Voting began on a brisk note in tight security in Ambernath municipal council in Thane district on Saturday amid allegations of the distribution of money to voters and tampering with an EVM. The run-up to the election was marred by firing at the office of a BJP candidate. Polling has been going on smoothly, according to an official from the police control room. Voting is underway to elect councillors and the president of the Ambernath municipal council. The BJP and Shiv Sena, who are ruling allies, are pitted against each other. An office-bearer of the BJP and Congress leaders alleged that the Shiv Sena had lodged more than 200 women, who are not locals, in a marriage hall, possibly to use them for bogus voting, reported PTI. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Ulhasnagar division) Sachin Gore said police had received a complaint and are verifying it, reported PTI. He said 208 women, who are from outside Ambernath, were found inside the hall. The police and the election department personnel are verifying their credentials and IDs, he added, reported PTI. Meanwhile, Nationalist Congress Party leaders alleged that some BJP activists were distributing money, while the Shiv Sena has lodged a complaint alleging tampering of EVMs, reported PTI. All efforts to gather details of the alleged incident from the police failed as the majority of the personnel are busy with the election bandobust duty and are not reachable, reported PTI. Voting begins in 23 municipal councils and nagar panchayats in Maharashtra Meanwhile, polling began for the posts of president and members in 23 municipal councils and nagar panchayats across Maharashtra, as well as for 143 vacant member posts in these local bodies on Saturday morning. Voting began at 7:30 AM and will continue till 5:30 PM. Counting of votes for all municipal councils and nagar panchayats, including those which went to polls on December 2, will take place on December 21, the State Election Commission said in a statement. In the first phase, votes were cast for 263 municipal councils and nagar panchayats. Municipal presidents and members had been elected unopposed in many places. Counting of votes at all concerned locations will begin at 10 am on December 21. In some places, the ruling alliance partners, including the BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar's NCP, are contesting against each other. The poll battle became multi-dimensional with the BJP-led Mahayuti and the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) locking horns, interspersed by "friendly fights" among the alliances. (With inputs from PTI)
20 December,2025 11:35 AM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentThe dream of segregating local and express trains is coming closer to reality, as the sixth line to Borivali is expected to be operational by late January 2026, with finishing work set to begin today. With this, mail express trains will no longer be operated on the local line between Bandra and Borivali, resulting in less congestion on Western Railway. “A 30-day block will be in place from December 20, 2025, in view of the sixth line work in the Borivali-Kandivali section. During this period, some trains will be short-terminated/originated, regulated, and rescheduled, and some trains will skip their scheduled halt at Borivali station,” a senior official said. Work is carried out to ensure express and local trains are segregated between Bandra and Borivali. Pics/By Special Arrangement The fifth line between Bandra Terminus and Borivali is already commissioned, while the sixth one — commissioned up to Goregaon in November 2022 and extended to Kandivali in October 2023 — is operational only between Bandra Terminus and Kandivali. It currently handles around 20 mail and express trains every day. After the completion of the Goregaon-Kandivali section, sixth line work will commence on the Kandivali-Borivali section. 20No. of express trains that ply on 6th line between Bandra Terminus and Kandivali daily Thirty-day block begins To carry out the work in connection with the sixth line, a block is being imposed from the night of December 20th/21, 2025, to January 18, 2026. As per details shared by Railways, eight Up trains and 10 Down trains will be rescheduled. Additionally, 112 Up trains and nine Down trains will be regulated during the period. One train will be cancelled, while two Down trains will be short-originated at intermediate stations. The work involves track slewing and insertion and removal of multiple crossovers at Kandivali and Borivali. Major works of the engineering, signalling, and overhead equipment will be carried out, which will impact train operations. Consequently, some suburban, passenger, and mail/express trains will be affected. The fifth line will remain suspended for passenger train operations, and speed restrictions will be imposed on other lines. Key benefits of sixth line Reduced congestion on existing lines: The sixth line adds extra track capacity on one of the world’s busiest suburban corridors. This helps spread rail traffic more evenly, easing overcrowding on the current tracks between Bandra Terminus and Borivali. Dedicated route for long-distance trains: Once complete, the line will allow long-distance mail and express trains to run on their own track separate from local suburban services, reducing bottlenecks and freeing up space for local trains on the fast lines. Better punctuality and reliability: Segregating traffic means fewer delays caused by mixing fast suburban locals with slower or stopping trains. Both suburban and long-distance services can keep closer to their schedules. Increased train frequency over time: With the extra track available, Railways can potentially run more local services in the future — benefiting commuters between Borivali, Bandra, and beyond. Some reports even suggest an increase in overall services by roughly 20 per cent once the new infrastructure is fully operational. Improved overall capacity: The sixth line expands overall corridor capacity, accommodating steady growth in passenger numbers across the western suburbs
