On Monday, the Western Railway (WR) announced temporary changes to suburban local train services in Mumbai. The changes will affect services on the Andheri-Virar, Bhayander-Nalasopara, and Churchgate-Nalasopara routes. "Temporary changes in Suburban EMU services from 16th Dec 2024: Train no. 92019 Andheri-Virar will be short-terminated at Bhayander. Train no. 90648 will originate from Bhayander instead of Nalasopara. Train nos. 90208 (Bhayander-Churchgate) & 90249 (Churchgate- Nallasopara) will run with 15 coaches instead of 12 coaches," the Divisional Railway Manager- Mumbai Division of Western Railway, said in a post on X. 🚨 Attention Passengers 🚨Temporary changes in Suburban EMU services from 16th Dec 2024:🛑 Train no. 92019 Andheri-Virar will be short-terminated at Bhayander.🔄 Train no. 90648 will originate from Bhayander instead of Nalasopara.🚆 Train nos. 90208 (Bhayander-Churchgate)… pic.twitter.com/blo0HasUb2 — DRM - Mumbai Central, WR (@drmbct) December 16, 2024 Western Railway revises train time table The Western Railway, while sharing Mumbai local train updates, on October 1 said that it is all set to introduce the new suburban Time-Table which will come into effect from October 12, 2024. It said that in the new suburban timetable of Western Railway, important changes has been made to ensure better passenger convenience and comfort. Accordingly, 12 new suburban services will be introduced while six services will be extended and ten 12-car services will be augmented to 15 car services. According to a press release issued by Vineet Abhishek - Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, salient features of the new suburban timetables are as under: - 12 new services to be introduced and 6 services to be extended. - The total number of services plying on WR’s Mumbai suburban section will increase from 1394 to 1406. - Out of 6 new services in UP direction, one Fast service will run from Virar to Churchgate, two slow services from Dahanu Road to Virar and one each slow service from Andheri, Goregaon& Borivali to Churchgate. - Out of 6 new services in DOWN direction, one Fast service will run from Churchgate to Nalasopara, two slow services will run from Churchgate to Goregaon and one slow service from Churchgate to Andheri and two slow service from Virar to Dahanu Road. - Four new services introduced between Dahanu Road & Virar. This is in fulfillment of the demands of the people from this region. - 6 services (3 services in UP & 3 services in Down direction) have been extended. - Ten existing 12 coach services is being augmented to 15 coach services, hence total no. of 15 coach services will increase from 199 to 209. New services - UP direction Sr. No Station Time Station Time Mode 1 Andheri 05:32 Churchgate 06:21 Slow 2 Dhanu Road 07:00 Virar 08:10 Slow 3 Dhanu Road 10:25 Virar 11:32 Slow 4 Virar 11:35 Churchgate 12:52 Fast 5 Goregaon 14:28 Churchgate 15:28 Slow 6 Borivali 21:58 Churchgate 23:12 Slow DOWN direction Sr. No Station Time Station Time Mode 1 Virar 04:50 Dhanu Road 06:15 Slow 2 Churchgate 09:07 Goregaon 10:01 Slow 3 Virar 09:30 Dhanu Road 10:50 Slow 4 Churchgate 14:23 Churchgate 15:16 Slow 5 Churchgate 21:17 Andheri 22:01 Slow 6 Churchgate 22:05 Nalasopara 23:26 Fast The Western Railway also share the details of the UP and DOWN direction services to be extended. Services extended-UP Direction- Borivali – Churchgate (Fast) local departing from Borivali at 10:36 hrs will now depart from Bhayandar at 10:21 hrs (Fast) local and reach Churchgate at 11:24 hrs. - Virar - Andheri (Fast) local departing from Virar at 15:36 hrs, extended upto Dadar and will reach Dadar at 16:41 hrs. - Vasai Road – Churchgate (Fast) AC local departing from Vasai Road at 20.41 hrs will now depart from Virar at 20:29 hrs (Fast) AC Local and reach Churchgate at 21:53 hrs. DOWN Direction - Churchgate - Borivali (Fast) local departing from Churchgate at 09:19 hrs, extended upto Virar and will reach Virar at 10:39 hrs. - Andheri - Virar (Fast) local departing from Andheri at 16:37 hrs will now depart from Dadar at 16:48 hrs (Fast) local and reach Virar at 17:44 hrs. - Churchgate - Vasai Road (Fast) AC local departing from Churchgate at 19:00 hrs, extended upto Virar and will reach Virar at 20:22 hrs.
