Days after a 22-year-old student from Karnataka went missing in the United States, the Consulate General of India in San Francisco confirmed that local law enforcement had recovered Saketh Sreenivasaiah’s body.
After Saketh Sreenivasaiah’s body was found in the US, his parents in Karnataka are struggling to accept the news of his death (LinkedIn/Saketh Sreenivasaiah )
However, Saketh’s parents, who are in Bengaluru, are struggling to come to terms with the news. They assert that they will only accept their son’s death once they have seen his body with their own eyes.
“We will only accept that he is dead if she (Saketh’s mother) sees his dead body. Till then, we believe he is alive,” stated Saketh’s father, Srinivasaiah Thammannagowda, during a visit from Karnataka MLC Arathi Krishna to their residence on Sunday, reported The Indian Express.
Despite the Indian Consulate’s assurance that arrangements will be made to repatriate Saketh’s body to India, his parents have expressed a desire to travel to the US. They wish to personally visit and see their son’s remains.
The family declined to engage with the media and requested that government officials who came to their residence depart. Only MLC Arathi Krishna, who also serves as the deputy chairman of the NRI Forum of Karnataka, was permitted to meet with them.
“The family is in disbelief. They say their son was an extremely strong-willed person. They are not asking to bring the body to India but want to go to the US themselves,” Krishna said, as per The Indian Express.
Saketh Sreenivasaiah’s parents seeks emergency visa
The family has now sought assistance from the Indian government in obtaining emergency visas, as they hold the belief that Saketh may still be alive.
Saketh had successfully completed his BTech in Chemical Engineering at IIT Madras before relocating to the US on September 4 in 2025. He was engaged in post-graduate studies in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of California.
As per Krishna, Saketh last reached out to his family on February 8, the day preceding his disappearance. He called his mother, but she was unable to answer as she was at work, he said. “Later, he called his younger brother and spoke to him. After that, no calls were made,” she stated.
When Saketh failed to respond to calls after February 9, the family presumed he was occupied with his studies or work commitments. On February 12, his housemate, Baneet Singh, notified the parents that Saketh was missing.
Saketh is survived by his parents and a younger brother. His father operates a small business, whereas his mother is employed by the state government.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Ravanchi says Tehran is willing to address concerns over its highly enriched uranium stockpile, including possible dilution of 60% enriched material — but only if sanctions relief comes first. As U.S. officials accuse Iran of stalling nuclear diplomacy, President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are pivoting toward coordinated economic warfare aimed at Iran’s oil exports to China. Axios reports the strategy could include sweeping tariffs and sanctions on nations trading with Tehran, raising fears of escalation in the Strait of Hormuz and deeper U.S.–China confrontation.
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MUMBAI: Four executives of a sub-contractor and an executive of a consultant firm have been arrested after a slab of the under-construction Metro line 4 collapsed, killing one person and injuring three others in Mulund on Saturday afternoon.
iMumbai, India – February 14, 2026: A portion of a Metro rail track pillar in north-east Mumbai’s Mulund West collapsed on Wednesday. At least 3 persons could be injured in the incident. The track, from which a slab fell, was under construction. The incident reportedly occurred along LBS Marg in Mumbai, India, on Saturday, February 14, 2025. (Photo by Satish Bate/ Hindustan Times) (Hindustan Times)
Four of the executives arrested are with Milan Road Buildtech, a firm sub-contracted by a consortium comprising Reliance Infrastructure Limited and Astaldi of Italy. They are: project director Harish Chauhan; project manager Kuldeep Sapkal; deputy project manager Saurab Singh; and supervisor Prashant Bhoir. The fifth individual arrested, Avdhoot Inamdar, is project manager at Hill International Inc.
The concrete slab toppled onto a moving autorickshaw, in which Ramdhan Yadav, the deceased, was travelling with two relatives, and a Skoda Kushaq, whose driver was injured. The accident took place near the Johnson & Johnson company and Mulund fire station on LBS Marg. The slab, measuring 6 ft x 4 ft and weighing a few hundred kilos, fell from pier P-196 in the mid-section of the elevated Metro-4 corridor, which extends from Wadala in Mumbai to Kasarvadavali in Thane.
Mumbaikars outraged
The incident triggered outrage across the city. Mumbaikars, frustrated by seemingly unending infra works, dug-up roads and poor safety standards, took to social media in large numbers to voice their anguish.
“We are a city building a metro and other infrastructure at colossal expense. And yet our bridges and metros are collapsing even before they are complete,” said Pranav Naik, urban planner and designer.
