The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday issued a yellow alert for Mumbai, Thane and Raigad, forecasting hot and humid conditions at isolated places, particularly in suburban areas. In the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Santacruz recorded a high of 36.5 degrees Celsius, while Colaba saw slightly lower temperatures at 34.9 degrees Celsius, according to IMD's latest data. Meanwhile, Mumbai’s overall air quality remained in the moderate category, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 96 on Tuesday, as per the Centre Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) Sameer App. AQI across Mumbai Bandra Kurla Complex – 113Borivali East – 100Byculla – 99Andheri East – 117Chembur – 86Colaba – 83Deonar – 123Ghatkopar – 117 Rising heat sweeps Maharashtra, Jalgaon among hottest at 37.6 degrees Celsius Meanwhile, Maharashtra continued to reel under rising temperatures on Tuesday, with several regions recording above-normal heat, according to the IMD. Jalgaon and Sholapur emerged as the hottest locations in the state, both recording a maximum temperature of 37.6 degrees Celsius, followed closely by Jeur at 37.5 degrees Celsius and Satara at 37.2 degrees Celsius, as per the Meteorological Department. In the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Santacruz recorded a high of 36.5 degrees Celsius, while Colaba saw slightly lower temperatures at 34.9 degrees Celsius. Coastal areas like Alibag and Ratnagiri reported relatively moderate highs of 32.9 degrees Celsius and 33.7 degrees Celsius, respectively. Among other key cities, Nashik recorded 36.3 degrees Celsius, Aurangabad 36.0 degrees Celsius, and Kolhapur 36.3 degrees Celsius, indicating widespread heat across interior Maharashtra. Notably, Harnaí reported a sharp departure from normal at 7.3 degrees Celsius above average, making it one of the most unusually warm locations. Coastal humidity remains high, interiors stay dry Humidity levels varied significantly, with coastal stations like Dahanu (69 per cent) and Ratnagiri (61 per cent) witnessing higher moisture levels, while drier conditions prevailed in interior regions such as Aurangabad (25 per cent) and Parbhani (23 per cent). Overall, the data indicates a mix of hot and humid conditions across Maharashtra, with interior regions facing intense heat and coastal belts experiencing relatively milder but humid weather.
24 March,2026 10:31 AM IST | MumbaiAt Mumbai’s bus depots, the people who keep the city moving work under ceilings that could come down at any moment. During inspections across 27 BEST depots on Sunday, committee member Nitin Nadgaonkar found the Vikhroli depot in a condition that raised serious concerns — cracked walls, a weakening roof slab, overgrown surroundings, and even reports of snakes nearby. But what stood out wasn’t just the decay. It was how normal it has become. “How can drivers and conductors rest in such conditions?” Nadgaonkar asked. “Every employee here is working while putting their life at risk.” BEST committee member Nitin Nadgaonkar (in brown shirt) during his inspection with the depot manager What the inspection found >> Roof slabs on the verge of collapse>> Cracked walls and weakening structure>> Overgrown vegetation around staff areas>> Unhygienic, poorly maintained rest spaces Weakening roof structure at the depot, with parts at risk of collapse Questions raised Nadgaonkar has demanded answers:“Why has a structural audit not been conducted? If it has, where are the details?”“Are they waiting for an accident to happen?”“Is the administration asleep?” Overgrown vegetation around the Vikhroli depot, reflecting poor upkeep of the premises Voices from inside For staff, this is not an isolated issue. It is an everyday reality. “We come to work knowing the building itself isn’t safe. The ceiling looks like it could fall anytime,” said a ticket inspector. “We are responsible for passengers’ lives, but who is responsible for ours?” asked a 50-year-old driver. “After long hours, this is where we’re supposed to rest. It feels like our safety doesn’t matter,” a conductor said. “In the monsoon, it gets worse. Water seeps in, and we worry about electrical hazards too.” A cracked roof slab inside the Vikhroli bus depot that raises concerns about safety of staff Political pushback BEST committee member Faisal Khan said: “Do the lives of BEST employees have no value? This is absolutely unacceptable.” Official line BEST officials say there are plans to redevelop ageing depots and improve staff amenities The bigger picture 27 depots inspectedRs 1000 crore allocated by BMC this year >> BEST is increasingly dependent on civic funding>> pressure to generate its own revenue>> Even as finances tighten, infrastructure appears to be deteriorating
