Mumbai and its suburbs on Thursday were likely to experience mainly clear skies along with hot and humid conditions, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. The IMD has forecast maximum and minimum temperatures to hover around 36 degrees Celsius and 23 degrees Celsius, respectively. Mumbai, along with neighbouring Thane and Raigad, continued to reel under oppressive heat and humidity. The weather department has issued a yellow alert for these regions for Thursday and Friday, warning that such conditions are likely to persist. Meanwhile, the city’s air quality remained in the satisfactory category, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 79 on Thursday. AQI across Mumbai AQI levels were recorded as follows: Bandra Kurla Complex: 74Borivali East: 84Byculla: 60Andheri East: 91Chembur: 64Colaba: 62Ghatkopar: 83 Maharashtra records rising temperatures; several districts touch 39 degrees Celsius Several parts of Maharashtra continued to witness rising temperatures, with multiple districts recording maximum temperatures close to 39 degrees Celsius, according to IMD's latest data. Parbhani emerged as the hottest location in the state, recording a maximum temperature of 39.2 degrees Celsius, followed closely by Sholapur at 39.0 degrees Celsius. Jalgaon (38.5 degrees Celsius), Malegaon (38.4 degrees Celsius), Beed (38.2 degrees Celsius), and Jeur (38.0 degrees Celsius) also reported high daytime temperatures, indicating intensifying heat conditions across interior regions. In the Marathwada region, Aurangabad recorded 37.6 degrees Celsius, while Osmanabad and Udgir registered 37.0 degrees Celsius each. Nanded division areas, such as Parbhani and Latur belt stations, continued to remain among the hotter pockets. Coastal and western regions experienced comparatively moderate conditions. Mumbai recorded 32.5 degrees Celsius at Colaba and 34.6 degrees Celsius at Santacruz, with relatively high humidity levels of 69 per cent and 62 per cent, respectively, in the morning. Ratnagiri and Dahanu also reported humid conditions, with relative humidity levels exceeding 75 per cent in some areas. Minimum temperatures across the state remained above normal in several locations. Kolhapur recorded a minimum of 23.9 degrees Celsius, while Mumbai hovered around 24 to 25 degrees Celsius. Aurangabad saw a notable deviation, with minimum temperatures 2.8 degrees Celsius above normal. Hill station Mahabaleshwar recorded a relatively cooler maximum temperature of 31.0 degrees Celsius, though still below its normal range by 2.6 degrees Celsius. The data indicates a general warming trend across Maharashtra, with both day and night temperatures remaining above normal in several regions. Weather officials have attributed this to prevailing dry conditions and clear skies, which are likely to sustain the heat in the coming days.
26 March,2026 11:15 AM IST | MumbaiA redevelopment project that began in 2008 and was taken over by MHADA in 2018 has now reached a breaking point in Goregaon’s Siddharth Nagar, where residents of Patra Chawl have been on a 21-day indefinite chain hunger strike, refusing to move into flats they claim are unsafe, incomplete and legally uncertain. The protest, which includes women, senior citizens and teenagers, comes even as MHADA began allotting rehabilitation flats on March 10 following approval from the Bombay High Court. Chunks of plaster and concrete that have fallen from the building add to safety concerns raised by residents What residents say they are being given Allege serious construction flaws:>> Leakages and damaged flooring>> Hollow walls and poor-quality doors>> Falling plaster from buildings The newly constructed rehabilitation building in Goregaon where residents allege incomplete work >> Incomplete work and inadequate parking Shaila Vyas, 64, resident“The doors are low quality, the walls are hollow, and plaster is already falling. If this is the condition before we move in, what will happen after?” >> ‘Forced possession’ without agreements>> A key flashpoint is missing paperwork>> No final Permanent Alternate Accommodation Agreement (PAAA) >> No executed Development Agreement (DA) Suresh Vichare, 48, residents“Without these, how can we move in? Yet MHADA is forcing us to take possession,” Suresh Vichare, 48, who says residents have repeatedly raised concerns with Milind Borikar, chief officer, Mumbai Board, MHADA, “but nothing has been implemented on the ground” >> Lives disrupted, not just delayed Gauri Bhandari, 19 residents For many, the wait has had real consequences. “I was one year old when we vacated. I am 19 now, and it’s still not complete,” Gauri Bhandari, 19, who said she had to quit her education after rent support dropped. She added, “We saw leakages, broken doors and damaged tiles during