A fire broke out in the kitchen area of a hotel located on Boman Beharam Marg in Colaba, South Mumbai, on Sunday afternoon, officials said. According to the Mumbai Fire Brigade, the incident was reported at 4.36 pm. The fire broke out in the kitchen of the Social Service Hotel, a ground-plus-four-storey establishment. Firefighters rushed to the spot and extinguished the blaze by 4.56 pm. Mumbai fire: 35-year-old undergoing treatment in hospital for burn injuries Multiple agencies, including the fire brigade, police, Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) officials, ward staff and a 108 ambulance, were mobilised as part of the emergency response. Two persons sustained burn injuries in the incident, officials said. As per an update from St George Hospital, Sunil Singh (28) suffered around five per cent burn injuries and was given discharge against medical advice (DAMA), while Subrat Barai (35) sustained approximately 15 per cent burns and has been admitted for treatment. His condition is stated to be stable. According to the latest information, the fire broke out due to a short circuit in the kitchen chimney, police said. Further investigation is underway.
21 December,2025 10:22 PM IST | Mumbai | Anish Patil | Shirish VaktaniaA motorman attached to Western Railway (WR) was run over while on duty at Virar Station near Mumbai on Saturday, officials said. According to official information, Motorman Dilip Kumar Sahu was deputed to perform Set No 702 and had reported for duty at Virar at 2.30 pm. He was engaged in shunting operations and was pulling the electric multiple unit (EMU) rake of Train No 93039 to Platform No 4A when the incident occurred. Around 8 pm, while crossing the tracks during the shunting activity, Sahu was knocked down by Train No 12903 (DOWN line). The incident was immediately reported by the loco pilot and train manager of the train to the station master at Virar. Sahu succumbed to his injuries, stated a press release issued by WR. His funeral was completed at around 3.30 pm on Sunday. WR provides funeral assistance, ex-gratia and settlement benefits to Mumbai motorman’s family WR further stated that funeral assistance of Rs 30,000, being an on-duty (IOD) case, and an immediate relief amount of Rs 25,000 were handed over to the family by the welfare inspector at Churchgate. The railway administration has also initiated settlement-related procedures, including gratuity, group insurance of Rs 60,000, disbursement of the employee’s National Pension Scheme (NPS) contribution, and an ex-gratia payment of Rs 25 lakh. In addition, a compassionate appointment will be offered to one eligible family member. The family is scheduled to leave for their hometown on Monday morning for the final rites, the press release stated.
21 December,2025 08:48 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarShiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday said talks with the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) were in their final stages and that an official announcement on an alliance for the upcoming municipal corporation polls would be made in the next two to three days, news agency PTI reported. Speaking to reporters during the counting of votes for the local body elections, Raut said Sunday’s discussions were likely the last round of talks. “This, we believe, is the last meeting. In two-three days there will be an official announcement,” he said, referring to the proposed alliance with the MNS. #WATCH | Mumbai, Maharashtra: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut says, "The series of meetings has concluded; meetings were held between Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena. Our alliance will be announced by tomorrow or the day after, including details of how many seats each… pic.twitter.com/6jFu63CCk3 — ANI (@ANI) December 21, 2025 Elections to 29 municipal corporations, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), are scheduled for January 15, with counting to take place the following day. Raut acknowledged that the Congress, a Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) ally of the Shiv Sena (UBT), has expressed reservations about aligning with the MNS. “The Congress has expressed its reservation over Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). We tried to convince the Congress that to defeat the BJP, it is necessary to come together. However, efforts are on to convince them,” he said, adding that there was no bitterness between the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Congress despite the lack of an alliance in Mumbai. “There is no bad blood among us,” stated Raut. On Saturday, All-India Congress Committee General Secretary and Maharashtra in-charge Ramesh Chennithala said there was strong pressure from party workers for the party to contest the BMC polls independently. “We will fight the polls on issues of common Mumbaikars like pollution, healthcare, and corruption. Mumbaikars should give us a chance to serve them well. The Congress is firm on contesting polls independently to protect the secular fabric of the metropolis,” Chennithala had said. Opposition alleges poll body bias, money power after Mahayuti’s local body poll gains The opposition Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) on Sunday largely conceded defeat in the elections to municipal councils and nagar panchayats, accusing the State Election Commission of “facilitating” the victory of the ruling Mahayuti. Counting of votes for the posts of president and members in 286 municipal councils and nagar panchayats, held in two phases, began on Sunday morning. In several places, Mahayuti allies – the BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) – contested against each other, while alliances and “friendly fights” were also seen among MVA constituents, including the Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) and Congress. State Congress President Harshwardhan Sapkal congratulated party candidates who won municipal president and councillor posts, but in a terse remark “congratulated” the state election commission for “helping” the ruling Mahayuti alliance, PTI reported. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut alleged tampering of electronic voting machines and said the Mahayuti’s victory was aided by a “hailstorm” of money that the opposition could not withstand. (With PTI and ANI inputs)
21 December,2025 07:54 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMiss lovely gets some self care A cat suns itself on the cricket field during the MSSA inter-school Harris Shield semi-final at MIG Cricket Club, Bandra East Josh, that’s an incredible story! Josh Inglis has every reason to smile. PIC/GETTY IMAGES Talented India batsman Sarfaraz Khan was not the only player to get lucky at the recent Indian Premier League mini auction. Mumbai-based Sarfaraz got picked by Chennai Super Kings for his base prize of Rs 75 lakh after being initially unsold. Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Josh Inglis enjoyed even better fortune when he was bought by the Lucknow Super Giants for '8.6. crore after languishing in the unsold category. Inglis, who is part of Australia’s playing XI in the Adelaide Test against England, was reportedly released by Punjab Kings because his April 2026 marriage would clash with the March 26 to May 31 IPL. However, the franchise clarified that Inglis informed them about not being entirely available for the tournament 15 minutes before deadline. Lucknow bagged him after winning a fierce bidding war with Sunrisers Hyderabad. Inglis went to bed in Adelaide as an unsold player and woke up as a big winner. And he gets to fulfil his marriage obligations too. Next time a cynical Aussie decides to talk down the IPL, she or he should remember the case of Inglis. From files to fiction Stories have a strange way of sneaking up on you. For Suraj Mauryavanshi, they arrived during the lockdown, whispering possibilities into a life that felt like it was stuck on loop. “I had become a file-handling machine,” he laughs, remembering his days as an account executive. The monotony bothered him more than he admitted. Listening to Pocket FM became his escape until it became something else entirely. Those long hours with audio dramas sparked a thought he had buried since childhood. “I only write about a world I am willing to believe in myself,” he says. Mahagatha — a sweeping, mythology-infused saga — became the turning point. As it crossed tens of millions of plays, the hobby shed its disguise. “For the first time, something creative gave me both emotional satisfaction and financial confidence,” he says. The Aussies are coming The current campus of University of Western Australia is in Perth As the University of Western Australia (UWA) brings its campus to Mumbai, Vice-Chancellor of UWA, Professor Amit Chakma flew down to the city last week and sat down with us to discuss what the future of the university looks like. “We see India as an emerging economic superpower,” he says, when asked about why they chose India for their new campus, “India and Australia are complimentary in nature. We have the infrastructure for advanced research and India has some very qualified talent. A lot of research scientists in Australia are Indian. This campus will give them even more access right here.” Professor Amit Chakma The university plans to introduce an exchange programme in the future for “a more enriching education,” adds Chakma. The 50,000 square feet Andheri campus, which is set to open its gates in 2026, can accommodate around 2500 students for now but, “we’ll easily reach 6000 students capacity in 10 years,” he adds. The Mumbai campus will offer courses focused on business. Divergent and proud (From left) A glimpse of the workshop; Rit Prasanna On Friday, December 19, Hamsafar Trust held a workshop talking about neurodivergence for queer folks at their Vakola headquarters. The workshop is part of an ongoing series that introduces queer folk to other folks who might be grappling with other identities like being a Dalit, being from a minority community and this week — how nuerodivergent queer individuals navigate life. The facilitator and speaker at this workshop is Rit Prasanna, “The intersection between neurodivergence and LGBTQAI+ spaces is neuronormativity and cis-heteronormativity. Both of them go against the system. Cis-heteronormativity expects conformity — in who you should love, who you should marry, who you should have sex with while neuronormativity is born out of the desire to keep production going — the means of production, the means of industry. So both of these systems go against the idea that we have innate value and that we are free humans who should be able to choose our own lives,” Prasanna told us. Let the good times bloom It is nature and nurture for Sakina; The eye-catching orchids In a time of doom and gloom with violence and terror ripping our world apart, let’s talk happy, let’s talk blooms. Sakina Gadiwala from Friends of Trees (FOT) in Mumbai is saying it with orchids specifically. She has grown these flowers in her balcony at her Panvel home. She laughed as she said, “Orchids are considered exotic but they are carefree plants, they do not need too much looking after. Water, partial sunlight that’s all. They are part of many plants in my balcony like lemon grass, chillies, and tomatoes. Coming back to these flowers — they are Phalaenopsis orchids, commonly called moth orchids or moon orchids and are known for their long-lasting (10-15 days) blooms. The flowers typically measure about 25 mm in diameter.”
21 December,2025 10:13 AM IST | Mumbai | Team SMDA fresh environmental controversy has erupted in Thane after Rohit Joshi, environmentalist, and member of the Wetland Grievance Redressal Committee, lodged a complaint alleging destruction of mangroves and reclamation of land near the helipad at Rabodi- Thane west. The plot in question is located adjacent to the police ground. Who has received the complaint? Joshi has taken the fight to the authorities and complained about the environmental loot to the Principal Secretary – Environment Department of Maharashtra, Mangrove Cell of the Forest Department, Collector of Thane, Thane police commissioner, Municipal Commissioner – Thane and other government departments. The patch of wet land that has been filled up with debris. Pic/Special Arrangement Joshi is no stranger to showdowns between citizens and powers, and has been fighting to save the forest and mangroves in Thane for more than a decade. In his complaint to the authorities, he has alleged that debris is being dumped on these wetlands with the intention of carving out a road. After Joshi’s complaints, the forest department and revenue department both conducted a joint panchanama at the site. “The land where the illegal dumping is taking place comes under the jurisdiction of the Thane police commissioner. The authorities have violated Sections 15 and 19 of the Environment Protection Act,” said Joshi. As locals gathered there when dumping was underway, Joshi said one of the most atrocious justifications was offered by the police. “The officials told us that this debris dumping was in lieu of a ‘mass Miyawaki plantation drive’ after locals raised objections,” he added. This has happened before In his complaint, Joshi said that this is not the first time the area has seen violations. “A similar CRZ offense was recorded on April 9, 2018, raising concerns that agencies responsible for enforcing environmental laws are instead enabling ecological damage,” said Joshi. Joshi told Sunday mid-day that there is a long-pending Bombay High Court order directing that all government-owned mangrove lands be transferred to the Forest Department but he says that the same remains unimplemented in Thane. According to the environmentalist, the delay has emboldened many to repeat such violations and weak enforcement until a decision is made. “I have also submitted geo-tagged photos, videos, satellite imagery, CRZ maps, and documents related to the earlier 2018 EPA case. The work should be stopped and an inquiry into the role of police officials, restoration of the damaged area, and strict legal action against those responsible should be done. For better protection, the administration should expedite the transfer of mangrove land to the Forest Department,” he added. Despite attempts to reach out to TMC and Thane police, officials remained unavailable for comment. ‘Miyawaki is a eyewash’ Environmentalist Stalin D from NGO Vanashakti said,”The Thane police have illegally dumped debris in a CRZ area to facilitate the construction of a road leading to a helipad, and are now claiming it was done for miyawaki plantation. This is a clear violation of CRZ regulations. We have lodged complaints with the concerned authorities, yet no action has been taken so far. The police are making an additional road by reclaiming the creekside by dumping mud on mangroves and coastal intertidal area.” Mangrove cover in India As per recent Indian State of Forest report (ISFR) 2023, India has a total mangrove cover of 4,991.68 square km; which is 0.15 per cent of the country’s total geographical area. There has been a net increase of 363.68 square km (7.86 per cent) in mangrove cover area of the country in 2023 as compared to 2013 and net increase of 509.68 square km (11.4 per cent) between 2001 and 2023. Species of mangroves found in India Important species of mangrove ecosystem in India include Avicennia alba, Bruguiera cylindrica, Heritiera littoralis, Phoenix paludosa, morinda citrifolia and ceriops tagal. Sundarbans, located in the northern Bay of Bengal, is the world’s largest single patch of mangrove forest. It is spread over approximately 10,000 square kilometres in Bangladesh and India. Thane Mangrove cover As per 2023 ISFR report, the mangrove cover in Thane was 48.93 square km which, if compared to the 2021 report, is a decrease by 0.93 square km. Did you know? Sundarbans is the first mangrove forest in the world which was brought under scientific management as early as 1892.
21 December,2025 10:10 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavBJP MLA Parag Shah, the sitting legislator from Ghatkopar East, was allegedly involved in an altercation with an auto-rickshaw driver in the Ghatkopar area on Friday, during which he is seen slapping the driver. A video of the episode surfaced online, showing Shah stopping an autorickshaw that was allegedly being driven in the wrong direction and slapping the driver. In a statement issued later by the BJP leader, Shah said he was responding to complaints from local residents regarding autorickshaw drivers violating traffic rules. Though he did not mention anything on the “slap”, he said, “Some individuals are trying to tarnish my reputation by circulating a video of me questioning an unruly auto-rickshaw driver.” Shah ended this statement by saying, “This arrogance (of autorickshaw drivers in this context) will not be tolerated anymore; action will be taken against everyone who harasses the common people.” An FIR not has been registered yet. Who is Parag Shah? Parag Shah is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party and has represented Ghatkopar East in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly since 2019, serving as a corporator in the BMC.
21 December,2025 09:56 AM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya IyerThe Malvani police arrested a 37-year-old event organiser for allegedly cheating multiple car owners by offering to rent their luxury vehicles every month, only to mortgage those vehicles with banks and finance companies, swindling lakhs of rupees. Police said the accused took a Toyota Fortuner from a Malvani resident for Rs 60,000 per month, paid rent for a few months, later removed the GPS tracker, and pledged the vehicle with a finance firm. When the accused stopped responding, the owner complained to the Malvani police station. Recovered seven vehicles. Pics/Samiullah Khan During the probe, police arrested the accused — Ashish Kisan Jadhav, 36, an event manager from Thane — and seized the complainant’s Fortuner along with seven other luxury cars. The vehicles were stashed in sugarcane fields in the jurisdictions of the Sangli and Karad City police stations. The total value of the recovered vehicles is around Rs 1.01 crore. Further investigation is underway to identify more victims and possible accomplices.
