During routine ticket inspections on Train No. 22150 Pune-Ernakulam Superfast Express, Konkan Railway discovered an unattended bag in B1 coach on Monday. The bag contained cash of Rs 4,933, a wallet, Aadhaar card, ATM and credit cards, keys, charger, data cable, earphones, and other personal items. It was immediately secured and handed over to the Railway Protection Force for further action. Konkan Railway has advised passengers to stay vigilant and report any unclaimed belongings to railway staff to maintain a safe and secure travel environment. Operation Amanat: RPF Andheri returns bag with Rs 1.59 lakh worth of valuables to elderly passenger in Mumbai In a commendable act of honesty and prompt action under Operation Amanat, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) at Andheri returned a bag containing valuables worth Rs 1.59 lakh to an elderly passenger who had accidentally left it behind on a Mumbai local train. According to RPF officers, the incident occurred around 8.30 am on Saturday when assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASI) Lalit Kumar Tripathi and ASI Karan Singh, and constables Ajit Kumar and Shivratan Yadav were on patrol duty on platform No 8 at Andheri Station. Passengers travelling on a Virar–Andheri fast local train informed the personnel about an unattended bag lying in the luggage coach. The RPF team checked the bag in the presence of passengers and found no suspicious items. As no one present claimed ownership, the bag was brought to the RPF Andheri post for further verification. Shortly thereafter, a call was received on the mobile phone found inside the bag. Commuter had left bag behind while changing trains at Andheri The caller informed the RPF that he had been travelling from Vasai Road to Mumbai Central, but as the local train terminated at Andheri, he alighted at the station and, in a hurry to catch another fast local from platform No 7, inadvertently left his bag behind. The passenger was asked to come to the RPF post, following which Vipinbhai Amritlal Asra (75), a resident of Veereshwar Nagar, Vasai West, arrived and identified the bag. Upon verification in his presence, the bag was found to contain a Samsung S24 Ultra mobile phone worth Rs 1.31 lakh, cash amounting to Rs 5,000, a green-coloured bag, old and new clothes, a charger, a savings box and a sweets box, taking the total value of the contents to Rs 1,59,500.
09 February,2026 11:02 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentRiding on Shiv Sena’s strong performance in the Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday said the party’s support in rural areas has grown and public confidence in it has strengthened, reported news agency PTI. Shinde also paid tribute to the late Ajit Pawar, noting that had he been alive, the Mahayuti would have jointly celebrated the electoral victories. Pawar passed away in a plane crash on January 28. Shinde added that the Shiv Sena achieved a hat-trick of victories in the ZP and Panchayat Samiti polls, following its success in the municipal council, Nagar Panchayat, and municipal corporation elections. “In these polls, the people’s trust in the party has increased,” Shinde said, reported PTI. The BJP-led Mahayuti swept the Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti polls in Maharashtra, results of which were declared on Monday, continuing the winning streak that began with the party’s strong performance in the 2024 Assembly elections. Over 1,000 of 1,462 Panchayat Samiti seats won by Mahayuti The Mahayuti won 552 of 731 ZP seats and more than 1,000 of the 1,462 Panchayat Samiti seats, according to the State Election Commission. Within the ruling Mahayuti, the BJP led with 225 ZP seats, followed by 165 for the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and 162 for the Shiv Sena. In the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, the Congress emerged on top with 55 ZP seats, followed by 43 for the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and 26 for Sharad Pawar’s NCP (SP). The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena won a seat each in Latur and Ratnagiri. Independents won 20 seats, unrecognised parties registered with the SEC secured 14, and other recognised parties won seven seats. “With this success, Shiv Sena’s base in rural areas has become stronger,” Shinde added, reported PTI. Deputy CM Shinde hails strong Shiv Sena backing in Konkan region He said the party’s victories in Ratnagiri, Raigad, and Sindhudurg reaffirm that the people of Konkan support the Shiv Sena. “The dream of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray to take the party to every village is being realised,” Shinde said, reported PTI. In the 1,462 seats across 125 Panchayat Samitis, the BJP won 459, followed by 306 for the NCP and 302 for the Shiv Sena. The Congress won 97, NCP (SP) 46, and Shiv Sena (UBT) 89. The MNS secured two seats, Independents 31, unrecognised parties registered with the SEC 36, and parties recognised outside the state but registered with the SEC 17 seats. (With PTI inputs)
