The Dindoshi police have busted a blackmailing gang involving female members who allegedly lured men through social media and dating platforms. The women befriended their targets, arranged meetings at pre-decided locations, and then involved other gang members posing as fake police officers and journalists to stage a raid. They threatened the victims with arrest and public exposure, coercing them into paying large sums to “resolve” fabricated charges. The police have arrested two suspects, Ruksar Shaikh, 24, a Malwani resident, and Iqbal Khan, 35, a Kandivli resident. However, two other accused, including a woman, remain at large, and the police are actively searching for them. A 20-year-old student from Airoli was the gang’s most recent victim. The accused blackmailed him into transferring Rs 99,000 online and handing over a gold chain. After the incident, the victim filed a complaint at the Dindoshi police station on January 14. Acting swiftly, the police arrested Ruksar a day later and apprehended Iqbal on Friday. Investigators found that the victim’s money had been transferred to Ruksar’s GPay account. Gang’s modus operandi During questioning, the arrested suspects disclosed the gang’s methods: >> Female members would connect with men via social media and dating apps, offering sexual favours for R20,000 to R25,000. >> They used video calls featuring other attractive women to lure victims into meetings. >> At the meeting spot, the woman would get into a car with the victim, often accompanied by a driver. >> Inside the car, they accused the victim of being involved in a sex racket. >> Other gang members posing as police officers or journalists would then threaten arrest and public exposure, pressuring the victims to pay cash, transfer money, or hand over valuables. Details of the case “In this incident, the absconding female accused contacted the victim on a dating app using the name ‘Frank’. She offered sexual favours for R25,000 and exchanged numbers. A video call featuring another woman’s face was used to convince the victim. The victim was asked to meet her near Oberoi Mall in Goregaon East. When he arrived, he was instructed to enter an Ertiga car, where the woman was seated. Realising she did not match the person in the video call, the victim became suspicious. The car drove towards Vanrai police station,” said an officer. Inside the car, the woman and driver accused the victim of running a sex racket and claimed to be journalists conducting a sting operation. Soon, others posing as police officers joined in, threatening him with arrest. Under pressure, the victim handed over his gold chain and transferred R99,000. When they demanded an additional R4 lakh, he called his father, who immediately lodged a complaint at Rabale police station. The police intervened, causing the gang to flee and abandon the victim. Based on the complaint, the police traced Ruksar through her GPay account and confirmed she was the woman whose face appeared on the video call. After her arrest, Iqbal was also taken into custody. Ongoing investigation The police are now searching for the remaining accused, including the woman who posed as “Frank” and Rohit Tak, who impersonated a journalist during the scam. Efforts are underway to track and apprehend them. Another victim surfaces Another victim has approached the police, reporting a similar scam. The police are investigating whether this incident is connected to the same gang or another group, said an officer from the Dindoshi police station.
18 January,2025 06:30 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanOver 100 flights were delayed and 10 were cancelled due to low visibility conditions in Delhi on Friday. Sources from Mumbai Air Traffic Control told mid-day, “From 4 am, till 3.30 pm, a total of 22 flights arriving to Mumbai from Delhi faced disruptions due to the weather conditions in Delhi. Some of these flights faced a minor delay below 1 hour but certain flights faced a delay beyond 1 hour as well.” According to Delhi ATC sources, “The average delay faced by flights operating to/from Delhi during the morning weather condition was approximately 20 minutes per flight with certain flights facing even 30 minutes to 40 minutes delay.” Delhi airport also confirmed that multiple flights were facing disruptions on Friday morning due to the weather conditions. In a statement, Delhi Airport said, “While landing and take-offs continue at Delhi Airport, flights that are not CAT III compliant may get affected. Passengers are requested to contact the airline concerned for updated flight information. Any inconvenience caused is deeply regretted.” Similarly, IndiGO also released a travel advisory that stated, “Due to foggy conditions in Delhi, low visibility may lead to a change in flight schedules. We request you to stay updated with your flight status before heading to the airport.” Explaining the CAT-III approach, the source said, “CAT-III is a precision instrument landing system (ILS) that allows aircraft to land safely in poor visibility conditions. CAT-III approaches are used in adverse weather conditions like fog, rain, or snow. CAT-III approaches use an automated system to guide the aircraft to the runway. The system also provides voice prompts to the pilot, including when to deploy flaps and apply brakes. There are three types of CAT-III approaches depending on the Runway visual range (RVR) and Decision Height.” The source said, “The instrument landing system (ILS) has three categories namely Category 1, 2 and 3 that are abbreviated as CAT-I, CAT-II and CAT-III. Many aircraft that are ILS equipped are capable of all three approaches and often use them to align the aircraft to the runway to land. that being said, in clear visibility conditions, many pilots prefer hand flying the last 500 feet of the approach but in poor visibility conditions, depending on the visibility, the Pilots can opt for CAT-I, CAT-II or CAT-III approach.” The source added, “CAT-III approaches use radio altimeter (RA) to determine decision height. CAT III operations require an automatic landing system to control the aircraft during the approach and landing. This is because CAT III weather conditions don't provide enough visual references for a manual landing. Pilots are responsible for deciding whether to perform a CAT-III approach, but they may receive advice from air traffic control (ATC) for using CAT-III as well.”
