Monthly Archives: November 2026

378 Days on ‘Mars’: NASA’s Four Volunteers Emerge From a Year in Isolation

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Four volunteers who spent 378 days living inside a simulated Mars habitat at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston have emerged from isolation, completing an experiment designed to prepare astronauts for future missions to the Red Planet.

The crew members stepped out on October 31, 2026, after living and working in a 1,700-square-foot (158-square-metre) 3D-printed facility since October 19, 2025. Their mission recreated several challenges of a long-duration space expedition, including restricted resources, isolation and communication delays with Earth.

The experiment, known as the second Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) mission, was not an actual space journey. Instead, it placed the volunteers in a controlled environment where NASA could study how people adapt physically and psychologically to living far from Earth for extended periods.

The four participants were mission commander Ross Elder, medical officer Ellen Ellis, science officer Matthew Montgomery and flight engineer James Spicer. During their stay, they grew plants, maintained the habitat, exercised, conducted simulated spacewalks and carried out research activities designed to replicate aspects of living and working on Mars.

“It’s been a hell of a year – analog astronauts living in captivity of our own free will,” Ellis said after emerging from the habitat with her crewmates.

Elder said the experience reinforced the possibility of eventually sending humans to Mars.

“For Mars, the risks are great,” he said. “But through seeking understanding, strong vision and leadership, creativity, fortitude, hard work and incredible foundation, the goal of putting humans on Mars is not only achievable, but rather inevitable.”

NASA studies how humans cope with deep-space isolation

The CHAPEA programme is intended to help NASA understand how astronauts can remain healthy, productive and connected during missions that could keep them away from Earth for years.

One of the major challenges simulated during the experiment was the communication delay between Earth and Mars. Depending on the planets’ positions, messages between astronauts and mission control could take several minutes to travel each way, requiring crews to operate with greater independence.

Johnson Space Center Director Vanessa Wyche said the participants had to manage limited supplies, maintain their living environment and perform simulated Mars operations while adapting to delayed communications.

“These delays require patience, careful planning and greater independence – qualities that will be essential for future astronauts traveling millions of miles from home,” Wyche said.

NASA will use data collected during the mission to improve food-system design, crew schedules, medical care and psychological support for astronauts on extended missions. Researchers will also examine how restricted resources and exercise routines affect the ability to complete mission objectives, including simulated surface operations.

The four participants are scheduled to undergo two weeks of post-mission medical and performance evaluations and debriefings with NASA scientists. Their experience will be assessed alongside data collected throughout the 378-day confinement period.

Second year-long Mars simulation offers lessons for future missions

CHAPEA Mission 2 is the second such year-long experiment conducted by NASA at the Johnson Space Center. The first four-person crew also completed 378 days in isolation, spanning 2023 and 2024.

Findings from the two missions are expected to contribute to preparations for future lunar exploration, including NASA’s Artemis programme and plans for a sustained human presence on the Moon.

NASA is also working towards a crewed Mars mission, potentially as early as the 2030s. Before attempting such a journey, the agency plans to return astronauts to the Moon for the first time since 1972 and use lunar missions to develop capabilities for longer-duration exploration.

Unlike robotic spacecraft and rovers that have already explored Mars, a human expedition would require astronauts to withstand prolonged isolation, delayed communication, limited supplies and the physical demands of operating in an environment far from Earth.

The CHAPEA experiments cannot reproduce every danger of an actual Mars journey. However, they give NASA controlled conditions to study how crews respond to some of the most difficult aspects of long-duration spaceflight.

 

Binance customers withdraw $3.64 billion after record $6.3 billion crypto hack

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Customers withdrew a net $3.64 billion from Binance on Sunday as the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange resumed transactions following a record cyberattack that affected $6.3 billion in digital assets.

The withdrawals came after Binance temporarily suspended transactions in the wake of the breach, which has been attributed by US authorities to North Korea-linked hackers. The exchange says it has covered about 95% of the stolen assets and remains committed to compensating customers for the full financial impact.

Binance reported that it processed $4.649 billion in withdrawals and $1.01 billion in deposits between 06:00 and 15:30 GMT on November 1, resulting in a net outflow of approximately $3.64 billion.

“Between 06:00 and 15:30 [GMT] on November 1, we processed $4.649 billion in withdrawals and $1.01 billion in deposits, resulting in a net outflow of approximately $3.64 billion,” the company said in a post on X.

The exchange said withdrawals initially surged after services resumed but subsequently eased.

There was an “initial spike” in withdrawals, which later declined and “are stabilising as expected”, Binance said.

