Four people suffered injuries in a house collapse incident in the Juhu area of Mumbai on Friday evening. According to Santacruz Police, the incident took place at Manikji Cooper High School on Juhu Tara Road at 7.25 pm. During the demolition work of the school, some part of the pillar fell on the adjoining chawl. The injured were taken to Cooper Hospital. While the condition of a 24-year-old injured man is said to be critical, two others have been discharged after treatment, Dr Walke, the administrative medical officer (AMO) of the hospital said. Another injured, a 28-year-old man, has been kept under observation in the hospital.
31 January,2025 08:51 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Directorate of Forensic Science Laboratories in Maharashtra has reported a significant increase in forensic case receipts, marking a 22 per cent rise in 2024. The number of cases handled by the Directorate surged from 20,658 in January 2024 to 25,258 by December 2024. In line with this growth, the Directorate also saw a 40 per cent increase in its analytical capacity, with case analysis figures rising from 16,010 to 22,770 during the same period. To manage the growing caseload and ensure quicker resolutions, the Directorate has focused on recruitment and the integration of advanced technology. In 2024, the Directorate filled 53 positions, including two Deputy Directors, three Assistant Directors, 33 Assistant Chemical Analysts, and 15 Scientific Officers (Cyber). Moreover, the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) has completed the recruitment of 17 Assistant Directors, with ongoing recruitment efforts for Class-3 staff positions. In addition to regular staff, the Directorate has hired 170 forensic experts and 166 Class-4 contract employees to address the surge in cases. Further, the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) is aiding the Directorate by filling remaining vacancies. The Directorate’s efforts are also focused on incorporating cutting-edge technology to enhance the speed and accuracy of investigations. Among these initiatives are semi-automatic processing solutions and the establishment of a Center of Excellence in Digital Forensics. The integration of state-of-the-art forensic workstations, data collection equipment, and advanced data processing solutions is expected to significantly improve the handling of cybercrime cases, which have become increasingly complex in recent years. In addition to expanding resources, the Directorate has prioritised high-sensitivity cases, particularly those under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, cases involving under-trial prisoners, and court-mandated investigations. These strategic measures are designed to improve the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the Maharashtra Forensic Science Service, ultimately ensuring quicker resolutions for cases that require urgent attention. The Directorate's comprehensive approach to recruitment, technological enhancement, and case prioritisation aims to strengthen the forensic science infrastructure in Maharashtra and support the state's commitment to ensuring justice through timely and accurate forensic analysis.
31 January,2025 08:31 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Central Railway, while sharing Mumbai local train updates, on Friday said that it will conduct special traffic and power blocks for launching of Foot Over Bridge (FOB) main girders between Kalyan and Vangani on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday. In an official statement, the Central Railway shared the details of the block of its Mumbai Division. The block will be operated in 3 sections as per details below: Block Date: - February 1 and 2 (Saturday / Sunday Night) Block Section: - UP and DOWN lines between Kalyan and Badlapur (Excluding stations) - UP and DOWN lines between Ambernath and Vangani (Excluding stations) - Block Duration: 01:30 hrs to 03:30 hrs (2 hours) - Work: Erection of 12 meters wide FOB girders (7 nos) Block Section: - UP and DOWN lines between Badlapur and Vangani (Excluding stations) - Duration: 01:30 hrs to 03:00 hrs (01.30 hours) - Work: Erection of 4 meters wide FOB girders (4 nos) Block Section: - UP and DOWN lines between Karjat and Bhivpuri Road (Excluding stations) - Duration: 02:00 hrs to 03:30 hrs (01.30 hours) - Work: Erection of 2 composite plate girders Repercussions due to the Block: - Diversion of Mail/Express Trains Following trains will be diverted via Karjat – Panvel and will be given halt at Panvel and Kalyan. Train no 11020 (Bhubaneshwar - CSMT Konark Express), Train no 18519 ( Vishakhapatnam – LTT Express), Train no 12702 (Hyderabad – CSMT Hussainsagar Express), Train no 11140 (Hosapete – CSMT Express). Working of Suburban Trains during the block period: Suburban services will not be available between Kalyan and Karjat section during the block period. Last Local for Karjat before block - CSMT departure at 23:51 hrs and Karjat arrival at 01:49 hrs First Local for CSMT after block - Karjat departure at 03:35 hrs and CSMT arrival at 05:56 hrs. First Local for CSMT after block Ambarnath departure 04:08 hrs and CSMT arrival at 05:50 hrs. "These maintenance blocks are essential for infrastructure upkeep and safety. Passengers are requested to bear with the Railway Administration for the inconvenience caused," the Central Railway said.
