At least 200 parrots have died on the banks of the Narmada River in Madhya Pradesh's Khargone district due to food poisoning, officials said on Friday. The carcasses were found in the last four days near an aqueduct bridge on the riverbank in the Badwah area, and a post-mortem report has ruled out bird flu as the cause, they said. Some parrots were alive during rescue operations, but the toxicity of the food was so severe that they died shortly thereafter, District wildlife warden Tony Sharma said. The deaths triggered panic in the area after a suspected bird flu scare, but veterinary examinations found no trace of the infection. Forest department officials have banned feeding near the aqueduct bridge and deployed staff at the site for strict enforcement. Viscera samples from the birds were sent to Jabalpur for further examination, officials said. According to officials from the veterinary department, food poisoning and improper diet have caused the deaths. Teams from the veterinary and forest departments, as well as the wildlife wing, have been monitoring the area for the past four days after being alerted by residents. Veterinarian Dr Manisha Chauhan, who conducted the post-mortems, said symptoms of food poisoning were found in the parrots, with no indicators of bird flu. People often unknowingly feed birds food that proves fatal to their digestive systems, she said. Veterinary extension officer Dr Suresh Baghel said rice and small pebbles were found in the stomachs of dead birds. Prima facie, the deaths seem to be linked to improper feeding, he said, citing pesticide exposure from feeding in sprayed fields and water from the Narmada River as contributing factors. Visitors to the bridge feeding cooked or leftover food to birds may have proved fatal, officials 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.
02 January,2026 12:45 PM IST | Khargone | PTIAhead of the January 15 civic elections in Maharashtra’s Jalna city, the Mahayuti allies, the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP, are making a concerted push to court Muslim voters by fielding candidates from the community, according to the news agency PTI. Marking a shift from its earlier approach, the BJP has nominated four Muslim candidates in the city. Political observers link this change in strategy partly to the influence of former Congress MLA Kailash Gorantyal, who recently joined the BJP and has been actively working to consolidate Muslim support. While the Mahayuti partners were initially expected to contest the elections jointly, the alliance fell apart at the eleventh hour following disagreements over seat-sharing. The Jalna Municipal Corporation comprises 65 electoral wards. As per PTI, Muslim voters account for nearly 20 to 25 per cent of the electorate in Jalna and wield decisive influence in wards 2, 4, 10 and 11. Among the other Mahayuti partners, Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena has fielded seven Muslim candidates, while the NCP, headed by Ajit Pawar, has nominated 17 candidates from the community. On the other side, the opposition Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP), is contesting the elections as an alliance. The Congress has fielded 51 candidates, including 19 Muslims. Shiv Sena (UBT), despite contesting 13 seats, has not allotted any tickets to leaders from the community, while the NCP (SP) has nominated two Muslim candidates. Meanwhile, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has decided to contest 17 seats in Muslim-dominated areas of Jalna. Its district president, Shaikh Majeed, said people are looking for an alternative and that AIMIM represents their aspirations. Denied ticket, Shiv Sena leader Rajendra Sapte leads protest march in Thane Former Thane deputy mayor and Shiv Sena leader Rajendra Sapte took out a protest march after being denied a ticket for the January 15 civic polls in the city. Sapte, who had sought to contest from ward number 25 (Kalwa), missed out after the seat was allotted to the BJP under the seat-sharing arrangement, reported news agency PTI. The Shiv Sena, led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, has entered into an alliance with the BJP for the January 15 Thane civic polls. A staunch loyalist of the late Anand Dighe, Shinde’s mentor and an immensely popular leader in the undivided Shiv Sena, Sapte led a protest march from Kalwa to Dighe’s memorial on Thursday. According to the PTI, he accused the BJP of taking Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde by surprise and using “blackmail” tactics to secure the Kalwa seat at the eleventh hour. Sapte was earlier elected from Kalwa for four consecutive terms. The nomination process for the elections began on December 23 and ended on December 30. While January 2 (Friday) is the last date for the withdrawal of nominations, the final list of candidates will be published on January 3. Elections to 29 municipal corporations in the state, including the Thane civic body, will be held on January 15, and votes will be counted the following day. (With PTI inputs)
