Following a major goof up of work on the Airoli-Katai naka road over the bridge at Airoli last night trans-harbour local train services have been suspended since 7:10 am leading to huge inconvenience for commuters. Sources said the girders placed last night have been found to be tilted, triggering safety concerns. Confirming the incident, Central Railway’s Chief Public Relations Officer, Dr Swapnil Nila, said, “MMRDA had taken a block from 1.00 to 4.00 at night on the trans harbour line to launch girders between Thane and Airoli. It has been noticed that the girders launched are tilted. The traffic is suspended from 7.10 because of this.” The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) had undertaken the night block to install ten girders between Airoli and Rabale. As of now, the MMRDA has not issued an official statement on the matter. Restoration work to rectify the tilted girders began at 8:15 am. Authorities estimate that it may take about an hour to complete.
09 May,2025 08:58 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarThree women from Powai were among six people who died in a helicopter crash during the Char Dham Yatra near Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand. The incident occurred on Thursday morning near the Rishikesh-Gangotri National Highway in Uttarkashi. Vijayalaxmi Reddy, 57, a resident of Galleria Central Avenue Society The deceased women have been identified as Vijayalaxmi Reddy, 57, a resident of Galleria Central Avenue Society, Powai, Ruchi Agrawal, 56, a resident of Odyssey 2, Hiranandani Gardens, Powai, Kala Chandrakant Soni, 61, a resident of Golden Oak, High Street, Hiranandani Gardens, Powai. The other deceased are chopper pilot Robin Singh from Gujarat, Radha Agrawal from Uttar Pradesh, Vedavati Kumari from Andhra Pradesh, and the injured survivor is Bhaskar, 51, who is from Andhra Pradesh. Bhaskar sustained injuries and was shifted to AIIMS Rishikesh for further treatment. Kala Chandrakant Soni, 61, a resident of Golden Oak, High Street, Hiranandani Gardens. Pics/Arranged by Rajesh Gupta According to police officials, the crash occurred at around 8.40 am shortly after the helicopter took off from Kharsali Helipad near Yamunotri. It crashed near the Ganganani Nagraja Temple, approximately 200–250 metres down a gorge on a hillside near a village. The rescue operation was carried out by the state disaster response force (SDRF), the army, and local police with assistance from villagers.
09 May,2025 08:26 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirish VaktaniaPolice have seized fake Indian currency notes with a face value of more than Rs 45 lakh in the district and arrested six people, a police officer said on Thursday in Bhiwandi. Counterfeit notes were being printed at the office of a transport company in Bhiwandi town, Deputy Commissioner of Police (crime) Amarsingh Jadhav told reporters on Thursday. Acting on a tip-off, a Bhiwandi crime branch team on May 3 laid a trap at Avchitpada, and seized fake currency notes of Rs 500 denomination with a face value of Rs 30 lakh from Suraj Tanaji Shende, Bharat Valku Sase and Swapnil Jagdish Patil. Two days later, Ramdas Shalik Dalvi, Vijay Karnekar alias Vicky, and Shekar Ramdas Battin were held and another Rs 15,50,000 in counterfeit currency were seized, the DCP said. 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
09 May,2025 08:21 AM IST | Mumbai | AgenciesMaharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Thursday that the state has the most advanced cybersecurity facilities in the country and stressed the need for citizens to be aware of online crimes. Fadnavis was speaking at the launch of Maharashtra Cyber’s artificial intelligence chatbot and cyber awareness documentary. Maharashtra Cyber is a cybercrime detection agency under the state police force. It serves as a nodal office for cybercrime investigation and cybersecurity maintenance in the state. “Maharashtra has the most advanced cybersecurity facilities in the country. Through this (chatbot and documentary), efforts are being made to protect people from cybercrimes and human trafficking,” Fadnavis said. A documentary on cybersecurity was shown on this occasion. Actor Sharad Kelkar and actress Amisha Patel are part of this documentary in Marathi and Hindi. The Maharashtra Cyber’s chatbot is linked to its 1945 helpline. Information regarding cybercrime and how to file a complaint will be available in this chatbot. There are a large number of calls related to cyber fraud, and all of them need to be answered with caution, the CM said. “Therefore, chatbots and documentaries are important to answer such