09 February,2026 10:52 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe BJP-led Mahayuti dominated the Maharashtra Zilla Parishad polls, declared on Monday, securing 552 out of 731 seats, the State Election Commission said, reported news agency PTI. In the ruling alliance, the BJP led with 225 seats, followed by the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) with 165 and the Shiv Sena with 162. In the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, the Congress emerged on top with 55 seats, followed by 43 for the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and 26 for Sharad Pawar's NCP (SP). The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena won one seat each in Latur and Ratnagiri. Independents won 20 seats, unrecognised parties registered with the SEC got 14, and other parties registered with the SEC won seven seats, reported PTI. NCP dominates Pune Zilla Parishad, wins 51 of 73 seats The NCP won the Pune ZP, securing 51 of 73 seats. The NCP and NCP (SP) had contested using the 'clock' symbol, with the elections taking place just days after the death of Ajit Pawar on January 28 in a plane crash. The Shiv Sena won Raigad ZP, securing 23 of 59 seats, and also won 41 of 56 seats in Ratnagiri ZP. The BJP scored in Sindhudurg, emerging victorious in 27 of 50 seats. It also became the single largest party in Satara, Solapur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Parbhani, Dharashiv, and Latur. The Congress was the single largest party in Kolhapur. Counting of votes for elections to 12 Zilla Parishads and 125 Panchayat Samitis began at 10 am. The results for Panchayat Samitis have not yet been declared by the SEC. Panchayat Samiti election results: Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate clinches one-vote win over BJP rival in Dharashiv In a dramatic conclusion to the Dhoki Panchayat Samiti election in Dharashiv district of Maharashtra, Uddhav-Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate won by a margin of just one vote, officials said on Monday, reported the PTI. The victory came after postal ballots were counted, giving Amar Samudre two additional votes. He secured a total of 3,187 votes, while his BJP rival Nihal Qazi received 3,186 votes, including three postal votes, the news agency reported. The official also reported that 56 votes were cast in favour of NOTA (None of the Above), highlighting the tight nature of the contest. Counting continued on Monday for elections to 12 Zilla Parishads and 125 Panchayat Samitis across Maharashtra, with officials closely monitoring the results, according to PTI. ZP polls record 68.28 per cent voter turnout Elections to 12 Zilla Parishads and 125 Panchayat Samitis in Maharashtra recorded an overall voter turnout of 68.28 per cent, the State Election Commission (SEC) said on Sunday, according to the PTI. Parbhani district recorded the highest voter participation at 74.89 per cent, while Ratnagiri saw the lowest turnout, with only 55.79 per cent of eligible voters casting their ballots. According to the SEC, Kolhapur followed closely with 74.45 per cent, while Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar registered a turnout of 72.69 per cent. (With PTI inputs)
09 February,2026 10:19 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued property seizure notices to number of major defaulters who have failed to pay their property taxes despite having the financial capacity, officials said. The action has been taken under Section 203 of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, civic officials said. Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) Dr Ashwini Joshi has directed that strict legal action be taken if dues are not cleared immediately, they said. "If tax payment is not made within the prescribed period, movable property will first be seized and auctioned under Sections 204 and 205. If the outstanding amount is still not recovered, the property itself will be auctioned under Section 206," the notice states. Property tax is a major source of revenue for the civic body and must be paid within 90 days of receiving the bill, the officials said. The BMC follows a step-by-step recovery process, including personal follow-ups, demand letters and a final 21-day notice before seizure. Many defaulters have not paid their dues: BMC According to an official statement, despite repeated reminders and the availability of online payment facilities, several large number of defaulters have not paid their dues. As a result, seizure notices have been served, including penalty amounts. The BMC has appealed to notice recipients to clear their dues immediately to avoid further action. The list of the top 20 defaulters includes real estate firms and property owners, with outstanding amounts ranging from Rs 18 crore to over Rs 140 crore. Citizens can pay property tax online through the BMC website, the statement said.
09 February,2026 09:34 PM IST | Mumbai | Eshanpriya MSServices on the Konkan Railway were disrupted for four hours after the Mumbai-Goa Vande Bharat Express struck a couple of buffaloes roaming on the tracks between Kudal and Sindhudurg stations in Maharashtra. While one buffalo died on the tracks, the other was flung onto the mast supporting the overhead wires, damaging it and affecting the power supply. This caused several trains to come to a standstill. “The incident occurred at around 11:30 am. All trains travelling from Kudal towards Madgaon were affected. The Vande Bharat Express was cleared with the help of a diesel engine by around 2 pm. The damage was rectified, and power supply was restored after about three hours at 3:05 pm, with railway traffic resuming around 3:30 pm,” an official said. Trains halted at different stations Many trains running on the Konkan Railway route had to be halted at different stations. The Mandovi Express was detained at Kudal station, the Udhna Express and Shatabdi Express at Zarap station, the Rajdhani Express at Sawantwadi station, the Duronto Express at Madure station, and the Mangala Express at Kankavli. Many passengers returning from the Angnewadi fair added to the crowd. Confirming the incident, Konkan Railway officials told Mid-Day that services have now been completely restored.
09 February,2026 09:24 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarDays before the SSC and HSC board exams kick off in Maharashtra, as many as 11 centres until Monday remained without CCTV surveillance, officials said. According to the Mumbai Divisional Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, the CCTV cameras have been made mandatory at all examination centres during the Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations under the copy-free campaign. The number of examination centres under the Mumbai board without CCTV cameras has come down from 58 to 11, said board secretary Jyotsna Shinde Pawar. She said that at centres where CCTV cameras are not available, centre directors and all staff will be appointed from other schools and junior colleges to ensure fair conduct of examinations. The Higher Secondary Certificate (Class 12) written examinations conducted by the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education will be held from February 10 to March 18, 2026, while the Secondary School Certificate (Class 10) examinations will be conducted from February 20 to March 18, 2026. CCTV mandate enforced after Mumbai board flags 58 Class 12 exam centres During a press conference on February 5, the Mumbai Divisional Board had informed that 58 Class 12 examination centres lacked CCTV cameras. Following this, meetings were held with centre directors, supervisors, education officers and education inspectors, directing them to install CCTV cameras at all examination centres as part of the copy-free campaign. With most centres completing the installation, the number of centres without CCTV cameras has now reduced to 11, the board said. Over 180 centres lack CCTVs in classrooms Earlier last week, Mid-Day reported that as many as 58 of the 670 Class 12 examination centres and 127 of the 1,004 Class 10 centres still lack CCTV surveillance in every classroom ahead of the board examinations, official sources said. As part of its ‘copy-free’ examination drive, the Maharashtra State Board has directed all centres to install CCTV cameras not only across their premises but also inside every classroom for close monitoring during exams. Examination centres that fail to comply with the directive have been instructed to make alternative arrangements, including the exchange of supervising teachers with other centres, to ensure impartial invigilation. For Class 12 examinations, several centres in Mumbai’s western suburbs have been unable to install CCTV cameras in all classrooms, while most schools in the eastern suburbs, Palghar and Raigad districts have complied with the norms, officials said. They added that the number of non-compliant centres is expected to decline further, as several schools and colleges are still in the process of installing CCTV systems. In the case of Class 10 examinations, centres in the western suburbs and South Mumbai are lagging behind in CCTV implementation. A significant number of these are Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)-run schools, where the education officer has written to the state government seeking additional funds to meet the board’s requirements.
09 February,2026 08:29 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentWestern Railway has extended the temporary change in the terminal of the Golden Temple Mail for a further six months, officials said on Monday. According to a press release issued by Western Railway’s Chief Public Relations Officer, Vineet Abhishek, Train No. 12903 Mumbai Central-Amritsar Golden Temple Mail will continue to originate from Bandra Terminus instead of Mumbai Central until August 17, 2026. Similarly, Train No. 12904 Amritsar–Mumbai Central Golden Temple Mail will continue to terminate at Bandra Terminus in place of Mumbai Central until August 15, 2026. Western Railway shifts Karnavati Express to Bandra; Vande Bharat to run with 20 coaches Earlier in January, Western Railway announced temporary operational changes to two important train services in Mumbai, officials said. An official statement said that the train number 12933/12934 Karnavati Express, which usually runs between Mumbai Central and Vatva/Ahmedabad, will temporarily originate and terminate at Bandra Terminus instead of Mumbai Central. Effective Period: 26 January 2026 to 7 March 2026 Departure from Bandra Terminus (Train 12933): 13:55 hrs Arrival at Bandra Terminus (Train 12934): 12:30 hrs No change in timings between Borivali and Vatva/Ahmedabad. Vande Bharat Express to run with 20 coaches Train No. 22961/22962 Ahmedabad-Mumbai Central-Ahmedabad Vande Bharat Express will be temporarily augmented from 16 coaches to 20 coaches, offering more capacity to passengers. Effective Period: 26 January 2026 to 7 March 2026 Additional coaches: 4 extra coaches added Passengers advised to plan accordingly Passengers are urged to note of the temporary changes and plan their travel in advance. For detailed information on timings, halts and coach composition, passengers may visit the Indian Railways website, the Western Railway said. Western Railway resumes services at Kandivali Days after the cancellation of as many as 204 Mumbai local trains, the Western Railway in January said that the engineering teams had completed the scheduled work in Kandivali. An official statement said that the Western Railway teams worked through the night and into the early hours of Wednesday, January 21, to make the Kandivali carshed line operational, successfully reversing several train cancellations by the morning. The intensive maintenance effort was undertaken to ensure smooth suburban services on the Mumbai suburban network, which had been disrupted due to infrastructure-related work. According to railway officials, the Kandivali crossover was inspected and declared fit for operations early on Wednesday morning, clearing the way for the resumption of scheduled services. “The Kandivali crossover was given fit in the morning, and the first Malad-Churchgate fast train service was operated today,” an official said.
09 February,2026 07:50 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra’s school education minister, Dadaji Bhuse, on Monday shared an inspiring message for students ahead of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) board exams and advised students to stay calm, healthy and honest in papers, an official statement said. Class 10 and 12 board exams will begin from 10 February and 20 February respectively. In a special video message, Bhuse urged students not to see exams as an end, but as the start of a “beautiful journey”. He encouraged them to face the tests with confidence and without pressure, saying that their hard work over the past months would surely bring success. Addressing students emotionally, Bhuse reminded them that when they sit down to write their answers, they are holding not just paper, but the dreams of their parents. He urged them to believe in their own abilities, noting that their efforts and determination would lead to success. Physical and mental well-being during exams Bhuse also emphasised the importance of physical and mental well-being during exams. He advised students to maintain positive thinking, get adequate sleep and eat a healthy diet. He added that remaining calm and cheerful would help reduce exam stress. He advised students to reach the exam centre on time and highlighted the importance of honesty, stating that integrity is a student’s true identity. Best wishes from govt to students Bhuse concluded by extending best wishes on behalf of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar, and the entire state government. He expressed confidence that students would bring pride to the state through their hard work.
09 February,2026 07:48 PM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentIndian Railway on Monday announced that special trains will be operated between Mumbai CSMT and Sawantwadi Road. Central Railway will run these special trains, an official statement said. The special train announcement comes ahead of the occasion of Maha Shivratri, which is on February 15. Train No. 01129 Mumbai CSMT–Sawantwadi Road Special will depart from Mumbai CSMT at 12.20 am on February 14, 19 and 21, 2026, and reach Sawantwadi Road at 12.30 pm the same day, railway officials said. In the return direction, Train No. 01130 Sawantwadi Road–Mumbai CSMT Special will leave Sawantwadi Road at 5.20 pm on the same dates and arrive at Mumbai CSMT at 4.05 am the following day. The special trains will halt at Dadar, Thane, Panvel, Pen, Roha, Mangaon, Veer, Khed, Chiplun, Sawarda, Aravali Road, Sangameshwar Road, Ratnagiri, Adavali, Vilavade, Rajapur Road, Vaibhavwadi Road, Nandgaon Road, Kankavali, Sindhudurg and Kudal stations. Each train will have 22 coaches, including one AC 2-tier, five AC 3-tier, ten sleeper coaches, four general coaches and two SLR coaches. Bookings for Train No. 01130 will open on February 10, 2026, at all Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters and on the IRCTC website. Passengers can check detailed halts and timings on the Indian Railways enquiry portal. Mumbai suburban rail travel set for mega transformation with 238 AC Vande Metro trains Mumbai’s suburban railway network, the lifeline for millions of daily commuters, is poised for a major transformation with the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation Ltd (MRVC) initiating a competitive bidding process for 238 state-of-the-art Vande Metro Air-Conditioned electric multiple unit (EMU) trainsets. The new fleet will include 2,856 next-generation coaches under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) Phase-3 and 3-A. Unlike conventional train procurements, the project comes with a 35-year comprehensive maintenance framework, signalling a long-term commitment to passenger safety, comfort, and operational reliability. MRVC in a press release issued on Saturday said the move aims to ensure sustained benefits for millions of Mumbaikars for decades. The Vande Metro coaches are designed to redefine suburban travel. Wider gangways, modular seating to improve passenger comfort Walk-through trains with wider inter-car gangways will allow better crowd distribution, while roof-mounted and underslung equipment will maximise usable standing and seating space. Ergonomic modular cushioned seating will include dedicated spaces for persons with disabilities and wheelchair users, and larger windows will enhance visibility of stations and surroundings. Passenger health and comfort are a priority. Advanced HVAC systems with high-efficiency filtration will reduce viruses and bacteria, while automatic air regulation will adapt to passenger load. Safety features include automatic sliding doors with obstacle detection, smoke and fire alarms, CCTV, Passenger Emergency Alarm (PEA), Emergency Talk Back (ETB) systems, and external sidewall cameras for monitoring boarding and deboarding. High-visibility LED displays will indicate destination, rake length, and Fast or Slow service.