18 January,2025 06:28 AM IST | Mumbai | Prasun ChoudhariThe Maharashtra government is proceeding with its plan to merge more than 14,000 primary and secondary schools that each have 20 or fewer students enrolled. This move aimed at creating ‘cluster schools’ will impact over 185,000 students and nearly 30,000 teachers across the state. The Maharashtra School Education Department, despite opposition, is going ahead with the cluster school initiative, maintaining that it is essential for improving the overall standard of education. Planning and implementation According to a government circular dated September 21, 2023, schools with fewer than 20 students will be shut down, and those students and teachers will be relocated to the nearest larger school or a newly established cluster school. The government believes consolidating resources will address challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, insufficient qualified teachers, and limited social interaction for students in remote or under-enrolled schools. Government’s rationale The government contends that small schools lack adequate facilities such as playgrounds, audio-visual aids, and enough co-students for meaningful interaction. Officials also point to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which endorses consolidating smaller schools to ensure every child receives a holistic education. What teachers and activists say Several teachers’ organisations and education activists have denounced the plan, arguing it could lead to increased dropout rates, while also creating job insecurity for teachers. Sharing his concerns, Sushil Shejule, Aamhi Shikshak president, said, “It’s unfortunate to implement a cluster school plan for schools with low enrollment. Many of these schools will close down and may never reopen. This is an attack on schools with low enrollment and a violation of children’s right to education.” President of the Maharashtra State Primary Teachers Committee, Vijay Kombey, criticised the policy, saying it places poorer communities at a disadvantage and could deprive children of easily accessible education. Well-known activist and educationist Herambh Kulkarni expressed support for the move, stating, “I support this plan because I agree with the government that students in cluster schools will have more opportunities and receive a better quality of education. Currently, there are around 8,000 schools in Maharashtra located within half a kilometre of one another. Additionally, we have nearly 2,000 Ashram Shalas under the Tribal Development and Social Welfare Department. At the same time, the government has opened Zilla Parishad schools in the same villages under the RTE Act.” Chief minister’s directives CM Fadnavis has instructed the school education department to ensure that the benefits of cluster schools are clearly communicated to all stakeholders. He emphasised the need to dispel misconceptions about school closures and underlined that the goal is to provide better facilities, not simply reduce government expenses or teacher positions.
18 January,2025 06:25 AM IST | Mumbai | Dipti SinghA 17-year-old girl from Mumbai's eastern suburbs has approached the police, alleging sexual harassment by her school’s lab assistant in 2022, during her Std 10 school picnic. The victim, Soni Mhatre (name changed), now a Std 12 student, attended a Chembur-based school at the time of the incident. Speaking to mid-day, she recounted her ordeal, stating that the incident occurred on November 17, 2022, during a school picnic at Shaguna Baug in Karjat. During the lunch break, while heading to the washroom, the accused allegedly jumped in front of her, grabbed her neck chain, and inquired if it was real gold. “He then touched my back, neck, chest, and private parts. I stood there blankly, unable to process what had happened. I was too scared to tell anyone, not even my friends or family. I bottled it all up and gradually realised I was slipping into depression. However, with my Std 10 board exams approaching, I decided to wait until they were over to inform my parents. However, I never mustered the courage, fearing it would bring shame to them,” recounted the victim. Despite the horrible experience, Soni managed to score 87 per cent in her Std 10 board exams and successfully enrolled at a popular college. Months later, Soni came across news about the Badlapur school sexual abuse case, where a male sweeper allegedly abused two four-year-old girls at a prominent co-education school in Badlapur. “Seeing that horrible news made me realise how unfair it was for me as well. I kept quiet, fearing it would bring shame to me and my family, but it’s that man who deserves to be shamed! I finally confided in my parents, who not only supported me but continue to stand by me,” said Soni. Soni approached local police in Govandi, who initially registered a zero FIR as per protocol. The case was then transferred to the Neral police station in Raigad district, as the incident occurred within their jurisdiction. A police official from Neral stated, “We recorded the victim's statement and attempted to arrest the accused, but he was not present. Days later, we learned that he had applied for anticipatory bail, which was granted by the court, allowing him to evade arrest. Following protocol, we filed the charge sheet in the case and submitted it to the magistrate court in Panvel.” According to the FIR, the accused has been identified as Mohan Anchan. While the hearing in the matter is yet to begin, the victim and her parents are planning to approach the Bombay High Court to challenge his anticipatory bail. “I was mortified by his actions, and I’ve witnessed his perverted behaviour on and around the school premises. I want him to be held accountable, both by the school management, which is attempting to protect him, and by the law,” said the victim, who will soon begin to prepare for the UPSC examinations. “The matter is in court, so we are neither supporting nor opposing. We are neutral. The court granted anticipatory bail to the lab assistant. He has also filed a FIR quashing petition in the high court. Also, we sought advice from the Education Department in this matter. Now we are waiting for their response,” said school principal.
18 January,2025 06:23 AM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya IyerThe operation to capture the tiger that travelled from Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary in Yavatmal to Solapur has commenced. The team is attempting to track the tiger on foot since it has not been detected on camera traps for over a week, and there have been no recent reports of cattle kills. A forest department official involved in the operation said, “More than 20 camera traps have been installed in the area of its last sighting. However, there have been no images of the tiger for a week, suggesting it might have moved. The Rapid Response Team (RRT) and forest staff are currently searching for indirect evidence, such as pugmarks, to determine its current location.” Officials confirmed that the tiger was last spotted at Yedshi Ramling Ghat Sanctuary in Dharashiv (formerly Osmanabad) and noted no recent instances of cattle kills in the vicinity. The department has enlisted Dr Khobragade, who has extensive experience in wildlife rescue and conflict management. He has successfully conducted operations involving tigers, leopards, sloth bears, and elephants, particularly in Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region and neighbouring states. Dr Khobragade said, “Our RRT, along with the local forest staff, has begun efforts to safely capture the tiger. We are focusing on locating its latest position, and once we have precise information, we will formulate a strategy to dart and relocate the animal.” The RRT from Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve includes members such as Ajay C. Marathe (police constable and shooter), Vikas Tajne, Yogesh Lakde, Praful Wadghure, Gunanak Dhore, Dipesh Tumhare, Wasim Sheikh, and driver Amol Korpe, along with Akshay Dandekar. The operation is being monitored by Kushagra Pathak, deputy conservator of forest (Solapur), and B A Pol, deputy conservator of forest (Dharashiv), along with their respective teams. The young male tiger, believed to be a cub of tigress T22 from Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary and born in 2022, has travelled approximately 500 kilometres to Solapur in search of new territory. Researchers estimate the tiger is about 2.5 years old.
18 January,2025 06:19 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavThe new year has started on a grim note for wild tigers in India, with 13 reported deaths in the first 16 days of 2025. Maharashtra recorded the highest number at seven deaths, followed by Madhya Pradesh. As per to www.tigernet.nic.in, the official database of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)—a state agency under the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change—of the 13 deaths, nine occurred outside tiger reserves, while four were reported within. Madhya Pradesh recorded two deaths, while Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Kerala, and Assam each reported one tiger death. The exact causes are yet to be determined. Wildlife conservationist Kedar Gore from the Corbett Foundation explained that in states like Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, where tiger populations are high, some deaths due to natural causes are expected. However, he pointed out that at least four tiger deaths in Maharashtra were linked to poaching and human-wildlife conflict. Gore added, “Hopefully, the NTCA and respective forest departments will focus more on timely addressing the reasons leading to negative human-wildlife interactions. Timely release of funds, compensating local communities for human, property, and agricultural losses due to wildlife, and ensuring capacity building of frontline staff to improve vigilance against poaching are crucial. Most unnatural tiger deaths occur in buffer areas, wildlife corridors, and forest divisions adjacent to well-protected tiger reserves.” Sarosh Lodhi, co-founder of the wildlife group Conservation Lenses & Wildlife (CLaW) and a conservation photographer, said, “While authorities are considering introducing birth control measures for tigers, the focus should be on reducing the mortality rate and securing corridors to allow tigers to move freely.”
18 January,2025 06:16 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavManasi, a captive lioness at Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), delivered a cub on Thursday night, an occurrence that was last witnessed fourteen years ago. Dr V Clement Ben, additional principal chief conservator forest, Western Wildlife Region, said, “Manasi gave birth to a healthy and active cub at 9.40 pm. The lioness began nursing the newborn at 2.45 am on Friday.” Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF) Sudhir Sonawale, Range Forest Officer Niket Shinde and SGNP Veterinary Officer Dr Vinaya Jangle are also keeping a close watch on the lioness and the cub. Dr Jangle told mid-day that a den had been specially made for the lioness so that it could deliver the cub safely. The big cats are being monitored around the clock via CCTV cameras. “Manasi is 4.4 years old. After a gap of 14 years, an Asiatic lion has been born at SGNP and we are even happier as the birth of the cub coincides with SGNP’s foundation day,” said Dr Jangle. SGNP Director G Mallikarjun told mid-day that if everything goes as planned, the national park, which was established in 1969, might get a pair of lions. In September 2022, the then Maharashtra Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar met with his Gujarat counterpart Jagdish Vishwakarma in Ahmedabad and discussed the exchange of two Asiatic lions from Sakkarbaug Zoological Park (SZP) in Junagadh for a pair of captive tigers from the SGNP. They decided to seek joint approval from the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) for the same. In October of that year, Ravindra, the oldest captive lion at SGNP died due to age-related disease and in the last week of the following month, a pair of captive breeding lions—Manas and Manasi— arrived at the national park from Sakkarbaug Zoological Park in Junagadh, Gujarat. SGNP had approached the Telangana Forest Department for a pair of lions from Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad, in September 2020. However, there was no development, as the Telangana Forest Department wanted lions in exchange for lions. The captive lion safari was started in SGNP in 1975-76, and it has been an important tourist attraction, helping to generate revenue for the park. SGNP started a captive tiger and lion safari in the 1990s and it has been an important tourist attraction ever since. During the safari, visitors are ferried in mini-buses into an area that is fenced from all sides. Earlier, SGNP’s lions were born to Asian and African species rescued from circuses. As the CZA had forbidden mating between Asian and African lions in captivity, the population of the captive lions in the SGNP saw a decline. 4.4 yearsLioness’ age
18 January,2025 06:13 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavAutorickshaw driver Bhajan Singh Rana turned out to be a saviour for Saif Ali Khan, rushing him to the hospital when no other driver was available. “I was passing by the building when I suddenly heard someone calling for an auto. A woman walked out of the gate in panic and asked for help. A few minutes later, Saif Ali Khan, along with a few others, came out and sat in my auto. He was wearing a white kurta and was covered in blood,” Rana told mid-day. “He was in pain and asked me to take him to Lilavati Hospital. Two other people, who I think were his sons, sat with him in the auto. Initially, they discussed going to Holy Family Hospital but decided on Lilavati. I took Hill Road and reached the hospital quickly. The hospital staff came out with a stretcher and took him inside,” he added. Rana further shared, “Within minutes, I rushed him to the emergency ward. I didn’t even take money from him. There was bleeding from his neck, hand, and back. After he got down, I cleaned the auto.”