16 December,2024 10:15 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentNarendra Bhondekar, Shiv Sena MLA from Bhandara, has resigned from all party positions, expressing disappointment over his exclusion from the Maharashtra cabinet in the recent expansion. Bhondekar, who previously served as the Shiv Sena’s deputy leader and co-ordinator for eastern Vidarbha, claimed that he had been promised a cabinet berth by the party leadership, but was left out when the cabinet was formed. Speaking to the press in Bhandara on Sunday, Bhondekar, who won his seat in the November 20 state elections by defeating his Congress rival with a significant margin of over 38,000 votes, expressed his dissatisfaction with the current cabinet expansion. He emphasised that he had hoped to be appointed as the guardian minister of Bhandara district to work on its development, a position that has long been held by outsiders and has, according to him, resulted in stagnation in addressing the district’s issues. The recent cabinet expansion, which took place under the leadership of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, saw 39 legislators being sworn in, with 16 new faces in the ministry. While the BJP, being the largest party among the Mahayuti allies, secured 19 ministerial posts, the Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) were allocated 11 and 9 positions, respectively. Bhondekar, however, found himself left out despite his previous assurances from Shinde. In his resignation statement, Bhondekar said, “I joined Shiv Sena with the understanding that I would be given a cabinet berth. This was promised to me by Shinde, and I even supported him when he became chief minister as an independent MLA.” Bhondekar also claimed that his name was considered for a ministerial post in the previous cabinet expansion, but ultimately, his exclusion led to his resignation. While Bhondekar intends to continue working as an ordinary member of the party, he has made it clear that he no longer seeks an official position within the Shiv Sena. He reiterated his desire to see Bhandara’s issues addressed through local leadership rather than relying on external ministers, and awaits a response to his resignation from party leaders. (With inputs from PTI)
16 December,2024 09:58 AM IST | MumbaiLeaders of the Mahayuti alliance were sworn in as cabinet ministers in the Maharashtra government during a ceremony at Raj Bhavan in Nagpur on Sunday. The 10-day-old BJP-led alliance ministry in Maharashtra was expanded with 39 ministers being sworn in, taking its strength to 42. In the expansion, BJP got 19 ministerial berths, followed by 11 to Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and nine for Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party. While 33 legislators were sworn in as cabinet ministers, six took oath as ministers of state. Governor P C Radhakrishnan administered the oath to the new ministers at the ceremony held on the eve of the state legislature's winter session being held in Nagpur from December 16 to 21. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, who took oath in Mumbai on December 5, were present. BJP’s state unit chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule, along with Ashish Shelar, Ganesh Naik, Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Pankaja Munde, Girish Mahajan, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Chandrakant Patil and Nitesh Rane were among those who took the oath. CM Devendra Fadnavis and his wife Amruta at a roadshow in Nagpur on Sunday. Pic/PTI Shiv Sena leaders Shambhuraj Desai, Dadaji Dagadu Bhuse, Sanjay Rathod, Uday Samant, Gulabrao Patil, and Sanjay Shirsat, representing Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's faction, were also sworn in as ministers. NCP leaders Aditi Tatkare, Dhananjay Munde, and Hasan Mushrif were also inducted into the cabinet. The new cabinet includes state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule and Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar. The Mahayuti alliance had faced criticism from the Opposition for delaying the announcement of its cabinet despite holding a significant majority. In the November 20 Assembly polls, the Mahayuti swept to power, winning 230 out of 288 seats in the state. The BJP