09 February,2026 07:13 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentReleased into the Arabian Sea from Dahanu in Maharashtra, the satellite-tagged Olive Ridley turtle ‘Dhaval Lakshmi’ has covered an extraordinary distance and is now being tracked around 500 km from the coast of Oman, highlighting the species’ long-range marine movement. According to the Mangrove Cell, "As of 05/02/2026, the satellite-tagged turtle 'Dhaval Lakshmi' continues its westward movement through the deep waters of the Arabian Sea. Currently 500 km from the coast of Oman, it is observed to be diving normally, occasionally performing deep dives reaching depths of up to 250 m." The research team, under the supervision of Dr Suresh Kumar, Senior Scientist at the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), has been tracking Dhaval Lakshmi in coordination with the Mangrove Cell and the Dahanu Forest Division. The satellite-tagged Olive Ridley, released in November 2025, has travelled over 1,000 km, with a straight-line distance of more than 850 km. Read More: In a first, satellite-tagged Olive Ridley turtle released off Dahanu coast in Maharashtra Rescue and satellite tagging The Dahanu Forest Division and the Mangrove Cell, in collaboration with WII, attached a satellite transmitter to a female Olive Ridley turtle in Palghar district and released it back into the sea. The turtle was rescued by local fishermen on 10 August 2025 after being found entangled in a fishing net, with injuries on both front flippers. Following treatment at the Turtle Treatment Centre, Dhaval Lakshmi was fitted with a satellite tag and released. This marks the first Olive Ridley to be tagged in Palghar district and the eighth along the Maharashtra coastline. Read more: Satellite-tagged Olive Ridley turtle Dhaval Lakshmi remains near Dahanu Dhaval Lakshmi’s Journey - On December 22, 2025: Moved over 200 km west of Dahanu, entering Gujarat waters, about 83 km south of Somnath. - On December 29, 2025: Tracked around 400 km from Dahanu and approximately 100 km off the Porbandar coast. - On January 5, 2026: Reached the open, deep waters of the Arabian Sea, nearly 650 km from Dahanu coast. Read more: Olive Ridley turtle travels 27 km northwest Ongoing Study The Mangrove Foundation and forest department have tasked WII with the project Tracking the Migratory Movements of Olive Ridley Sea Turtles off the Coast of Maharashtra. This second phase aims to study population distribution, movement, feeding areas, and behaviour, with additional tagging projects planned. A female Olive Ridley lays 100–150 eggs, which take 45–55 days to hatch.
09 February,2026 06:58 PM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavHundreds of investors allegedly cheated in a Rs 1,200 crore investment scam staged a protest outside the police commissioner’s office in Maharashtra’s Thane district, demanding a speedy investigation and recovery of their money, according to the news agency PTI. Last month, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) arrested three persons from Gujarat in connection with the case, which is suspected to have defrauded more than 11,000 investors, including about 1,500 police personnel, across Maharashtra. Protesters from Pune, Kolhapur, Jalgaon and Ratnagiri gathered outside the office and blocked its entrance, accusing the authorities of conducting the probe at a snail’s pace, reported news agency PTI. According to the police, the scam involved approximately 11,000 investors and amounted to Rs 1,200 crore. The accused, Sameer Narvekar, his wife Neha, and their associate Amit Balam, had established Trade with Jazz, an investment company headquartered in Pune, in 2019. The trio allegedly lured investors by promising a four per cent monthly return on stock market trading and allied ventures, police said, reported PTI. The company later abruptly shut its offices and stopped responding to investors, triggering a series of police complaints. As per PTI, the accused have been booked under the Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors (MPID) Act, 1999, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Speaking to reporters, one of the defrauded investors said, “Most of us took loans or sold everything we owned to invest. Now, our children’s education and marriages are at a standstill.” Protesters also questioned the effectiveness of the EOW, pointing out that while the alleged scam was worth ₹1,200 crore, the police had managed to seize assets worth only Rs 12 lakh so far. Mumbai Cyber Police arrest seven in Rs 10.98 crore fake share market app fraud The South Regional Cyber Police Station, Mumbai, has arrested seven individuals from various states in connection with a major share market fraud that allegedly defrauded investors of nearly Rs 11 crore through a fake mobile application, officials said last week. The scam targeted a 68-year-old complainant who was approached through WhatsApp groups with promises of high returns on stock market investments. The fraudsters persuaded the senior citizen to download a fake application named Warburg Pincin and invest Rs 10,98,65,000 between December 29, 2025, and January 19, 2026, police said in a press release. Following a complaint registered on the National Cyber Crime Portal (NCCP) via the 1930 helpline, the Mumbai Police recovered Rs 2.21 lakh from the total amount through the portal. Investigations revealed that the funds were routed through multiple fake bank accounts across different states. Recognising the seriousness of the case, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Cybercrime) ordered the formation of nine special investigation teams, which were dispatched to several states. (With PTI inputs)
09 February,2026 04:51 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