24 March,2026 10:19 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarAfter repeated objections from parent groups, students and activists, ex-students of BD Hiray College said they were finally asked to collect their mark sheets. However, many alleged that the subjects listed did not match what they had studied. Students from the first batch (2021-2024) said they were called to the college office on Sunday, March 22, to collect mark sheets for all semesters. Subject mismatch The results, copies of which were shared with mid-day, were issued by ‘Sikkim International University’. Students said they remain unclear about the university’s credentials. They also alleged that subjects appeared shuffled, some names had been changed, a few were unfamiliar, and their dissertation work was missing from the mark sheets. Meeting cancelled On March 22, they were promised a meeting with the management on March 23. Students claimed this meeting was cancelled. Legal route “We had given the college an ultimatum to meet us on March 23, but they failed to do so. We will now approach authorities or take legal action,” said Nitin Nanavare, activist, Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena. This newspaper tried to get in touch with the authorities from the BD Hiray College but did not receive a response by the press time. Student Speak Shruti Sorap (Batch of 2021-2024)“Since I was unable to collect the mark sheets on Sunday, I went to the college on Monday and was stopped at the gate itself. We were handed our mark sheets outside and treated with hostility. Despite graduating two years ago, I was not able to find a job because I had no recognised documents in hand. The mark sheets have come, but we still have doubts about their reliability.” Nidhi Raut (Batch of 2021-2024)“I was initially studying interior design, but I moved to this study centre for better education. Despite not having attended my first year, they still gave me mark sheets for it. My marks disclosed in college, and those on the mark sheets are different. I lost my job as I couldn’t produce documents.”
24 March,2026 10:13 AM IST | Mumbai | Aditi AlurkarMaharashtra Forest Minister Ganesh Naik stated that it was the state government that requested the Reliance Foundation to accommodate leopards at its Vantara facility. So far, 25 leopards have already been transferred, with an agreement in place to relocate a total of 50 animals, reported the PTI. Naik explained that the move followed a sharp rise in leopard captures, particularly in Pune district, where around 150 leopards had been trapped. "Twenty-five leopards have been sent to Vantara. We made a demand (to take the leopards) because 150 leopards were trapped in Pune district," Naik said. The minister highlighted a significant increase in wildlife numbers across the state. He noted that the leopard population has grown nearly fourfold over the past decade. Similarly, tiger numbers have surged from 101 around seven to eight years ago to 444 at present, indicating successful conservation but also increasing management challenges. Amendment to Wildlife Protection Law The Maharashtra legislature has passed an amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act, aimed at addressing delays in managing human-leopard conflict, according to the PTI. The minister said there is a misunderstanding due to amendment to the bill and asserted no permission will be given to anyone to kill leopards. Previously, the Chief Wildlife Warden required permission from the Union government under Section 12 to undertake measures such as translocation or population control. According to Naik, this process was highly regulated, cumbersome, and time-consuming, often hindering timely intervention. Faster Decision-Making for Wildlife Management Under the amended provisions, the Chief Wildlife Warden will now be able to take necessary steps for scientific management of leopards—including relocation and population control—with approval from the state government alone. This is expected to streamline responses to conflict situations and improve wildlife management efficiency, as per the PTI. Addressing public concerns Naik clarified that there has been some misunderstanding regarding the amendment. He firmly stated that the changes do not permit the killing of leopards under any circumstances, the news agency reported. He also added that the forest department is planning to establish leopard and tiger safari initiatives in every district, aimed at both conservation awareness and tourism. (with PTI inputs)
24 March,2026 10:09 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Maharashtra government’s plan to introduce dedicated menopause clinics across public hospitals is facing on-ground hurdles, with several peripheral facilities in Mumbai yet to operationalise the service. While civic health officials claim clinics have been launched in maternity homes and hospitals, a mid-day ground report found otherwise. “We have informed all hospitals about the directive. Implementation is their responsibility,” said Dr Varsha Puri, deputy executive health officer. The hurdles Hospital heads, however, pointed to multiple challenges — a lack of gynaecology departments, infrastructure gaps, and no clear operational guidelines — that were slowing progress. Some said menopause care is already being offered within existing services, making separate clinics seem redundant for now. “We do not have a functional gynaecology ward yet. Once the new multispecialty building is ready, we can start the clinic,” said Dr Nitiraj Mane of Bhagwati Hospital. Dr Rajeswari Khyade Dr Rajusingh Rathod, MT Agarwal Hospital, added that their gynaecology department will begin in the next few months, after which the menopause OPD will follow. Dr Bharti Rajulwala, Rajawadi Hospital, said, “The idea is to give more focused attention to women experiencing