A fire broke out on the second floor of a building in Thane on Sunday night. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. According to the Regional Disaster Management Cell (RDMC) of the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), the fire broke out on the night of January 5 at around 10:27 PM on the second floor of a building opposite Chhabaiyya Park, Balkum, Thane West. The Disaster Management Cell promptly received information about the incident, triggering a swift response from local authorities. Upon arrival, the Disaster Management Officer, Chief Fire Officer, and Fire Brigade personnel were on-site, supported by a team from the Disaster Management Cell. Four fire engines and one water tanker were deployed to extinguish the blaze. The fire was completely extinguished by 11:30 PM. The situation was quickly brought under control, and fire brigade personnel, along with Disaster Management Cell staff, ensured the area was secured. Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire. Residents and those in nearby areas are being advised to remain cautious and alert to any further developments. Thane: Fire breaks out at fertilizer production facility in Mumbra Earlier, a fire erupted at a fertilizer production facility in the Mumbra area of Thane district on Saturday morning. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. According to the Regional Disaster Management Cell (RDMC) of the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), the fire broke out around 9:16 am at a fertilizer production company situated near M.M. Valley, next to Kausa Cemetery in Mumbra. “A machine at a compost fertilizer company overheated, causing a minor fire to break out. Firefighters promptly responded with one rescue vehicle and one fire vehicle. No injuries were reported at the scene,” stated the Regional Disaster Management Cell (RDMC) of the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC). The Regional Disaster Management Cell (RDMC) further said that the minor fire was completely extinguished with the assistance of firefighting personnel. The situation is now under control. Massive fire destroys two chemical factories in Boisar MIDC A massive fire on December 29 raged through two chemical factories in Boisar-Tarapur MIDC in the Palghar district of Maharashtra, officials said. The blaze erupted in the UK Aromatic and Chemical Company and soon engulfed adjacent Shree Chemicals in the Salwad Shivaji Nagar area. Several fire engines and water tankers brought the blaze under control after almost five hours. A major disaster was averted as workers rushed out of the premises of the fire-ravaged UK Aromatic and Chemicals Factory, officials added. The cause of the blaze cannot be known immediately. Visuals showed thick plumes of black smoke emanating from the burning industrial unit. The Palghar fire control room received a call about the incident around 6:20 PM, following which a fire-fighting operation was launched immediately, a Fire Brigade official said. "The fire is under control. No injuries are reported," the official said around 11 PM. Palghar Superintendent of Police Balasaheab Patil said the fire broke out around 5:20 PM, and spread due to strong winds, destroying a chemical and a textile unit. (With inputs from PTI)
06 January,2025 07:15 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe outbreak of HMPV (Human Metapneumovirus) in China might have created more panic in the rest of the world than in China itself,” says a Mumbai businessman settled in Yiwu in China’s Zhejiang province (home to some 800 Indians) for the last 23 years. HMPV is a virus that causes upper respiratory infections. Speaking to mid-day from Yiwu, he says, “China has not declared any state of emergency nor are schools [his 9-year-old son is in an international school in Std 3], shopping malls, or markets closed.” With the month-long Chinese New Year holidays starting January 15 to February 15, many Indians settled in China are keen to return to India on vacation, but are waiting for Chinese government alerts, if any, which were not issued until Sunday (January 5). Mumbai to YiwuTanmay Gokani, 41, moved from South Mumbai (Walkeshwar) in his early 20s and started an exports business. Today, he is amongst the 800 Indians settled in Yiwu. He stays with his wife Bosky, 36, who works with a law firm in Shanghai, and their school-going son Shaarav. Markets, shopping malls, and schools functioning normally in China’s Yiwu amid concerns of an outbreak. Pics/Tanmay Gokani Dip in temperature“Winter has set in, and the temperature in Yiwu is -1 degrees Celsius, whereas in the northern part of China, the temperature dips further, and it is but obvious that in such weather, people are bound to have cold, cough, and seasonal flu symptoms, but for the first time, we have come across any outbreak of HMPV through foreign media reports, including India. Though Chinese media have been mentioning HMPV, there are no official statements from the Chinese health authorities,” said Gokani. No health emergency in Yiwu“We have no state of emergency declared by the local Chinese health authorities. Life is normal, and every business establishment, shopping mall, night market, and even school is functioning without any health alert,” Gokani said. “Schools in China are the first to raise a red flag in case of any health alert, and so far, none of the schools in Yiwu, or elsewhere, have made any such announcement,” he added. The Gokani family lives in a tower in Yiwu and says that there has been not a single case of HMPV reported in their vicinity. Frantic phone callsThe HMPV reports have brought back COVID-19 flashbacks in the minds of Indians settled in Yiwu and have left their relatives in India in a panic mode.