02 January,2026 12:44 PM IST | Jalna | mid-day online correspondentGig workers must be treated as human beings, and not just disposable data points, said Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha on Friday. AAP MP expresses solidarity with New Year’s Eve strike Chadha had extended strong support to gig workers across the country who observed a nationwide symbolic strike on New Year’s Eve, demanding fair wages, better working conditions and social security from major delivery and e-commerce platforms. “I sat down with delivery riders of Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit, etc. This is not a rant. This is a conversation with those whose lives power our everyday comfort,” the AAP MP shared in a post on a social media platform. I sat down with delivery riders of Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit etc. This is not a rant. This is a conversation with those whose lives power our everyday comfort.It’s tragic that millions of delivery riders who helped build instant-commerce companies into what they are today, are… pic.twitter.com/lcFKE8srfu — Raghav Chadha (@raghav_chadha) January 2, 2026 Strike called by gig worker unions across states The nationwide strike, called jointly by the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) and the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT), saw thousands of delivery partners across several states log off their apps or reduce work significantly. The protest impacted services on one of the busiest commercial days of the year, with reports of delays and cancellations in multiple cities. ‘Forced to protest just to be heard,’ Chadha says “It’s tragic that millions of delivery riders who helped build instant-commerce companies into what they are today are now forced to protest just to be heard,” Raghav Chadha said. He noted that the quick delivery platforms succeeded with the sweat and labour of the delivery riders and thus must be treated as human beings. “These platforms didn’t succeed because of algorithms alone. They succeeded because of human sweat and labour,” Chadha said. ‘Gig economy cannot become exploitation economy’ “It’s time companies start treating riders as human beings, not disposable data points. The gig economy cannot become a guilt-free exploitation economy,” he added. Earlier, speaking to IANS, Chadha highlighted concerns over low and unpredictable pay, long working hours, lack of social security and absence of dignity at work. ‘They are humans, not robots,’ says AAP leader “They are humans, not robots or bonded labour. They are also someone’s father, son, husband or brother,” he said, highlighting concerns over low and unpredictable pay, long working hours, lack of social security and absence of dignity at work. He also spoke against the pressure created by ultra-fast delivery models, stating that the “10-minute delivery torture” was taking a toll on workers’ physical and mental health. (With inputs from IANS)
02 January,2026 12:43 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe Federation of All India Farmer Associations (FAIFA) on Friday said the government's move to levy additional excise duty on tobacco products will hurt farmers' income and exacerbate smuggling in a market already grappling with illicit trade. The finance ministry last month notified excise duties of Rs 2,050-8,500 per 1,000 cigarette sticks depending on length, effective February 1, under the Chewing Tobacco, Jarda Scented Tobacco and Gutkha Packing Machines (Capacity Determination and Collection of Duty) Rules, 2026. FAIFA, representing growers across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Gujarat, said the duty increase contradicts the government's assurances of revenue-neutral tax reform. "We are shocked to see that the promise has not been kept, and instead a sharp increase in taxes has been notified, at the cost of farmers' livelihoods," FAIFA President Murali Babu said in a statement. The farmers' body warned that higher retail prices will reduce legal cigarette consumption, hurting demand for domestically-grown tobacco and potentially creating a glut in the crop market. *TAX DISPARITY*FAIFA also said that India's tax regime discriminates against Flue-Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco used in cigarettes, with per-kilogram taxation over 50 times higher than for 'beedis' -- hand-rolled cigarettes popular among lower-income consumers -- and over 30 times higher than chewing tobacco. FCV tobacco attracts more than Rs 6 in tax per dose in finished products, while beedis and chewing products face less than one paisa per dose, the group said.India has emerged as the world's fourth-largest illicit cigarette market, with illegal products accounting for roughly 26 per cent of total consumption, according to industry estimates cited by FAIFA. The organisation warned that tax-driven price increase will widen the gap between legal and smuggled products, undermining enforcement efforts and reducing government revenue. Sector under pressure FCV tobacco production has remained largely flat over the past decade, with auctioned quantities at 304.21 million kg in 2023-24 compared with 315.95 million kg in 2013-14, FAIFA data showed. Cultivation area has fallen from 2,21,385 hectares in 2013-14 to 1,22,257 hectares in 2020-21, resulting in an estimated loss of nearly 35 million man-days of employment across the farming and auction ecosystem. Rising input costs have added to farmer distress. The World Bank's fertiliser price index rose 15 per cent since the start of 2025, with di-ammonium phosphate prices up 23 per cent, while notified agricultural wage rates increased 7 per cent in the 2024-25 fiscal year. FAIFA has urged the government to roll back the excise duty and implement revenue-neutral duties that support domestic agriculture while discouraging smuggling. 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.