31 January,2025 08:00 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAs India gears up for Budget 2025, the healthcare sector will be keeping a close eye on the Finance Minister's speech. A day before the budget, on Friday, the Economic Survey was tabled in the Parliament. It mentioned the initiatives that saw technology integration in healthcare delivery for timely diagnoses and recommendations of personalised treatments to telehealth technologies that connect patients and health professionals in a virtual space to improve efficiency and effectiveness. However, it has also highlight a challenge: The adoption of Artificial Intelligence in the Indian healthcare sector faces several challenges, including lack of specialised talent, data complexities and difficulties in scaling up, and requires attention going forward. Further, the Economic Survey has laid emphasis on prioritising mental health and fostering gender inclusivity, not only for the overall well-being but also for enhancing worker productivity. mid-day.com spoke to healthcare experts on their expectations from Budget 2025. Here's what they have to say: Cancer research Dr Sunita Dube, a renowned radiologist and the founder of Medscape India, said funds must be allocated for research on cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, reducing the cost of medicine and taxation. She says, "The current situation of cancer in the country is a cause of national concern. If you don’t consider reducing the cost of the cancer medicine, it will harm the country's productivity." On similar lines, Dr Gaurav Jaswal, the director and consultant radiation oncologist at TGH Onco Life Cancer Center in Talegaon, says that it is necessary to subsidise healthcare technology so that essential products can be increased and there is improvement in public health. "In this upcoming budget, we anticipate increased government investment in cancer care infrastructure to ensure the timely management of patients. This will further reduce the burden on the healthcare system and save many lives. We also look forward to improving funding to expand specialised oncology services, aid early detection programmes, and subsidise advanced treatments, making them more accessible to patients based in even rural areas. With cancer rates rising, it is necessary to take and promote initiatives that support both the treatment and prevention of cancer. Such efforts will not only strengthen the nation's fight against cancer but also provide the required resources to offer cutting-edge care, ultimately improving patient outcomes and survival rates." he said. Healthcare for all According to Dr Dube, the insurance scheme to cover out-of-pocket medical expenses, including non-hospital admission treatments and health check-ups, should be enhanced. “Health should be every citizen's right and the scheme has to be implemented equally,” she says, adding that Budget 2025 must have provision to allocate funds for improving rural healthcare infrastructure, including the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). Dr Jaswal also called for subsiding healthcare as it will help in improving public health, control infectious diseases and can make healthcare spending pro-poor. Dr Rajeev Boudhankar, the medical director of Holy Family Hospital in Bandra, Mumbai, believes that budgetary allocation for both Urban and Rural Health Mission should be increased with focus on primary healthcare and preventive programme. “Preventive health check-ups and health education is one such area that has been neglected in India,” he says. 'Subsidise healthcare technology' Dr Dube says more investment is needed in digital health infrastructure such as telemedicine and health data analytics as the current online support does not have a wide reach. Dr Anil Krishna, the Chairman and Managing Director of Medicover Hospitals (India), also wants Budget 2025 to lay emphasis on integrating advanced technologies such as AI-driven diagnostics for early detection and management of chronic diseases. For Gautam Khanna, the Chief Executive Officer (CEOI) of PD. Hinduja Hospital & Medical Research Centre in Mumbai, digital health transformation should receive significant attention, with expected investments in AI-driven diagnostics, telemedicine infrastructure, and electronic health records. “These technological interventions are crucial for bridging the urban-rural healthcare divide and optimising our limited healthcare resources,” he says. Terming data the “black-gold” of today, Dr Boudhankar explains that there is a lot of data across the healthcare sector including public hospitals, private hospitals, pharma industry, device manufacturing industry, health insurance industry, diagnostic lab industry, ambulance industry, and blood banks across the country which needs to be integrated through digital health solutions. “Better data management will facilitate better health policies and resource distribution, leading to optimal budget allocation and improved healthcare outcomes,” he says. Insurance Khanna believes that apart from technology-driven healthcare, the government must also focus on creating