• 24×7 Toll-Free Helpline: 1800-180-7212
• Call Centre Support: +91-1991-234804
• WhatsApp Support: +91-99060-19494
• Online Services Support: +91-1991-232887
• Official Refund Email: refund@maavaishnodevi.net (for refund-related queries)

Helicopter Booking Refund & Rebooking Policy

If helicopter services are cancelled by the Shrine Board for the entire day due to bad weather or technical reasons, the following rules apply:

• Automatic Refund (Online Bookings): If tickets were booked through the Shrine Board’s official website, a 100% refund will be automatically credited to the original payment method. No online refund application is required.
• Offline/Counter Tickets: Passengers who purchased tickets in cash must collect their refund from designated SMVDSB counters at Katra (Sirli Helipad), Sanjichhat Helipad, or Jammu Airport.
• Rebooking: Cancelled tickets will not be rescheduled or automatically transferred to another date. Pilgrims must make a fresh booking through the official portal after services resume, subject to availability.
• Refund Timeline: Refunds are generally processed within 15 working days.

Battery Car Booking Refund Policy

If battery car services are suspended by the Shrine Board due to bad weather or landslides:

• Full Refund: The entire fare will be refunded without any deduction. For online bookings, the amount will be credited to the original payment method within approximately 15 days.
• Rebooking: No automatic rescheduling is provided. A new booking must be made based on availability.

Important Note

If a pilgrim voluntarily cancels an online battery car booking at least two days before the scheduled journey while services are operating normally, the Shrine Board deducts a 30% cancellation charge, and only 70% of the fare is refunded.

However, in the current situation, since the suspension has been ordered by the administration, a full refund will be provided.

Amarnath Yatra Suspension: Official Guidelines

Following the IMD’s heavy rainfall and severe weather warning for Jammu & Kashmir, the administration has temporarily suspended the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra.

The official guidelines are as follows:

• Suspension on Both Routes: The order applies equally to both the Pahalgam (traditional route) and the Baltal (short route).
• No Movement Beyond Base Camps: According to the Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir, pilgrims will not be allowed to proceed beyond the Baltal and Nunwan/Chandanwari base camps.
• No New Convoys from Jammu: No fresh batches of pilgrims or vehicle convoys will be permitted to leave the Bhagwati Nagar Base Camp in Jammu for the pilgrimage.
• Advisory for Pilgrims: Devotees currently staying in Jammu, Udhampur, or Ramban have been advised to remain at their designated accommodation centres and wait for further instructions.

When Will the Yatra Resume?

Authorities have clarified that the suspension is a purely precautionary measure taken in response to the IMD’s weather alert. The pilgrimage will resume only after weather conditions improve, the routes are thoroughly inspected, and officials confirm that the trekking tracks are safe for pilgrims.

previously breaking news from morning till evening .Today (July 18, 2026)

Today (July 18, 2026),Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was taken into police custody from the protest stage at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Friday and shifted to a hospital after completing 20 days of hunger strike.

Police reached the protest site and escorted Wangchuk from the stage, citing concerns over his deteriorating health. He was immediately taken to a nearby hospital for medical evaluation and treatment.

Wangchuk has been observing an indefinite fast for the past 20 days as part of his protest. Further details regarding his health condition and the police action are awaited.

these are the stories most likely to trend across India:

1. NEET UG 2026 paper leak controversy – Political reactions and fresh allegations continue to keep the issue in the national spotlight.
2. RBI’s move toward polymer currency notes – The central bank’s latest step toward introducing polymer banknotes is generating widespread interest.
3. Amit Shah’s West Bengal visit – The Union Home Minister is reviewing law and order, border security, and governance during his state visit.
4. Jammu & Kashmir statehood politics – The National Conference’s planned protest, backed by Congress, and the BJP’s counter-mobilization are becoming a major political story.
5. Heavy rain and IMD alerts – Weather warnings for Delhi, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, and other states are expected to remain among the day’s most-read stories.
6. Mexico’s 7.3-magnitude earthquake and tsunami alert – This international disaster has significant global attention and strong readership potential.
7. Rajasthan food safety drive – The Chokhi Dhani inspection and action under the “Shuddh Aahar, Milawat Par Vaar” campaign has strong regional traction and can perform nationally if framed around food safety.
8. Large-scale employment and skill development initiatives – State job fairs with significant hiring numbers and investment-driven employment announcements remain relevant, especially if tied to youth employment.
9. Monsoon update and agriculture – Any change in rainfall patterns, reservoir levels, sowing progress, or crop outlook is likely to attract nationwide interest.
10. AI, technology, and digital policy – Government announcements on AI, digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, or major technology initiatives consistently perform well.

A bomb threat onboard an IndiGo flight from Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), Bengaluru, to Ahmedabad was found to be completely fake (hoax) after an extensive security inspection. Following the incident, the Bengaluru Airport Police registered an FIR against an unknown person and launched an investigation.

Flight Details

The incident involved IndiGo flight 6E-6423, which was scheduled to depart from Bengaluru for Ahmedabad at 8:00 PM on July 16.

Handwritten Bomb Threat Note Found

Shortly before departure, at around 7:35 PM, a cabin crew member discovered a handwritten note inside the aircraft’s front lavatory.

The note, written in English and Hindi, read:

“Don’t go. Bomb Hai! Please.”

Passengers Evacuated; Flight Delayed

Following standard security protocols (SOPs), all passengers were safely deboarded. Security agencies and the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) conducted a thorough search of the aircraft.

After more than two hours of intensive inspection, officials found no suspicious object or explosive device, declaring the threat a hoax. The flight was subsequently cleared for departure.

Police Investigation Underway

Based on a complaint filed by IndiGo’s Security Manager, the KIAL Airport Police Station registered an FIR against an unidentified individual.

Investigators are now examining CCTV footage, passenger records, and other evidence to identify the person responsible for placing the threatening note inside the aircraft.

Andhra Pradesh has reported a fresh rise in COVID-19 cases,

Andhra Pradesh has reported a fresh rise in COVID-19 cases, with 12 new infections detected between June 26 and July 16, according to the state’s Health Department.

Key Highlights

• 12 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Andhra Pradesh during the period from June 26 to July 16, 2026.
• The State Health Commissioner confirmed that four COVID-positive patients have died. Officials stated that all four patients had pre-existing medical conditions, including hypertension, diabetes, and kidney-related illnesses.
• Kadapa district recorded the highest number of cases (8), followed by:
  • Guntur: 2 cases
  • Visakhapatnam: 1 case
  • Kakinada: 1 case
• According to the Health Department:
  • 3 patients are currently in home isolation.
  • 2 patients are hospitalized.
  • 3 patients have recovered and been discharged.

National COVID-19 Update

Across India, 339 COVID-19 cases have been reported since July 1.

State-wise reported cases:

• Kerala: 115
• Karnataka: 64
• Maharashtra: 43
• Tamil Nadu: 39

Health authorities continue to monitor the situation and have advised the public, particularly vulnerable individuals with underlying health conditions, to remain cautious and follow recommended health precautions.

The Indian stock market 

Friday, July 17, 2026, as global market weakness and escalating geopolitical tensions weighed on investor sentiment. After GIFT Nifty indicated a subdued start around 24,098, both benchmark indices traded within a narrow range during early trade.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced the results of the NEET-UG 2026 Re-Test, conducted on June 21, 2026, following allegations of a question paper leak. Around 2 million (20 lakh) candidates appeared for the re-examination, and 1.121 million (11.21 lakh) candidates have qualified.

1. Girls Lead the Success Charts

Female Candidates Outperform Boys

• Of the 1.121 million successful candidates, more than 58% are female candidates, reflecting another year of strong academic performance by girls.
• Qualification Rate:
  • Girls: 56.8%
  • Boys: 55.1%

The results indicate that female candidates not only formed the majority of qualifiers but also achieved a higher overall success rate than male candidates.

2. Toppers and Score Distribution

Joint Toppers

• Aryan Gupta from Punjab and Panshul Bansal from Haryana secured the All India Rank 1, scoring 715 out of 720 marks.

High Scorers

• 19 candidates scored 700 marks or above.
• Among the top 138 candidates (who scored more than 690 marks), 93% qualified in their very first attempt, highlighting exceptional first-time performances.

3. State-wise and Category-wise Performance

Uttar Pradesh Leads

• Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of successful candidates, with more than 170,000 students qualifying in the examination.

Category-wise Qualified Candidates

• OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): 512,000
• General Category: 291,000
• Scheduled Caste (SC): 159,000

The remaining successful candidates belong to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) categories.

4. What Happens Next?

Based on the NEET-UG 2026 Re-Test results, qualified candidates are now eligible to participate in the counselling process for admission to:

• MBBS
• BDS
• AYUSH Courses
• Other Allied Medical Programmes

The result has been released according to schedule to ensure that the national medical admission counselling process proceeds without delay.

Candidates can download their scorecards from the official NEET website:
https://neet.nta.nic.in

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