inspection. How are we supposed to live there?” Gauri also questioned the safety clearance, “Plaster has fallen from C-wing and F-wing. A chunk fell from the 11th floor. How can this get an ‘okay report’ by VJTI?” >> ‘This is our land’ Senior resident Dilip Mehta, 78, who has lived in Patra Chawl since 1948, said, “The land belongs to the residents. This chawl has existed since 1944. MHADA is trying to dupe us. The construction is poor, and parts are already falling off.” He also alleged the work was carried out by a blacklisted builder and questioned whether MHADA would take responsibility for safety. >> Residents: ‘We don’t exist for them’ Viswanath, another resident“For MHADA, Patra Chawl residents do not exist. We are not asking for anything extra, only what was promised. This feels like daylight robbery.” MP steps in Mumbai North West MP Ravindra Waikar has written to MHADA CEO Sanjeev Jaiswal, flagging:>> Violations of the tripartite agreement (PAAA)>> Unexecuted DA and PAAA>> Missing amenities like parking>> Rent compensation delays since 2014>> He urged immediate repairs and action against those responsible. Damp walls and seepage inside newly allotted rehabilitation flats Seepage marks and moisture patches inside the building. Pics/By Special Arrangement Where it stands Authorities: Flats ready, agreements largely addressedResidents: Unsafe homes, incomplete work, missing guaranteesFor those on hunger strike, the demand remains unchanged:>> Fix the defects.>> Sign the agreements.>> Then hand over the homes.>> Until then, the protest continues. MHADA’s response Vice President and CEO Sanjeev Jaiswal said:>> Draft PAAA approved by court-appointed observers>> Flats ready for almost a year>> “A few residents” are opposing and blocking othersOn safety concerns, he curtly said:“Find out what is the actual reason.”
26 March,2026 11:09 AM IST | Mumbai | Anushree GaikwadMumbai University has approved new guidelines for the fourth year of its 4-year undergraduate programme. The changes introduce options for both Honours and Honours with Research, starting from the 2026-27 academic year, an official statement said on Thursday. The move follows the recommendations of the National Education Policy, aiming to make higher education more flexible and research-focused. The updated structure will follow the National Credit Framework, which classifies courses based on academic levels, it said. Under this system - - The fourth year of an undergraduate degree, - A postgraduate diploma, and - The first year of a two-year postgraduate course These all fall under Level 6.0. This is expected to help students move more easily between courses and institutions, the statement said. Structure of the 4-year programme The degree will be completed over eight semesters. After three years, students can choose between two tracks in the fourth year. Honours Degree - Students must complete between 160 and 176 credits - The final year will focus on advanced study in the main subject - A 4-credit internship will be compulsory Honours with Research - Students must complete a 12-credit research project or dissertation- The project will take place during the final two semesters A minimum of 7.5 CGPA is required for eligibility Eligibility for colleges Colleges must meet certain conditions to offer these programmes - - Institutions with postgraduate courses can offer the Honours track - Those with both postgraduate courses and recognised research centres can offer the Honours with Research option - Smooth Transition to Postgraduate Study Mumbai University has stated that the first year of postgraduate study will align with the fourth year of the Honours degree. This is expected to ensure a smoother academic transition for students pursuing further education, the statement said. Rules for autonomous colleges It further said that the Academic Council also discussed new regulations for autonomous colleges linked to the university. Key requirements include - - Curricula must follow the National Education Policy - Course names must match guidelines set by regulatory bodies - Colleges must strictly follow university rules on passing standards and statutory regulations