21 December,2025 09:51 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanChandivli residents are trying to not get carried away with the news that they might get an independent fire station for the area soon. Just ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, the civic body has sanctioned the tender for the proposed Chandivli fire station, a move that residents and activists have welcomed, albeit cautiously. This is because nearly a year after multiple complaints, with even mid-day highlighting the issue, the tendering process has finally reached its final phases, say civic sources. The tender has in fact now reached the opening of the Packet C scheduled for December 23. “Once this stage is completed and the contract is awarded, work on the fire station is expected to begin shortly. The project aims to provide Chandivli and its surrounding areas with a fully functional fire station, significantly improving emergency response times,” said the BMC official. At present, Chandivli depends on fire stations located several kilometres away either at Marol or at Vikhroli, leading to critical delays during fire emergencies, especially in densely populated residential pockets and commercial zones. Residents have been pointing out that rapid urbanisation, high-rise developments, congested roads and a spurt in the hospitality establishments like pubs and restaurants around Powai and the absence of a local fire station has been an unnecessary safety risk. Residents react “This fire station is not a luxury; it is a necessity,” said Mandeep Sing Makker, founder of Chandivali Citizens Welfare Association (CCWA) “We hope the civic body ensures that work starts immediately after the tender is finalised and that there are no further hold-ups considering the upcoming elections. The work that has received a green signal before the model code of conduct was in place cannot and need not be stopped during the elections. Thus, without any further delay, the beginning of the work is expected. We sincerely hope that the fire station is constructed at the earliest and that the BMC does not limit this to merely floating a tender. We have already seen what happened with the proposed 90-feet road connecting JVLR to Chandivli Farm Road.” If completed as planned, the fire station is expected to greatly enhance fire safety and emergency preparedness in Chandivli, bringing much-needed relief to thousands of residents. “It’s a long fight that finally feels like a victory now that the tendering process is almost completed. We hope that there should not be any fire accident. However, in case there is one now, we hope to have a better and quicker response with this new fire station,” said Sukumar Panicker, a resident of Chandivli. “After the massive fire accident that killed seven people some 10 years ago, the only thing that our area got, was a non-functional, built-for-namesake fire station. I hope at least to shine on the face of BMC elections, the officials get this done quickly, now that the tendering process is in its last phase. These are basic needs that any densely populated area must have,” said another resident Dr Neeraj Tulara. What will the new fire station have? Total built up area 1,217.63 sq.m. Ground + 6 fire station building which will also have officer and service quarters RCC Ground + 4 drill towers, a pump station, overhead and underground tanks, rain water harvesting tank.
21 December,2025 09:48 AM IST | Mumbai | Ritika GondhalekarThe epic battle between the Pandavas and Kauravas in the Mahabharat went on for 18 days, but the Mumbai Police were much faster in resolving Yudhishthira’s call for justice. Gajendra Chauhan, 69 — best known for his role as Yudhishthira in the iconic 1980s TV show, Mahabharat — fell prey to cyber fraud on December 10 after clicking on a Facebook ad for heavily discounted dry fruits. He lost Rs 98,000 after entering an OTP while placing an order for Rs 399 dry fruits. Within a week, the money was restored to his account, thanks to swift action by the Oshiwara police. A grateful Chauhan said, “Within two hours of registering my complaint, cyber officials blocked the account into which the money had been transferred. As a result, the amount was credited to my bank account a few days later.” Chauhan said he immediately informed his bank and got his account blocked. He also called the cyber helpline number 1930 and registered a complaint. “On December 17, the amount was credited to my account,” he said. Senior PI Sanjay Chavan from Oshiwara police urged citizens to be careful and not fall prey to attractive social media advertisements offering goods at unusually low prices or heavy discounts. “Such advertisements are often fake, and cyber fraudsters use them to gain access to mobile devices and carry out online financial fraud,” he warned.
21 December,2025 07:58 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanPedestrians navigating the hectic Lucky Hotel junction on their way to Bandra West station have reason to cheer. The MMRDA, which had earlier demolished the existing skywalk to facilitate work on Metro Line 2B, is now set to build a 278-metre-long foot overbridge (FOB). The new FOB will seamlessly connect the Bandra Metro station on Line 2B with Bandra railway station (West) at an estimated cost of Rs 41 crore. According to the tender document, the MMRDA has invited bids for the construction of a foot overbridge (FOB) connecting the Bandra Metro Station on Metro Line 2B with Bandra Suburban Railway Station. The proposed FOB will be 278 metres long and will link the Metro station to the west side of Bandra railway station at an estimated cost of Rs 41.44 crore. The successful bidder will be required to complete the project within 18 months. Earlier, a skywalk connected Bandra West Railway Station to the Lucky Hotel junction on SV Road. However, it was dismantled a few years ago to facilitate the construction of Metro Line 2B. Rehbar Khan (Raja), ex-independent municipal councillor of Bandra area (H west ward), said “The MMRDA’s plan for a new FOB at Bandra ignores the failure of its earlier skywalk at the same location. Despite approval for escalators, none were installed, making the 20-metre-high structure unusable for commuters, students and senior citizens. It became a hub for illegal activities and was eventually dismantled, wasting public funds. Instead of upgrading that skywalk, MMRDA is repeating the same mistake. SV Road has suffered repeated damage to drains, sewer lines and water mains, footpaths are in ruins, traffic congestion is daily, and fatal accidents have occurred. Residents and public representatives were never consulted. This reflects poor planning, lack of accountability and absence of vision from a key planning authority.” “Now, I have proposed escalators again for pedestrian to connect to elevated metro station and descending on opposite side near Sayba hotel, Junction of SV Road and Bazar Road considering the four schools, college, market and heavy pedestrian flow going to Bandra west Railway station,” added Khan Daily commuter Ratnakar Sawant said the FOB will be a major relief for commuters. “People will no longer have to descend onto the crowded SV Road near Lucky Hotel and walk to the station. The direct Metro-railway connection will ease movement.”