led with 132 seats, followed by Shinde's Shiv Sena with 57 and Pawar's NCP getting 41. Results of the elections were declared on November 23. MVA boycotts customary tea party The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will boycott the tea party to be hosted by the Maharashtra government on the eve of the state legislature’s winter session here on Sunday, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve said. Danve said that although the Opposition’s strength in the Assembly may be less, it will, with its full force, take on the government on various issues, including those pertaining to farmers. The six-day duration of the winter session was too short, the leader of Opposition in the state legislative council added. Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar also demanded an extension of the session. New Ministers BJP (19)1. Chandrashekhar Bawankule2. Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil3. Chandrakant Patil4. Girish Mahajan5. Ganesh Naik6. Mangal Prabhat Lodha7. Jaykumar Rawal8. Pankaja Munde9. Atul Save10. Ashok Uike11. Ashish Shelar12. Shivendrasinh Bhosale13. Jaykumar Gore14. Sanjay Savkare15. Nitesh Rane16. Akash Fundkar17. Madhuri Misal18. Pankaj Bhoyar19. Meghana Bordikar Shiv Sena (11)1. Gulabrao Patil2. Dada Bhuse3. Sanjay Rathod4. Uday Samant5. Shambhuraj Desai6. Sanjay Shirsat7. Pratap Sarnaik8. Bharat Gogawale9. Prakash Abitkar10. Ashish Jaiswal11. Yogesh Kadam NCP (9)1. Hasan Mushrif2. Dhananjay Munde3. Dattatray Bharne4. Aditi Tatkare5. Manikrao Kokate6. Narhari Zirwal7. Makrand Jadhav-Patil8. Babasaheb Patil9. Indranil Naik No of ministers sworn in from each party BJP20 Shiv Sena12 NCP10
16 December,2024 09:50 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentDark, dingy, and unsafe—pedestrian subways across Mumbai’s island city and suburbs are in dire need of attention. Many lack proper lighting, are plagued by hawkers, and serve as hubs for illegal activities. During monsoons, they often become unusable due to waterlogging and leaks. mid-day explored these subways to uncover their persistent issues. Here’s what we found, starting with the suburbs. Eastern Suburbs Chunabhatti Subway Chunabhatti subway suffers from chronic leakage and drain water flooding. “There is always drain water overflowing into the subway. We have to wade through it daily,” said Ashok Kalar, a local resident. The subway built 40 years ago under the Eastern Express Highway, also has cracked walls and a foul odour. Recently, the BMC installed iron grills at the entrance to minimise water seepage. However, proper maintenance remains lacking. Ramabai Colony Subway (Ghatkopar) Ramabai Colony subway is not clean and has broken flooring, and walls stained with paan. PIC/ASHISH RAJE This is one of the busiest subways in eastern suburbs, located under the Eastern Express Highway. It suffers from irregular cleaning, broken flooring, and walls stained with paan. Though locals claim there is a security guard, none were present during mid-day’s visit. Dhanajay Singh, a resident, said, “Subway is always dusty and stinks. Better lighting, CCTV cameras, and regular cleaning are badly needed.” Kurla Subway Subway inb Kurla is closed due to ongoing Metro construction, forcing pedestrians to cross the busy road instead. PIC/ASHISH RAJE One subway at Kurla, near the signal, is closed due to ongoing Metro construction, forcing pedestrians to cross the busy road instead. Another subway connecting Kurla East and West is overrun by hawkers and becomes inaccessible during monsoons. Mankhurd Subway Mankhurd Subway is in a deplorable condition. PIC/ASHISH RAJE Located under the railway tracks, this subway connects Maharashtra Nagar to the Sion-Panvel highway and is in a deplorable condition. It floods during monsoons, rendering it unusable despite a pedestrian bridge built nearby by the BMC. “Flooding during the monsoons is a major problem. A proper footpath would help,” suggested Ashok Kalokhe, a resident. Western Suburbs Vanrai Subway (Goregaon) Vanrai subway lacks accessibility for physically disabled and is not clean. PICS/NIMESH DAVE This subway near Vanrai police station on the Western Express Highway is popular among residents. However, it lacks accessibility for physically disabled individuals. While lights are installed, there is a need for better tiling, additional lighting, CCTV cameras, and ramps for wheelchair users. Gundavali Subway (Andheri) This subway, at the level of the service road, is among the more accessible options. It is well-lit, but locals suggested adding CCTV cameras and deploying security guards for nighttime safety. Santacruz East Subway (New Agripada) Santacruz subway is in relatively good condition. PICS/NIMESH DAVE In relatively good condition, this subway is well-lit but would benefit from a ramp or platform for wheelchair users. Shankarwadi Subway (Jogeshwari) Shankarwadi subway urgently requires proper steps and ramps for accessibility. PICS/NIMESH DAVE This subway urgently requires proper steps and ramps for accessibility. A senior citizen using the subway said, “Pedestrian needs are overlooked, while all facilities are in place for vehicles. This subway needs better lighting, security guards, and CCTV cameras, especially at night, as drug addicts sometimes take refuge here.” Bandra East Subway (Subhash Nagar) Bandra East subway faces problems with broken tiles and poor lighting. PICS/NIMESH DAVE This subway faces problems with broken tiles and poor lighting. Like others, it also needs a ramp to accommodate wheelchair users. Ramnagar Subway (Near domestic airport) Ramnagar subway lacks proper illumination also doesn’t have disability access. PICS/NIMESH DAVE This subway lacks proper illumination and is not wheelchair-friendly.
16 December,2024 09:50 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet Jadhav | Sameer SurveIn the past few days, Mumbai has experienced sharp fluctuations in temperature. The city on Monday saw a significant drop, with the minimum temperature reaching 14 degrees Celsius. According to the latest Mumbai weather updates from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Mumbai is expected to experience a cloudy sky on Monday, December 16, with temperatures ranging from a cool 17 degrees Celsius in the morning to a warm 33 degrees Celsius during the day. According to the Mumbai weather updates of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Mumbai's Santacruz observatory in suburban Mumbai recorded a maximum temperature of 35.4 degrees Celsius and a minimum temperature of 14 degrees Celsius. The weather department's data showed that the city observatory in Colaba recorded a maximum temperature of 33.3 degrees Celcius and the minimum temperature was recorded at 19.8 degrees Celsius. According to the latest Mumbai weather updates by the IMD, the maximum temperature will likely be around 33 degrees Celsius, and the minimum temperature will likely be around 17 degrees Celsius. The relative humidity is 81 per cent. The sun rose at 07:05 AM and will set at 06:04 PM. The IMD’s latest Mumbai weather update forecasts a "mainly clear sky" for the city and its suburbs over the next 24 hours. Mumbai weather updates: City's AQI in 'moderate' category On December 16, the Central Pollution Control Board’s SAMEER app reported in its latest Mumbai weather updates that the city’s air quality remained in the 'moderate' category, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 131 at 9:05 AM. As per the SAMEER app dashboard, many areas across Mumbai showed 'moderate' AQI. Bandra Kurla Complex recorded 'moderate' air quality with an AQI of 171. Kandivali, Malad and Sewri recorded 'moderate' air quality with an AQI of 117, 189 and 130, respectively. Shivaji Nagar recorded 'poor' air quality, with an AQI of 203. According to data from the SAMEER app, Navi Mumbai recorded air quality in the 'moderate' category with an AQI of 140, while Thane registered a 'good' AQI of 90. The air quality index from 0 to 100 is considered 'good', 100 to 200 'moderate', 200 to 300 'poor', 300 to 400 'very poor' and from 400 to 500 or above 'severe'. Meanwhile, as air pollution levels continue to rise in Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has revised guidelines issued last year for construction sites. The civic body will also form squads at the ward level to visit construction sites and act if guidelines are flouted. Sensor-based air pollution monitoring systems will be installed at all construction project work sites and immediate action to be taken if pollution levels are detected above the limit.