20 December,2025 11:09 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarMumbai began Saturday on a refreshingly cool note, with clear skies, gentle winter breezes and lower humidity providing residents a brief respite from the city’s usual heat. However, the relief did not last long as a visible layer of smog gradually enveloped the skyline, reducing visibility and once again highlighting the city’s growing air pollution concerns. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had predicted generally pleasant conditions for the financial capital, with daytime temperatures expected to range between 14 degrees Celsius and 33 degrees Celsius. While the weather remained comfortable through the day, worsening air quality quickly became the dominant concern, overshadowing the favourable morning conditions. The minimum temperature was recorded at 14.6 degrees Celsius in Santacruz, while Colaba registered a low of 20.1 degrees Celsius. Mumbai’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) was at 114 in the early hours, placing it in the ‘moderate’ category. AQI levels across Mumbai: Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC): 175 Borivali East: 104 Andheri East: 117 Chembur: 139 Deonar: 148 Ghatkopar: 158 Kandivali West: 130 Kherwadi, Bandra East: 132 Delhi weather updates: Thick smog engulfs Delhi as air quality turns 'severe' at 429 The national capital woke up to a thick layer of toxic smog on Saturday morning, significantly impairing visibility and affecting residents. The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) reading stood at 380 at around 7 am, falling into the 'very poor' category, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). However, the air quality spiked to 'severe' levels at certain places. Several parts of the city continued to witness alarmingly high pollution levels. According CPCB, the AQI figure at Sarai Kale Khan stood at 428, while Akshardham recorded an AQI of 420. Rao Tularam Marg recorded an AQI of 403, and the Barapullah flyover area recorded 380. Other pollution hotspots included Anand Vihar (428), Ashok Vihar (407), and the ITO area (429), also falling under the 'severe' category across large swathes of the national capital. In response to the deteriorating air quality, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has invoked all measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage-IV across Delhi-NCR. The restrictions under GRAP-IV include a ban on non-essential construction activities, entry of certain diesel vehicles, and enhanced enforcement to curb pollution sources.
20 December,2025 10:36 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentPolling began for the posts of president and members in 23 municipal councils and nagar panchayats across Maharashtra, as well as for 143 vacant member posts in these local bodies on Saturday morning. Voting for Maharashtra local body elections began at 7:30 AM and will continue till 5:30 PM. Counting of votes for all municipal councils and nagar panchayats, including those which went to polls on December 2, will take place on December 21, the State Election Commission said in a statement. In the first phase of Maharashtra local body elections, votes were cast for 263 municipal councils and nagar panchayats. Municipal presidents and members had been elected unopposed in many places. Counting of votes at all concerned locations will begin at 10 am on December 21. In some places, the ruling alliance partners, including the BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar's NCP, are contesting against each other. The poll battle became multi-dimensional with the BJP-led Mahayuti and the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) locking horns, interspersed by "friendly fights" among the alliances. No proposal sent by NCP (SP) or NCP to each other for local poll tie-up, says Shashikant Shinde Meanwhile, NCP (SP) Maharashtra unit president Shashikant Shinde on Friday said neither his party nor the Ajit Pawar-led ruling NCP have sent any proposal to each other for an alliance in the upcoming municipal corporation elections, reported PTI. Over the last few days, speculations were rife that the two factions - Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) and Ajit Pawar's NCP - may come together and forge a pre-poll alliance for the local bodies elections. While the NCP (SP) is in the Opposition along with the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Congress under the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), the NCP is part of the ruling Mahayuti combine along with the BJP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Shashikant Shinde visited the NCP (SP) office in the city, where he met the party office-bearers. "Today, a meeting of our party was held in Pune with poll aspirants and office-bearers. A total of 277 people submitted applications for the civic body polls (in Pune). For the past few days, there have been talks of a possible political alignment between the two NCPs. But even now, NCP (SP) has been holding talks with the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies to contest the polls together. New friends, including the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), are also willing to come together," he said, reported PTI. "There are many options but discussions are still underway. Everyone has the right to express their opinion. At present, discussions are continuing as MVA. By tomorrow, the core committee will discuss it. The decision will be announced soon," he added, reported PTI. "So far, no proposal has come from Ajit Pawar's side nor have we sent any. (Sharad) Pawar Saheb, Supriya Sule, Jayant Patil and I will discuss the issue together and make a decision. First, discussions will be held with alliance partners and then a decision will be taken. In Pune, some people are saying we should fight the polls as MVA, while others feel that another option should be kept open," Shinde said, reported PTI. (With inputs from PTI)