21 December,2025 07:42 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavDo you know what the stars hold for you in terms of love life, career, business and personal wellness? Well, read on to know your astrological predictions as per your zodiac sign. AriesMarch 21 – April 19Be open to advice from an unlikely source, and be willing to do what you need to do. Maintain a cordial and professional equation with your boss.Relationship tip: Handle any challenges in a calm manner, and don’t allow yourself to get influenced by other peoples’ opinions. Make well thought out decisions. TaurusApril 20 – May 20Deal with any challenges from a position of strength, even if you don’t feel it. Try not to spend money unnecessarily, even if you are very tempted.Relationship tip: Do not let anyone undermine your relationship just because they do not approve of it. Focus on clear and honest communication. GeminiMay 21 – June 20Be patient with any stuck or slow moving situation, especially if any delay is not in your control. Make well thought-out financial decisions.Relationship tip: Paying attention to someone else’s opinion may cause friction in your relationship. Be sure about what you really want from the other person. CancerJune 21 – July 22Let go of the past, and remember that change is inevitable. Those on a strict budget should cut back on unnecessary spending.Relationship tip: Be careful about what you say, especially when you are angry. Those in a committed relationship may need to make an important decision. LeoJuly 23 – Aug 22 Do your best, but be willing to walk away from a situation if you need to. Follow office protocol at work.Relationship tip: Those dealing with someone noncommittal should handle the situation decisively. Don’t follow anyone’s advice without thinking it through. VirgoAug 23 – Sept 22Pay attention to your work, even if you are not really in the mood. Be mindful about what you say to anyone you know has an ego problem.Relationship tip: Any new equation for singles may not turn out expected. Make time for an older person in your family, or an old friend you have not met for some time. LibraSept 23 – Oct 22Make sure you are completely prepared for any important conversations. Make smart money choices rather than impulsive ones.Relationship tip: Think before responding to any social media post or text message. A younger person in the family may need a little extra attention. ScorpioOct 23 – Nov 21A situation may not be exactly as it seems, jumping to conclusions may create unnecessary complications. Do not make emotional financial decisions.Relationship tip: Think through any issues in a logical and realistic manner. Singles looking for a match abroad are in a positive phase. SagittariusNov 22 – Dec 21Choose carefully, as your decision would have long term repercussions. This is a positive time for self employed businesspersons and professionals.Relationship tip: Make time for the people who are important to you, and do not waste time with anyone who is manipulative. Trust your intuition. CapricornDec 22 – Jan 19Tap your professional network if you need important information, or are dealing with a tricky challenge. Take care of your health.Relationship tip: Show your app=ays. Let go of anything or any situation you can’t change. AquariusJan 20 – Feb 18Take prompt action when you need to. Listen to your instincts if you feel something is not what it seems. Handle money matters with care.Relationship tip: This is a positive time for singles looking for an arranged match. Those taking care of an elderly family member should be patient and understanding. PiscesFeb 19 – March 21Living up to your potential may not always be easy, but it will make you feel fulfilled. Do not act on information from an unreliable source.Relationship tip: Those in a long distance marriage or relationship would need to keep communication going very mindfully. Make time for close friends.
21 December,2025 07:04 AM IST | Mumbai | Aparna BoseADVERTISEMENT