calls and provide information to citizens. Awareness is necessary to prevent cybercrimes before they happen. The participation of actors like Sharad Kelkar and actress Amisha Patel in such work will send a good message to citizens,” he added. Public awareness should also be created in the future to prevent incidents like people being taken abroad on the pretext of providing employment and sold there, he said. The Maharashtra Cyber should undertake public awareness activities to stop inhuman forms like human trafficking, he said. Kelkar said it was necessary to create awareness about cybercrime and cybersecurity. “I am happy to be a part of this initiative, and this will create awareness on a large scale. The cyber security helpline number launched by Maharashtra Cyber is useful in the present times,” he said. Patel said in this era of digitisation, it was necessary to curb the incidents of cybercrime. 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
09 May,2025 08:19 AM IST | Mumbai | AgenciesThe compensation for rain-related damage under current rules is inadequate and the Maharashtra government should offer a special package to the fisherfolk community in Palghar district, local MP Hemant Savara said on Thursday. Unseasonal rains, accompanied by strong winds, caused major damage to boats, nets and fishing equipment on Tuesday night while the roofs of a number of houses were blown off, he said in a release after visiting some of the affected villages. “The assistance provided for the damaged boats under the current government rules is very inadequate,” he said, adding that he has approached Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the fisheries department seeking a special financial package on the lines of one announced after Cyclone Tauktae struck the Maharashtra coast. The damage to houses and agriculture in other talukas of the district is also serious, the MP said. A team of senior officials has been sent to survey the areas affected by unseasonal rains, a government release said earlier in the day. Rain accompanied by strong winds claimed one life and damaged nearly 800 houses and 50 boats on Tuesday night, officials said. Moreshwar Lohar, 65, died after stepping on a live electric wire that had fallen during the storm at Vedi village. He had gone to graze his goats when the accident occurred, a local police official said.
09 May,2025 08:14 AM IST | Palghar | AgenciesMumbaikars and nature lovers who have been eagerly waiting to witness the breathtaking view of the Gorai Creek from a watchtower erected in the creek, and to walk along a 740-metre-long boardwalk passing through the mangrove forest, will have to wait at least one more month. The opening of the Gorai mangrove park has been delayed as finishing work is still pending. The project, with an estimated cost of Rs 33.43 crore, was initially expected to open on May 1. An official from the Mangrove Cell of the Maharashtra Forest Department said, “The work on the ambitious mangrove park project at Gorai is progressing at a fast pace. Final touches are being given, and the installation of signage is also underway. If things proceed as planned, the entire work will be completed in a month’s time, following which the park will be opened to the public.” Watchtower facing the Gorai creek On March 1, mid-day had published a report titled Mumbaikars can walk through Gorai’s mangrove forest from May 1. The Mangrove Park is spread across eight hectares. Once operational, the park will offer mangrove trails and a bird observatory. These will be organised with the help of naturalists, who will educate visitors about the mangrove ecosystem and its biodiversity. The park will feature a touch-based information system providing virtual reality content on the flora and fauna of mangrove ecosystems. Mumbai is home to over 50 km² of mangroves—likely the highest among major cities worldwide. These forests are also highly effective natural defenders of coastal cities and marine ecosystems, a fact that was widely recognized only after the disasters of the 2004 tsunami and the 2005 floods. The project has been designed and constructed with an eco-sensitive approach to ensure minimal impact on the fragile mangrove environment. According to officials, every aspect of the park from planning and material selection to construction methods has been carefully curated to align with sustainable and environmentally responsible practices. Not a single mangrove tree was cut during the construction. Instead, they have been seamlessly incorporated into the design, ensuring the park enhances and protects the natural habitat rather than disturbing it.