20 December,2025 09:18 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentChief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray are locked in a war of words over Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. In a veiled attack on Shinde, Thackeray said that “one more minister will have to go” and hinted that the leader was from Thane. Thackeray’s remarks came soon after Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders demanded Shinde’s resignation as deputy chief minister, following allegations that his brother Prakash was allegedly linked to a drug racket busted by the Mumbai Police in Satara. Prakash has thoroughly refuted the allegations. Uddhav Thackeray, president of the Shiv Sena (UBT); (right) Devendra Fadnavis, chief minister Defending Shinde on Friday, Fadnavis said his ally was being deliberately targeted, and his image was being tarnished without basis. “Some people are misleading everyone by dragging Shinde and his family’s name in a drug-related case. This is being done with the intention to gain political mileage and defame Shinde,” Fadnavis, who heads the home department, stated. The Maharashtra home minister further stated that a detailed investigation would be carried out in connection with this case. Earlier, Sena (UBT) leader Sushma Andhare demanded the resignation of Shinde, alleging links between a resort owned by his brother and a drug manufacturing unit recently busted in Satara district. Andhare has alleged that Shinde’s brother owns a resort in Sawari village, and the hotel had allegedly supplied food to a nearby temporary shed where drugs were being manufactured. Meanwhile, a member of Parliament belonging to the Sena (UBT) camp has written a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, briefing him about the entire episode and urging the minister to take action against Shinde.
20 December,2025 07:46 AM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev ShivadekarDiscontent is growing within the BJP over demands by family members of party leaders for election tickets ahead of the upcoming Mumbai civic polls. It has been reliably learnt that several relatives of BJP MLAs, office-bearers, and senior leaders are seeking tickets for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections, triggering resentment among grassroots workers. The move has not gone down well with party karyakartas, and even some office-bearers, who feel loyal workers are being sidelined in favour of family members of influential leaders. The issue has now been formally raised within the party. Vivekanand Gupta, secretary of the BJP’s Mumbai unit, has written to the party’s election committee for Mumbai, flagging concerns that the upcoming BMC elections should not turn into a “family business”. “It is not appropriate to ignore deserving grassroots workers and grant tickets to relatives such as wives, sons, daughters or grandchildren of party office-bearers, MLAs, and other public representatives,” Gupta told mid-day. When this newspaper contacted BJP Mumbai president Ameet Satam for a response, he did not reply to messages. Gupta has also raised concerns over the alleged misuse of changes in ward reservation categories to accommodate family members of leaders. He said BJP workers who have stood by the party for years should be given priority, rather than relatives taking advantage of seats shifting from general to women, OBC or other reserved categories. “Using reservation changes as a pretext to accommodate family members demoralises long-serving karyakartas who work at the ground level with the hope of getting a fair opportunity to contest elections,” Gupta said in his letter. A few months ago, a draw was held for Mumbai’s 227 civic wards. Under the new framework, 61 wards are reserved for OBCs, 15 for Scheduled Castes, two for Scheduled Tribes and 74 for women in the general category, while 75 wards remain open. Overall, 114 of the 227 municipal wards are reserved for women across categories. The BMC elections are scheduled for January 15, 2026, with vote counting on January 16. The previous five-year term of the civic body ended in February 2022. The BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena will contest the polls as an alliance. According to party sources, the BJP is seeking around 140 seats, while the Shinde Sena is demanding over 100 seats. Seat-sharing talks are ongoing, though Satam has earlier stated that a consensus has been reached on 150 seats, with the remaining differences expected to be resolved soon. For nearly 25 years, the undivided Shiv Sena and BJP ruled the BMC together before their alliance ended in 2017. In the last civic polls, Shiv Sena won 84 seats, BJP 82, Congress 29, NCP 31, MNS seven and others 15. 227No. of electoral wards in city
20 December,2025 07:43 AM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev ShivadekarThe supporting iron rods at a construction site in Mahim, which caused damage and threatened the life of a 50-60 year-old peepal tree, were partially removed by the developer on Friday evening. The move followed yet another inspection at the site along Bhagoji Keer Road near Paradise Cinema by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials on Friday, after complaints from the residents of the area. However, the developer only cut portions of the rods passing through the tree, while the scaffolding and iron sheets still remain in place. mid-day reported on Friday that the residents of Mahim had complained to BMC about damage to an old tree as iron rods were pushed right through its trunk. The BMC had issued a verbal warning to the developers on Thursday to remove the irregularities along the compound wall and the tree. Metal rods seen piercing the peepal tree, on Thursday. Pics/By Special Arrangement The issue came to light on Thursday morning, when residents of the area noticed that workers from the construction site had installed iron rods through a peepal tree. An NGO, the Bombay Indigenous People's Association (BIPA), from the area, complained to the BMC about the issue. Luke Mendez, a professor from St Xavier's College, founder of BIPA, and a resident of the area, confirmed that it was around a 15-metre-tall Peepal tree, easily 50-60 years old, towering over the rooftop terrace of a seven-storeyed building. Damaging trees is an offence under the Tree Act, 1972. According to information received from officials, the civic body informed the Mumbai Police about the case on Friday.
20 December,2025 07:33 AM IST | Mumbai | Eshanpriya MSAfter a six-hour operation, the Maharashtra Forest Department, with support from the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation, MBMC police and wildlife conservation NGOs, safely rescued a leopard that had entered a residential area in Bhayandar East, triggering a human–wildlife conflict in which seven people were injured. The leopard was first spotted late on Thursday night by a local animal feeder, who alerted the police. Officers conducted a search along BP Road No 5 in Bhayandar East but were unable to trace the animal at the time. Panic broke out early Friday morning when the leopard entered residential buildings in the area and attacked multiple people. Residents recount horror Ankit Gupta, a resident of Parijat A and B Cooperative Housing Society, said residents were initially told that the animal had been spotted behind the building the previous night. “In the morning, around 7.30 am, I was at my dairy shop when I heard people screaming. That is when we realised the leopard had entered a first-floor flat through a balcony and injured a girl. It later attacked several others,” he said. Another resident, Prashant Makwana, expressed shock at the incident. “There is no forest patch nearby. Sanjay Gandhi National Park and the mangroves are far from here. We are still wondering how the leopard reached this area,” he said. Rescue operation and chaos The Thane Territorial Forest Department, Sanjay Gandhi National Park authorities, MBMC and police were informed. SGNP Director Anita Patil and Deputy Conservator of Forest Sachin Repal dispatched rescue teams. Wildlife NGOs, including SARRP-India, WWA and RAWW, assisted in the operation. Rescue efforts were hampered by crowding after local political leaders arrived at the spot, drawing supporters and onlookers. A resident said the presence of politicians added to the chaos and made crowd control difficult for police. SGNP veterinarian Dr Nikhil Bangar said the leopard was eventually darted on the first floor, where it had taken shelter inside a toilet. “The window opening was very small, so we had to use a blowpipe instead of a tranquilliser gun. The leopard is around three to four years old. A decision on whether it will be released into the wild or kept in captivity will be taken after further examination,” he said. 6No. of hours rescue op lasted Leopard–human conflict incidents in 2025 December Leopard entered Nagpur city, rescued by forest departmentNovember Leopard injured five people in Nashik before rescueNovember Leopard rescued from second floor of under-construction building in Nagpur’s Bhandewadi areaNovember Leopard injured three people in Kolhapur before being rescued Timeline of attacks Dwarka BhuvanIn another incident at Dwarka Bhuvan on Talav Road, the leopard jumped into a first-floor balcony and bit the hand of Deepu Bhowmick, 52, who managed to shut the grill and escape. “I have lived here for 25 years. There are no forests nearby. We are all wondering how the leopard came here,” Bhowmick said. Paras BuildingThe first attack occurred near Paras Building, where 50-year-old Rakesh Yadav and his family friend, 19-year-old Shyaam Pratap Sahani, were returning after breakfast around 8 am. Sahani, who had arrived in Mumbai just two days earlier in search of work, was scratched by the leopard, which was hiding behind parked motorcycles. “It first attacked my uncle and then came at me. I started shouting for help,” Sahani said.Yadav said the attack happened in seconds. “Had we fallen, the injuries could have been far more serious,” he said. Parijat ApartmentThe most serious attack took place at Parijat Apartment, where 23-year-old Anjali Tak was asleep when the leopard entered her room through a balcony. The animal scratched her face and head, causing serious injuries. Her sister and mother escaped with minor wounds. A relative, Chagannlal Bagrecha, rushed in with sanitation workers and helped drive the leopard away. Anjali was later shifted to KEM Hospital for advanced treatment. ThursdayNight the leopard was first spotted Injured at hospital “Since 9 am on Friday morning, we have had seven patients of leopard attack come into our hospital. We instantly assembled a team of surgeons, physicians, anaesthetists, casualty medical officers, on-duty medical officers, nurses, and me. Two patients have been moved to KEM, given the serious nature of their injuries and prior medical history,” said Additional Civil Surgeon Dr Smita Ade. What to do if a wild animal enters your locality Do. Stay calm and immediately inform the Forest Department or police control room. Keep a safe distance and ensure children and pets remain indoors. Shut doors, windows, gates and balcony grills. Follow instructions issued by forest officials and police. Allow clear access and escape routes for rescue teams Don't. Do not chase, corner or provoke the animal. Do not make loud noises or attempt to scare it. Do not block escape routes or surround the animal. Do not crowd the area or take videos Who to call Maharashtra Forest Department: 022-2544 5459 Local police control room: 100 / 112 The injured Pics/Aditi Alurkar Rakesh Yadav, 50, who was injured when leopard attacked him near his building Shyaam Pratap Sahani, 19, who sustained injuries while returning home after breakfast Deepu Bhowmick, 52, who was injured after leopard jumped into his balcony Khushi Tak, 19, who suffered minor injuries during the leopard attack at her residence Bharti Tak, 55, who sustained injuries while escaping the leopard Chagannlal Bagrecha, 48, who was injured while helping rescue a family
