Pankit Vijay Shah (39), the Chief Business Officer of Samco Mutual Fund, is believed to have fallen to his death from the passage area on the fourth floor of the Chadha Premises Co-operative Housing Society building in Andheri East on Tuesday. According to the Andheri police, who reviewed CCTV footage and spoke to two eyewitnesses, Shah fell while trying to retrieve a debit card that had landed on the overhanging eave of the third floor using a broom. The card was later found on the eave by investigators, while the broom was discovered near the body. Shah’s family had filed a missing person complaint one day before the incident, but the Andheri police have found no evidence of foul play so far. Authorities have registered an accidental death report and will record statements from Shah’s family members. Friends speak “A friend of ours has a tour and travel office on the fourth floor, where we would meet regularly. We often had meals and parties together.” “About ten minutes before the incident, we were having a smoke outside the building. We were all laughing and enjoying ourselves. Pankit then told us that he was going up and would be back soon, but the unexpected happened.” What witnesses said According to the police, upon seeing Shah trying to retrieve his card, a man named Rafique, who was in the opposite building, shouted at him not to lean outside the window. However, Shah did not heed his warning. The police also stated that a woman on the fourth floor of Chadha Society had cautioned Shah against retrieving the card in this manner. The Andheri police have recorded statements from both witnesses. Police speak “According to the preliminary investigation, it was an accidental death. We are also looking into why the family had registered a missing person complaint,” said DCP Datta Nalawade.
18 February,2026 11:47 PM IST | Mumbai | Shirish VaktaniaIn yet another falling debris incident, a wooden casing of old cabling collapsed onto a passenger’s head on Wednesday at the crowded Churchgate railway station on Wednesday night. The incident took place around 9:45 PM as the commuter was about to board a local train. According to Western Railway officials, immediate assistance and first aid were offered, but the passenger declined help, refused to share his identity, and did not file any complaint. Railway authorities said a maintenance block would be taken during the night to remove the entire damaged casing and prevent further mishaps.
18 February,2026 11:34 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarThe Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) on Wednesday participated in Mumbai Climate Week 2026, India’s first global forum bringing together multiple stakeholders to accelerate climate action and sustainable urban development. During the event, MMRDA signed several strategic agreements with leading national and international organisations to boost climate resilience, low-carbon urban transformation, and sustainable metropolitan planning across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). Key partnerships include United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP): A Strategic Letter of Intent to advance metropolitan climate action, with focus on heat mitigation, urban cooling, nature-based solutions, and resilience, alongside development of a Climate Action Vision and Metropolitan Climate Action Plan. Urban Land Institute (ULI): Strategic MoU establishing a long-term global knowledge partnership on land use planning, real estate development, and infrastructure-led metropolitan growth. C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group: Partnership to accelerate climate action, resilience building, and low-carbon urban transformation across MMR. World Resources Institute India (WRI India): Knowledge partnership to support evidence-based, climate-resilient, sustainable, and inclusive metropolitan planning. ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability: Strategic MoU to strengthen governance frameworks, climate action planning, and sustainable urban transformation. On the occasion, a commemorative stamp marking Mumbai Climate Week was also released, underscoring the city’s focus on climate-conscious development and collaborative urban sustainability initiatives.
18 February,2026 11:25 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent72 Loco Pilot (Mail) staff from Central Railway’s Mumbai Division have jointly applied for voluntary retirement, citing long-standing systemic issues that they say have made continued service “professionally unsustainable.” The applications, received on Tuesday by the Divisional Railway Manager, the General Manager’s Office, and the Senior DEE (TRO), outline serious concerns over safety, poor facilities, and administrative pressure. Critical concerns highlighted by loco pilots Substandard food facilities: Meals provided during duty hours and at running rooms are reportedly unhygienic and unfit for consumption, posing health risks for safety-sensitive duties. Poor rest facilities: Running rooms and rest areas lack cleanliness, proper maintenance, and essential amenities, preventing adequate recovery after long, strenuous shifts. Unsafe infrastructure: Missing pathways, poor lighting, and unsafe access to lobbies, trip sheds, and running rooms create significant safety hazards, particularly at night and during adverse weather. Administrative pressure: Staff report undue administrative interference, harassment, and a stressful work environment affecting mental health and operational efficiency. Health and family impact: Continuous stress, irregular duties, and poor facilities have reportedly deteriorated the physical and mental well-being of staff, straining family life. The joint application stresses that the decision was taken after repeated representations to authorities went unaddressed. The applicants have requested that their VRS applications be approved promptly and have assured full cooperation during the notice period, including a smooth handover of duties. The move has drawn attention to long-standing welfare and safety issues within the Mumbai Division, raising concerns about staff retention and operational safety in Central Railway operations. NRMU demands high-level inquiry and urgent upgrades The National Railway Mazdoor Union (NRMU) has warned the Central Railway administration that a large number of Mumbai-division mail and express loco pilots have applied for voluntary retirement, citing mounting workplace distress and neglect of long-pending grievances. In a representation, the union stated that poor-quality and unhygienic food, badly maintained running rooms, unsafe access to facilities, excessive administrative pressure, and the impact on health and family life are demoralising a safety-critical workforce and could affect punctuality and public confidence in rail operations. “This development is not merely an administrative matter but a serious institutional warning signal,” said Venu P. Nair, General Secretary of NRMU, urging a high-level inquiry, urgent facility upgrades, and structured dialogue to prevent a potential exodus and safeguard railway safety.
18 February,2026 11:10 PM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentThe Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications on Wednesday, has directed Navi Mumbai International Airport Limited (NMIAL) to grant Right of Way (RoW) permissions to licensed telecom service providers (TSPs) operating in India. The directive comes following a representation from the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) highlighting difficulties faced by TSPs in establishing telecom infrastructure at the airport. According to COAI, telecom operators were reportedly required to use an exclusive in-building network at reportedly high charges, instead of being granted standard RoW permissions. In its letter to Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL), which operates the airport, the DoT clarified that under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, Navi Mumbai International Airport qualifies as a “public entity.” The Act, along with the Telecommunications (Right of Way) Rules, 2024, mandates fair, transparent, and non-discriminatory processing of RoW applications, including timely approvals. The DoT has asked the airport authorities to ensure compliance with the statutory framework and facilitate the establishment, operation, and maintenance of telecom networks on its premises. This move is expected to improve telecom connectivity at the airport and remove barriers for service providers, ensuring better services for passengers and operators alike.
18 February,2026 10:42 PM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentJay Pawar, son of the late Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar, on Wednesday took to Instagram, urging a thorough probe into the recent aircraft accident. In his Instagram story, he stated, "Black boxes in an aircraft accident cannot be easily destroyed; the people of Maharashtra have the right to know the complete, transparent, and undeniable truth of this tragic incident that has shaken their hearts." Pawar called for an immediate suspension of VSR’s flight operations and demanded a comprehensive, impartial investigation into potential serious irregularities in the maintenance of the airline’s aircraft. Jay Pawar posted on his Instagram story on Wednesday. PIC/ JAY PAWAR'S INSTAGRAM Attempts being made to shield aviation firm VSR Ventures; international probe needed, says Rohit Pawar Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) legislator Rohit Pawar alleged that attempts were being made to protect aviation company VSR Ventures in connection with the plane crash incident that killed late Ajit Pawar. Objecting to Union Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu’s statement that there was “no security lapse” in the plane crash incident, Rohit Pawar argued that such a premature conclusion raises doubts about the seriousness of the investigation. Stating that a senior leader from Andhra Pradesh had attended the wedding of the VSR plane owner’s son in Rajasthan, Rohit Pawar pointed out that the party from the same state currently holds the Civil Aviation Ministry at the Centre. “Under these circumstances, one cannot expect a fully transparent and impartial probe, and reiterated his demand for an independent investigation mechanism,” the NCP Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) urged. Ajit Pawar was killed in a plane crash on January 28 in Baramati, triggering demands from both the NCP factions and a section of the opposition leaders for an independent and thorough investigation. Rohit Pawar, in his presentation, stated that the probe should not remain limited to government agencies alone, and called for an independent panel comprising a retired judge, senior opposition leaders from both the Houses of Parliament, and representatives from NCP and other political parties.
18 February,2026 09:35 PM IST | MumbaiHealth Minister Prakash Abitkar on Wednesday issued a strict warning to all outsourced institutions providing services in the public health sector, directing officials to take stringent action, including blacklisting, against violators. In the health department, many critical services, ranging from CT scans, MRIs, dialysis, STEMI care, X-rays, blood testing, and emergency medical services (108, 102) to human resources, dietary services, sanitation, technical support, maintenance, and vehicle supply, are provided through private agencies. Minister Abitkar instructed district-level officials to conduct thorough inspections of these institutions to ensure compliance with rules, including proper payment of staff, adequate patient care, sanitary conditions, and adherence to all regulations. Inspection reports are to be submitted within 15 days, with payments withheld and strict action taken against non-compliant agencies. “Institutions must maintain quality standards, transparency, and follow departmental rules,” Abitkar said. District surgeons and health officers were directed to regularly inspect and evaluate outsourced agencies, with punitive measures, contract cancellations, and blacklisting enforced against violators. Officials found that supporting negligent providers may also face action. The minister also stressed the importance of public awareness, directing campaigns to ensure citizens know about facilities provided through outsourced agencies. The meeting reviewed ongoing state-wide health programs, including sickle cell screening, anaemia detection, elephantiasis (lymphatic filariasis), tuberculosis, malaria control, and maternal mortality reduction initiatives. Abitkar reiterated that public hospitals remain the primary support for citizens, emphasising the need for proper treatment, care, and quality services. The session was attended by the Health Director, Deputy Directors, and senior officials from the department. Two arrested in Thane for selling fake BP medicines worth Rs 9 lakh Maharashtra's Thane Police have arrested two men for allegedly selling counterfeit blood pressure medicines worth Rs 9 lakh by mimicking the name and packaging of a popular brand, officials said on Wednesday. According to a release from Kalyan police, the accused marketed fake “Telma AM” tablets, a combination of Telmisartan 40 mg and Amlodipine 5 mg, using the license of “Shriram Pharma” and passed them off as products of the original manufacturer. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted a raid on January 20 and seized 2,795 strips of fake “Telma AM” tablets valued at Rs 8,94,400, the release said. Following the FDA’s complaint, a case was registered at Manpada police station in Dombivli under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and Rules, 1945. The prime accused, identified as Pankaj Radheshyam Upadhyay (33), a distributor and medical representative residing in Dombivli East, was arrested on January 21. Distributor aware of threat to patients, yet sold tablets “The accused (Upadhyay) was aware that the said medicine was fake and that its consumption could pose a serious threat to human life, yet he continued to distribute it,” the release state. During the investigation, police learnt that the stock of duplicate medicines had allegedly been supplied by Vivek Ajaykumar Rai (35), a resident of Kandivali East in Mumbai. He was arrested on February 16, police said. Further investigation is underway under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone III) Atul Zende and Assistant Commissioner of Police (Dombivli Division) Suhas Hemade, the release added.
18 February,2026 09:16 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentNominations for the chairperson posts of key statutory committees of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation were filed on Wednesday, setting the stage for elections later this week. Prabhakar Shinde filed his nomination for the Standing Committee chairperson’s post, while Rajeshri Shirwadkar submitted her nomination for the Education Committee. Sandhya Doshi filed her papers for the Improvement Committee chairperson’s post with Municipal Secretary Manjiri Deshpande. For the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) Committee, Trishna Vishwasrao submitted her nomination to BEST Deputy Secretary Sushil Pawar. Leader of the House Ganesh Khankar and several corporators were present during the filing process. The nominations follow the constitution of the committees after the BMC General Election 2026. During a special meeting held on February 16, 26 members each were appointed to the Standing and Improvement Committees. The Education Committee comprises 22 municipal members and four non-municipal members, while the BEST Committee has 16 members. The deadline for filing nominations was 6 pm on February 18, with one nomination received for each post. According to the schedule announced by the Municipal Secretary’s Office, elections for the Education Committee and Standing Committee chairpersons will be held on February 20 at 11 am and 2 pm, respectively. Elections for the Improvement Committee and BEST Committee chairpersons are slated for February 23 at 11 am and 2 pm.
18 February,2026 09:01 PM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentA Zilla Parishad school in Sandap village, Dombivli East, is functioning without a principal and with just two teachers for 56 students, while repair work and infrastructure upgrades remain pending. With authorities passing responsibility between agencies, villagers have begun raising funds to keep the school running. Stuck between authorities The village was merged into the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation, but the Zilla Parishad school remains under ZP control, leaving accountability unclear. Damaged infra at the Zilla Parishad school in Sandap village, where repair work is pending Villagers say requests for repairs bounce between the municipal corporation and the Zilla Parishad, with neither taking full responsibility. Two teachers, many roles Teachers Girish Thakare and Chitra Bhalerao manage all academic and administrative work. “We have repeatedly requested repairs, more teachers and digital tools, but there has been no response,” said Thakare. Bhalerao had earlier run the school alone for two years. (From left) Teacher Girish Thakare with alumnus Anant Tukaram Patil and teacher Chitra Bhalerao at the Sandap ZP school in Dombivli East “I handled multiple classes, paperwork, sports and parent coordination on my own,” she said. Two village women occasionally volunteer to help with lessons during exam season. Villagers funding repairs Former student Anant Tukaram Patil, 69, has led local fundraising to support the school. “When the walls deteriorated in the rains, authorities kept redirecting us. Finally, we raised about Rs 15,000-16,000 from temple funds to repair one wall,” he said. The Zilla Parishad school building in Sandap village, Dombivli East, which currently operates with limited staff and infrastructure. Pics/By Special Arrangement Patil said many successful professionals from the village studied in the same school. “This school shaped our lives. Without it, many of us would never have progressed,” he added. Fire-damaged classrooms A short circuit sparked a fire on the second floor, rendering two classrooms unusable. All students from Std I to VIII are now accommodated in just two ground-floor rooms. Push for outside help Anant’s son, Tejas Patil, is now seeking support from NGOs and local groups. “Better infrastructure will encourage families to continue their children’s education here,” said Tejas, a software engineer. What is working >> Mid-day meals continue>> Uniforms and textbooks provided annually>> Students still participate in sports events>> Despite limited facilities, one student recently represented the school at a sports meet in Gujarat. What the school urgently needs Infrastructure>> Structural repair and safety audit>> Classroom restoration after fire>> Electrical maintenancePainting and wall repair Learning support>> Digital equipment like projectors and screens>> More benches and classroom space School mail id: zpschoolsandap@gmail.com
18 February,2026 07:51 PM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya IyerMaharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Wednesday paid a courtesy visit to Deputy Chief Minister (CM) Eknath Shinde at the latter’s Nandanvan residence in Thane. 📍 #मुंबई |महाराष्ट्र नवनिर्माण सेनेचे अध्यक्ष राज ठाकरे यांनी आज नंदनवन या शासकीय निवासस्थानी सदिच्छा भेट घेतली.यावेळी त्यांच्यासोबत विविध विषयावर चर्चा झाली. तसेच नंदनवन या बंगल्याच्या हेरिटेज वास्तूचे वेगळेपण जपत केलेल्या सुधारणांचे त्यांनी विशेष कौतुक केले. या बंगल्यात… pic.twitter.com/og6mXc5SBO — Eknath Shinde - एकनाथ शिंदे (@mieknathshinde) February 18, 2026 According to information from Shinde's office, the two leaders held discussions on various issues. This is the first meeting between the duo after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Elections. Shinde welcomed Thackeray with a shawl and bouquet. The two leaders were seen seated together, exchanging views in an informal setting at the bungalow. Shinde’s son and Kalyan Member of Parliament (MP) Dr Shrikant Shinde was also present during the meeting. Thackeray reportedly admired the heritage architecture of the Nandanvan bungalow, including the rare and historic photographs preserved there. He shared memories associated with the building and commended Deputy CM Shinde for maintaining its historical and artistic value. Shinde informed Thackeray that the bungalow’s heritage look had been carefully preserved, while the surrounding area was designed to match its style, reflecting the city’s cultural and aesthetic heritage. An accomplished caricaturist and art enthusiast, Thackeray appreciated these efforts and praised the emphasis on art and heritage despite the demands of political life. MNS had supported Shiv Sena in Kalyan-Dombivali, Nashik civic polls The visit is likely to generate speculation, especially after the MNS extended its support to the Shinde-headed Shiv Sena in the Kalyan-Dombivli and Nashik civic bodies to form the government. In the Kalyan-Dombivali Municipal Corporation (KDMC), where the Shiv Sena emerged as the single-largest party, MNS's five corporators played a key role in helping the Shinde-led party cross the majority mark. Similar backing was also extended in Nashik, causing strains in the Shiv Shakti alliance between MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT), which is being headed by Raj Thackeray’s cousin Uddhav Thackeray. Some voices from the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) camp had described MNS’s support to the Shinde-headed party as sending "the wrong political message".
18 February,2026 07:18 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Wednesday directed a Rs 50-lakh penalty on the contractor responsible for delays in the construction of the flyover between Dindoshi Court and Dadasaheb Phalke Film City, part of the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR) project. Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijit Bangar inspected the ongoing work and instructed the contractor to accelerate construction to ensure the flyover is opened for traffic by May 31, 2026, ahead of the monsoon. The GMLR project, designed to ease traffic between Mumbai’s western and eastern suburbs, is being executed in four phases. Phase 3(a) includes the elevated flyover and rotary junction. The 1.26-km flyover currently has 31 pillars completed, with 20 out of 30 spans finished, accounting for 75 per cent of the work. BMC ramps up resources to ensure Goregaon-Mulund flyover, twin tunnel ready on schedule Bangar directed deployment of additional manpower and machinery to complete remaining spans and related works such as deck slab casting and access ramps on schedule. He also asked authorities to relocate utilities, including water pipelines, sewage lines, and Adani Power transformers, which are obstructing the flyover alignment. Following the inspection, Bangar also visited the site of the twin tunnel construction (‘launching shaft’) in Dadasaheb Phalke Film City. Two state-of-the-art tunnel boring machines will be deployed for the underground segment. Preparatory work for lowering the first TBM into the shaft is expected to begin by March 10. BMC officials said the project is crucial for providing faster, safer, and more efficient connectivity across the city, and all efforts are being made to meet the deadlines.
18 February,2026 06:54 PM IST | MumbaiADVERTISEMENT