09 May,2025 08:10 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavThe police have registered a case against five men for allegedly drugging and raping a 21-year-old woman at Kalyan in Thane district, a police officer said on Thursday. Two women friends of the victim have also been named in the FIR filed on May 6 at the Kalyan Taluka police station in connection with the incident that took place on March 25, they said. “The victim resides with her grandmother at Titwala in Thane district and works at a construction company in Kalyan. After an argument with her grandmother on March 19, the woman went to stay with her woman friend at another locality in Titwala. Another woman friend, too, lived in the vicinity,” a police officer said, quoting the complaint. After staying there for about a week, the victim decided to return home and told her friend about it. The latter then called a man she was acquainted with, asking him to drop her home. The man brought a car in which four of his male friends were already present. The victim’s two women friends also accompanied them, he said. However, instead of heading towards her residence, the car proceeded to a company in Kalyan. When the victim asked them why they were taking a different route, the driver told her that they were going to see the construction of a chawl and would drop her off afterwards, the complaint said. They then took her to a room, where her woman friend allegedly injected her with a sedative substance due to which she fell unconscious. When she regained consciousness four days later, she found herself in a naked state in the restroom of the house. She realised that the men in the car had sexually assaulted her, it added. The accused then threatened to kill her if she told anyone about the incident or approached the police. The victim managed to return home and narrated her ordeal to her grandmother. After discussions with her relatives, she lodged a complaint against the five men and her two women friends, the police officer said. Based on her complaint, the police have registered a case against the seven accused under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, he said. Nobody has been arrested so far, and the police are carrying out a probe, he added. 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
09 May,2025 08:06 AM IST | Mumbai | AgenciesWhile residents of Ghatkopar have long waited for their own natyagruha (auditorium), the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has failed to open the Pant Nagar natyagruha for the past eight years. According to civic records, the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) handed over the building to the BMC in 2017. Since then, the facility has remained shut. In the 2024 Assembly elections, the auditorium's parking area was used as a polling booth. “The natyagruha was handed over to the BMC under the built-up amenity programme,” said a BMC official. Under this scheme, when a reserved amenity plot is developed, the concerned authority is required to hand over a portion of the plot to the BMC post-development. The auditorium has a seating capacity of 249. Sources said the BMC attempted to appoint an agency to run the facility in 2022, but the plan fell through due to financial disagreements—the interested party was unwilling to share revenue with the BMC. The civic body has now decided to invite fresh expressions of interest to operate the natyagruha. An officer involved in the project said, “We are working to open the natyagruha soon. As it has remained closed since 2017, some minor repairs are needed. Once that is done, we will invite proposals to manage the facility.” Locals Speak Bhalchandra Shirsat, Former corporator‘It has been 8 years since this natyagruha was handed over to the BMC, but it still hasn’t opened. This is badly needed by local residents—not just in Ghatkopar but also in nearby areas like Vidyavihar and Vikhroli.’ Tejal Vyas, Gujarati artist‘Auditoriums are a need not only for artists but also for audiences. The BMC must ensure good management, cleanliness, and proper infrastructure like a stage and seating. People are willing to pay, but the service must be up to the mark.’ Sachin Manjrekar, a Pant Nagar resident‘I don’t understand why the BMC hasn’t opened the natyagruha yet. Ghatkopar doesn’t have any civic-run facility like this. The only one in the eastern suburbs is in Mulund. Even though it’s small, this auditorium would be perfect for local drama and cultural groups.’ Kamlesh Kapasi, committee member of the Jhalawar Jain Sangh‘We’ve been waiting a long time. Ghatkopar has a rich Gujarati-Marathi cultural scene. A facility like this would benefit both amateur and professional drama organisers.’
09 May,2025 08:00 AM IST | Mumbai | Sameer SurveA 23-year-old man, a resident of Parksite in Vikhroli, was arrested by the Vikhroli police last week for allegedly snatching a schoolteacher’s handbag for money. The incident took place in the Kannamwar Nagar area. According to the teacher, Nancy Almeda (name changed), 56, she had gone to Ghatkopar railway station on the afternoon of April 25. As she was heading home, she realised she was wearing a gold chain. “It was my husband’s birthday the previous day, which is why I wore the gold chain, but I felt it might be unsafe, so I removed it and placed it inside my handbag,” she said in her statement. Junaid Khan took a loan from a random online app for the iPhone Almeda reached Vikhroli from Ghatkopar and while walking towards her house, she entered a narrow lane on the service road when the accused on a bike suddenly approached from behind, snatched her handbag, and fled the scene. Nancy immediately approached the police and registered an FIR against the unknown biker. Though the case appeared straightforward, the police began investigating the matter. Crime Branch officials from Unit 7 assisted the Vikhroli police in tracing the accused. “We knew the accused would attempt to sell the gold chain, so we focused on that angle first. The crime scene area was too narrow for a CCTV camera to capture the accused person’s face. Identifying him through the sale of the gold chain was our first major breakthrough, which also helped establish that he was a local,” said a police officer involved in the investigation. However, when the accused, identified as Junaid Khan from Parksite, was arrested and confessed to the crime, his motive left the police somewhat speechless. “He wanted an iPhone but didn’t have the money. His father works as a welder, and though he is a graduate, he remains unemployed. The urge to own an iPhone drove him to take an online loan using a random financial application. After successfully obtaining the loan, he purchased the iPhone, but repaying it became a challenge as he was still without a job. As the monthly EMIs became due, he struggled to make payments and began receiving warnings from the loan provider. Realising that the situation could escalate if he failed to repay, he became desperate for quick cash,” said the police officer. He had purchased a second-hand iPhone for Rs 35,000, taking out a Rs 40,000 loan from an online mobile application to finance it. Nancy’s gold chain, weighing nine grams, was valued at around Rs 30,000 at the time when she bought it. Khan sold the chain for Rs 55,000 to repay the loan with the interest. A family member of Khan told the police that most of the family members are labourers or wage workers. “They were unaware of what Junaid did. He was often seen sitting with his friends, playing games, or watching videos on his phone. There would be frequent arguments about him not seeking a job despite completing his graduation. The family had no knowledge of him taking a loan for the mobile phone,” said an official. After the arrest, Khan was first remanded to police custody, and then to remanded to judicial custody by the court.
09 May,2025 07:56 AM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya Iyer | Rajesh GuptaAmid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, the Mumbai police are preparing to handle any potential emergency by ensuring all critical systems are operational. As a precautionary measure, they have suspended new leave approvals for constabulary personnel until the situation normalises. While previously approved leaves have not been cancelled, those currently on leave may be recalled if the situation deteriorates further. “These steps have been taken as a precaution to ensure law and order in the city and to be prepared for any untoward incident,” a Mumbai police officer stated. Mumbai police currently has a strength of over 50,000 personnel, with approximately 38,000 in the constabulary ranks and the remainder serving as officers. According to sources, instructions have been issued to ensure that no new leaves are granted, and senior officers have been directed to stay within their respective zones to closely monitor the situation. The Special Branch of the city police is also keeping a vigilant eye on social media to prevent the spread of rumours. Authorities are actively identifying and taking down accounts spreading misinformation, and cases are being registered where necessary. According to sources, Mumbai has around 60 siren systems that were installed after the 1971 war. Of these, only 39 were functional until recently. However, the city police, in coordination with the Civil Defence unit of the Maharashtra Police, have now restored all sirens to working condition. These can be used during emergencies.
09 May,2025 07:48 AM IST | Mumbai | Faizan KhanThe Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) announced on Thursday the increase in bus fares from today (May 9). The BEST had earlier announced that it would soon hike the bus fares. Last week, civic chief Bhushan Gagrani approved the proposal for a fare hike. As per the fare revision approved by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority (MMRTA), the minimum bus fare (for up to five km distance) will be R10 for non-AC buses and R12 for AC buses. The existing minimum fare is Rs 5 for non-AC buses and Rs 6 for AC buses. Currently there are only four stages—5km, 10 km, 15 km, and 20 km—after which the fare does not increase. As per the new structure coming into effect from Friday, passengers of non-AC buses will have to shell out Rs 10, Rs 20, Rs 30, Rs 35, Rs 40, Rs 45, Rs 50, Rs 55, and Rs 60 for the distances of 5 km, 10 km, 15 km, 20 km, 25 km, 30km, 35 km, 40 km, 45 km, and 50 km, respectively. Passengers of AC buses will have to pay Rs 12, Rs 20, Rs 30, Rs 35, Rs 40, Rs 45, Rs 50, Rs 55, Rs 60, and Rs 65 for the distances of 5 km, 10 km, 15 km, 20 km, 25 km, 30km, 35 km, 40 km, 45 km, and 50 km. Beyond 50 km distance, an additional fare of R5 will be charged for every additional 5 km. 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
09 May,2025 07:42 AM IST | Mumbai | AgenciesADVERTISEMENT