18 January,2025 06:10 AM IST | Mumbai | Faizan KhanThe overall air quality of Mumbai on Friday remained in the moderate category though a slight increase was witnessed compared to the past few days. Malad, however, recorded a poor AQI of 201 in the morning, which rose to 203 by the evening. Experts blame the fluctuating weather and localised pollution. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the SAMEER app, Malad West (IITM) recorded an AQI of 180 (moderate) at 9 am on January 16. By Friday morning, it had risen to 201. Similarly, Borivli East saw its AQI go from 174 on Thursday to 189 on Friday while Byculla’s AQI increased from 160 to 188 over the same period. By evening, Mumbai's overall AQI was 144. Many other AQI monitoring stations in the city and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region also showed higher readings on Friday morning compared to recent days. A blanket of haze, which has settled over Mumbai and its outskirts for the past two to three days, has reduced visibility across several areas. Despite these hazy conditions, some monitoring stations recorded AQI values in the moderate or even satisfactory range in a few cases. The city’s haze is attributed to fluctuating weather, wide diurnal temperature ranges (the difference between daytime highs and nighttime lows), high humidity levels, cloud cover and localised pollution. A scientist from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) explained that low temperatures and low wind speeds together cause a drop in natural ventilation. In addition, Mumbai’s air currently has high moisture content, which causes aerosols to swell and remain trapped in the air, creating haze. Only an increase in wind speed would be helpful, the scientist said. Dr Sanjeev Mehta, a leading pulmonologist at Bandra’s Lilavati Hospital, noted, “Thick haze carries pollutants and dust that can be harmful to those with asthma or other respiratory issues. These pollutants can also trigger nasal congestion and affect the lungs. Since the nose and lungs form one continuous airway, the entire respiratory system is at risk.” IMD Director Sunil Kamble attributed the haze and low visibility to easterly winds and low wind speed, which keep dust particles and pollutants suspended in the air. Heat alert for weekend Meteorologists warn of warmer weather over the weekend. According to the IMD forecast, the minimum and maximum temperatures are expected to be 23.99°C and 28.73°C, respectively. The relative humidity is at 57 per cent, with wind speeds of 57 kmph. Rajesh Kapadia, a climatologist from the private weather blog Vagaries of the Weather, has predicted that Mumbai and the Konkan region will see hotter days this weekend. “Hot easterly winds during the day will push maximum temperatures to around 34°C to 35°C, while nighttime temperatures will remain warmer than normal, around 20°C. Some places in the MMR could reach 36°C,” he said. Independent weather enthusiast Rushikesh Agre, known as Mumbai Rains on X, issued a heat alert, writing: “Mumbai to see a sharp rise of 7° in next 48 hours, 37°C on January 18 to January 19, 2024. Latest forecasts indicate a potential spike in maximum temperatures over Mumbai and adjoining Konkan regions. This is due to late sea breeze activity and thus will result in enhanced wind convergence in these areas. Areas in interior MMR will be 36+°C in noon hours. Advisable for Mumbaikars amid sharp weather fluctuations, take precautions. Stay hydrated (sic).”
18 January,2025 06:04 AM IST | Mumbai | Dipti SinghAlmost two days after the attack on actor Saif Ali Khan, the Bandra police and the Mumbai Crime Branch were yet to apprehend the accused. Officials believe the suspect appears to be a professional thief, judging by his entry and escape from the actor’s Bandra West building, Satguru Sharan. Despite having photographs and CCTV footage, the police have not been able to identify or locate the accused. We have checked our records, but no one matching the suspect’s appearance has been found,” a senior Mumbai Police officer said. With digital evidence yielding no breakthroughs, the police are relying on human intelligence. Multiple dedicated teams are analysing CCTV footage to track the suspect’s route. The cops have learnt that he changed his clothes to evade the police. The police had received information about a person in South Mumbai resembling the accused and the individual was brought to the Bandra police station for questioning. “While the person bore a 99 per cent resemblance to the suspect, a thorough interrogation and review of records revealed he was not the same person, as he was elsewhere at the time of the incident. The person was later released,” a source said. Forensic clues The forensic team that examined Saif’s house recovered multiple fingerprints belonging to the accused. These were checked against police records, but no matches were found. “The manhunt is in full swing. Around 40 teams from the Crime Branch and Bandra police are working on the case. We are also sharing the fingerprints with other state police departments to check if the individual appears in their records,” an officer said. Insights from CCTV footage The police suspect the accused avoided using a mobile phone, as no suspicious activity was found in the tower dump data analysed. CCTV footage from Saif’s building staircase shows the suspect entering at 1.37 am with his face covered and leaving at 2.33 am with his face uncovered. This footage remains the most significant clue the police have so far. Sources revealed that the accused was spotted by a CCTV camera near Link Road in Bandra on the morning of the attack. “Human intelligence has been activated, and we are following up on leads based on the suspect’s appearance in CCTV footage. Several people are being questioned, but the accused seems to be a professional who managed to avoid being captured clearly by most cameras,” an officer said.
