Top news of the day: BJP fields 26/11 counsel Ujjwal Nikam from Mumbai North Central, drops Poonam Mahajan; Army called to control raging forest fire in Uttarakhand’s Nainital, and more

Ujjwal Nikam is BJP’s candidate for Mumbai North Central, Army fights raging forest fire in Uttarakhand, and more in The Hindu’s top news of April 27, 2024.

Mumbai terror attack case prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam replaces Poonam Mahajan as Mumbai North Central BJP candidate

The BJP announced on April 27 its decision to replace incumbent Lok Sabha MP Poonam Mahajan, daughter of former Union Minister late Pramod Mahajan, with lawyer Ujjwal Deorai Nikam for the Mumbai North Central Lok Sabha seat. In 2014, Ms. Mahajan secured victory from the Mumbai North Central seat, triumphing over incumbent MP Priya Dutt, daughter of the late actor and Congress leader Sunil Dutt. She repeated this success in the 2019 general elections too. Ms. Mahajan previously held the position of president of BJP’s youth wing.

Army called to control raging forest fire in Uttarakhand, IAF using Bambi Buckets to douse flames

A massive forest fire sweeping through the dense foliage of the mountains of Uttarakhand, since the last 60 hours, has gutted over 108 hectare of forest land in the State. With the fire reaching the vicinity of an Air Force Station near the Nanda range, Indian Air Force activated its aerial fire fighting capability and deployed a Mi-17 V5 helicopter to douse the fire through Bambi Bucket Operations.

Yemen’s Houthis say their missile hit India-bound Andromeda Star oil ship in Red Sea

Yemen’s Houthis said on April 27 their missiles hit the Andromeda Star oil tanker in the Red Sea, as they continue attacking commercial ships in the area in a show of support for Palestinians fighting Israel in the Gaza war. The ship’s master reported damage to the vessel, British maritime security firm Ambrey said.

PM Modi says INDIA bloc will be ‘vanquished’ after polls