sustainable healthcare solutions. “For meaningful impact, we expect comprehensive reforms in health insurance accessibility, with the Ayushman Bharat scheme expanding beyond its current 34.2 crore beneficiaries through innovative financing models and higher amounts for complex procedures in super-speciality hospitals,” he says. He suggests that tax incentives for private insurance adoption, particularly targeting the middle class, coupled with streamlined digital claim processes, could “revolutionise” healthcare financing. “Substantial allocations for preventive healthcare, including a nationwide network of screening centres and wellness programmes that could fundamentally shift our healthcare approach from curative to preventive will be beneficial for all,” says Khanna. Dr Boudhankar has highlighted that many Indians continue to remain uninsured or underinsured. “Insurance penetration is still very low in India as compared with the rest of the world. Expanding insurance schemes to include outpatient care and subsidising premiums for low-income families can address this gap. GST on health insurance must be abolished to make health insurance affordable,” he believes. Infrastructure "As the Union Budget 2025 is approaching, reforms to enhance public health infrastructure and accessibility for timely intervention should be undertaken by the government. We are hopeful that the government will take certain measures to boost allocations to strengthen rural healthcare services and upgrade district hospitals with state-of-the-art facilities. There is also a rising burden of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and respiratory conditions that need immediate attention. We hope the upcoming budget has provisions for better management of these conditions, including prompt access to medication, affordable healthcare services, and prevention programmes when it comes to high-risk populations," says Dr Krishna. For Sushil Suri, the chairman and managing director of Morepen Laboratories, it is crucial to push for more manufacturing and Research and Development (R&D) to become self-reliant in the healthcare sector. "We anticipate that the upcoming budget will unleash the immense potential of the pharma sector, projected to reach USD 130 billion by 2030 and USD 440 billion by 2047. A streamlined regulatory approval process is essential to enhance investments and productivity. We urge the government to expand the scope of the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme to make it more accessible for the medical technology sector, thereby boosting our manufacturing capabilities. A unified regulatory framework will not only ease business operations but also attract substantial investments, fostering competitiveness within the industry,” he says, demanding timely approvals for new drugs, coupled with a focus on R&D investments.
31 January,2025 07:55 PM IST | Mumbai | Nascimento Pinto | Divya NairThe Central Railway, while sharing Mumbai local train updates, on Friday said that will operate a mega block on its suburban sections on Sunday, February 2. In an official statement, the Central Railway said that it will carry out various engineering and maintenance works during the mega block. It said that there will not be a mega block on the Harbour and Trans Harbour line. Mega block on UP and DOWN FAST Lines between Matunga and Mulund stations from 11.30 am to 3.30 pm The DOWN FAST line services departing CSMT Mumbai from 10.58 am to 03.10 pm will be diverted on DOWN SLOW line at Matunga, halting at their respective scheduled halts between Matunga and Mulund stations and will arrive destination 15 minutes behind schedule. Fast trains beyond Thane will be re-diverted on DOWN FAST line at Mulund, it said. The UP FAST line services departing Thane from 11.25 am to 3.27 pm will be diverted on UP SLOW line at Mulund, halting at their respective scheduled halts between Mulund and Matunga and further re-diverted on UP FAST line at Matunga station and will arrive destination 15 minutes behind schedule. "There will be no Mega Block on Harbour Line between CSMT and Panvel and on Trans Harbour Line between Thane and Panvel," the Central Railway said. It said that these maintenance mega blocks are essential for infrastructure upkeep and safety. Passengers are requested to bear with the Railway Administration for the inconvenience caused. Special Traffic and Power Blocks for launching of FOB main girders between Kalyan and Vangani In an another statement, the Central Railway said that its Mumbai Division will operate Special Traffic and Power Blocks for launching of FOB main girder between Kalyan and Vangani on the intervening night of February 1 and 2 i.e. on Saturday and Sunday. It said that the block will be operated in three sections. Repercussions due to the block: Diversion of Mail/Express Trains Following trains will be diverted via Karjat – Panvel and will be given halt at Panvel and Kalyan. Train no 11020 (Bhubaneshwar - CSMT Konark Express), Train no 18519 ( Vishakhapatnam – LTT Express), Train no 12702 (Hyderabad – CSMT Hussainsagar Express), Train no 11140 (Hosapete – CSMT Express).
31 January,2025 07:38 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA 45-year-old IT professional, Amol Kulkarni, a resident of Sinhagad Road, Ambegaon Budruk, is slowly recovering from Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a condition in which the immune system attacks the nerves. Speaking to mid-day, Kulkarni said, “While playing badminton, I first felt a tingling sensation in my legs. I consulted an orthopaedic specialist two weeks before my GBS diagnosis. The doctor advised tests and prescribed medicines, but on January 16, my lips felt heavy, and one eyelid wouldn’t blink. I called my sister, a medical professional, who suspected paralysis and told me to get admitted.” Rohini Dangad, 9, recovering from GBS at YCM hospital “Despite MRI and CT scans showing nothing, doctors suspected GBS. A specific test confirmed it. I underwent five days of Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy, costing Rs 45,000 per dose after a discount. My facial paralysis stopped after treatment. I was hospitalised for eight days and discharged on January 24. However, I still feel extremely weak and haven’t resumed work. My total treatment cost was Rs 4–5 lakh,” Kulkarni said. People buying filtered water from a Water ATM “In our area, we receive different tankers for drinking water, and we were told that it was properly treated. However, there is no municipal water supply pipeline in our locality. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) had promised to start pipeline connections after multiple follow-ups. Despite paying R17,000 in property tax, we are still deprived of basic amenities,” Kulkarni said. Other case studies Rahul Dangad, a resident of Kirkatwadi Phata near Nanded village on Sinhagad Road, has started treatment for his nine-year-old daughter at YCM hospital. Kirkatwadi has reported a high number of GBS cases, including the second death on Tuesday, that of a 56-year-old woman from the same area. Health officials circulate bleaching powder packs to tankers to clean the water Dangad told mid-day, “My daughter Rohini is in the third standard. She had an upset stomach, vomiting, and loose motions. She couldn’t lift her legs. I took her to a local doctor, but her condition worsened. Since my relatives live in Pimpri, I brought her to YCM. We had no idea about such bacteria.” He added that villagers rely solely on well and canal water, using it for years. Around 80 per cent of Pune’s GBS cases have been linked to a 50-year-old well in Nanded village. Locals speak There were around 12 GBS cases found in DSK Vishwa Dhayari. A township with 3500 flats. Speaking to mid-day Vishwas Shanbag said, “We were all taking utmost care. We use boiled water not only for drinking but also for household chores. There is no need to panic because this is not a new bacterium—the treatment is already available. The situation is nothing like COVID.” Amol Kulkarni, a resident of Sinhagad Road Medha Manohar, an IT and finance professional from Sun City, said, “Since most cases were detected in our surroundings, we are using boiled water for drinking and cooking. We are also cautious about eating outside food.” Sukanya Kulkarni, an architect and classical dancer from Sinhagad Road, said, “Precaution is better than cure. From the day the GBS news spread in newspapers, we have completely avoided outside food and only use boiled water.” Contamination proved The Maharashtra State Public Health Laboratory confirmed bacterial contamination in seven water sources across Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. Of 144 water samples sent for analysis, eight tested positive for bacterial contamination—four from GBS-affected areas in Pune and three from Pimpri-Chinchwad. Municipal Microbiologist and Chief Chemist Prashant Jagtap told mid-day, “Normally, these bacteria are found in untreated water. They are sensitive to heat and chlorine. Borewells and wells were either improperly treated or left untreated, allowing bacterial growth.” Housing societies relying on tanker water are advised to obtain Grade 1 bleaching powder directly from the civic body rather than the market. Civic staff will guide them on its proper use. Jagtap added, “If you have a household water purifier or RO system, it’s sufficient. These bacteria are large and can be filtered out. Boiling water is only necessary if you don’t have a purifier GBS treatment Dr Rajendra Wable, dean of Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial Hospital, said, “GBS is a rare and serious neurological disorder where the immune system attacks peripheral nerves, causing paralysis and respiratory distress. Treatment includes plasmapheresis to reduce nerve damage and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG).” Dr Deepali Ambike, head of the paediatrics department at YCM, said, “An eight-year-old girl was admitted on January 17 with diarrhoea, vomiting, and an inability to stand. A nine-year-old boy was admitted on January 28 with truncal weakness, unable to get up from bed, and a mild fever. Treatment was started immediately, and both are recovering well. The treatment is free of cost.”