26 March,2026 11:00 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentWith commercial LPG supplies drying up, many restaurants have shifted to charcoal and firewood as a stopgap. But hoteliers say the switch is costly, inefficient and unsustainable. Barely two weeks in, input costs have already surged. With no clarity on supply, rising fuel prices and expenses piling up, operators say they are now fighting to stay afloat. What hoteliers say Santosh Balgi, partner, Saibeni Gomantak, Mahim‘We’ve shifted to firewood and charcoal just to survive, but it’s not sustainable. We’re told we can get up to 50 per cent of our usual LPG, but dealers say they have no such directive. I’m eligible for 15 cylinders a month, and we’re not getting even one’ Shailesh Sheth, a hotelier‘Dealers keep giving dates but don’t deliver. We can’t sit idle. My fixed costs are over Rs 12,000 a day across three hotels. Either we keep going on charcoal and firewood, or shut shop and not recover.’ Why alternatives aren’t working Malvan Cha Kinara in Worli uses firewood to cook. Pic/Ashish Raje >> PNG connections: Unavailable in many older buildings>> Induction cooking cannot match high heat for commercial kitchens>> Power load risk: Heavy induction use during peak summer could strain lines and transformers Fuel costs spike Rs 25-35 - Rs 45-50Charcoal Rs 3-6 - Rs 10-15Firewood Firewood up3x+ Charcoal up~1.5x
26 March,2026 10:25 AM IST | Mumbai | Rane Ashish | Sarthak MehtaCaptain Virendra Vishwakarma and his 33-strong crew, whose tanker had been stuck near the Strait of Hormuz amid the war in West Asia since March 2, were rescued by the Indian Navy on Tuesday night. The vessel, escorted by two Navy ships and a helicopter, is expected to reach Deendayal Port in Gujarat’s Kutch district on March 28. How skipper and crew were rescued Captain Virendra Vishwakarma, who is commanding the tanker Captain Vishwakarma has been in contact with the Indian authorities since the war started on February 28. According to his wife, on Tuesday night, the vessel got the green signal from the Indian Navy to depart, following talks between Iranian officials and their Indian counterparts Thwarted departure The vessel, which is carrying enough liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to fill at least 35 lakh domestic cylinders, was loaded at Mina Al Ahmadi Port in Kuwait and was to depart for Deendayal Port on March 2, but it could not proceed from Mina Saqr, a major deep-water seaport in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, as its route was restricted due to hostilities between Iran and Israel and the United States Wife relieved (From right) Captain Virendra Vishwakarma, his wife Nilpa and their children Nirvi and Vedansh in happier times. PICS/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT “Thanks to the Indian Navy, the ship crossed the war-torn Strait of Hormuz. My husband received directions over calls till Muscat, Oman. At that point, two Navy ships and a helicopter joined the vessel. I am overjoyed that my husband is returning to India,” said Nilpa Vishwakarma. “Every year, my kids and I would sail with my husband, but this time, I dropped the plan. I am grateful to the Indian Navy and the Indian government for bringing my husband and his crew safely back home,” she added. March 2Day vessel was to originally depart for Gujarat
26 March,2026 10:05 AM IST | Mumbai | Dinesh VaktaniaActual kidnapping cases form less than 2 per cent of total missing women cases, indicating minimal serious criminal involvement. A review of cases from January 2010 to December 2025 shows that of over 1.37 lakh reported cases, nearly 75 per cent (1.31 lakh) have been traced. CM Devendra Fadnavis, replying to a debate in the assembly, said, “Most cases are linked to personal and social reasons, kidnapping cases remain a very small percentage”, underlining that most incidents stem from social and emotional circumstances rather than serious crime. Crash row On the Baramati plane crash, the CM criticised the filing of a zero FIR in Karnataka, calling it illegal. “Karnataka wants to defame Maharashtra and show that the investigation is not on track,” he said. He clarified that FIR and ADR both set the law in motion, and if negligence or foul play is found, a chargesheet is filed as an FIR. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis The CM claimed that late Ajit Pawar’s nephew is pursuing the case and the entire Maharashtra government is with him. But, while doing so, one should not send a message that they are only concerned and others are not. Fadnavis also said he will seek time with Union Home Minister Amit Shah after the budget session to arrange a meeting with NCP MLAs regarding the probe. Debate continues Opposition members raised concerns over rising missing cases, especially among women and minors, citing 93,940 cases reported across 2024 and 2025. Authorities, however, said intensified efforts such as Operation Muskaan have helped trace many individuals. Fadnavis said mandatory filing of missing complaints, as per court orders, makes numbers appear high. He also urged the media to avoid creating panic while reporting such cases. Break-up of reasons: Actual kidnapping: 1.86 percentLove affairs: 56.86 percentFamily disputes: 21.28 percentMental stress: 2.12 percentHealth issues: 0.7 percentMental conditions: 0.7 percentAddiction: 0.5 percent
26 March,2026 10:00 AM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev ShivadekarWhile fans of the Sheffield-based rock legends Def Leppard await the band’s big Mumbai concert tomorrow, few might know it will be a homecoming of sorts for the band’s drummer, Rick Allen. Nearly two decades ago, Allen found his way to India while recovering from a near-fatal accident that robbed him of an arm. It was a meeting with Chennai-born former monk Ashwin Srisailam, who accompanies the band to Mumbai, that helped Allen turn his life around. Life-altering night In conversation with mid-day, Allen recalled the fateful night in 1984 that changed his life. While driving near Sheffield, his car faced a high-speed collision, flinging him out of the car, and leaving only his left arm behind in the crashed vehicle. Allen’s customised drum kit features extra pedals to make up for his limitations. PIC/GETTY IMAGES “I dealt with feelings of defeat... like I wanted to give up,” the veteran drummer recalled. On stage tomorrow, fans will witness a customised drum kit that the 62-year-old has been playing since 1985, thanks to his close associate Mutt Lange, among other friends. Found in India “Life was good, but there was still something missing,” Allen said. In 2006, the drummer found the missing piece at an erstwhile monastery near Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. Srisailam recalled, “Rick was seeking answers to how and what it takes to understand the mind. He visited India three or four consecutive years, staying for 21 to 42 days every visit. Our time included walking amidst nature, meditating, and reflecting on our inner selves.” Road to recovery “The people around me really helped, but I realised it [recovery] was an inside job. My self-talk could be quite negative at times. Mind fitness is something that has become deeply personal and dear to my life,” Allen added. Ashwin Srisailam with Rick Allen Giving back As it turns out, the India tour is not just about music for the band. Allen revealed his plan to return to India as part of a tour called ‘Mind Fit’ led by ‘Ahhaa’ — a platform co-founded by Srisailam and US-based Diane Bacchus. Bandmate Phil Collen is also keen about stepping on board, Srisailam told us. The global tour will help young minds in schools, colleges, and workplaces understand the mysteries of the mind. ‘Excited about Mumbai’ While events begin only in July, Allen already knows what Mumbai has in store this weekend. “I’m really excited to meet our fans in Mumbai because they are so enthusiastic. I’m planning to visit the Ganesh temple [Siddhivinayak Temple], and yes, I do enjoy a good cup of masala tea.” Quick mantras Diane Bacchus, who founded ’Ahhaa’ along with Srisailam Diane Bacchus and Ashwin Srisailam’s three tips for the time-strapped Mumbaikar…Find gratitude in small actions: Not everything in life is transactional. Neurologically, gratitude reminds your brain that you’re living a truly rich lifeStart every day with intention: When challenges arise, remind yourself what you had set out to doPause: Check on yourself and your emotions from time to time 1984Year Rick Allen had a life-altering accident
26 March,2026 09:52 AM IST | Mumbai | Devashish KambleOver 200 members of the transgender community gathered at Azad Maidan on Wednesday to protest against the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026. The Bill strips away transgender persons’ right to self-identify their gender and mandates a district magistrate-appointed medical board to verify an individual’s gender before issuing a transgender ID card. Members of the community and allies showed up with trans and rainbow flags around their bodies, on their faces, and hoisted high up in the sky. Some eyes were tearful, others were filled with hope. As familiar faces emerged from the crowd, people rushed into each other’s arms — some reuniting with old friends, others finding new ones — but all holding on a little longer, as if aware that solidarity is the need of the hour. The proposed legislation Dr Virendra Kumar, Union minister for social justice and empowerment had stated: “It has become impossible to identify the genuine oppressed persons to whom the benefits of the [Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019] are intended to reach.” The Bill has passed both Houses amid strong resistance from the trans community and the Opposition, and awaits the President’s assent. The protest Emotions were high as demonstrators raised slogans such as “Bill toh kaccha hai jee” [the Bill is weak] and “Hum apna haq maangte hai, naa kisi se bheek maangte hai” [we ask for our rights, not alms]. Protesters also sang a song with these lyrics: Badtameez Bill, maane na [this insolent Bill, doesn’t listen to us]. Some also got on stage and recited poetry. Voices of dissent