02 January,2026 12:30 PM IST | New Delhi [India] | PTIA severe cold wave accompanied by dense fog conditions continued to affect large parts of north, central and eastern India on Friday, disrupting daily life and transport services, while heavy snowfall persisted in the higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir. In Uttarakhand, the holy city of Haridwar woke up to a thick layer of fog amid intensifying cold conditions. Cold winds have been prevailing since morning, forcing residents to seek warmth. Vehicular movement on the national highway slowed significantly due to reduced visibility as the fog blanketed the city. In Uttar Pradesh, fog and cold wave conditions were reported across several cities. Agra witnessed comparatively lighter fog, allowing clear views of the Taj Mahal. Visuals from the Taj View Point ADA showed the monument visible despite the fog. At the same time, a layer of fog enveloped Agra city, while Prayagraj was engulfed by a thick layer of fog amid intensifying cold wave conditions. Dense fog prevailed in Kanpur, where people were seen huddling around bonfires to keep themselves warm. Similar scenes were reported from Moradabad, which woke up to a layer of fog as the cold wave gripped the city. Visibility also reduced sharply in Ayodhya, where a dense blanket of fog covered the city, while Varanasi continued to reel under cold wave conditions, as visuals emerging from Assi Ghat clearly showed. In Madhya Pradesh, a layer of fog blanketed Gwalior city as cold wave tightened its grip. Eastern India also saw severe weather impacts. A thick blanket of dense fog gripped Bhubaneswar, Khurda and several other parts of Odisha on the morning of January 2, 2026, continuing the severe weather pattern that began on New Year's Day. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an Orange Warning for several districts, including Khurda and Cuttack, as visibility dropped to as low as 50 metres in many areas. The "pea-soup" fog caused major disruptions across all modes of transport. Operations at Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) were affected due to poor visibility, while several long-distance trains, particularly those arriving from North India, such as the Rajdhani and Neelachal Express, were running three to ten hours late. Visibility on National Highway-16 remained treacherous. The IMD said the conditions are expected to persist due to high humidity and low wind speeds. In Telangana, a layer of fog was reported in parts of Hyderabad, including Himayath Nagar, as the cold wave gripped the city. Fog also engulfed Hyderabad this morning amid intensifying cold conditions. In the Kashmir Valley, cold wave conditions continued as temperatures dropped further. Tourists were seen at Dal Lake in Srinagar. One tourist said, "We have been here for the past three days. First, we went to Pahalgam, where we witnessed a little snowfall. We celebrated our New Year here (Srinagar), but there was no snowfall. The weather is pleasant, and we are enjoying that there is no pollution here. I liked it here, and we are enjoying this weather." Meanwhile, heavy snowfall continued in the Pir Panjal ranges of Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir, further intensifying winter conditions in the region. 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.