“The public at large has been relegated to survival mode and are lucky if they get home alive. Unless we really address this burning issue that nobody likes to talk about, many more of us will be at the receiving end of our politicians’ greed,” said Naik.
Soon after Saturday’s accident, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis announced an inquiry and ₹5 lakh assistance to the family of the deceased. He said the government would also bear the cost of treatment of the injured.
Who were the victims?
Among the injured was Deepa Ruhiya, 40, who was driving the Skoda, whose dashboard and bonnet were damaged in the accident. Ruhiya sustained minor injuries and was discharged from hospital within a few hours.
The other three involved in the accident, including the deceased, were related to each other. The autorickshaw driver Rajkumar Yadav, 45, in critical condition in hospital, is the brother-in-law of Mahendra Yadav, 52, the third occupant of the vehicle. The deceased, Ramdhan Yadav, 46, is an uncle.
Bystanders said the impact pinned Rajkumar inside the mangled rickshaw for nearly 30 minutes until a crane was brought in to lift the concrete slab. Brihaspati Giri, 32, one of the first responders said, “When we pulled out the body of the deceased, we realised he had probably bled to death. The driver was vomiting blood and it seemed he would pass out any moment.”
Ramdhan Yadav, a resident of Mariahu, Jaunpur, in Uttar Pradesh, had arrived in Mumbai only a week earlier. Family members said he was a farmer and sarpanch of Rambhartani village. He was also the Samajwadi Party block president of Mariahu. Mahendra Yadav, injured in the accident, is the party’s Vidhan Sabha secretary in Mariahu and a former sarpanch.
According to relatives, Ramdhani and Mahendra were accompanying Rajkumar to obtain a high-security registration plate (HSRP) for his autorickshaw from Bhandup. Later, they were to attend the wedding of Rajkumar’s niece, in Kalwa.
Engineer suspended
Meanwhile, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), executing the project, on Saturday evening suspended Satyajeet Salve, executive engineer in-charge of the project. Sources told HT that further steps are expected after Fadnavis asked MMRDA to tighten the screws on those involved in the project.
MMRDA has also set up a committee headed by Basavraj M Bhadragond, director (projects), to investigate the accident. The agency has also imposed financial penalties amounting to ₹5 crore on the contractors and agencies responsible for supervision and execution of the work.
The civil work is being carried out by the Anil Ambani-led Reliance Infrastructure and Astaldi (RAJV). The general consultant – a consortium of DB Engineering & Consulting, Hill International Inc and Louis Berger Consulting Pvt Ltd – has been fined ₹1 crore.
A Reliance Infrastructure spokesperson said, “The specific construction activity at the concerned location was being undertaken by the sub-contractor, Milan Road Buildtech LLP, in accordance with established contractual arrangements. The project was awarded to a joint venture consortium comprising Reliance Infrastructure Limited and Astaldi, Italy. We are fully cooperating with MMRDA and the concerned authorities in their assessment of the incident and are providing all necessary support.”
Red flag ignored?
However, troubling allegations have emerged that the sub-contractor linked to Saturday’s accident had been flagged for safety concerns in the same project along another stretch on LBS Marg.
BJP MLA Mihir Kotecha, who visited the accident site, alleged, “It has emerged that today’s incident involves the same contractor – Milan Road Buildtech LLP – whose work had previously been flagged for negligence. The metro’s chief safety officer said that workers mistakenly cut the parapet wall instead of welding and securing it. As per SOPs, such critical work must be carried out under supervision, but no supervisor was present. The weakened structure collapsed nearly 11 hours later,” said Kotecha.
He said he had recently inspected the 2-km stretch of LBS Marg with MMRDA and civic officials. “We identified serious negligence at more than 55 locations, documented them with over 100 GIS-tagged photographs, and requested action against the contractor.”
Kotecha also raised the matter during the winter session of the state legislature, presenting the GIS-tagged photographs and demanding accountability.
Newly elected mayor Ritu Tawde, who visited the site, said there was negligence on the part of the contractor, noting that the parapet wall had been installed only the previous night. She announced a third-party safety audit of the MMRDA site engineer and contractor, and said police cases would be filed against those responsible for the mishap.
Radhika Merchant is clearly on a fashion roll. The Ambanis’ choti bahu turned heads yet again at the wedding festivities of Vikram Salgaocar, nephew of Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani. After stunning in an ivory lehenga earlier, she switched gears for a special party hosted for the couple and slipped into a breathtaking bright red gown. Looking nothing short of a red rose in bloom, she exuded glamour. Let’s decode her look and take some fashion notes. (Also read: Nita Ambani shines brightest at wedding in sparkling orange saree and jaw-dropping diamond jewels: See pics )
Radhika Merchant rocks a striking red gown, complemented by elegant makeup and luxurious jewels. (Instagram/@loveleen_makeupandhair)
Radhika Merchant turns heads in elegant red gown
On the occasion of Valentine’s Day, Radhika is serving major fashion inspiration for all the girlies hunting for the perfect red V-Day outfit. In a carousel of pictures shared by her makeup artist, Loveleen Ramchandani, on February 14 via Instagram, Radhika strikes sultry poses in a breathtaking red gown from luxury fashion house Oscar de la Renta.
Her gown features a sophisticated high-halter neckline and a sleeveless silhouette that beautifully balances the dramatic volume of the skirt. The real showstopper, however, is the intricate floral appliqué detailing. The fabric is richly layered with ruffled, rose-like motifs cascading all the way down to a sweeping hemline, creating a plush, three-dimensional effect. The textured craftsmanship adds depth and movement, making the look luxurious.
How she styled her look
Talking about the Ambani ladies and not mentioning their opulent jewels? Simply impossible. Radhika took the glam quotient several notches higher by accessorising her look with oversized emerald-green statement earrings, a striking diamond-and-emerald bracelet and bold matching rings adorning her fingers.
Her makeup was kept soft and elegant, featuring nude eyeshadow, sharp winged eyeliner, mascara-coated lashes, well-defined brows, rosy blushed cheeks, loads of highlighter, and a flattering nude lipstick. She styled her luscious tresses in a sleek, middle-parted bun, adding a touch of classic sophistication to the look.
Radhika Merchant, who is married to Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani, tied the knot in a grand and much-celebrated ceremony in July 2024. The wedding was one of the most talked-about events of the year, attended by prominent personalities from across the globe. Radhika is the daughter of businessman Viren Merchant and Shaila Merchant, and she shares a close bond with her sister, Anjali Merchant.
As the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, is ordered toward the Middle East to potentially join the USS Abraham Lincoln and bolster U.S. strike options near Iran, Tehran’s navy is publicly warning it is tracking every “enemy” move at sea as part of its deterrence posture. Rear Admiral Shahram Irani declared that Iranian naval forces “monitor the movements of the enemies day and night” and claimed what Washington fears most is the mobilised “people of Iran,” framing constant surveillance as a signal that Iran is ready to respond to any U.S. “adventurism” around the Strait of Hormuz. With Iranian officials repeatedly threatening that any attack could trigger moves to shut the vital Hormuz chokepoint—through which about one‑fifth of the world’s oil flows—analysts warn a clash between Trump’s carrier groups and Iranian forces could send energy markets into turmoil.
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U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) ignited a fresh controversy on Thursday when he publicly acknowledged his past cocaine use.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. revealed his past cocaine use in a podcast interview saying he required daily meetings. (Photo by Heather Diehl / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP) (Getty Images via AFP)
He candidly recounted his drug abuse period and said, “I’m not scared of a germ. I used to snort cocaine off toilet seats,” during his conversation on the Theo Von podcast.
“I don’t treat it, which means, for me, going to meetings every day”
RFK Jr. began an interview with comedian Theo Von on the podcast “This Past Weekend w/Theo Von” by talking about how he first got to know Von.
He detailed during the interview why he felt compelled to attend daily recovery meetings throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, even when most people were relying on virtual support. Kennedy remarked, “We’ve been in recovery together for years.”
RFK Jr. has been in recovery for more than 40 years. In the podcast, he talks about how he established a “pirate” gang of individuals that kept in touch during the pandemic.
He then goes on to say, “I said this when we came in, and I said, ‘I don’t care what happens, I’m going to a meeting everyday. I’m not scared of a germ, I used to snort cocaine off of toilet seats. I know this disease will kill me.”
He added, “I don’t treat it, which means, for me, going to meetings every day,” he said on the podcast.
RFK Jr. is a long-time environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine activist who was confirmed as the 26th HHS Secretary in February 2025
He has previously admitted to using cocaine since he has been open about his drug usage issues. He was detained for marijuana possession when he was 16 years old.
In 1983, RFK Jr. was taken into custody for heroin possession in South Dakota. He has stated that he became sober after his second arrest.
Since taking office, his leadership has been marked by unconventional approaches, including revamping the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) initiative.
Under MAHA, RFK Jr. has advanced various agendas, like phasing out petroleum-based dyes from America’s food and medications, approving naturally sourced colors. He has also advanced research into the cause of autism. RFK Jr. has previously falsely claimed that vaccines cause autism; however, his current alignment about the matter is not mentioned on the official HHS.gov page.