31 January,2025 07:14 PM IST | Pune | Archana DahiwalThe police in Maharashtra's Thane district have apprehended a group of six persons, among them two juveniles, for online fraud and cheating, a police official said on Friday, reported the PTI. The accused persons, who hail from Uttar Pradesh, were nabbed from Bhiwandi town on Thursday, an official said. One of the accused, Kaif Israr Sayyed, allegedly duped people online, and proceeds from the crime were transferred to different bank accounts opened by the other accused, police inspector Atul Adurkar said, according to the PTI. He said the accused connived and opened different bank accounts and obtained debit cards and cheque books, the police said. The official said a case has been registered against the accused under relevant provisions of the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) and Information Technology (IT) Act, as per the PTI. Nine Bangladeshis arrested in Thane district for illegal stay Meanwhile, in an another incident, as many as nine Bangladeshi nationals were arrested from a chawl in Maharashtra's Thane district for allegedly staying in the country illegally, the police said on Friday, reported the PTI. Based on a tip-off, the police raided a chawl in the Thakur Pada area of Bhiwandi in Maharashtra on Wednesday afternoon, arrested the group and booked the house owner who rented his premises to them, sub-inspector Rajendra Dongre of Kongaon police station said, as per the PTI. He said the accused failed to produce valid travel and stay documents, and the identity cards recovered from them were fabricated and obtained illegally. The police seized six mobile phones worth Rs 70,000 from the accused, he said. The official said a case has been registered under sections 336 (2) (forgery) and other relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Passport (Entry into India) Act while the house owner has also been made the co-accused. He said further investigations are underway to find out how the accused entered India and whether they are part of a network of illegal immigrants. Authorities have urged house owners to verify tenant documents before renting out their properties to avoid legal action, the news agency reported. (with PTI inputs)
31 January,2025 07:08 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentThe Western Railway on Friday, while sharing Mumbai local train updates, said that it will operate a jumbo block of four hours on the 5th line between Jogeshwari and Kandivali stations. In an official statement, the Western Railway said that to carry out maintenance work of tracks, overhead and signalling equipment, a jumbo block of four hours will be taken on the 5th line from 09.30 am to 13.30 pm on Sunday, February 2. According to issued by Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, Vineet Abhishek, during the block period, all Mail/Express trains originating from Bandra Terminus will run on Down Fast line between Andheri and Borivali stations, hence will be dealt with Platform No. 6 at Borivali station. Due to this, some suburban services will remain cancelled. Detailed information to this effect is available with concerned Station Masters. Passengers are requested to take note of the above arrangements, the Western Railway said. Western Railway completes Phase-I of rebuilding bridge between Mahim and Bandra railway stations Meanwhile, the Western Railway on Monday announced the successful completion of the first phase of bridge No. 20 between Mahim and Bandra railway stations in Mumbai. On the intervening night of January 24-25 and January 25-26, Western Railway took major blocks to rebuild the south abutment of the bridge. In an official statement, the Western Railway said, the major blocks of 9 hrs 30 mins each taken on two successive nights lead to completion of phase-I of rebuilding of the south abutment of Bridge No. 20 on the Mithi River between Mahim and Bandra stations. In the first phase of this work, four sets of RH girders of 20.4 m length, weighing 42 tonnes were launched with cranes. Excavation of approximately 2.5 m was carried out under the railway tracks during the block period, the Western Railway said. This was done through trucks and other machinery on running tracks, as there is no direct approach to the site. The execution work was undertaken with the help of various advanced machines, such as 700 tonne capacity cranes, excavators, dumper trucks, hydra lift, tamping machines etc.
31 January,2025 06:35 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Friday announced that there will be a temporary water supply cut for 30-hours in parts of Mumbai on February 5 and 6, the officials said. The areas including S, L, K East, H East, and G North wards of BMC will be affected during the period, they said. The disruption will take place from 11 am on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, to 5 pm on Thursday, February 6, the BMC said. According to the BMC, the water cut is due to the activation of a new 2400 mm diameter water pipeline between Powai Anchor Block and Maroshi Water Tunnel. The work involves connecting the new pipeline by temporarily disconnecting the existing 1800 mm Tanasa East and West pipelines. The areas affected by the water supply shutdown include parts of the following wards: S Ward: Areas including Shri Ram Pada, Khindi Pada, Milind Nagar, Shivaji Nagar, Bhayander Hill, Gautam Nagar, and others will face a complete water supply shut off on February 5 and 6, 2025. L Ward: Areas such as Kajupada, Sundarbaug, and Maharashtra Katta in Kurla South will experience water disruptions on February 5, 2025. Water supply will be shut off in Kurla North areas on February 6, 2025. G North Ward: Areas like Dharavi Main Road, Ganesh Mandir Road, and AKG Nagar will face water cuts on February 5, 2025. Water supply will be disrupted in other parts of the ward on February 6, 2025. K East Ward: Water supply will be cut off in areas including Marol, Vihar Road, and others on February 5, 2025. International Airport and surrounding areas will face a water supply disruption on both February 5 and 6, 2025. H East Ward: Water supply will be completely shut off in Bandra Terminus and surrounding areas on both February 5 and 6, 2025. "The residents are advised to store enough water in advance before the supply is cut off. During the disruption, people are urged to use water sparingly. After the work is completed, there may be a temporary supply of murky water. For safety, it is recommended that water be filtered and boiled before use," the BMC said.