Rayyan Monkey Sheikh‘I woke up feeling anxious. So many people are here talking about feeling suicidal. But being here and seeing so many elders of our community, who have fought and won these battles, gives me hope. Even if this becomes an Act, I feel confident now that we can fight’. SC panel urges Bill’s withdrawal Parliament passes Transgender Bill, 2026 A committee appointed by the Supreme Court has urged the Union government to withdraw the Transgender Amendment Bill, 2026. The Parliament on Wednesday passed the Bill amending a law on protection and rights of transgender persons that proposes excluding social orientations from the ambit of the statute, with Rajya Sabha giving its nod. The panel argued that its provisions on self-identification infringe upon the ruling in NALSA v Union of India. Additionally, the panel emphasised the need for broader community consultation before making any changes to the 2019 law. The activists termed the passage of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, a “black day” for the community. Amy (she/her) ‘Seeing people show up has injected a little bit of energy into an otherwise gloomy hour. No one from the trans community was consulted before formulating this Bill. The urgency with which it is being passed seems alarming. It makes me question whether this is a distraction. It feels like we’re coming down on anyone who feels uncategorisable. If you can’t put them in a box, it’s easier to just erase them. What is the evidence that real trans people are not getting benefits, and what are these amazing benefits being offered? In 2025-26, the government allocated '76.88 crore for the welfare of trans persons’. Arya (she/her) ‘I was up all of last night feeling really anxious because the Bill passed in Lok Sabha. It was horrifying to see MPs talk about us with such insensitivity, justifying the cost the Bill will cause to our community. And so, I am here today. It’s lovely to see so many people showing up’ Welfare funds The last Census, in 2011, counted about 4.88 lakh trans people, meaning each one was allocated around Rs 1575 for their welfare
26 March,2026 09:45 AM IST | Mumbai | Akshita MaheshwariThe forest department, on Tuesday, announced a cash reward of Rs 25,000 for information on the individual responsible for the bow-and-arrow attacks on monkeys in Yeoor. Sources told mid-day that a key finding has emerged during the probe — the arrows recovered from the injured animal differ from those used in professional archery schools in the Yeoor area. Officials from the Thane Forest Department (Territorial) said, “We visited three archery academies in Yeoor and attempted to match the arrows, but found no link. CCTV footage is being collected with police assistance to identify the individual responsible.” Macaque that had 2.7-foot-long arrow lodged through its body Forest officials have registered an offence against an unidentified individual under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The department has appealed to residents to share information, assuring that identities will be kept confidential. Monkey rescue While the probe continues, officials have not yet located the third injured monkey. The first Bonnet macaque, rescued by the Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare (RAWW), underwent a complex surgery after an arrow pierced its pelvic region, passing through both hind limbs and fracturing one. Dr Priti Sathe, an associate veterinarian with RAWW, who performed the surgery, said, “The 2.7-foot-long arrow was removed after a 3-hour procedure. The animal remains in very critical condition.” The macaque has started eating on its own and is under 24x7 care. Surgery to repair the fractured limb will be taken up once it stabilises. Attack timeline March 20: First macaque rescued from RambaugMarch 22: A second macaque was spotted in Yeoor; initially escaped during rescue, later capturedMarch 22: Third macaque reported in Shivay Nagar; still untracedPast week: Three bonnet macaques targeted with arrows across Thane’s Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) Eco-Sensitive Zone Key contacts Santosh Dagle989268426 CJ Khandvi9370114399