02 January,2026 12:16 PM IST | New Delhi [India] | ANIA 50-year-old man was allegedly stabbed to death following a minor altercation in north Delhi’s Adarsh Nagar area on January 1, police said on Friday. According to the news agency ANI, the victim worked as a tailor in Shastri Nagar. According to the police, the incident occurred within the jurisdiction of Adarsh Nagar police station. A child in conflict with law (CCL) allegedly stabbed Bihari Lal during a verbal dispute. The juvenile, a Class 9 school dropout, reportedly told the police that he attacked the victim in a fit of rage after being verbally abused. Police further stated that an accomplice, a resident of D-Block, Azadpur, allegedly assaulted the victim by kicking him during the incident, reported ANI. The injured man was immediately shifted to Babu Jagjivan Ram Memorial (BJRM) Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead. The police have apprehended the juvenile accused, and the weapon of offence has been recovered from his possession. Efforts are currently underway to trace and arrest the second accused. As per the ANI, a case has been registered vide FIR No. 02/26 under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at PS Adarsh Nagar. Further investigation into the matter is in progress, police added. Earlier, the Crime Branch WR-II team had busted a gang involved in bank loan fraud, leading to the arrest of three individuals, police said on Thursday. The three accused have been identified as Atul Agarwal, Ajay Chaurasia and Deepak Dhoundiyal. The accused posed as government employees, prepared forged identity cards and fake income documents, and fraudulently obtained loans from various banks. Mumbai woman attacks former lover with a knife in Santacruz on New Year’s Day In another shocking incident in Mumbai's Santacruz area on New Year's Day, a woman allegedly called her lover to her home and then attacked him with a knife, stabbing him in his private parts. In his statement to the police, the victim said that his girlfriend was married and that they had been in a relationship before her marriage. However, they had separated after she got married Even after her marriage, the woman repeatedly called Joginder and asked him to meet her, but he refused, citing his children as the reason. However, on New Year's Day, the woman deliberately called her former lover to her house and then attacked him with a knife, stabbing him in his private parts. The victim managed to escape from the woman's house and went to the hospital for treatment. The hospital authorities informed the Mumbai police, who then went to the hospital and recorded the victim's statement, reported ANI. He told the police that his former girlfriend had called him to her house on New Year's Day and attacked him with a knife, stabbing him in his private parts. Police have registered a case, and an investigation is underway. Further details are awaited. (With ANI inputs)
02 January,2026 11:32 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday shared an inspirational message on social media, encouraging people to move forward in life with determination, clarity of purpose, and confidence as the new year progresses. In a post on X, the Prime Minister wrote, “I wish that in the coming times, you may achieve success in every one of your endeavours. With determination and willpower, may your resolutions be fulfilled in the new year.” PM Modi also shared a Sanskrit shloka: “Success is certain, make a strong resolve and rid your mind of remorse, with an alert mind move ahead on the path to prosperity.” (loosely translated from Sanskrit). By drawing from Sanskrit thought, PM Modi once again sought to connect contemporary aspirations with India’s philosophical traditions, emphasising inner strength and clarity as foundations for success. Earlier on Thursday, Prime Minister Modi conveyed warm greetings to the nation on the occasion of the New Year, extending wishes for peace, prosperity, and overall well-being in society. In another post on X, the Prime Minister said, “Wishing everyone a wonderful 2026! May the year ahead bring good health and prosperity, with success in your efforts and fulfilment in all that you do. Praying for peace and happiness in our society.” The New Year message underlined hopes for collective harmony and individual fulfilment, while also reflecting the Prime Minister’s emphasis on health, prosperity, and social peace as key priorities for the year ahead. In addition, while extending New Year wishes on Thursday, PM Modi shared another Sanskrit shloka highlighting the broader purpose of life. The verse, translated into English, stated that “the goal of life should be to be equipped with qualities such as knowledge, wealth, bravery, power, strength, memory, independence, skill, brilliance, patience, and tenderness.” Taken together, the Prime Minister’s messages over the past two days combined motivational guidance with cultural and philosophical reflections, encouraging citizens to pursue success with resolve while nurturing values that contribute to personal growth and societal well-being. 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.