31 January,2025 06:06 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) in Borivali area of Mumbai is set to launch its leopard safari if everything goes as planned, the officials said on Friday. The announcement was made by the state’s Minister for Information Technology and Cultural Affairs, and Mumbai Suburban District Guardian Minister, Advocate Ashish Shelar. In addition, Shelar has personally adopted two lions from the park for a year. "The minister also adopted two lions, "Bharat" and "Bharati", from the park for a year," said an official. Following the announcement, the tourist visiting SGNP may soon be able to witness a captive leopard safari. Maharashtra's Minister of State for Information Technology and Cultural Affairs, and Guardian Minister for Mumbai Suburbs, Adv. Ashish Shelar visited the park and made the announcement. Minister Ashish Shelar was accompanied by District Collector Rajendra Kshirsagar, Chief Conservator of Forest and SGNP Field Director G Mallikarjun, SGNP Deputy Director (South ) Revati Kulkarni, Assistant Conservator of Forests Sudhir Sonawane, Range Forest Officer Yogesh Mahajan and other officials. At present SGNP has a captive tiger safari and a captive lion safari. It may be noted that SGNP also has a leopard rescue and rehabilitation centre where rescued leopard cubs from various parts of Maharashtra are kept. However, these leopards are not currently available for public viewing due to the lack of a dedicated leopard safari. Shelar has instructed officials to prepare a proposal for a new captive leopard safari, which will require approximately 30 hectares of land and an estimated cost of Rs. 5 crores. The minister has assured that the necessary funds will be allocated from the forest department and district planning committee.
31 January,2025 05:25 PM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentBrihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner and Administrator Bhushan Gagrani inaugurated the three-day Mumbai Flower Festival at Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Botanical Garden and Zoo in Byculla (East) on Friday. The theme of this year's' festival is 'Highlighting the national symbols of India to Mumbaikars through flowers'. A wide variety of plants, flowers, herbs, and spices are on display this year. Gagrani has appealed to Mumbaikars to visit the festival and witness the floral diversity at the event. The festival is organised jointly by BMC and the Tree Authority of India. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Gagrani said, "One feels elated after seeing the flowers. The exhibition will also help tourists with the information they need on conserving and caring about the natural wealth around them." After the inauguration, the municipal commissioner, along with all the senior officials and Mumbaikars, inspected the exhibition. The civic commissioner praised the layout and decoration set up at the festival. He was particularly impressed with the national emblem of India made of leaves. The festival will be open from 8 am to 8 pm till Sunday, February 2. This is the 28th year of the annual Horticulture Expo. In this year's theme of Mumbai Floral Festival, an attractive presentation of India's national symbols has been made with captivating compositions of various flowers. The tricolour made of marigold and teak flowers caught the attraction of the visitors. A replica of the Bharat Ratna has also been made through wooden art. The composition of the mango, which is the national fruit, is made with marigold flowers at the festival while the Ganges Dolphin, the national aquatic animal, is adorned with teak flowers of white and pink hues. Along with this, symbols such as the national flower lotus, national currency rupee, national animal tiger, national tree banyan, the Ashoka pillar, river Ganga, and national bird peacock also attracted the attention of Mumbaikars. There is also an exhibition of garden items and fertilisers. An attractive display of different bonsai species, medicinal plants, crepe paper flowers and a selfie point have also been created. Apart from the floral exhibits, visitors can also buy indigenous and foreign plants at the flower stalls. There are also more than 50 stalls selling agricultural materials, pesticides, sprayers and agricultural implements at these stalls. Day 1 of the festival witnessed witnessed a large footfall of visitors, with most of them appreciating the concept of national emblems, said the Superintendent of the Park, Jitendra Pardeshi. The visitors include school students, photographers and environmentalists.
31 January,2025 04:38 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
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