18 January,2025 06:01 AM IST | Mumbai | Faizan Khan | Samiullah KhanOne of the key concerns of the 20th edition of the Mumbai Marathon to be run on Sunday is the pollution. A lot of social media chatter is about our smog-covered roads and how it will affect athletes on race day. A senior BMC official said at least six mist blower vehicles will be deployed along the route. The vehicles will be deployed through the marathon (42 km) route in six wards: ward A, C, D, G (South), G (North), and H (West),” the official said. This is roughly the area from Santacruz to the tip of South Mumbai. Mist blower vehicles deployed to combat smog Mist blower vehicles are used to control pollution by spraying a fine mist of water or other liquids to remove pollutants from the air. The BMC has used these earlier too, on some occasions to combat dust pollution in the city. This should come as some relief to runners whose practice sessions are a cocktail of sweat and smog, as significant pollution means runners are stating, “We get winded faster.” Athlete Bhagirathi (known only by her first name) and her coach, Sunil Sharma, have been reeling under the smog and haze of Mumbai. Sharma, a runner and coach hailing from the Sirmaur district in Himachal Pradesh, said, “We are training amidst humidity and intense pollution here. It is difficult to run and breathe. I wonder how people survive here. Bhagirathi, who has a stupendous 2.55 hrs time in the full marathon, will be competing this Sunday. She lives in Wan, which is in the Chamoli district in Uttarakhand. Besides the mint-fresh air, her home, which is the last village in India, is also at an elevation of 22,000 ft. That is great for runners, as the thin air means runners need to strive harder, and then running at lesser heights becomes easier. Now, over to Sunday, we go back with renewed appreciation for the fresh air of home, where Bhagirathi will put her best feet forward. Then we go back with renewed appreciation for the fresher air of home!” he laughed. South Mumbai’s Suresh Rathod started running the marathon in 2011 In a citizens' science initiative on Friday, NGO Awaaz Foundation, working in the space of combating air pollution, claimed it used a sensor-based monitor to record PM2.5 (particulate matter) at eight locations along the length of the Mumbai marathon route. The aim, said Awaaz spokespersons, “was to ascertain the health impact of air pollution on marathon participants, particularly those with pre-existing health concerns.” “PM 2.5 are the tiny particles in the air that are 2.5 microns or less in diameter, easily inhaled by humans. Exposure to high concentrations of PM 2.5 is linked to respiratory disease,” it said. The carrot Vikas Kabra, a Nepean Sea Road resident who is running the full marathon distance (42.2 km), said, "Pollution is very significant, and we can feel it on practice runs. There is a definite difference, and I tire faster than before as the carbon dioxide enters the lungs. Uphill running in practice is more strenuous. This will be one more challenge for me and I am sure for other runners as well.” Finance professional Anand Kane from Mumbai, who is running a half marathon (21 km), said, “We let the city grow onto us, and now we find ourselves squirming for space when it comes to doing outdoor activities. As amateur runners, we depend heavily on the physical and environmental infrastructure the city affords us.” Kane explained that it was, “The carrot of development that keeps dangling ahead of us, keeping us going forward, where environmental pollutants, as in the mishandled outcomes of development, keep dragging us back on physical and often mental health too, as in many cases, both have a connection.” Distance cut South Mumbai’s Suresh Rathod started running the Mumbai Marathon in 2011 and ran the full marathon until 2019. He said, “This year I am running a 10 km run because of the climatic conditions. The smog actually interferes with the breathing pattern, and there is greater exhaustion.” Rathod added that he is, “Diabetic, so first of all, smoking and then sugar conditions will not be very appropriate for me to do a full marathon.” “I have been diabetic since 2008, and when I decided to do my first full marathon in 2011, I finished in 3.55 hrs. The reason was that the weather was good and there was good preparation for the full marathon. Now, running for long in smoggy conditions can decrease one’s ability to run at full capacity,” said Rathod, who has run around over 100 marathons, including full marathons, half marathons, ultrathons like a 50 km run, and breezy, easy-breathing 10 km runs.
18 January,2025 05:56 AM IST | Mumbai | Hemal AsharADVERTISEMENT