02 January,2026 10:28 AM IST | New Delhi | IANSMadhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla stated on Friday that the state government is closely monitoring the water contamination incident in Indore and has implemented all necessary measures to ensure proper medical care for those affected, reported news agency ANI. Speaking to reporters, Shukla said Chief Minister Mohan Yadav is personally visiting hospitals, interacting with patients and their families, and reviewing the medical response with doctors. He added that senior minister Kailash Vijayvargiya has been stationed in Indore for the past three days to oversee relief operations and coordinate administrative efforts. "The government will ensure the best possible treatment for all affected people. The reasons behind the water contamination will be thoroughly investigated," the Deputy Chief Minister said, reported ANI. Dy CM Rajendra Shukla said, "The CM is himself meeting patients and their families over there. He is also speaking with doctors. Our senior minister, Kailash Vijayvargiya, has been actively working in Indore for the last three days. The government will ensure the best treatment, and the reasons for the contamination will be investigated..." Shukla stressed that the state administration is working in coordination with health and municipal authorities to contain the situation and prevent any recurrence, while assuring citizens that strict action will be taken against those found responsible. Earlier, Indore Collector Shivam Verma said the initial report suggests water contamination, while authorities continue to assess the situation on the ground."The initial report indicates that the water is contaminated, but we are gathering more information. We have admitted 13 patients. Our survey team is going door-to-door to check for symptoms among people. We are distributing chlorine tablets everywhere," Verma said. He added that the situation is being closely monitored. According to ANI, currently, 201 patients are admitted across private and government facilities, and 71 have been discharged. The number of patients has decreased, but we are keeping an eye on the situation, and whoever is found infected is being treated," he said. Verma further stated that the state government has assured full support to the affected families. "As per the Chief Minister's instructions, free treatment will be provided to the victims, and if they have deposited any money, it will be refunded," he added. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of the incident following reports of multiple deaths linked to contaminated water in the area. "Reportedly, the residents had been complaining about the supply of contaminated water for several days, but the authorities took no action," the NHRC said in a statement, seeking a detailed report from the Madhya Pradesh Chief Secretary within two weeks. (With ANI inputs)
02 January,2026 10:09 AM IST | Maihar (Madhya Pradesh) | mid-day online correspondentContinuing an over three-decade practice, India and Pakistan on Thursday exchanged a list of their nuclear installations under a bilateral pact that prohibits the two sides from attacking each other’s atomic facilities. The exchange of the list came even as the ties between the two countries remain under deep freeze following four-day military hostilities last May. The list exchange took place under the provisions of an agreement on the prohibition of attack against nuclear installations and facilities, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. It was done simultaneously through diplomatic channels in New Delhi and Islamabad. “India and Pakistan today exchanged, through diplomatic channels, simultaneously at New Delhi and Islamabad, the list of nuclear installations and facilities, covered under the agreement on the prohibition of attack against nuclear installations and facilities between India and Pakistan,” the MEA said. The agreement was signed on December 31, 1988, and came into force on January 27 1991. The pact mandates the two countries to inform each other of nuclear installations and facilities to be covered under the agreement on the first of January of every calendar year. “This is the 35th consecutive exchange of such lists between the two countries, the first one having taken place on 1 January 1992,” the MEA said in a brief statement. 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
