India Engulfed: Political Moves, Fatalities, and Crippling Fog Dominate January 4, 2025 News

January 4, 2025, emerged as a day marked by significant developments across India, spanning the political landscape, tragic accidents, and widespread environmental disruption. Major headlines included the Bharatiya Janata Party’s strategic candidate announcements for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, a fatal military vehicle accident in Jammu and Kashmir, severe flight disruptions caused by dense fog across the north, and a deadly bus crash involving farmer activists in Punjab.

BJP Unveils Delhi Assembly Candidate List

In a significant move ahead of the February 2025 Delhi Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday, January 4, 2025, released its highly anticipated first list of 29 candidates. The list signals the party’s initial strategic choices for the crucial polls and sets the stage for key electoral battles in the national capital. This early announcement provides a clear indication of the BJP’s intent to contest prominent constituencies with specific candidates, initiating the campaign momentum well in advance of the scheduled voting.

The candidate list reveals several high-profile matchups. Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma has been nominated to contest the New Delhi constituency. Another notable contest will see the BJP field Ramesh Bidhuri against Atishi. The party has also nominated Vijender Gupta from the Rohini constituency and Ashish Sood from Janakpuri. Kailash Gahlot will be challenged by the BJP’s candidate in Bijwasan, though the original summary does not specify Gahlot’s opponent. The nomination of Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma from New Delhi, which is also the constituency represented by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, sets up a potentially high-stakes contest, although the original summary only mentions Verma contesting against Arvind Kejriwal without specifying which constituency this challenge refers to, while simultaneously listing Verma from New Delhi. [Editor’s Note: Clarification on the specific constituency for Verma’s challenge against Kejriwal is required based on contradictory information in the original source.] The selection of candidates like Vijender Gupta, a former Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, underscores the BJP’s effort to field experienced political figures.

Tragic Loss: Army Personnel Killed in Jammu and Kashmir

The nation mourned the loss of military personnel following a tragic accident in Jammu and Kashmir. On Saturday, January 4, 2025, three Army personnel were killed and two others sustained injuries when their vehicle plunged into a gorge. The incident occurred near SK Payen in Bandipora district, Jammu and Kashmir. Details surrounding the circumstances that led to the vehicle falling into the gorge were not immediately available, but the accident highlights the inherent risks faced by personnel operating in challenging terrains in the region. Local authorities and Army officials initiated immediate response and rescue operations at the site of the crash.

North India Grapples with Unprecedented Fog Disruptions

Adding to the day’s challenges, a thick blanket of fog enveloped vast swathes of North India, causing significant disruption to transportation networks. Delhi experienced its worst fog of the season on January 4, 2025, with visibility dropping to zero for an alarming nine hours. The extreme low visibility had a crippling effect on air travel at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), Delhi’s primary air hub. Over 300 flights were significantly delayed, 41 flights were cancelled, and 19 flights were diverted to other airports as conditions rendered operations unsafe. The ground situation at the airport was chaotic, with thousands of passengers stranded and facing prolonged waits.

The dense fog was not confined to Delhi; it also impacted numerous other states across North and Northeast India. Regions affected included Punjab, Haryana, parts of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Tripura, Assam, Meghalaya, and Mizoram. The widespread fog disrupted road and rail traffic as well, causing delays and affecting daily life for millions. Meteorological officials indicated that the persistent and intense fog was a result of specific weather patterns prevailing over the region, posing challenges for travel and economic activity.

Fatal Accident Claims Lives of Farmer Activists in Punjab

A separate tragic incident occurred in Punjab, where a bus accident resulted in multiple fatalities among farmer activists. On Saturday, January 4, 2025, three women activists belonging to the farmer organization BKU (Ugrahan) were killed when the bus they were travelling in met with an accident in Barnala, Punjab. Additionally, 30 others were injured in the crash. The activists were en route to a farmers’ mahapanchayat scheduled to take place in Tohana, Haryana. The accident cast a pall over the planned gathering and drew immediate reactions from farmer unions and political leaders, highlighting the risks undertaken by participants travelling to such events.

The series of events on January 4, 2025, from political maneuvers and military tragedy to environmental disruption and a fatal civilian accident, underscore a complex and challenging day across different facets of Indian life.