“I have been getting over 20 phone calls from my relatives in Mumbai and Gujarat and my business clients, inquiring about the outbreak of HMPV,” said Gokani. Awaiting health advisoryTanmay and his family had already planned their yearly vacation to India, but this year, they want to put it on hold in case the Chinese health authorities issue any advisory on HMPV. “We have already made a vacation plan to India. But, in case of any advisory, I don’t want to take the chance of travelling. I will have to be dependent on others, which I want to avoid,” said Gokani. No HMPV in IndiaHealth experts in India have said that although no cases of HMPV have as yet been reported, the country needs to be careful. Experts suggest wearing a mask and advise that the authorities must screen all passengers at the airport arriving from China. Dr Subhash Hira, professor of global health at the University of Washington and former advisor of WHO-TDR Geneva, who continues to be on the pandemic preparedness committee, said, “Preventing a respiratory pandemic involves a combination of public health measures, individual actions, and community engagement.” He says things that can help prevent the spread of respiratory infections, including surveillance and early detection using PCR and viral culture tests; public health communication; hygiene practices; social distancing and; improving indoor air quality; travel restrictions and monitoring; emergency preparedness; mental health support; vaccination, among others. What is HMPV? Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) was discovered in 2001 and belongs to the pneumovirinae family. It is spread through droplets and direct contact. Those vulnerable to infection include people with low immunity, the elderly, and children. Symptoms of HMPV so far have not been severe and generally cause mild illness and seasonal flu symptoms—fever, cold and cough, runny nose, etc.—and take three to six days of incubation period. There is as yet no specific vaccine or medication for HMPV and treatment is mainly symptomatic.
06 January,2025 06:49 AM IST | Mumbai | Vinod Kumar MenonThe air quality in the Vasai-Virar area is rapidly declining due to ongoing construction, demolition, and roadwork that show no signs of abating. The air quality index (AQI) has deteriorated, exacerbated by continuous weather changes that have increased fog and dust particles, leaving a thick layer of dust across the region. The deterioration is attributed to several factors, including unregulated construction activities, open ready-mix concrete (RMC) plants, and uncovered garbage collection vehicles. Residents allege that the municipal corporation has failed to take action against rule violators. “Illegal construction work is rampant in Vasai-Virar,” claimed local activists. A thick layer of fog seen across the region Recently, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) acted against 12 RMC plants in the Sasunavghar area of Vasai East, directing them to shut down.Sub-Regional Officer Anand Katole confirmed the closure orders, saying, “We received numerous complaints against RMC plants in Sasunavghar, including Oasis Infra, Rathore Bhagyajeet, Excellence Readymix, Convoke Infra, OM JVM, Vrittiraj RMC, Naresh Enterprise, Landmark Corporation, Bucon Readymix, Nahar Ready-Mix, Skymix RMC, and A S Infrastructures.” The action was carried out between December 20 and January 2, with closure orders issued by the Regional Officer, Thane, Kiran Hasabnis. Pollution sources and guidelinesThe presence of cement plants along the Mumbai-Ahmedabad National Highway, combined with road renovations and infrastructure projects, has significantly worsened the air quality. AQI readings for the region are increasingly crossing harmful thresholds, with levels above 200 deemed dangerous to health.To improve air quality in the area, the MPCB directed the VVCMC to take action against air pollution from Construction and Demolition (C&D) activities. AQI levels on SundayThe air quality in Virar stayed in the moderate range on Sunday. At 9 am,it was 127 and the figure increased to 143 by 9 pm. In Vasai, an AQI level of 83 was registered at 9 am. By 9 pm the AQI level rose to 100. Key directives include. Erecting 25-foot metal sheets around construction sites larger than an acre; smaller sites must also have 25-foot-high barriers. . Enclosing buildings under construction with wet green cloth or tarpaulin. . Covering demolition sites with tarpaulin and using continuous