The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday No 70, Sunday 23 Aug 2026, Gussalufz

Three answers per commenter till 4 PM (Annotations Compulsory)

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23-7 (4)

ACROSS

1   Makeshift hospital embraced by a physician (2,3)

4   One with crooked supporters, out eating some breakfast (3-6)

9   Study a large, grand, headless animal (7)

10 Think exchanging bishop for rook is free? (7)

11 Kitchen area is secure (6)

12 Recommends inspiring retired teacher for those needing a guide (8)

14 Choke a potty (4)

15 Chief mischief-maker's cryptic grid? Learn about misdirections, essentially (10)

18 Small charges tend to soar while travelling (10)

19 Charging device in vehicle died (4)

22 Some schools provided retreats—quiet, distant monasteries, basically (4,4)

24 Tough series India lost for nought (6)

26 One wished vacation in Gulag for vile person (1,3,3)

27 Dignified mournful song abruptly cut off by pest (7)

28 Blasted constant tea breaks spoiled sport for viewer (9)

29 About a facial feature somehow, IMO, lacking in enigmatic Mona Lisa (5)

DOWN

1   Alibaba's ingenuity keeps humbling (7)

2   Oh, sigh, flight has no openings; that creates stress (9)

3   Conservative American houses prohibit cigars (6)

4   Swine stole last part of dinner (4)

5   Hawks not cool with taking more time without starting attacks, ultimately (10)

6   Blew up grenade accidentally, after consuming a spot of liquor (8)

7   Attendees rising regularly, sure enough (5)

8   Doctor sees broken middle of arm with hospital assistant (7)

13 Entitlement of merriment without male interrupting—brilliant! (10)

16 Oil and gas refining lines (9)

17 Roughly fifteen divided by hundred, basically (2,6)

18 Satisfied all over with nibbles and licks (7)

20 Like a country mostly computerised (7)

21 Scattered news pieces involving evacuation in Thanjavur (6)

23 Special first-class room (5)

25 University earnestly restrains student group (4)

No 14879, Saturday 22 Aug 2026, Afterdark

 ACROSS
8 A rule introduced in eatery for getting a pitcher (6) CARAFE {C{A}{R}AFE}

9 Eater was supplied brine, perhaps (8) SEAWATER*
10 Shortly, issue will be all over head-office (4) SOON {SO{Office}N}
11 Relative's action is engaging; first song better in second part (10) STEPSISTER {STEP}{Song{IS}{betTER}
12 Confusion after he hid a last letter (4) HAZE {H{A}{Z}E}
13 Lot of kind people entering a street (10) ASSORTMENT {SORT}{MEN} in {A}{ST}
17 Kept time post noon to get gas (4) NEON {EON}<=>{N}
18 Stupid, caught robbing primarily, idiot (5) CRASS {C}{Robbing}{ASS}
19 Bowled in pitch to get lift, say (1-3) T-BAR {T{B}AR}

21 Wealthy global travellers seen with black dogs, say (3-7) JET-SETTERS {JET}{SETTERS}
23 Unusual file type extracted in the beginning (4) RARE {RAR}{Extracted}
24 Deal gone wrong in prison, branch siphoned 50% of device to hold lights (10) CANDELABRA {DEAL*}in {CAN}{BRAnch}

28 Bankrupt Penny gathering ducks to have dinner at the end (4) POOR {P}{O}{O}{dinneR}
29 Foolishly, use cell at the beginning of show if ignorant (8) CLUELESS {USE CELL*}{Show}
30 Outstanding person in York loses head, breaks college equipment at the entrance and runs (6) CORKER {yORK} in {College Equipment}+R

DOWN
1 Drunk sailor aboard, argues frequently leading to disruption (8) SABOTAGE {S{AB}OT}{ArGuEs}
2 Game's rule; point 10 is covering advantage essentially (4,6) LAWN TENNIS {LAW}{N}{TEN{advaNtage}{IS}
3 No charge included in removing parasite from pet, perhaps (7,3) PERSIAN CAT {NC} in {PARASITE*}

4 Lewis Lennox is detaining man, say (4) ISLE [T]
5 Girl tumbler loses cap (4) LASS {gLASS}
6 According to sources, many anarchists support seething crowd (4) MASS [Acrostic]
7 Humble democrat remains oddly away (6) DEMEAN {DEM}{rEmAiN}
14 Son managed to withdraw Euros and wire (5) SNARE {S}{RAN<}{E}
15 Opposition is surrounded by others, one apprehends alderman ultimately (10) RESISTANCE {RES{IS}T}{A{aldermaN}CE}
16 Say, racing to promoters, to redeem debenture ultimately and consolidate (10) MOTORSPORT {TO PROMOTeRS}*

20 Arrive hurriedly to take CO into protection, perhaps (3,5) AIR COVER {ARRIVE}* around {CO}
22 St. Helena blenders seized with warrant (6) ENABLE [T]
25 Sketched a water droplet right inside (4) DREW {D{R}EW}
26 Made up a story and ushered first person inside (4) LIED {L{I}ED}
27 Former president of America spotted in Belize (4) BUSH [DD] B(US)H see comments

REFERENCE LIST

Rule=R, Street=ST, Noon=N, Caught=C, Bowled=B, Penny=P, Runs=R, Sailor=AB, N o Charge=NC, Democrat=DEM, Son=S, Euros=E, One=Ace, Right=R, First Person=I.