menopausal symptoms, so that conditions like ovarian cancer can be detected early. As we have a fully functional gynaecology department, we already provide all services from consultation to screenings and surgeries. So far, we haven’t received any communication from the head office to establish a separate menopause clinic. Even if we do get one, we do not need to specifically set it up. The only thing is that we will have to keep dedicated OPD hours only for menopause cases.” Officials from KEM, Sion, Nair and Cooper hospitals echoed similar concerns, pointing to a gap between policy announcement and on-ground readiness. The exception Bhabha Hospital in Bandra is the only peripheral hospital to roll out a dedicated menopause clinic, seeing 70-80 patients in two months. “The count should have been more. However, there is no awareness at all about such a facility being started at government hospitals, that too for free. These patients, we also had to first tell them about the facility, then convince them to take a check-up and only then did they agree,” said Dr Rajeswari Khyade, senior consultant – OB-GYN. Facilities include >> Psychological counselling>> Pap smear>> Bone health check-up>> Breast screening>> Blood tests (CBC, LFT, lipid, kidney, diabetes)>> USG abdomen and pelvis>> Medicines (vitamins, calcium)>> Referrals for further treatment>> OPD hours: Wednesday, 11 am to 1 pm Existing services While public hospitals are only now moving towards structured menopause care, private hospitals have been offering dedicated services for nearly five years. One such example is Reliance Hospital’s specialised facilities, which provide comprehensive screening, early diagnosis and management of menopause-related conditions under one roof. Facilities at Reliance Hospital >> Necessary scans, screening tests, blood tests, and sonography >> Pap smear & pelvic and abdominal ultrasound; colposcopy if required>> Mammography>> Osteoporosis screening>> Colorectal examination>> Urinary bladder studies>> Neurological examination>> Correction of vitamin D, B12 and folic acid deficiencies
24 March,2026 10:01 AM IST | Mumbai | Ritika GondhalekarAs the hottest stretch of the year approaches, birds in the city are struggling to cope with extreme heat even as animal hospitals are regularly receiving cases where dehydrated and exhausted birds are falling from heights, ending up getting injured. Mayur Dangar, manager at Bai Sakarbai Dinshaw Petit Hospital for Animals, shared, “For this month, the hospital has already received 72 cases of birds and 18 cases of dogs and cats involving dehydration. This figure is alarming because last year we received around 70 such cases across the entire month of March.” Dogs, cats also at risk An injured and dehydrated barn owl (right) A dehydrated crow resting Although it’s tough to single out dehydration as a key factor in cases of dogs and cats compared to the birds, it is very common for them as well to experience increased fatigue during heat waves. Dogs and cats make up 20 per cent of dehydration cases at Petit Hospital. Commonly reported heat-stress cases include... >> House sparrow>> Rock pigeon (blue rock pigeon)>> Black kite>> Common myna>> Barn owl>> Parakeet A community dog at Petit Hospital (right) An exhausted cat receives treatment. PICS/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Birds suffering from heat stress show several visible behavioural and physical signs... >> Open-mouth breathing (panting)>> Drooping wings>> Lethargy or weakness>> Reduced movement>> Moderate stress>> Sitting still on the ground or balcony>> Unable to fly properly>> Eyes partially closed>> Rapid breathing>> Collapse or unconsciousness>> Trembling or seizures Petit Hospital staff rescue a Brahminy kite Doctor speak Dr Shahir Gaikwad, Associate professor of surgery, Mumbai Veterinary College, and I/C Surgery Ward, BSDP Hospital‘There has been a spike in bird rescue calls during intense summer heatwaves. Most rescue calls tend to come from South Mumbai and dense urban and suburban zones, especially where green cover and natural water sources are limited’ Citizen rescue Harshita Charatker, a resident of Ambekar Nagar, found a barn owl fallen on a road near her building on Thursday. She, along with her family, rescued the bird. “We tried calling different animal helplines, but the calls were not going through. We have been bird parents in the past, so we were well equipped for the rescue,” said Charatker. Harshita Charatker and family, who rescued a fallen barn owl Steps citizens can take to help birds Step 1 Move the bird to shade; place it in a cool, quiet area away from predators (cats, dogs) Step 2 Reduce body temperature; sprinkle room-temperature water lightly on the bird; wrap it gently in a cool damp cloth if necessary. Step 3 Do not force-feed water; do not pour water directly into the beak (risk of choking) Step 4 Let the bird rest; many birds recover after cooling and hydration Step 5 Contact rescue service Simple citizen actions like placing water bowls can save thousands of birds every summer. If the bird cannot stand or fly after 30-60 minutes one must contact the Forest Department Control Room: +91 81049 26313 90 cases of dehydration within first 13 days of March 32 pigeons2 parrots12 crows4 owls22 kites12 dogs6 cats*Data is as of March 13, 2026.
