WB: Man dies of heart attack, family blames SIR anxiety
KOLKATA, Jan 21: An elderly man, Sahar Ali Mondal, died of a heart attack in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district, with his family claiming stress over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls contributed to his death. Mondal was among five family members who received notices to appear for a SIR hearing on Wednesday. Relatives said he had been anxious about the status of his sons’ names on the voters’ list and potential legal or administrative issues. The incident has sparked political controversy, with the ruling Trinamool Congress alleging that fear linked to the SIR exercise has caused multiple deaths in the state. Local TMC panchayat member Swapan Mondal called for an immediate halt to the process, accusing the BJP of politicising it. The BJP, however, denied any connection between the SIR exercise and Mondal’s death. (PTI)
Rickshaw driver dies, family blames contaminated water in MP
INDORE, Jan 21: A 50-year-old e-rickshaw driver, Hemant Gaikwad, died in Indore’s Bhagirathpura while undergoing cancer treatment, though his family blamed contaminated drinking water. Locals claim 25 deaths in recent days from waterborne illnesses, but officials have not confirmed this. Hemant’s brother said the family lost their sole breadwinner after 15 days of illness and demanded accountability and state assistance. Officials stated Hemant died of cardiopulmonary arrest due to cancer. Bhagirathpura has long faced contaminated water issues, with 51 tube wells testing positive for E. coli due to a leak mixing sewage with drinking water. The Madhya Pradesh High Court was informed of at least seven confirmed deaths, with a government audit linking 15 deaths to the outbreak. Authorities have provided Rs 2 lakh compensation to 21 families affected by vomiting and diarrhea, including cases from other illnesses, as a humanitarian measure. (PTI)
Eternal Q3 profit jumps 73%, CEO Goyal resigns
NEW DELHI, Jan 21: Eternal, parent company of Zomato and Blinkit, reported a 72.88% rise in Q3 FY26 consolidated net profit at Rs 102 crore, up from Rs 59 crore a year ago, driven by strong revenue growth from its quick commerce business Blinkit. Blinkit’s revenue surged to Rs 12,256 crore from Rs 1,399 crore, while losses from the District segment rose due to continued investments, expected to reduce toward break-even in 4–6 quarters. The board accepted CEO Deepinder Goyal’s resignation effective February 1, appointing him Vice Chairman & Director, and named Albinder Singh Dhindsa, Blinkit’s CEO, as Eternal’s new CEO. Blinkit added 211 stores, taking its total to 2,027, aiming for 3,000 by March 2027. The Blinkit and Hyperpure units turned Adjusted EBITDA profitable for the first time. Quarterly losses in the ‘Others’ segment reflect investments in the quick food delivery service Bistro, with early signs of market fit. (PTI)