02 January,2026 06:54 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesThe government has notified February 1 as the date from which additional excise duty on tobacco products, and a health cess on pan masala will be levied, replacing the existing GST compensation cess levy on such ‘sin goods’. A health and national security cess and excise duty on pan masala and tobacco products respectively will be over and above 40 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate, while in case of ‘biris’ it would be on top of the 18 per cent GST rate effective February 1, 2026, as per notifications issued by the Finance Ministry late on December 31, 2025. Cigarettes, depending on length and filter, will be taxed in the range of Rs 2050-Rs 8500 per 1000 sticks. A new MRP-based valuation mechanism has been introduced for tobacco products (chewing tobacco, filter khaini, jarda scented tobacco, gutkha) whereby GST value shall be determined based on the retail sale price declared on the package. An additional excise duty of 91 per cent on gutkha, 82 per cent on chewing tobacco, and 82 per cent on jarda scented tobacco will be levied. Centre’s tax revenues form part of the divisible pool, and 41 per cent of it is shared among the states. Besides, the health cess will be levied on the production capacity of pan masala manufacturing units. Part of the revenue from this cess will be shared with states through health awareness or other health-related schemes/activities. Currently, a 28 per cent GST and a compensation cess at varying rates are levied on all tobacco products, including pan masala, cigarettes, chewing tobacco, cigars, hookah, zarda, and scented tobacco. Meanwhile, the manufacturers of chewing tobacco, gutkha and similar products have been ordered to install a functional CCTV system from February 1, covering all packing machines and preserving the footage for at least 24 months, according to a government notification. Such manufacturers will also have to disclose to excise authorities the number of machines and their capacities, and can also claim abatement in excise duty in case a machine is non-functional for a minimum of 15 consecutive days, according to the Chewing Tobacco, Jarda Scented Tobacco and Gutkha Packing Machines (Capacity Determination and Collection of Duty) Rules notified by the Finance Ministry. The Rules will apply to manufacturers who pack such goods in pouches. “Those manufacturing in other forms [such as tins] have to pay the applicable duty on assessable value,” an FAQ released by the Ministry 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
02 January,2026 06:51 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesA woman was killed after her scooter was hit by a speeding car on the Ratnapur–Nagpur National Highway in Latur, Maharashtra, triggering protests by her family members, news agency PTI reported, quoting the police on Thursday. The accident occurred at Vasantrao Naik Chowk on Wednesday night. The victim, identified as Pratiksha Tarachand Rathod, died on the spot, an officer said. Angered by the incident, Rathod’s kin brought her body in an ambulance onto the highway and staged a ‘rasta roko’, burning tyres, and raising slogans against the authorities. They demanded the immediate arrest of the car driver involved in the accident and urgent safety measures on the highway, PTI reported. Local residents claimed that the stretch between Rajiv Gandhi Chowk and Garud Chowk has witnessed nearly 100 fatalities over time due to high-speed traffic and the absence of speed breakers. Tension prevailed in the area for a few hours before police and civic officials intervened, pacified the protesters, and restored normal traffic movement on the busy arterial road, the officer added. BEST bus collides with truck at Mumbai’s Aarey Colony; one dead, two injured A fatal accident occurred early on New Year’s Day when a wet-lease Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) bus collided with a private truck at Aarey Colony in Mumbai, leaving the truck driver dead and the bus conductor and driver injured. The incident took place around 6.20 am near Gate No 5 of Aarey Colony. The bus, attached to Vikhroli Depot and operating on route A-478 Sr 33 was en route to Borivali Station. According to officials, the private truck, coming from the opposite direction, lost control on the rain-soaked road. The truck’s tyre reportedly slipped, causing the vehicle to veer towards the bus and hit its front-right portion near the driver’s cabin. BEST bus driver Mohammad Rafiq Shaikh (48) sustained a head injury on the left side due to the front windshield breaking, along with injuries to his right leg and knee. The conductor, Ravindra Pandurang Shembadkar (56), has suffered minor injuries to his left hand and left leg. The private truck driver, Cheharaj Thakur (30), a resident of Gujarat, sustained severe injuries and died during treatment. All the three—the bus driver, conductor, and truck driver—were immediately rushed to Trauma Care Hospital in Jogeshwari East. The BEST driver underwent a CT scan and is reported to be fully conscious and stable, while the conductor is recovering from minor injuries. (With PTI inputs)
01 January,2026 09:11 PM IST | Latur | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