24 March,2026 09:56 AM IST | Mumbai | Sarthak MehtaCreating a spin-off of the reality show Shark Tank, underprivileged school students from Mumbai teamed up with business school pupils to pitch their own ideas for seed fund. From mobile repairs and beauty services to arts and crafts, students as young as 16 years old, who work to support their families, showed up on Thursday to showcase their talents at the ‘Dolphin Tanki’ — a seed-funding platform organised by the Salaam Bombay Foundation. For three weeks, these teenagers were paired with MBA students from NMIMS who helped them create a SWOT (strength, weakness, opportunities, threats) analysis for their business ideas while helping them with the 101s of entrepreneurship the students learnt through their course. As many as 36 students presented their ideas to a panel of industry experts brought together by Salaam Bombay, who offered a total sum of '11 lakh in grants to the students, while pitches were judged on practicality, local demand, and community needs for micro-businesses like theirs. Sectors pitched by students >> Beauty and wellness>> Mobile repair>> Home appliance repair>> Photography>> Video editing>> Creative arts>> Fashion design>> Bakery>> Choreography Salaam Bombay Foundation Founded in 2002, Salaam Bombay Foundation is a Mumbai-based non-profit that focuses on keeping children from low-income communities in school. It provides underprivileged kids education, preventive healthcare, vocational training, and extracurricular programmes in arts and sports. Students Speak Mohammed Nasir, 15, Std XI student of Arts from GhatkoparI started repairing phones at first because I liked solving problems, now it helps my family and neighbours too. Eventually I took up the course via Salaam Bombay, and I want to start an affordable phone repair shop with no duplicate spare parts, no hidden charges, and no compromise on people’s data security. Right now, I make around '20,000 a month, servicing 25-30 customers, and hope to get new tools with my fund Shagun Gupta, 16, Std XI student from KurlaAfter my father passed away, I had to step up to help my mother and siblings, so I started my own home-based beauty service business in Kurla West. I can do basic haircuts, makeup, facials, and threading, and am now up-skilling in bridal makeup and nail art. I asked the judges for basic tools like a vanity box and hair straightener. I help my younger siblings buy stationery and other needs for their school with this service. Rukmini Poojari, 19, Third-Year BMM StudentPhotography, for me, is about finding the story behind every frame. My father works as an auto-rickshaw driver, and my mother is a cook. For now, I work on basic photo projects. I have asked for an investment of around '50,000 for equipment like reflectors and renting cameras. I enjoy travelling, so I hope to become a destination wedding photographer.
24 March,2026 09:47 AM IST | Mumbai | Aditi AlurkarA restaurant and bar in Borivali East is facing serious questions after documents obtained through a Right to Information (RTI) query revealed a major issue with its licence. The establishment has official permission to operate only on its first floor. However, it is allegedly operating full service on the ground floor without any approval for that space. The bar, ‘Charwak Restaurant & Bar’, has been granted a health licence by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) specifically for its first-floor premises. According to the complaint, this licence does not cover any other part of the building. Despite this, the bar is allegedly said to be using the same licence to operate on the ground floor too. The issue raises concerns not only about the bar’s conduct, but also about possible gaps in enforcement by civic authorities. Licence only 1st floor As per records, the BMC has issued a health licence to Charwak Restaurant & Bar only for the first floor of the Ghanshyam Dubey Tower in Borivali East. This licence is valid until December 31, 2026. The RTI reply from the Public Health Department clearly states that no separate permission has been granted to operate on the ground floor. Allegations of civic inaction The complainant has claimed that the issue has been raised multiple times with civic authorities, but no action has been taken so far. According to the complainant, this lack of response has allowed the alleged illegal operations to continue unchecked. Complaint escalated The matter has now been escalated to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and senior officials of the BMC. The complainant has demanded strict action not only against the restaurant and bar, but also against any civic officials and police personnel who may have failed to act. BMC response The R Central ward (Borivali) office of the BMC has confirmed receipt of the complaint. Assistant Municipal Commissioner Praful Tambe said an inspection has already been carried out. “The official inspection report will be prepared, and further action will be taken in accordance with the legal process,” Tambe said. Flouting norms a routine The problem of hotels and bars breaking rules without fear of action was also raised last week in the state Legislative Assembly. Responding to the issue, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the government plans to tighten the rules. He explained that the goal is to ensure that hotels and bars that repeatedly violate norms face strong action, including permanent cancellation of their licences.
24 March,2026 09:35 AM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev ShivadekarA dramatic rescue unfolded in Ratnagiri after a black panther fell into a 50-foot-deep well in Kolambe village, likely while chasing prey. The incident came to light around 7 am on Saturday, March 21, when people from Kolambe village heard loud growls and discovered the animal trapped at the bottom. Chasing prey, a rare melanistic black panther slipped and fell into a 50-foot-deep well, leaving it stranded and visibly distressed Locals immediately alerted the forest department, prompting a team led by officials, including Round Officer Lahanu Gavde, to rush to the site. The well had around five feet of water and a rocky ledge where the panther had settled, making the rescue more challenging as the animal remained calm and unwilling to move. Startled by loud growls, villagers gathered around the well and were shocked to find the trapped big cat pacing inside Rescue plan Round Officer Lahanu Gavde said, “Our priority was to rescue the animal safely, but it wasn’t moving as it had found the spot comfortable to rest, which made the operation challenging. We then devised a strategy and called in two water tankers. From a distance of nearly 400 metres, water was pumped into the well through pipes to gradually raise the water level and prompt the animal to move." The forest department rushed in and, after assessing the situation, began a careful rescue by raising the water level and lowering a metal cage into the well As the water level increased, the animal was forced to shift and eventually entered the water. That’s when the forest department lowered a metal trap cage into the well using ropes. After some time, the animal stepped into the cage, allowing the forest department to safely pull it out. After hours of waiting, the panther finally entered the cage. Following a 36-hour-long operation, it was safely pulled out under close supervision. Illustrations/Uday Mohite The operation, involving 20 forest staff and over 20 villagers, lasted 36 hours. The approximately five-year-old animal was later examined, found fit, and released back into its natural habitat. The black panther that fell into the well Did you know? Rescue team with the black panther after a 36-hour operation in Ratnagiri. Pics/By Special Arrangement Melanistic leopards are commonly called black panthers or black leopards. They are found in the forests of the Western Ghats and north-east India and are black due to the presence of excess melanin in their bodies. The colour of their fur is a mixture of blue, black, grey, and purple. 5Approximate age of the animal
24 March,2026 09:22 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavIn a rare show of unity, India’s top telecom operators — Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea — have written to the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL), raising objections to its fresh tender for in-building solutions (IBS) on Metro Line 3 and warning of delays in restoring mobile connectivity. The move comes after MMRCL terminated its earlier IBS contract with Saudi-based ACES and floated a new tender on March 20. In their letter, accessed by mid-day, the telcos flagged commuter inconvenience and said Reliance Jio has already applied for right-of-way (ROW) permissions to deploy infrastructure across stations and tunnels, with all operators backing a single-network approach. They have refused to issue “comfort letters” to vendors, alleging the tender imposes “exorbitant” charges — citing a reserve price of around '1000 per sq ft, far higher than Mumbai’s prime commercial rates of '250-300. Calling the pricing unjust, the telcos have urged MMRCL to scrap the tender and instead allow direct deployment or use of existing infrastructure to restore services quickly. MMRCL did not respond at the time of going to press.
24 March,2026 09:11 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarThe arrest of ‘self-proclaimed godman’ from Nashik Ashok Kharat was a proactive move by the police, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said. The CM stated that authorities used a complaint from another district to issue a Look-Out Circular (LOC), ensuring that Kharat could not flee. Fadnavis stated that will make a “detailed statement” in this case today. Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis. FILE PIC The CM further noted that misleading women by claiming supernatural powers and subjecting them to psychological manipulation are extremely serious aspects of the case. Last week, following a complaint of sexual exploitation by a woman, Kharat was arrested by the Nashik police. The state government has since constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by IPS officer Tejaswini Satpute, to probe the case. The case Ashok Kharat, a self-proclaimed godman from Nashik, has been booked in multiple cases of sexual exploitation registered in the Nashik district. He was arrested on March 18 following a case registered based on a complaint filed by a woman who accused him of repeated rape over a period of three years. Investigators also found multiple videos featuring women on a pendrive in his possession. He is currently in police custody. Political links Followers of the self-proclaimed godman reportedly include politicians cutting across party lines, with pictures of leaders from various parties visiting Ashok Kharat surfacing and circulating widely on social media.
24 March,2026 09:05 AM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev ShivadekarADVERTISEMENT
