Ten months after a terror attack in Pahalgam claimed her father's life, Asawari Jagdale is still waiting for the Maharashtra government to deliver on its promise of a state job. While Asawari voiced her concern on Monday in Pune, BJP leader Navnath Ban promised to escalate the delay directly to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Asawari's father, Santosh Jagdale, was one of 26 victims who died when terrorists opened fire in Pahalgam's Baisaran meadows on April 22 last year. Following the massacre, the state government had announced Rs 50 lakh in financial aid to the families of the six victims from Maharashtra and government employment to their next of kin. "It has been 10 months since a promise was made that I would be getting a job in the government, but unfortunately, there has not been any development in this regard," Asawari told media persons. She said Rajya Sabha MP Medha Kulkarni has written to Union Minister Amit Shah, apprising him about the state government's assurances. "I have been in contact with the offices of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Officials have only been telling us that they have been following up on the issue," she said. The family has been facing financial hardship since her father's death, and their savings have depleted, she said, urging officials to try to address the matter soon. Asked about Asawari's pleas, Ban, the Maharashtra BJP's media in-charge, said he would take up the issue with the chief minister. Speaking to reporters, he said, "The BJP's stand is to support the Jagdale family and other families affected by the terror attack. I assure that I will personally take up the matter with the chief minister and the state party leadership." The BJP corporator said that Fadnavis is a sensitive leader who would look into the issue and try to ensure justice at the earliest. 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
16 February,2026 06:11 PM IST | Mumbai | PTIMumbai local train operations were briefly affected after a 'drunk man' lay down on the tracks at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) station on Monday, officials said. They said that the man, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, lay down between the railway tracks, disrupting suburban train services at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus. Watch | Railway services disrupted as man sleeps between tracks Top of the world! Drunk man sleeps on track at the city's biggest rail terminus at Mumbai CSMT, holds up local train on harbour line. pic.twitter.com/e3mPuJGu5B — Rajendra B. Aklekar (@rajtoday) February 16, 2026 According to sources, the 3.28 pm Panvel-CSMT local slowed down after the motorman spotted the man lying on the tracks with a white cloth covering himself. The train was brought to a halt in time, preventing any mishap and causing brief delays. Railway officials said that around 3 pm, the apparently intoxicated person was found lying on the tracks near Platform No. 1. The approaching train was stopped short of him. He was later removed from the tracks, and train services were restored. No injuries were reported in the incident. Officials said a case is being registered under Section 145 of the Railway Act.
16 February,2026 05:59 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarA major political row has erupted in the state following Harshwardhan Sapkal's alleged remarks on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Tipu Sultan, with the Shiv Sena (UBT) hitting out at Maharashtra Congress chief and accusing the BJP of giving the row a communal colour. Amid the controversy, the Shiv Sena (UBT) on Monday said that by equating Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj with Tipu Sultan, Sapkal had unnecessarily handed the BJP a political issue, reported PTI. In an editorial in the party's mouthpiece Saamana, the Shiv Sena (UBT) said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), as always, has given a Hindu-Muslim colour to the Shivaji-Tipu row. Tipu Sultan is considered a hero in Pakistan, but the BJP does not find it condemnable to allow an India-Pakistan cricket match, the editorial further claimed, reported PTI. What happened A controversy erupted on Saturday over a portrait of the 18th-century Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan in the office of Malegaon Municipal Corporation Deputy Mayor Shan-e-Hind Nihal Ahmed, which Shiv Sena corporators and Hindu outfits opposed. While pointing to the valour of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the way he presented the idea of ‘Swarajya’, Sapkal cited Tipu Sultan’s call for battle against the British and claimed that this ideal was articulated along similar lines. “It is condemnable to compare Tipu Sultan with Chhatrapati Shivrai,” the Saamana editorial said, reported PTI. “By equating Tipu Sultan with Chhatrapati Shivaji, Harshwardhan Sapkal has unnecessarily given an issue to the BJP,” it added. The Shiv Sena (UBT) said the BJP has honoured Tipu Sultan several times in the past and has now dug up his grave for its own benefit, only to fall into it. It claimed the ruling party had even proposed naming a road after the Mysuru ruler. Shinde reacts to growing controversy Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde echoed the sentiments of the Sena (UBT) and said Chhatrapati Shivaji and Tipu Sultan cannot be equated. “Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is the deity of Maharashtra, and we work according to his principles. I condemn those who are trying to equate Chhatrapati Shivaji and Tipu Sultan,” Shinde told PTI. Some are trying to engage in vote-bank politics through this issue and create a divide in society, he said, adding that the state government will try to ensure law and order is maintained. (With PTI inputs)
16 February,2026 05:18 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFor almost 13 years, 33-year-old Nikita Rathod endured severe right-sided cluster headaches, widely regarded as one of the most painful forms of headache disorders. The attacks, which she rated as 10 out of 10 in intensity, were accompanied by redness in the eye and debilitating pain episodes that lasted one to two months at a stretch. "These episodes would recur every few years, severely affecting my daily life and overall well-being. Despite consulting multiple doctors and trying a range of treatments — including conventional medications, strong painkillers and even 100 per cent oxygen therapy — my condition remained largely uncontrolled. The persistent pain took a toll on my physical and emotional health," Rathod told mid-day. Troubling young years Rathod was writing her internal exam paper for the third year of her BMM course when she first experienced this unbearable and unusual kind of pain. "Right in the middle of writing my paper, I felt excruciating pain and it felt like someone was pulling my right eye very harshly. I couldn't even finish my paper and was rushed to the emergency ward of Hinduja Hospital," said Rathod. While she hoped that it was just a minor, one-off incident, destiny had other plans. Despite undergoing multiple tests, CT scans and MRIs, the cause could not be identified and the problem could not be diagnosed. "In the last 13 years, I have undergone several tests, at least three CT scans and MRIs each. But the reports always came back normal. While in other cases normal reports meant a good sign, in my case it brought sadness as it meant that we again neither knew the cause nor the diagnosis," said Rathod. With episodes recurring every two years, she somehow managed to sail through these years. "My college teachers, followed by my colleagues and bosses at work, have been extremely supportive. My life would go upside down for almost two months every time I had an attack. But making a comeback each time was possible only because I had a strong support system at home and at work," she shared. Things worsened during pregnancy While oxygen helped as first aid during her attacks, there was still no lasting solution. She even had to plan her pregnancy accordingly. "We had observed that the episodes would repeat every two years. So, with the help of our gynaecologist, we planned the pregnancy in a way that I would conceive and the baby would be born in the gap years. But again destiny had other plans. While eight and a half months passed without any hassle, I suddenly got the same headache on December 9, 2025. And I just knew it. Doctors had given December 30 to January 1 as my delivery date. But the pain kept aggravating with each passing day. The doctors requested me to try and hold on until at least December 20 as the baby would have fully developed by then. But a C-section had to be done on December 14 as my pain reached a level that it may have put my baby in distress. Luckily, I had completed 37 weeks of pregnancy and, as per my sonography, the baby was ready to be delivered. Maybe even she sensed that her mother was going through unbearable pain," Rathod recalled. Post-delivery, as the episode continued, doctors decided on December 17 to perform a trial procedure. "They gave anaesthesia to my occipital nerves to stop the pain signals from reaching my head. And that worked wonders for me — but only for a few hours. As I felt relieved, I was discharged, only to be readmitted with the same problem. I came back from Raheja Hospital in the evening on December 17 and was again on a hospital bed at 3 am the following morning," she said. End of patience On that day, Rathod told the doctors to find any solution possible as she was exhausted by the repetitive episodes. It was then that Dr DK Baheti, senior consultant – Pain Management Specialist at S. L. Raheja Hospital, Mumbai – A Fortis Associate, was approached. "Looking at her symptoms and the nature of the repetitive episodes, we realised that there was no problem with any part of the brain. To us, it looked more like nerve damage. It was because of our experience that we could figure it out. When we conducted further tests, we identified the root cause as a nerve-related pain transmission disorder." The medical team decided to perform a highly specialised pain-block procedure using pulsed radiofrequency ablation. The minimally invasive, one-hour intervention involved precisely targeting and disrupting the sensory nerve pathway responsible for transmitting pain signals to the brain. Importantly, the technique was designed to block abnormal pain signals without affecting motor function. "We did inform her that it was highly risky as we would go very close to her brain and there were chances she could be paralysed if something went wrong. But she was determined. What made this situation difficult for her was the fact that she was going through two excruciating pains simultaneously — one during pregnancy and the other postpartum," said Dr Sreelakshmi N., Consultant – Neurologist and Epileptologist at S. L. Raheja Hospital, Mumbai – A Fortis Associate. Doctors at the hospital said the case highlights the importance of advanced nerve-based interventions in managing complex pain conditions such as cluster headaches. They emphasised that with accurate diagnosis and specialised treatment, even long-standing and severe cases can be effectively treated. What are the symptoms? - Constant unbearable headache- Feeling of the eye being pulled- Watery eyes- Pain in the eyes, nose and jaw- Eyelid swelling
16 February,2026 04:39 PM IST | Mumbai | Ritika GondhalekarMumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde on Monday declared BJP corporator Ganesh Khankar, from Dahisar's ward 7, as the leader of the house in the BMC. After electing BJP corporator Ritu Tawde as the BMC Mayor and Sanjay Ghodi from Shiv Sena as her deputy, the 227-member BMC general body on February 16 also elected the leader of the house and the leader of opposition. Khankar is also the group leader of the BJP in BMC and also the party whip. The BJP during the BMC election 2026 turned out to be the largest party in the 227-member civic elections, with 89 elected members. Khankar has been appointed the leader of the house. BMC Mayor Tawde was chairing the general body meeting at BMC headquarters on Monday afternoon. This was the second meeting after the elections of Mayor and Deputy Mayor on February 11. Kishori Pednekar to be the Leader of Opposition in BMC Tawde also announced that Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator and former Mayor of the Mumbai civic body, Kishori Pednekar, will be the Leader of the Opposition in BMC's General Body. Shiv Sena (UBT), after the BMC elections 2026, turned out to be the largest opposition party with 65 elected representatives.
16 February,2026 03:21 PM IST | Mumbai | Eeshanpriya MSAs part of Mumbai Climate Week 2026, city leaders, municipal officials, practitioners, waste workers, and civil society organisations came together on February 14 at the Museum of Solutions (MuSo), Lower Parel, Mumbai. With Mumbai generating over 7,000 metric tonnes of waste every day, the attendees at the Museum of Solutions (MuSo) charted a roadmap for scaling up waste solutions that are already working on the ground. The main agenda of the meeting was about, how Mumbai can expand successful waste segregation and management practices citywide. As per the officials, key highlight was a candid conversation between Freishia Bomanbehram and Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Solid Waste Management) Kiran Dighavkar. Dighavkar underscored that meaningful behavioural change in waste management rests on three pillars that are strong regulatory system with monitoring, responsible citizen participation, and robust community-based organisations acting as bridges between people and institutions. He further noted that Mumbai has already seen successful collaborations delivering tangible results but emphasised the need to transition from small pilots to durable, citywide systems. As part of this push, the BMC is strengthening its collection infrastructure. Green waste collection vehicles, previously open at the rear, are being redesigned into fully enclosed units, introduced in new colours and dedicated exclusively to collecting kitchen and wet waste to improve segregation efficiency. Grassroots innovations for better waste management In view of strengthening waste management in Mumbai, the event also showcased scalable, on-ground solutions from various organisations which are working on household segregation tools, behavioural shifts among residents, and live demonstrations for homes and institutions. Furthermore, the discussion highlighted landfill dependence, methane emissions, and the role of waste workers in creating resilient urban systems. Methane and the climate imperative Speakers emphasised that the waste sector is a major source of human-driven methane emissions, largely from decomposing organic waste in landfills. Methane, over 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide in driving short-term climate change, makes improved waste segregation critical for climate mitigation. Manjyot Kaur Ahluwalia, Asia Regional Lead at GMH, while speaking about waste management, said that rising incomes have distanced citizens from their waste footprint, stressing the need for ownership and dignity for waste workers. Mandira Kalaan of Purpose India added that initiatives such as the Aamhi Sorted Mumbai The sorted campaign demonstrates how data, culturally relevant communication and empowered local governments can reduce landfill dependence.
16 February,2026 02:51 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAfter Sunetra Pawar’s appointment as Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister, the state’s political landscape is witnessing a major shift. Soon after arriving in Mumbai from Baramati, the Deputy CM has summoned a meeting at 'Devgiri', her official residence, on Monday evening. The meeting, scheduled for 6 pm., marks the first major legislative event under Pawar’s leadership since she was elected as the legislature party leader and took the oath of office on January 31, following the passing of Ajit Pawar. The meeting has drawn significant attention across the political spectrum across Maharashtra as she begins to consolidate her grip on both the government and the party. A senior NCP leader, while briefing about the meeting called by Sunetra Pawar, said, “All Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) and Legislative Council (MLCs) from the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) have been issued strict directives to attend the meeting, which is taking place a week ahead of the commencement of the budget session of the state legislature on February 23 in Mumbai.” “The primary agenda is to establish organisational discipline, review the current political climate in the state and formulate a roadmap for upcoming challenges while focusing on rebuilding and strengthening the party organisation. In addition, the meeting will also discuss further increasing coordination with the BJP, which heads the Mahayuti government, and also between the party and the government," the NCP leader further added. Agenda of meeting As reported by news agency IANS, a major flashpoint for Monday evening’s discussion will be the bribery allegations involving the office of Food and Drug Administration Minister Narhari Zirwal. The incident has left Zirwal in a precarious position, especially after he reportedly went "not reachable" on Saturday morning, sparking intense speculation. With the opposition aggressively demanding his resignation, Zirwal is likely to meet Sunetra Pawar on Monday. During the meeting, Zirwal will present his side of the story before the Core Committee. The leadership will review the facts of the case to determine the party's official stance, reported IANS. NCP bracing for internal restructuring Beyond the immediate crisis, another NCP leader indicated that the party is bracing for a significant internal restructuring. The NCP leader emphasised, "Discussions regarding the appointment of a new National President are expected to top the agenda. The date and venue for the upcoming National Executive meeting will likely be finalised today. The entire selection and restructuring process is expected to be completed within the next two weeks, as per IANS. (With inputs from IANS)
16 February,2026 01:45 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA 33-year-old man succumbed to his injuries on Sunday, ten days after a sport utility vehicle (SUV) allegedly driven by a minor hit his scooter in Mumbai, a police official said. As reported by news agency PTI, victim Dhurmil Patel's wife, Minal Patel, who was also riding with him at the time of the accident, is in a critical condition, the official said. The couple was seriously injured after the speeding SUV, allegedly driven at high speed by the minor, rammed into their scooter near Somaiya College in the Vidyavihar area earlier on February 5. As per PTI, the SUV was allegedly registered in the name of the main accused’s father, Valji Raja Bhushan. The official, while briefing about the incident, on Monday said that, “With Dhurmil's death, the earlier FIR will be upgraded with relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita,” as per PTI. The case has been registered at Tilak Nagar police station against the minor and his father, who has been booked for allowing an underage person to drive the vehicle. A site inspection has been conducted, and CCTV footage from the area was examined to establish the speed of the car and the circumstances leading to the accident, the official said, adding that further investigation is underway. Ghodbunder Road traffic hit after container crashes into 12 vehicles Earlier on Sunday, in a different scenario, one person was injured and the traffic on the Ghodbunder Road was hit after a container truck crashed into 12 vehicles in Thane. According to the Regional Disaster Management Cell (RDMC) of the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), a major road accident took place at around 4:39 pm near the police outpost at Gaimukh on the Ghodbunder Road in Thane (West), after a heavy container vehicle lost control and rammed into several vehicles. The traffic police officials said that the container bearing hit at least 12 vehicles travelling on the road, causing damage to a total of 13 vehicles, including the driver's own truck. The police said that the driver of the heavy container lost control of the vehicle. After the accident, the driver reportedly abandoned the vehicle at the scene and fled. It said that a probe has been launched for further investigations and to establish the identity of the driver, who is currently unknown. The Thane traffic police officers and staff immediately reached the spot and managed the situation, the RDMC said. (With inputs from PTI)
16 February,2026 12:46 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMumbai city and its suburbs are likely to witness mainly clear skies through the day. Warm weather conditions are expected to prevail, with the maximum temperature likely to reach around 34 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature may settle near 21 degrees Celsius. According to the latest forecast issued at 9 am, mainly clear sky conditions are expected across the city and suburbs. Meanwhile, Mumbai’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 113 on Monday morning, placing it in the ‘moderate’ category. According to the Centre’s SAMEER app, pollution levels varied across different parts of the city on Monday. Bandra-Kurla Complex recorded an AQI of 136, Andheri East 129 and Deonar 137 all reflecting relatively higher pollution levels within the moderate range. Meanwhile, Colaba reported an AQI of 85, Chembur 94 and Worli 97, indicating steady air quality conditions. In contrast, Borivali East recorded a comparatively better AQI of 61, placing it in the ‘satisfactory’ category. Overall, while most monitoring stations remained in the ‘moderate’ bracket, the variation across locations highlighted fluctuating air quality levels in different pockets of the city. Delhi's air quality remains 'poor', AQI at 214 The air quality in the national capital continued to remain in the 'poor' category on Monday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 214 around 7 am, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). This marked a marginal improvement from Sunday, when the AQI stood at 221 at the same time. In contrast, some central areas of the city showed relatively better air quality. The AQI in the area around India Gate and Kartavya Path was 156, and around AIIMS it was 148, both classified as 'moderate', as per CPCB data.As per AQI classification, a reading between 0 and 50 is considered 'good', 51 to 100 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 'moderate', 201 to 300 'poor', 301 to 400 'very poor', and 401 to 500 'severe'. On Sunday, areas such as Mundka recorded (275), Anand Vihar (265), Bawana (241), Rohini (250), Dwarka (221), ITO (213), Ashok Vihar (243), Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (265), Vivek Vihar (252), and Chandni Chowk (228).
16 February,2026 11:04 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentOn Sunday, a large number of people from around 600 societies from Malad and Kandivli conducted a joint meeting and took the signatures of 80 societies to start a campaign, as they have not been able to redevelop their societies since 2014 due to being located in a 500-yard radius of defence lands. They have requested the defence ministry and government to scrap the old gazette in this regard. The residents told mid-day that after 2024, BMC stopped giving NOCs for redevelopment. Most existing societies are around 45 years old, and many have been demolished as they were in the C-1 (very dangerous, dilapidated) category, but all such building redevelopment has been stuck due to the 1967 defence gazette. Defence gazette says… The gazette states that all societies located within a 500-yard radius are not allowed any kind of development of their lands. Any development requires permission from the defence ministry and civic authorities. mid-day had earlier reported on how 200 societies in Juhu were facing issues of redevelopment due to this gazette. A total of three defence land parcels are located at Malad and Kandivli. Atul Bhatkar, MLA from Kandivali, also joined the meeting and gave an assurance that he will help local residents. Resident Speak Dilip Jain, Malad East plot ownerIn 2019, our building was demolished due to being in the C-1 category. Our plot is located less than 500 yards from defence land. We have a total of 150 flats, including commercial spaces. But we can undergo redevelopment only if we get permission. Anand Alhat, Pushpa Park, Malad EastMy society was demolished due to being in the C-1 category five years ago, but after that, we didn’t get any approval for redevelopment. The BMC is also not giving any NOC, nor giving any statements in writing. Our project is stuck. Residents and commercial shop owners are struggling. Sandeep Tamhane, chairman, Jay Shivam Society, Malad EastWe have a total of 104 flats and 500 residents. Our building is a ground-plus-four structure without a lift. Our society was constructed in 1972. We have been struggling for many years due to being unable to undertake redevelopment. Nikhil Desai, Varun Valley Society, Kandivli EastMy society is within 358 yards of defence land. Our building is in bad condition and requires redevelopment. We have been struggling for many years but haven’t got permission. If we still fail to get permission, we will protest on the road and ask the local MLA and corporators to join us, as they are from the BMC. They should support us. Sandeep Talekar, secretary, Shanti Nagar Society, Malad EastWe have a four-storey structure constructed in 1975. We have combined Gautam Nagar society with our complex. We have 138 flats and 550 residents in total. We want redevelopment. All senior citizens are facing issues climbing four floors. The government should help us.
16 February,2026 11:01 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirish VaktaniaRamdhani Yadav, 49, the sarpanch of Barthani village in Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, had come to the city to meet with a potential groom for his daughter and was on his way to meet the young man in Mulund on Saturday, when his life was cut short in the Metro slab collapse, the deceased’s relatives told mid-day. Yadav arrived in Mumbai on February 10, and on the day of the incident, he was travelling in an autorickshaw from Kalwa, where he was residing with relatives, to Mulund and the vehicle was driven by Rajkumar Yadav, 45, a fellow villager. Ramdhani Yadav, Uttar Pradesh resident who lost his life in mishap According to the Mulund police, the incident occurred around 12.30 pm opposite the Johnson and Johnson factory on LBS Road when a concrete parapet wall fell on an auto rickshaw and a car, injuring four and killing one. The accused >> Harish Chauhan, project director>> Kuldeep Sapkal, project manager>> Saurab Singh, deputy manager>> Prashant Bhoir, supervisor>> Avdhoot Inamdar, project manager Friends and relatives of Ramdhani Yadav at the Mulund police station on Sunday. PICS/SHIRISH VAKTANIA Police Speak Amol Chavan, Investigation officer API‘We have arrested five people in this case who are responsible for the incident. We have now started taking help from the engineers and experts to find out how this slab fell’ Brother speaks Ramsamuj Yadav, brother of the deceased‘My brother helped many people and did a lot of work for the development of the village. He resided with his wife, Gudiya, and three children. Five days ago, my brother came to Mumbai to fix his daughter’s marriage. On Saturday, he was to meet the potential groom in Mulund, but my brother died on the way. His relatives should receive government jobs and '2 crore in compensation’
16 February,2026 11:00 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirish VaktaniaADVERTISEMENT
