Local Round-up: 150-year-old Stepwell Found in UP, Demise of Epigamia's Co-founder, Western India Slam 2024 and more!

Local Round-up brings to you what's happening across the country in travel, food, infrastructure, sports, and herein, we have curated the updates from the weekend and the beginning of this week for you. So, read these below. 

PM Narendra Modi receives Kuwait's highest honour

I am honoured to be conferred the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Order by His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah. I dedicate this honour to the people of India and to the strong friendship between India and Kuwait. pic.twitter.com/fRuWIt34Cx

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 22, 2024

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Sunday awarded with ‘The Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer.’ Kuwait's highest honour. With this honour, Modi's count of international awards reaches 20. “I am honoured to be conferred the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Order by His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah. I dedicate this honour to the people of India and to the strong friendship between India and Kuwait,” PM Modi posted on X.

Srinagar records coldest December night in 50 years, temperature drops to minus 8° C

Locally known as “Chillai-Kalan,” the harshest period of winter in the Kashmir Valley starts on a shivery note. On December 20, Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded its coldest December night in 30 years, with the mercury dipping to a bone-chilling -8.5°C.

India and Kuwait sign MoUs to strengthen defence, sports and cultural cooperation

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the Gulf nation, India signed four Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) as reported by the Ministry of External Affairs said on Sunday. The agreements signed in the areas of defence, sports and cultural cooperation are expected to deepen the multifaceted bilateral relationship as well as open avenues for newer areas of cooperation as reported by Arun Kumar Chatterjee, MEA Secretary CPV and OIA.

150-year-old stepwell, a mysterious tunnel connected to Banke Bihari temple discovered in UP

संभल के कस्बा चंदौसी में प्रशासन को एक पुराने कुएं पर कब्जे की सूचना मिली। प्रशासन ने अतिक्रमण हटाने के लिए बुलडोजर चलवाया तो कुएं के पास एक प्राचीन सुरंग मिली। इसके दाएं–बाएं कई कमरेनुमा इमारत मिली हैं। खुदाई चालू है। pic.twitter.com/Ud9ZNlJUjp

— Sachin Gupta (@SachinGuptaUP) December 22, 2024

An ancient tunnel and several rooms were discovered beneath an old well during an encroachment removal drive in Chandausi, Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh. The encroachment was carried out when the administration received information about an old well. The tunnel is believed to be connected to the Banke Bihari Temple, and its construction and structure appear ancient.

Anahat Singh and Ameeshenraj Chandaran win the Western India Slam 2024 

16-year-old Indian squash player Anahat Singh defeated senior compatriot and top seed Akanksha Salunkhe 3-0 in the final at the Western India Slam 2024. With this win, Anahat clinches the ninth PSA Challenger title of the year. This women’s singles title includes a USD 9,000 prize money. In the men's singles final, second seed Malaysian Ameeshenraj Chandaran defeated the number one seed Viktor Byrtus of the Czech Republic 3-1 (15-13, 6-11, 11-5, and 11-3) in a gruelling 60-minute encounter.

Epigamia's co-founder Rohan Mirchandani passes away at 42

Rohan Mirchandani, co-founder of Epigamia, a Greek yogurt brand in India, died on December 21 at the age of 42 due to cardiac arrest. The news was confirmed by an official statement from Drums Food International, the parent company of Epigamia.

Assembly passes new land law "Bhu Bharati"

The Congress government on Wednesday introduced the Telangana Bhu Bharati (Record of Rights in Land) Bill, 2024, which will replace the Telangana Rights in Land and Pattadar Pass Books Act, 2020, fulfilling one of its major pre-election pledges. According to the Bill, the Dharani portal would henceforth be called the "RoR portal or Bhu Bharati."