16 December,2024 09:12 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAs the curtains get ready to come down on 2024, Colaba residents are looking towards welcoming a clean Colaba Causeway in 2025. A group of locals met at a park opposite the Garden hotel in Colaba on Sunday, December 15, morning to chart out the road ahead to remove hawkers from the Causeway to another location and leave the space open for walking. Though residents seemed determined to see this happen by next year, some context is important to explain a festering problem. The hawkers on one side of the footpath at Causeway have almost obliterated walking space. For years now, there have been certain so-called ‘solutions’ being touted about where to move these hawkers. One of these proposals is to shift all hawkers from the Causeway to the wide pavement outside the museum. Difficult mix On Sunday, the meet began with residents claiming that a substantial amount of illegal hawkers had become part of this space, including, “riff-raff persons. This is now not just about pedestrian space paucity only; it has become dangerous. Recently, we had a pervert following women right to their doors. Thankfully, he has been nabbed. Criminal elements, parking mafioso, traffic rules being flouted with impunity, all this is now part of the Colaba mix,” they stated. Residents Pervez Cooper and Subhash Motwani who were anchoring the meeting pointed to, “immense difficulty in getting the cops to file a FIR in certain cases. It is very difficult for senior citizens. Activists who are empowered as they know procedure and law do manage but a common person struggles.” Smart stalls Former BJP corporator Makarand Narwekar said, “There is certain litigation pending, so ‘smart stalls’ for legal hawkers on the Causeway may be an interim measure before we can move them. Smart stalls are specially designed stalls with an awning, it is on wheels. We had provided one to a hawker. We are planning to give this to other legal hawkers so that the Causeway looks spruced up and uniform. My wish too though is to see that the entire group of hawkers is moved and the place freed up.” Narwekar sought to assure irked residents who said they wanted a “timeframe” for hawker removal stating, “it will happen. We will have meetings at least once with you all every month to take note of progress and problems if any.” Yet, there were residents who thought that “giving smart stalls may mean the hawkers will be at the Causeway permanently.” Others pointed out that new lights in Colaba, “has meant hawkers are carrying on selling their wares at times till 12 am.” Narwekar reiterated the “smart stalls” are temporary, these “stalls are on wheels and when we fulfill the bigger aim of placing the legal hawkers elsewhere, they can move with these stalls itself as they are on wheels.” Jetty jitters Locals pointed out traffic menace including double parking and pay ’n’ park goons, who are lording over places in the area. “The traffic cops are at times seen having ‘chai’ with these elements, how then are they going to nab them?” they asked angrily. There was yet another question about a “proposed jetty” supposed to come up near the Radio Club and Gateway of India as an adjunct to the current one. There are substantial jetty jitters as locals feel there will be a torrent of more tourist traffic and road problems with the new jetty. Narwekar though said, “there is no new marina planned here but the jetty will be in Ballard Estate.” There were demands for a “time frame” for this clean up to happen. Locals stressed they were not against people making a livelihood but they must do so in a correct and legal manner.
16 December,2024 07:30 AM IST | Mumbai | Hemal AsharMehdi Hasan, who was stranded in Syria amid an ongoing civil war, safely returned home on Saturday morning after being evacuated earlier this week. mid-day had highlighted the ordeal of Hasan and 74 other Indians—including 44 people from Kashmir—who were evacuated and transported to Beirut, Lebanon, on December 10. Among the evacuees, Hasan was the sole individual from Mumbai. Mehdi Hasan Upon his return, Hasan expressed his gratitude and said, “I sincerely thank mid-day and the Indian government for facilitating my safe return. The embassies in Syria and Lebanon were extremely helpful in ensuring the safety of all Indians, including myself, who were stranded in Syria.” Narrating his journey Sharing details of his journey, Hasan said, “The Indian Embassy in Syria evacuated 75 Indians, including me, from Syeda Zaynab via road and shifted us to Beirut. Once there, the Indian Embassy in Beirut ensured our safety by accommodating us in a good hotel, providing food and water, and assisting us with documentation and formalities. A flight ticket was then arranged for me and others. I started my journey a day earlier, travelling via Jeddah, and finally arrived home on Saturday morning.” MEA statement Following the evacuation, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated: “The Government of India evacuated 75 Indian nationals from Syria, including 44 ‘zaireen’ from Jammu & Kashmir stranded at Saida Zaynab. All evacuees have safely crossed into Lebanon and will return to India via commercial flights. The evacuation was coordinated by the Indian embassies in Damascus and Beirut, prioritising the safety of Indian nationals abroad. Those still in Syria are advised to stay in touch with the Indian Embassy in Damascus through the helpline (+963 993385973, also on WhatsApp) and email ([email protected]).” Hasan’s experience Hasan, a tour coordinator based in Iraq who organises pilgrimages to the holy city of Karbala, was visiting the holy shrine of Syeda Zaynab to mark the mourning period for the martyrdom of Fatema Zahra, the daughter of Prophet Muhammad. It was during this visit that he learned of the rebel takeover of prominent cities and witnessed the unrest unfolding in Syria. Recalling the journey from Syria to Lebanon, Hasan said, “The road journey was long due to massive traffic congestion, particularly at the Syria-Lebanon border. It took several hours to reach the hotel arranged by the Indian Embassy in Beirut. Along the way, I saw many people heading toward the border—possibly Lebanese citizens returning home as conditions in Syria normalized or Syrians migrating to Lebanon with their belongings.” Gratitude and relief Reflecting on his safe return, Hasan said, “My mother, relatives, and friends, who were all deeply worried for me, are now relieved and happy that I am back home safely. They have expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the Indian embassies in Syria and Beirut, the Indian government, and the Ministry of External Affairs for their tireless efforts in ensuring the safe return of Indians.”
16 December,2024 07:20 AM IST | Mumbai | Asif RizviThe Bombay High Court has granted bail to a 35-year-old man, convicted for killing his father, noting he is mentally unsound and suffering from schizophrenia. A division bench of Justice Bharati Dangre and Justice Manjusha Deshpande, in its December 12 order, suspended the life sentence imposed on the man and granted him bail pending hearing of his appeal against conviction. The convict, who was well educated, had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and was on psychotropic medication, the court noted. “The mental status examination clearly reflects that he continues to mutter to himself and suffers from mood swings and there is specific reference to his speech, sometimes being coherent and sometimes irrelevant and his judgement being impaired,” the HC said. The bench said mental health is a state of well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realise their abilities, to learn well and work well. The bench had earlier directed that the convict, lodged at the Yerwada prison in Pune, be evaluated by a psychologist. The psychologist’s report stated the convict was suffering from schizophrenia. The HC bench said prima facie it was convinced that the trial court had failed to consider the accused’s mental illness. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
16 December,2024 07:17 AM IST | Mumbai | AgenciesThe Central and Western Railway have each added over 100 general class coaches to multiple pairs of mail/express trains within a year to boost the capacity of trains carrying an increased number of unreserved passengers. The Railways, over the last few years, have received sharp criticism following the introduction of high-end Vande Bharat trains and increasing the number of first-class and AC coaches. Following this, to meet the growing demand for general coaches, a special manufacturing programme was launched, aiming to produce 12,000 general coaches. Out of this, more than 900 have already been added this financial year, with a target of manufacturing 10,000 more, ensuring convenience for unreserved category passengers. As a policy, the railways have now emphasised on maintaining a ratio of 2:3 for non-AC coaches and 1:3 for AC coaches. “One hundred and seventeen additional general coaches have been added to 37 pairs of mail/express trains running on CR with 79 trains. These are benefitting more than 10,000 additional passengers daily. The changes, which started in June and July 2024, gathered pace in November 2024 with an addition of 81 coaches in 26 trains that month, and we hope to augment the coaches further to better serve the passengers at large,” Central Railway (CR) chief public relations officer Dr Swapnil Nila said. According to Vineet Abhishek, Western Railway’s chief public relations officer, in view of the ever-increasing demand of the general public towards rail travel, the process to augment additional general coaches is going on in all rail zones and divisions across the country. “In this sequence, the Western Railway has added almost 150 new additional coaches of general category in 78 pairs of trains in the last six months, i.e., from July to December. Thousands of additional passengers are being benefited from this every day,” he said. Overall, Indian Railways has augmented 385 pairs of trains with 957 second-class or general seating coaches being attached to 635 rakes.
16 December,2024 07:14 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarA fire broke out at a commercial building—Poonam Chambers—in Worli on Sunday morning, officials said. No injuries have been reported in the incident. Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) officials said that eight fire engines and six water jet vehicles were dispatched to the site. They said though the fire was not major, smoke stuck in the glass-facade building created a challenge, adding that it took them over four hours to extinguish the fire. According to the civic disaster control report, the fire was reported at 11.39 am on Sunday on the second floor of the seven-storey commercial building, which is located opposite Atria Mall. The fire was extinguished by 3.54 pm. Chief Fire Officer Ravindra Ambulgekar told mid-day that the firefighters had to break glasses to discharge smoke from the building. He added that an investigation will be done into the cause of the fire as well as internal fire fighting systems inside the commercial building. The fire was confined to the Rajshree Production Studio—an approximately 12,000 to 13,000 square foot area—on the second floor of the ground plus seven-storey building, said officials. “The fire was very small, but the smoke was dense as there was no chance to remove it from the building. There is a possibility that the fire was detected after smoke spread,” said a fire official who was at the spot. He added that due to the weekend, all offices were shut, so no one got injured in the incident. Another official speaking to mid-day said that prima facie it seems that the fire started from an air conditioner. “There is a possibility that fire started due to a short circuit,” he said.
16 December,2024 07:09 AM IST | Mumbai | Sameer SurveLess than a week after the Kurla bus tragedy, Dikshit Rajput, a 27-year-old was crushed to death by a wet-lease BEST bus near the Shivaji Nagar junction in Govandi on Saturday. The family members of the youth have demanded that the undertaking’s contract drivers be trained rigorously to avoid such mishaps. Rajput was a member of the non-teaching staff at a reputed college in Vidyavihar. He is survived by his mother, father and younger brother. The Deonar police have registered an FIR and have also apprehended the driver Vinod Rankhambe, 39. Navnath Dhavale, DCP, Zone VI, said, “Rajput was taken to Rajawadi hospital where the doctors declared him dead. During the investigation, it was learnt that he had come in contact with the tyre of a BEST bus. We are investigating the matter and action will be taken according to the law.” (From left) Dikshit Rajput’s mother, Laxmi; father Vinod; and brother Vivek at their residence on Sunday. Pic/Rajesh Gupta According to Vivek, 26, the brother of the deceased, at the time of the incident, around 11.30 pm, Rajput was heading home from a party on his two-wheeler after dropping a friend off at Govandi and collecting a food parcel for his family. “Around 12.30 am on Sunday, my mother received a call and the police officer stated that my brother had met with an accident. By the time we reached the hospital, the doctors had declared him dead,” he said. “The bus was proceeding to Kurla bus station from Shivaji Nagar. The bus was operated by the BVG Group under the wet-lease model,” said a BEST official. Vivek told mid-day that the BEST must ensure its bus drivers are sufficiently trained. “This is the second such instance since the Kurla tragedy where life has been lost due to negligence. Before handing over heavy electric vehicles to outsourced drivers, the authorities must provide them with proper training. We demand strict action against all the accused.” A senior officer attached to the Deonar police said, “Rankhambe has around 15 years of experience in driving and was not drunk when the accident took place. We are investigating the root cause of the accident. We have examined CCTV footage but have not reached any conclusion as it was not clear. We have seized the bus.” The police are looking into whether he had been adequately trained before being allowed to operate the vehicle. Rankhambe has been booked by the Deonar police under Sections 106 (causing death by negligent or rash driving), 125 (an act endangering the life or safety of others) and 281 (rash and negligent driving) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The police officer said, “An eyewitness has stated that a person on an Activa [Rajput] had landed in front of the rear tyre of the bus. It might have been difficult for him to control the two-wheeler as it was dark. However, we are investigating the incident.”
16 December,2024 07:03 AM IST | Mumbai | Apoorva AgasheADVERTISEMENT