The company added that Sunday’s net outflow represented just over 2% of the $171 billion in assets under its management, seeking to put the scale of customer withdrawals in perspective.

Binance restores withdrawals as it mobilises funds to cover losses

Binance said withdrawals involving more than two dozen major cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin and Ethereum, had resumed. Other services are expected to return in stages after security checks are completed.

The company said it had already replaced customer assets using several funding sources, including its corporate treasury, futures insurance and emergency reserve funds.

Binance had previously said it reserved more than $6.34 billion to manage the consequences of the breach. However, it acknowledged that sourcing the remaining amount could take longer.

“Our commitment remains the same: Binance will fully cover the financial impact of the funds stolen in this incident,” the company said.

The breach affected Binance’s global centralised exchange, Binance.com. Its US-facing platform said it was not affected.

Binance’s initial investigation suggested that the attack may have originated from a compromised laptop belonging to an engineer. Hackers allegedly exploited the access to identify a route for carrying out unauthorised transactions.

The company has not publicly disclosed all the technical details of the breach.

FBI links attack to North Korean hackers

US authorities have attributed the attack to TraderTraitor, a North Korean cybercrime operation also known as the Lazarus Group.

The group has previously been linked to major cryptocurrency thefts, including the 2025 attack on exchange Bybit, in which hackers stole $1.5 billion worth of digital assets.

The FBI published a list of cryptocurrency wallet addresses linked to the group on Saturday and urged cryptocurrency businesses and other industry participants to block transactions involving those addresses.

Binance also moved to contact cryptocurrency issuers, urging them to freeze assets connected to the breach in an effort to prevent the stolen funds from being transferred or converted.

The incident adds to mounting security concerns surrounding cryptocurrency exchanges, where large volumes of digital assets are held and traded through interconnected computer systems.

Binance, founded in China, has hundreds of millions of registered users worldwide and is the largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading activity. The scale of Sunday’s withdrawals makes the market’s response an important test of customer confidence as the company works to restore services and account for the stolen funds.

 

Amitabh Bachchan greets fans behind bulletproof glass after threat to Jalsa

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Amitabh Bachchan kept his decades-old Sunday ritual alive on November 1, but a transparent protective enclosure separated the actor from the crowd outside his Mumbai home. His son Abhishek stood close as security personnel monitored the gathering, days after a threatening email named the Juhu bungalow, Jalsa, as a potential target.

The unusual appearance turned a familiar fan greeting into a visible sign of the security concerns surrounding Bollywood. Bachchan waved and greeted admirers with folded hands from behind the glass, while fans gathered outside the residence as they have for years.

The enclosure’s installation came amid a wider security alert in Mumbai. Police were investigating an email that reportedly threatened several locations, including Jalsa, the Mumbai mayor’s office and the venue of singer Diljit Dosanjh’s upcoming concert. It remains unclear whether the protective screen was installed on police advice or as a personal precaution.

A familiar ritual, now under a security shield

Bachchan’s Sunday appearances outside Jalsa have become a long-running public ritual. The actor typically steps out to acknowledge fans gathered near the bungalow. This time, he stood inside a transparent enclosure placed around his raised platform, allowing him to wave to the crowd while remaining physically separated from it.

Abhishek Bachchan stayed beside his father during the interaction. Security personnel were present as fans watched from behind barricades. Photographs and videos of the appearance spread online, with the protective glass becoming the defining image of the evening.

Threat email named Jalsa and other Mumbai locations

The security measures followed a threat email reported to Mumbai Police on October 23. According to reports citing officials, the message was sent to the office of Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde and also marked to Deputy Mayor Sanjay Ghadi. It named the mayor’s office, Bachchan’s Juhu residence and the venue of Dosanjh’s planned concert among possible targets.

The email reportedly threatened an attack on Jalsa between October 31 and November 27 and warned of a grenade attack on a school on October 31. Police stepped up security and surveillance at the locations mentioned and began investigating the sender. Searches of several named locations reportedly found no explosives or suspicious items.

The existence of a threat email does not establish that an attack was imminent. Authorities have not publicly confirmed who sent it or whether the protective enclosure at Jalsa was a formal security measure.

Juhu shooting added to celebrity security concerns

The heightened vigilance also follows an October 18 shooting involving actor Tiger Shroff in Juhu. Gunmen reportedly fired at his vehicle as it returned from a football game. Shroff was unharmed, while his driver and a bystander were injured.

Reports said the Lawrence Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility for the shooting. Police were also investigating whether people accused in the case had conducted reconnaissance near the residences of other Bollywood actors. Those claims and the alleged motive remain matters for investigators.

The incidents have placed celebrity security in sharper focus in Mumbai, where public appearances and gatherings outside actors’ homes are part of the city’s entertainment culture. Bachchan’s Sunday greeting continued—but this time, behind a barrier that made the risk impossible to ignore.

 

‘Mayday, mayday’: Learjet’s final cockpit calls capture seconds before Florida crash kills nine

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A pilot’s desperate emergency calls reveal how a routine flight from Texas to the Bahamas turned into a catastrophic descent over South Florida, with the crew reporting icing and turbulence before the aircraft plunged toward the ground.

The Learjet 60, carrying nine people, crashed in Palm Beach County at about 12:50 p.m. on November 1. All nine aboard died. In the final air traffic control exchange, the pilot reported a rapidly accelerating descent, warned that the aircraft was overspeeding and said, “We’re going to crash into the ground.” The transmission ended before controllers could reestablish contact.

The recording offers a stark account of the crew’s last efforts to communicate with air traffic control. It does not, by itself, establish why the aircraft lost control. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating, with assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration.

From manageable icing to a steep descent

Before the emergency, the crew reported moderate turbulence and icing. The pilot described the ice as manageable and sought smoother conditions while flying toward the Bahamas. The crew also discussed climbing to a higher altitude.

Then the aircraft began descending rapidly. According to the cockpit audio, the pilot first reported a descent of 8,000 feet per minute, followed by 10,000 feet per minute. The rate later reached 20,000 feet per minute, while the crew reported an overspeed condition.

As alarms sounded, the controller offered assistance and told the pilot: “I’m here with you. Talk to me.”

The pilot’s next warning was blunt: “We’re going to crash into the ground.”

The crew reported a descent rate of 22,000 feet per minute. The final transmission included the words, “Look outside … Holy f–k, we’re out of time!” The recording then cut off.

The sequence points to an exceptionally rapid loss of altitude, but investigators have not determined whether icing, turbulence, a mechanical failure, pilot response or a combination of factors caused the crash. Weather conditions alone cannot establish the cause.

Jet struck near homes and a busy road

The aircraft, identified as N722BD, was a Bombardier-made Learjet 60 that departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was bound for North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas.

It crashed near Cresthaven in Palm Beach County, striking the ground beside a road and erupting into a fireball. The impact left a large crater and scattered debris across the area. Dashcam footage captured the aircraft’s steep descent and the explosion.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis described the scene as “cataclysmic” and said the plane “looked like a missile going down.” He said there were no immediate reports of people on the ground killed or injured, although debris was spread over a significant distance.

Authorities evacuated about 600 residents from the surrounding area and arranged shelter for those displaced. The identities of the nine people aboard had not been released in the initial reports.

Investigation will focus on the aircraft’s final minutes

The NTSB is leading the investigation, with the FAA supporting its work. Investigators will examine the aircraft’s maintenance history, flight data, cockpit voice recordings, weather conditions and wreckage to establish what happened before impact.

The final audio provides a timeline of the emergency, not a conclusion. The crew’s reports of icing and turbulence are important evidence, but they do not prove that either condition caused the aircraft to descend uncontrollably.

For now, the clearest account of the disaster comes from the cockpit itself: a report of manageable icing, a request for smoother air, a sudden and extreme descent, repeated emergency calls and a final warning that the crew was running out of time.

 

China’s humanoid robots can perform stunts. The real contest is whether they can think

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China’s robotics industry is shifting its biggest bet from machines that run, dance and backflip to software that can help them handle unfamiliar tasks. The ambition is to move humanoid robots beyond carefully staged demonstrations and into factories, warehouses and service jobs, where a robot must do more than repeat a programmed sequence.

The money is following that shift. Chinese embodied-AI companies raised 93.5 billion yuan, or about $13 billion, across 322 deals in the first half of 2026, five times the amount raised a year earlier, according to research firm ITjuzi. The emerging contest is not simply over who can build the most convincing humanoid. It is over who can develop the “brain” that makes the hardware commercially useful.

That race is also becoming a new front in US-China technology competition. US developers have advantages in advanced AI research and access to powerful computing chips. China’s wager is that its manufacturing base, industrial customers and access to real-world training environments can help close the gap.

The next breakthrough is not another backflip

The field, known as embodied AI, combines artificial intelligence with machines that perceive and interact with the physical world. Unlike chatbots trained on enormous volumes of text, robots need data showing how objects behave: how a hand grips a cup, how a cable bends or how a machine should respond when an object is out of reach.

“The brain is indeed the weakest link in the complete robotics stack,” said Gao Yang, co-founder of Spirit AI.

The challenge is to develop systems that can transfer a skill from one task or environment to another, rather than requiring engineers to program every movement separately. American startup Generalist says its GEN-1.5 model completed about 60% of simple tasks after watching demonstrations lasting between three and 12 seconds. China’s X Square has published research showing robots learning handling skills from a single human video without retraining the model for each task.

“The leading American labs are setting a demanding benchmark, particularly in how quickly robots can acquire and reuse skills,” said robotics consultant Georg Stieler, who considers China’s strongest startups credible competitors.

China is building a data pipeline for machines

Chinese developers are using different methods to teach robots physical skills. Spirit AI has hired about 1,000 people to record everyday and industrial activities. ACE Robotics uses wearable sensors to capture workers’ movements and grip forces in settings such as stores and hotels.

Ant Group’s robotics unit, Robbyant, says it trained a model using 160,000 hours of material, including 50,000 hours of human-guided robot movements. Its software was trained across 20 robot configurations from 17 brands, with the aim of running the same AI on different machines.

Other firms are leaning on simulation. DexForce says it can prepare some industrial tasks for deployment within six to eight hours and has reported success rates above 99.9% in specified precision operations. But simulated environments cannot perfectly reproduce real-world physical interactions, according to Jerry Wang of Manycore Tech, which develops simulated environments for AI training.

The issue is not simply how much data companies collect, but whether it teaches robots to cope with conditions they have not encountered before.

“Data quality is more important than data diversity, and more important than simply collecting data at massive scale,” said X Square co-founder and COO Yang Qian.

From a demonstration to a job that pays

The commercial test is already underway, though deployments remain narrow. Battery maker CATL said Spirit AI robots connect flexible wires during battery-pack testing at its Zhongzhou plant, with insertion success above 99%. Robbyant said its robots handle orders in two Shanghai pharmacies, where staff check medicines before dispatch.

These examples show why manufacturers are interested in robot intelligence: the potential lies in automating tasks that require more than fixed, repetitive movements. But a robot that works in one factory or pharmacy is not necessarily ready to perform the same task at another site, with different equipment, layouts or objects.

One experiment described by JoyIn Technology illustrates the difference between scripted movement and adaptive behavior. A robot repeatedly failed to put headphones into a cupboard beyond its reach. After engineers showed it videos of people solving the problem, it pushed a box toward the cupboard and tried to step onto it.

“Every time it was exploring a different behaviour,” said Zhu Mingxuan, who leads development of JoyIn’s Aether robot AI.

The goal is to make that kind of adaptation dependable, not merely an occasional success in a controlled test.

The chip constraint could limit China’s ambition

The investment surge has also raised the stakes for Chinese robotics firms. Specialist startups X Square, Galaxea and Spirit AI have each reached valuations of roughly $3 billion, according to company disclosures. Established manufacturers are competing for talent as well: UBTech advertised a chief scientist role overseeing AI model development with compensation of up to 124 million yuan, or $18 million, including equity and benefits.

But advanced robot intelligence requires substantial computing power. Chinese companies face shortages of advanced Nvidia chips because of US export controls, while concerns about crowded valuations and inflated expectations are squeezing IPO funding. Firms are trying to reduce computing needs through more efficient models, synthetic data and simulation; domestic chipmakers, including Huawei, are developing alternatives to Nvidia hardware. How far those efforts can offset the constraints remains uncertain.

What would count as robotics’ “ChatGPT moment”?

Unitree founder Wang Xingxing has suggested that GPT-7, if released next year, could help bring robotics its own “ChatGPT moment.” He defined the threshold as robots completing 80% of tasks in 80% of unfamiliar environments when given spoken instructions.

That is a demanding benchmark, and not the same as proving commercial reliability. A robot may perform well in a demonstration yet fail when a customer depends on it every day, across different settings and tasks.

“If the question is when a model first handles a broad range of unfamiliar tasks in demonstrations, the optimists may well be right,” Stieler said. “If the question is when a customer can count on it, I would add years, not months.”

For China’s robotics industry, the race has moved beyond making machines look capable. The next phase will be judged by whether they can learn, adapt and deliver consistent work, and whether companies can make that intelligence affordable at scale.

 

ISRO’s NVS-03 launch restores NavIC to four satellites, but India’s GPS alternative still has ground to cover

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India has put a new navigation satellite into orbit, strengthening its homegrown alternative to GPS at a time when reliable positioning and timing data are essential for transport, communications and strategic operations. But the launch of NVS-03 is not the finish line: the satellite has reached an initial transfer orbit, NavIC’s constellation remains below its planned seven-satellite strength, and wider integration into mobile services will depend on completing the system.

The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle GSLV-F18 lifted off from Sriharikota at 11:51 p.m. on October 30, carrying the 2,250-kilogram NVS-03. ISRO said the satellite was injected into its intended geosynchronous transfer orbit. The agency’s next task is to raise it into its designated orbital position and bring it into service.

The mission matters for more than the satellite itself. NVS-03 brings NavIC back to a four-satellite configuration described by ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan as the system’s minimum operational strength. That is a recovery in availability, not yet the full resilience or coverage envisioned for India’s regional navigation network.

The satellite is in orbit. NavIC’s recovery is still a work in progress.

The first major step after launch is already complete. ISRO reported that NVS-03’s first orbit-raising maneuver was executed on October 31 at 4:48 p.m. The spacecraft’s Liquid Apogee Motor burned for 2,174.8 seconds, lifting it from its initial orbit of 170.3 by 38,080 kilometers to an estimated orbit of 5,477.6 by 37,833.4 kilometers. ISRO said the satellite was functioning normally, with further maneuvers planned to place it at 111.75 degrees east.

That distinction is important: a successful launch means the rocket delivered its payload; it does not mean the satellite is already operating as part of the navigation service. NVS-03 must complete its orbital maneuvers and commissioning before its signals can be relied on for routine use.

The launch was the 20th flight of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle. ISRO’s GSLV-F18 placed the satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit roughly 18 minutes after liftoff. The mission also marked a 56-day interval between successive GSLV flights, the shortest turnaround achieved by the vehicle, according to ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan.

Why NavIC needed this satellite

NavIC, or Navigation with Indian Constellation, is India’s independent regional positioning, navigation and timing system. It is designed to provide coverage across India and approximately 1,500 kilometers beyond the country’s borders. Unlike the US Global Positioning System, which serves users worldwide, NavIC is built around India’s regional coverage needs.

The system’s weakness became clear after the failure of NVS-02, launched in January 2025. The satellite reached its initial orbit but could not complete its orbit-raising maneuvers. An investigation found that an electrical signal failed to reach a pyro valve in the oxidizer line, preventing the propulsion system from firing. The satellite was left unable to reach its intended position.

That setback reduced the number of satellites available for NavIC positioning, navigation and timing services. A July 2026 parliamentary reply cited by The Times of India said only three satellites were providing those services, below the four-satellite minimum for basic positioning. Timing services remained functional, while users relying on multiple navigation constellations were not considered vulnerable to a single-system outage.
NVS-03 restores the constellation to four satellites once commissioned, but the number should not be mistaken for the system’s final configuration. ISRO’s second-generation NVS program includes five satellites, NVS-01 through NVS-05, while the broader regional navigation program envisages a seven-satellite constellation. NVS-04 and NVS-05 remain in the pipeline.

The change that could matter to phone users

NVS-03 carries navigation payloads in three frequency bands: L1, L5 and S. The addition of L1 is a key upgrade because it is widely used by global navigation systems and supported by many existing navigation receivers. NavIC’s earlier signals were L5 and S-band.

The practical implication is compatibility. By adding L1, ISRO is making NavIC easier to integrate into receivers and devices designed to use signals from multiple satellite-navigation systems. Compatible equipment could combine signals to improve positioning reliability and help address errors caused by the atmosphere. But the satellite’s new signal alone does not mean every smartphone will immediately use NavIC; device hardware, software and service integration still matter.

The satellite also carries an indigenously developed atomic clock alongside procured clocks. Navigation systems depend on precise timing: receivers calculate their position by measuring how long signals take to travel from satellites. A timing error can translate into a location error. Narayanan said two indigenous atomic clocks were already functioning in orbit, with NVS-03 carrying another.

Beyond maps: the strategic value of independent timing

Satellite navigation is not just about finding a route. Positioning, navigation and timing data support maritime operations, aviation, transport, precision agriculture, disaster management and telecommunications. NavIC also has a restricted, encrypted service for strategic users alongside its open civilian service.

That makes a reliable domestic system a matter of infrastructure and strategic autonomy. India can use other satellite-navigation systems, and many users already do. But a homegrown system gives the country an additional source of positioning and timing signals for applications where continuity and control matter. The launch strengthens that capability; the full benefit depends on the satellites, ground infrastructure and compatible receivers working together.

The mission also demonstrates ISRO’s ability to move from launch to orbit operations at a faster pace. NVS-03 is the third satellite in the second-generation series, following NVS-01 in 2023 and NVS-02 in 2025. The remaining satellites will be important to improving availability and building redundancy beyond the minimum operational threshold.

The immediate milestone is clear: NVS-03 is in orbit, its first orbit-raising maneuver is complete, and ISRO reports normal spacecraft health. The harder test comes next — commissioning the satellite, completing the constellation and making NavIC’s upgraded signals useful across civilian and strategic systems.

 

Indian man accused of faking Bondi attack injuries faces deportation from Australia

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An Indian national has been accused of falsely claiming he was wounded in the December 2025 Bondi Beach terror attack to obtain compensation, despite investigators alleging he was not at the scene.

Simeswell Cyril, 46, allegedly told authorities he had been struck by shrapnel during the December 14 shooting and sought tens of thousands of dollars in support payments intended for survivors. He has been charged with fraud and making a false representation that resulted in a police investigation.

Cyril is being held at Sydney’s Villawood Immigration Detention Centre. Australian Border Force officers took him into custody after he was granted conditional bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court earlier this week. Authorities say he also faces deportation for overstaying his visa once his criminal proceedings are concluded.

Compensation claim under scrutiny

The New South Wales government scheme provides eligible victims hit by gunfire or shrapnel with a one-time payment of $35,000. Applications remain open until December 2027.

Police allege Cyril submitted false and misleading information in an attempt to access the fund. The December 14 attack, in which father and son Sajid and Naveed Akram opened fire at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach, killed 15 people and injured dozens.

‘This is a despicable act, if it’s proven’

Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, described the allegations as “shocking” and condemned the alleged attempt to exploit the attack.

“This is a despicable act, if it’s proven,” he told Nine Network.

“To think that anyone would seek to exploit tragedy of this scale and cast themselves as a survivor or a victim when they weren’t there, and to use up police resources when we need police to be investigating matters and keeping us safe.”

“Nearly a year on, we still have a lot of security challenges in the community and wider society.”

The allegations against Cyril have not been proven in court.

Two Foreign Nationals Die After Suspected Electrocution at Bengaluru’s Conrad Hotel

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Two foreign nationals died after allegedly suffering electric shocks in the swimming pool of the five-star Conrad Bengaluru hotel in Halasuru, while two others were injured in an attempt to rescue them, police said on Saturday.

The deceased were identified as Alexander Maximilian Theiss, 57, a German national, and Juraj Horvath, 45, a Slovak national. The incident occurred around 6.30 pm on Friday at the swimming pool on the hotel’s third floor.

According to police sources, the pool water may have become electrically charged following a suspected fault in the hotel’s electrical installations. The exact cause of the incident is yet to be established, and investigators are examining the electrical system to determine how the water became energised.

American tourist Mathew DeSantis, 41, and hotel lifeguard Rahul Tiwari, 28, were injured while trying to pull the two men out of the swimming pool. Both were taken to Manipal Hospital, where they were reported to be in stable condition.

Police Register Negligence Case Against Hotel Management

Police have registered a case against the hotel management following a complaint lodged by the wife of one of the deceased, alleging negligence in maintaining the swimming pool and its electrical installations.

Preliminary inspections have raised the possibility of an electrical leakage or an earthing-related fault. Investigators are examining the pool’s electrical infrastructure, including its lighting and other installations, to establish how current may have entered the water.

The police are also examining the hotel’s maintenance procedures and safety arrangements. The exact cause of the deaths will be determined after technical inspections, forensic examination and medical reports.

The hotel’s swimming pool has been closed for maintenance from October 31 to November 30, according to information published on its website.

Conrad Bengaluru Says It Is Cooperating With Investigation

In a statement, Conrad Bengaluru expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and said it was extending full cooperation to the investigating authorities.

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic incident which occurred at Conrad Bengaluru yesterday, which led to the subsequent passing away of two guests. We offer our deepest condolences to all those impacted,” the hotel management said.

It added that the cause of the incident had not yet been established and remained subject to a comprehensive investigation by local authorities.

The incident has raised concerns over electrical safety standards and maintenance practices at hotel swimming pools, particularly the adequacy of earthing systems and protective installations.

The investigation is continuing, and police are awaiting the findings of technical experts to establish the circumstances that led to the deaths.