26 March,2026 09:35 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavIn June and July last year, Mumbai saw large-scale protests regarding the BMC plan to shut down 51 kabutar-khanas across the city, citing health hazards and a rise in infectious diseases arising from feeding pigeons in open spaces in residential areas. While shutting these zones, BMC designated four spots in the suburbs and island city for controlled feeding of pigeons, inviting non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and activist groups to take permission from the civic body and maintain them, while feeding pigeons only at these spots at specific times in the early morning and night. However, four months after the BMC invited applications from citizen organisations to adopt these spots, it has not received a single application. An official said, “This is now an old issue. Not a single organisation has come forward. The spots were chosen by BMC, trying to ensure all aspects of health, animal welfare, and respecting the sentiments of all impacted by the decision were considered. Hence, the spots were chosen in accessible locations but not near residential areas. Since no one has come forward with an application, the issue has not moved forward.” The official added, “The matter is sub judice.” BMC’s decision In November 2025, the BMC allowed controlled feeding of pigeons at four locations in each of the zones in the city — Worli reservoir in South Mumbai, located in the G North ward; Lokhandwala Back Road, Andheri, in the western suburbs; Old Airoli-Mulund Octroi Naka, Mulund, in the eastern suburbs; and Gorai Maidan, Borivli West, in the western suburbs, on the condition that organisations will have to come forward and apply to the BMC for permission to feed pigeons at these locations and take responsibility for their maintenance. Political angle Jankalyan Party, a political outfit formed by activists fighting the BMC’s ban on feeding pigeons in public, had a lone contestant for the civic election 2026, from ward 225 in South Mumbai, who bagged 81 votes in the elections and resigned from the party on Tuesday. The party was formed under the spiritual guidance of Jain Muni Nilesh Chandra. Among its manifesto promises was the fight against BMC’s decision to close kabutar-khanas in the city. In a statement, Sneha Visaria, the founding member of the party, its single contestant for BMC elections, said, “I have quit the party for multiple reasons. I am not sure of party-level momentum on the fight against BMC’s pigeon feeding ban.” While an activist said they look forward to the court ruling about the issue and stated that the spots selected by BMC are 4-5 km away from busy areas or city centres, and it is impossible to ensure someone visits them daily to feed pigeons.
26 March,2026 09:29 AM IST | Mumbai | Eeshanpriya MSThe Dindoshi Police have booked a 35-year-old man for allegedly circulating objectionable photos of his wife on social media and threatening to kill her after she filed for divorce because of his “extramarital affair”. An FIR was registered based on the complaint filed by the accused person’s wife, said police. The accused is a senior section engineer with the Indian Railways. The couple got married on November 25, 2020, and were living together in Goregaon. Police said that the incident follows a dispute between the couple a few months later over the husband’s affair. Victim threatened, family abused A police officer said that on August 23, 2024, after the victim returned to her parental home [in Rajasthan], the accused allegedly visited her residence, abused her family, and threatened suicide while also warning them of implicating them in false cases. The woman then started living separately. A case has been filed with the Dindoshi Police. Divorce filed The victim filed for divorce in the Bandra Family Court in June 2025. Following this, the accused became more aggressive. He gained access to his wife’s Instagram account, changed its name, and impersonated her to communicate with her friends and allegedly threatened to defame her. ‘If you are not mine’ The accused allegedly posted objectionable photos and content of his wife and also issued threats over the phone, saying, “If you are not mine, I won’t let you belong to anyone.” He also threatened to kill her, said police. Police Speak A police officer said, “On March 18, 2026, the accused allegedly sent private and explicit photos and videos via WhatsApp to his wife and her friends using the ‘one-time view’ feature and later deleted them. However, the complainant managed to record the content using another mobile phone.” The accused is further alleged to have made the photos viral on Instagram, thereby defaming the woman. He also reportedly sent abusive voice messages to the woman’s friend and her, questioning her character, said police. Case filed Based on the complaint, the Dindoshi Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the husband on March 21 under sections 351(2), 352, and 356 of the BNS, along with Sections 66C, 66E, and 67A of the Information Technology Act. Timeline November 25, 2020 Couple got marriedAugust 23, 2024 Woman visits her parental homeJune 2025 Woman files for divorce [in Bandra court]January 15, 2026 Victim’s Instagram account hackedMarch 18, 2026 Accused sends objectionable photos on WhatsApp to friends
26 March,2026 09:27 AM IST | Mumbai | Dinesh VaktaniaADVERTISEMENT