water sprinkling to control dust. . Ensuring that all construction vehicles are fully covered to prevent debris from becoming airborne. . Installing air pollution monitors at construction sites and addressing pollution levels immediately. . Conducting grinding, cutting, and other activities in enclosed areas, with continuous water fogging. . Transporting C&D waste strictly as per management plans, ensuring vehicle cleanliness after unloading. . Storing soil, sand, and debris in designated, covered areas to prevent public road contamination. . Providing tyre-washing facilities at site exits and cleaning major roads daily to remove dust. . Banning open burning of trash and ensuring roads have paved footpaths. . Ensuring RMC plants maintain vehicle cleanliness at all times. Environmental impactDespite the greenery along the highway, constant dust emissions have severely impacted the environment. Trees, crops, and fruit-bearing plants are coated in layers of dust, affecting their health. Residents report that paddy fields and fruit orchards are suffering as a result. Citizens are calling for harsher penalties for non-compliance. “Municipal bodies must address AQI fluctuations, especially during winters and festivals,” said Katole. A senior VVCMC official confirmed receiving MPCB's directives and pledged to implement measures to improve the region’s air quality. 12No RMC plants MPCB has acted against
06 January,2025 06:39 AM IST | Mumbai | Diwakar SharmaThe Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to lift the blanket construction ban in Borivli East and Byculla, although individual case monitoring will continue. On December 30, 2024, the BMC imposed a ban on all construction activities in Borivli East and E-Ward, which includes Byculla, Mazagaon, and Mumbai Central, due to the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching around 200 for several days. On Sunday, civic chief Bhushan Gagrani told mid-day that the blanket ban has now been lifted, but individual cases will still be monitored. In recent days, the BMC has issued notices to more than 800 construction sites across the city, instructing them to adhere to dust mitigation guidelines. A senior official stated that all construction sites must follow the 28-point dust mitigation guideline published by the BMC. “If any site is found not complying with the guidelines, we will issue a notice. If violations persist, we can take further action, such as issuing a stop-work notice or filing an FIR under the MRTP Act,” the official added. The BMC is also monitoring the situation in Deonar, Shivaji Nagar, and Navy Nagar in Colaba, as AQI in these areas remains around 200. There are approximately 2,100 private construction sites in the city. According to the guidelines, construction sites must enclose buildings under construction with green cloth, jute, or tarpaulin on all four sides, with a 25-foot-high sheet or metal covering around the site. Continuous measures such as water spraying, use of misting plants, scientific storage, and transportation of materials, installation of air quality monitoring sensors, and vehicle wheel-washing facilities are also required. Additionally, project promoters and contractors must prepare an Environmental Management Plan (EMP).
06 January,2025 06:35 AM IST | Mumbai | Sameer SurveThane station’s unique experiment with its platform roof is finally complete. Following an unprecedented widening of station platform no. 5 around June 2024, the Central Railway (CR) built a makeshift temporary roof extension to the platform using bamboo, canvas and plastic sheets having steel supports to shelter commuters from the monsoon. Six months after the experiment began, the temporary roof has been dismantled and work has started to build a regular roof over the platform, which should be ready before the monsoon sets in. The temporary roof was added prior to the monsoon. File pics Practically, there was no way to build a roof before the platform was extended as there were live overhead wires with 25 kV power supply for trains. The extension of the platform surface and shifting of overhead wire alignment was done in two days, creating space. However, the existing roof supports would not have been able to take the additional load of an extended roof. The temporary structure for the roof cover was quickly erected and monitored very closely and has now served its purpose. At Thane, platforms nos. 5 and 6 which catered to Up and Down fast suburban local trains and mail/express trains, used to get extremely crowded due to the passengers of long-distance trains standing with luggage, especially during local rush hours. Thane station, being a junction, also gets passengers from the trans-harbour Thane-Vashi/Panvel line, leading to more and more people pouring onto this island platform. The idea was to shift the existing tracks of island platform no. 5 to the west side and widen it wherever space was available. This was executed in a 63-hour block, with about 100-plus services being cancelled. The platform was widened between 2.5 m and 3 m, creating more circulating space on the platform.
06 January,2025 06:23 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarSlow Motion in Bandra A pair of foreign tourists roll back time as they take a ride along Bandra Bandstand in a decked-up motorised Victoria carriage. Bandra’s human eye A photograph by the late Firoze Shakir of his favourite neighbourhood, Bandra. Pic Courtesy/Instagram; (right) a photograph of Shakir with his camera. Pic Courtesy/Craig Boehman December took a heavy toll on the arts community. While the world mourned the loss of Shyam Benegal and Ustad Zakir Hussain, among others, Bandra lost a friend and philosopher who loved its streets like his own. Fashion designer and street photographer, Firoze Shakir, passed away in December after battling serious illness. He was 70. “Street photography is not the best term to describe what Firoze did. His pictures were a commentary on society,” shared American photographer Craig Boehman, who first met Shakir in 2016. For sister Farzana Suri, Shakir was a ‘creative and evolved soul.’ “He cared for people who did not have a voice, and sought to celebrate them through his photos,” she said. Daughter Samiya Shakir agreed. “He once wore a paper suit to show that his design for Govinda in the film, Gambler, was practical. He shaped our idea of humanity. We would often walk into our home from school to see Aghori sadhus having a conversation with him. It was shocking then, but now I admire his outlook,” she recalled. On January 12, Shakir’s friends, and photographers will set out on a photo walk as a tribute. If you wish to join, log on to @craig.boehman on Instagram. Parrot talk A stamp featuring the hyacinth macaw from Cuba; (right) an ochre-marked parakeet from Brazil Yesterday, on National Bird Day (January 5), Mintage World, an online museum dedicated to all things vintage and modern, paid tribute to the avian species with their latest book, Endangered Parrots of the World on Stamps, Coins and Banknotes. The book, which was launched last month, features a compilation of 459 stamps, 37 coins, and 12 banknotes from around the world, each representing a different parrot species. “In India, parrots hold a special place in our cultural and historical narratives. We have sought to explore and document the often-overlooked stories of these susceptible parrot species worldwide. With this book, we aim to pay tribute to these cherished creatures and raise awareness about their conservation,” Sushilkumar Agarwal, CEO, Mintage World shared with this diarist. Lacing up for a good cause Venkatesh with a child mentee from the programme City-based author and social worker Viji Venkatesh might be 72-years-old, but she is gearing up to give the city a run for its money, quite literally. At the upcoming TATA Mumbai Marathon on January 19, Venkatesh will run to raise funds for the Project Shiksha initiative by the Friends of Max (FOM) Foundation that takes young cancer patients under its wing to facilitate their education. “We are focussed on patients suffering from a rare kind of leukemia. The expenses for its treatment often push parents to compromise on the child’s educational needs. My knees might be creaky, but I’m determined to help the children,” shared Venkatesh, also the managing trustee at FOM. Those keen on donating towards the cause can log on to unitedwaymumbai.org/fundraiser/20927. Bring home the conversation Tanvi Shah; (right) Betal Ozay describes a moment from his production Turkish theatremaker Betal Ozay stopped by fellow artiste Tanvi Shah’s residence for a unique performance last weekend. Ozay put up a performance of his mixed-media creation, Goodbye Erdogan, in the more intimate space of a residence to open it up for a conversation. “This was his last performance in the city. A home is a different space than a black box or a stage, and more intimate. It opens up for the audience, reaching out to people across all demographics. When Václav Havel, the former Czech president’s plays were banned, they began to be performed at home. It is the best way an artiste can reach out beyond censorship,” Shah pointed out.
06 January,2025 06:01 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-dayThe Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has quite a long way to go before it accomplishes its mission of constructing toilets for citizens along the Eastern Express Highway. When mid-day recently conducted an audit of the public lavatories along the stretch, it came to light that two prefabricated toilets at the Airoli junction—in the northern direction and another towards Sion—had not been opened despite being set up more than a year ago. A toilet at Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar, which residents say the BMC has neglected The toilets lack sewage systems and water connections and civic officials claimed they are yet to receive nods for the same from the forest department as the lavatories have been set up on the latter’s land. Rs 85 lakhAmount spent on four toilets at Airoli junction, Bhandup and Kanjurmarg ThreeNo. of toilets found to be clean near the Railway Police Colony in Ghatkopar East One of the closed toilets at Airoli junction. Pics/Anurag Ahire ‘Land belongs to forest department’ Sameer Wagala, who visits the spot regularly to catch a bus, said people had to go to the rear of the closed toilet on the Thane-bound road to relieve themselves.A taxi driver, Gagan Yadav, said, “The BMC installed these toilets a year ago but for some reason, they are not open yet. This is a busy junction. Intercity private buses as well as cabs and autos halt here. There is also a BEST bus stop nearby. People are forced to urinate openly.” The filthy public washroom near the Kanjurmarg dumping ground Jaisingh Thakur, another cab driver, told mid-day that the closed toilets were a huge hindrance for women commuters as they didn’t have the option of urinating publicly. Rohini Kadam, a member of the Right to Pee campaign which advocate safe and hygienic toilets for women, said, “Women are disproportionately affected by the lack of public toilets. All authorities need to consider this situation.” The spotless toilet near the Bhandup pumping station Bhaskar Kshirsagar, assistant municipal commissioner of the S ward, said, “The land belongs to the forest department. We are in continuous talks with them about allowing us to open the toilets. The lavatory at the Bhandup pumping station, however, is open.” Dombivli resident Deepak Bhandar, who uses the toilet at Bhandup regularly while travelling, said, “It is very clean.” According to a caretaker, staff clean the toilet three to four times a day. “There is a 24-hour water supply and all toilets for men, women and the differently abled are operational,” he added. There was another toilet on the highway, near the Kanjurmarg dumping ground, but it wore an empty look and was less clean compared to the Bhandup one. The BMC spent around Rs 85 lakh on the four aforementioned toilets. Sanitation lapse The toilet at Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar, Mulund, which residents say the BMC has neglected A urinal at Mhada Colony junction, Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar, Mulund, which is allegedly being overlooked by civic staffers is making life unbearable for locals. Padma Kamble, a resident, said, “This toilet is not cleaned regularly by BMC staff. Due to this, there is a terrible stench. The toilet next to it is as filthy, making it difficult for us to live here.” Others specimens The toilet near the Chheda Nagar junction Three toilets at Ghatkopar East near the Railway Police Colony on the northbound lane towards Thane and another near the Ghatkopar pumping station towards Sion were clean. A lavatory at the Vikhroli Station Road junction was clean. Vikram Vishwakarma, a local, expressed satisfaction with the hygiene of the facility, appreciating the fact that citizens weren’t charged to use it. A civic official said that BMC-appointed labourers built these toilets. Each has 10 seats, five each for men and women as well as five urinal cubes and a toilet for handicapped. Meanwhile, a toilet near Chheda Nagar junction appeared to be severely dilapidated. Abject lack of toilets Garbage outside the facility When this reporter travelled from Ghatkopar to Sion, no public toilet could be seen. When heading towards Thane from Sion, there were three lavatories, including one at Sanjay Gandhi Nagar, which was clean. However, solid waste had piled up on the road outside it. One of the other toilets, opposite Wadala junction, did not have a urinal. The last one, opposite Suman Nagar, was uncharacteristically hygienic. These toilets were pay-and-use facilities where one could urinate for free. BMC officials claimed these toilets did not belong to the civic body. The relatively clean toilet at Sanjay Gandhi Nagar There were no urinal facilities between Suman Nagar and Ghatkopar on the northbound stretch of the highway. While there were public toilets at Kurla signal and Kamaraj Nagar junction, the former didn’t have a proper urinal facility and the latter was in a sorry state. OfficialSpeak Kiran Dighavkar, Deputy Municipal Commissioner‘There is a lack of space to build proper toilets between Ghatkopar and Vikhroli and land along the highway belongs to several agencies. We will look into the issue of unclean toilets. Our officials are continuously trying to open toilets along the highway.’
06 January,2025 06:01 AM IST | Mumbai | Sameer SurveDo you know what the stars hold for you in terms of love life, career, business and personal wellness today? Well, read on to know your astrological predictions as per your zodiac sign for January 6. Aries March 21 – April 20Singles who have met someone new need to take the relationship slowly, staying away from being possessive. An e-mail is disappointing.Cosmic tip: Look fear or indecision in the face, rising up to challenges. Taurus April 21 – May 20Being happy is not something to be worked at, it’s your mind-set. Make a commitment to better habits, not sliding back to them eventually.Cosmic tip: Be optimistic that the future will be good. GeminiMay 21 – June 21Take care of yourself if you suffer from circulatory related issues. Treating everyone as you would want to be treated is so you.Cosmic tip: Deal with any challenge that comes your way. Cancer June 22 – July 23A situation causing stress, even though it had not manifested by-passes you. This is such a relief. A granted wish is a let down. Cosmic tip: Trust the Higher Power to look after you always. Leo July 24 - Aug 23Make investments after careful thought. Take advice from someone who is a financial whiz. Self-employed Leos earn a lot of money. A much loved elder visits. Cosmic tip: Give before being able to receive. Virgo Aug 24 – Sept 23There’s a celebration at the office, with everyone joining in. This is the time to take action instead of just talking about an issue. Health is good.Cosmic tip: Believe in yourself, trusting instincts. Libra Sept 24 – Oct 22Working on the equation with the boss is essential, but keep an awareness about professional courtesies. A project is challenging. Cosmic tip: Think before you act as an impulsive action may worsen the situation. Scorpio Oct 23 – Nov 22All ready with hard hitting truthful answers; you decide to wait till the other person mentions something before speaking. Cosmic tip: Consider your house to be a home, for it to feel like one. Sagittarius Nov 23 – Dec 22With major work having been completed; you can now concentrate on family and the home, who have missed you terribly. Cosmic tip: Climb the ladder of success but without trying to pull someone down. Capricorn Dec 23 – Jan 20Luckily you have so many interests to keep the mind occupied, so missing someone is not such an acute emotion. Be patient. Cosmic tip: Consider various options as you wait for inspiration to strike. Aquarius Jan 21 – Feb 19Today is financially a good day. The person you love a lot may be feeling side-lined or ignored. Choosing not to spend time together may be the issue.Cosmic tip: Don’t equate money with happiness. Pisces Feb 20 – March 20Keep a hold on yourself, not reacting in a reckless manner. Understand emotions behind the words.Cosmic tip: Consider the kind of love you feel for someone. Will it pass the test of time?
06 January,2025 12:02 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirley BoseShiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, supported AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal, stating that the BJP's practice of launching projects just before elections is a "habitual tactic," reported news agency ANI. Raut expressed confidence that the people of Delhi would stay loyal to Arvind Kejriwal, suggesting that the BJP's last-minute attempts would not influence the public's stance. "It is their (BJP's) habit. They launch such projects worth thousands of crores before the elections. It was done in Maharashtra as well. They do not do anything for 5 years and before the announcement of the election date, they want to do everything. They again go silent for the next 5 years. The people of Delhi are with Kejriwal," Raut said. Earlier today, PM Modi inaugurated a 13 km stretch of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Namo Bharat Corridor connecting Sahibabad to New Ashok Nagar, and also addressed a rally in Delhi's Rohini. PM Modi criticised the AAP government, claiming it lacks a vision for Delhi's development, and emphasized that the BJP-led Centre is spearheading modernization efforts in the capital. He expressed confidence that the BJP will win the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections. "The AAP government which has no vision for Delhi and does not care for Delhi cannot develop Delhi. Whatever work is being done to modernise Delhi is being done by the BJP government at the Centre. I am confident that the lotus will bloom in Delhi Assembly too," he said. PM Modi criticised AAP, accusing them of falsely claiming that the Central government obstructed their work and withheld funds, labeling them as "big liars." The Prime Minister referred to the 'Sheeshmahal' as an example, citing a report from a prominent newspaper that exposed excessive spending on the Delhi CM's residence, as detailed in the CAG report. "Those who brought AAP to power in Delhi falsely allege that the Central government does not allow them to work... the Central government does not give them money... how big liars they are... an example of this is their Sheeshmahal. Today itself a leading newspaper has revealed the expenditure incurred on the Sheesh Mahal based on the CAG report," he said. PM Modi criticised the AAP government in Delhi, accusing them of focusing on building their "Sheesh Mahal" while Delhi's residents struggled to access oxygen and medicines during the COVID-19 pandemic. "When the people of Delhi were struggling with Corona when the people of Delhi were wandering for oxygen and medicines, then the entire focus of these people was on building their Sheesh Mahal. They made a huge budget for Sheesh Mahal. This is their truth... they do not care about the people of Delhi. That is why today every Delhiite is saying... we will not tolerate AAP-Da, we will change," he said. (With inputs from ANI)
05 January,2025 11:46 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA horrific accident on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad National Highway has claimed the lives of two senior citizens, while two others have been left seriously injured. The accident occurred in the vicinity of Dhaniwari village in Palghar district's Dahanu taluka, near NH48, around 125 km northeast of Mumbai, on Sunday afternoon, when a passenger vehicle lost control, veered off the road, and plunged into a ditch. A tragic accident on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad National Highway near Dhaniwari village that resulted in the deaths of two senior citizens and left two others critically injured. The incident occurred on the afternoon of January 5 when a passenger vehicle lost control, skidded off… pic.twitter.com/gDIhpvCsf5 — Mid Day (@mid_day) January 5, 2025 The vehicle, reportedly traveling at high speed, flipped over two to three times after falling into the ditch and was thrown 50 metres away. Two senior citizens seated in the rear — Ramalaben Ariwala and Amritlal Ghivala, the relatives of the couple in the front — died on the spot. Initial investigations reveal that they were not wearing seat belts, a factor that contributed to their fatalities. The couple seated in the front, who were wearing seat belts, survived but sustained serious injuries. They have been admitted to the Kasa Sub-District Hospital, where they are currently undergoing treatment.
05 January,2025 09:56 PM IST | Mumbai | Diwakar SharmaThe India Meteorological Department (IMD), in its latest weather update, has stated that the districts of Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, and Raigad are 'very likely' to experience light rain at isolated places over the next three to four hours. Most parts of Mumbai witnessed partly cloudy skies throughout Sunday. The maximum temperature is likely to be around 34 degrees Celsius while the minumum will hover around 20 degrees Celsius. Earlier in the day, IMD predicted the temperatures in Mumbai to range between a minimum of 22 degrees Celsius and a maximum of 29 degrees Celsius. On Monday, the temperatures are likely to range between 17 degrees Celsius and 33 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, the city witnessed a blanket of haze around it, with the air quality index recorded at 159 (moderate) on Sunday evening, raising health concerns for vulnerable groups. Experts advise wearing masks outdoors and taking precautions against air pollution. Unusual weather patterns in Mumbai Recent weather patterns in the city have been atypical. On Friday, January 3, 2025, Mumbai experienced a dramatic temperature difference of nearly 20°C between day and night – a rare phenomenon for this time of year. The daytime temperature soared to 36°C, marking the highest January temperature in the city since 2016, when it reached 37.3°C on January 1. This was the first instance in nine years where January temperatures hit such highs. Residents are urged to monitor Mumbai weather updates and take necessary precautions to ensure their health and well-being amidst the fluctuating weather and air quality conditions. 51 trains delayed, several flights re-scheduled due to dense fog in Delhi Fifty-one trains were delayed and several flights re-scheduled as dense fog enveloped Delhi on Sunday morning, reducing visibility to zero, officials said. "Zero visibility prevailed over Palam from 4 AM to 7.30 AM IST, accompanied by easterly winds at 8-13 kmph," an IMD official said. "Compared to Saturday's 9-hour zero visibility spell, Palam experienced a relatively shorter duration of 3.5 hours of zero visibility on Sunday," the official added. The maximum temperature in the city settled at 18.6 degrees Celsius, 0.7 notch below the normal average, and the minimum temperature was recorded at 9.4 degrees Celsius, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. The relative humidity during the day ranged between 83 and 95 per cent, it said. For Monday, the weather department has predicted a generally cloudy sky with a possibility of very light to light rain accompanied by thunderstorms in the morning.
05 January,2025 09:36 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