20 December,2025 07:28 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet Jadhav | Aditi Alurkar1 Late Thursday night, a local Bhayandar woman who feeds stray dogs spots a leopard in the area and immediately informs the police 2 Police personnel arrive and scan the surroundings, but are unable to trace the leopard during the night search 3 At 7.40 am, Rakesh Yadav and his 19-year-old family friend who are returning to their ground floor flat after having breakfast are attacked by the leopard who was hiding behind the vehicles 4 The leopard makes his way into a neighbouring society, where a food delivery person in the adjoining wing, spots the leopard and calls out to residents to warn them. Deepu Bhowmick hears the calls and runs to shut his balcony grill when the leopard jumps at him and bites his hand 5 Later, it jumps into a first-floor balcony, enters a flat, and injures a young woman inside. Her uncle and a few BMC cleaners rush to rescue her with laathis. The uncle sustains major injuries, while the girl manages to escape 6 Panic follows as the leopard injures five more people amid the chaos in the residential building 7 Teams from the Sanjay Gandhi National Park’s Forest Department and the local police reach the spot, formulate a capture strategy, while local politicians arrive and a large crowd gathers, complicating the rescue 8 After a nearly seven-hour operation, the leopard is tranquillised and captured, with forest officials struggling to move it into the rescue van owing to the crowd
20 December,2025 07:22 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavThe presence of a leopard in the densely populated Bhayandar East locality has left residents and officials puzzled about how the animal managed to reach a residential building far from known forest patches on Friday. Forest department officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they believe the leopard may have moved through a mangrove patch near Reti Bunder along Bhayandar khadi after dispersing from the Sanjay Gandhi National Park landscape. Experts speak Biologist Nikit Surve of Wildlife Conservation Society-India, who has been studying Mumbai’s leopards for the past decade and has radio-collared five leopards in Sanjay Gandhi National Park, said the incident was not unusual. The rescued leopard in the custody of Forest Department officials. Pics/By Special Arrangement “This is not the first time a leopard has been reported from this area. We have records of leopards using the mangrove belt that connects to Sanjay Gandhi National Park. While it is still unclear whether leopards permanently inhabit mangroves, our research shows they use these habitats as movement corridors,” Surve said. He added that similar movement patterns have been documented in other parts of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. “We have records of leopards using the Gorai landscape as well. A few years ago, a leopard was also rescued from Bhayandar near the railway tracks,” he said. The rescue team that carried out the leopard rescue in Bhayandar. Pic/Satej Shinde Kedar Gore from the Corbett Foundation said, “Coordination between agencies is essential to manage the crowd during such rescue operations. While the forest department team is busy rescuing the animal, the police, home guards, and other local administration staff must be deployed to control the crowd. Large crowds creating a ruckus can be quite stressful for leopards. Effective crowd management would help in minimising such incentives in future. We must remember that the injuries caused in this case were only because the leopard was trying to escape from the area, and not a deliberate attempt to attack people.” Central mystery While the exact route taken by the leopard remains unclear, forest officials believe it may have travelled through mangrove patches along Bhayandar khadi. Satellite imagery shows a near-continuous mangrove belt stretching from Bhayandar khadi through Reti Bunder and up to the Ghodbunder Fort area. This green corridor further connects to the Sanjay Gandhi National Park landscape, offering a possible passage for wildlife movement. A screengrab from a viral video showing the leopard inside a residential housing colony in Bhayandar East. Pic/Ranjeet Jadhav Was big cat spotted earlier? In March 2022, mid-day had reported sightings of leopard pugmarks in the Gorai-Manori belt, an area where residents and officials had earlier believed leopard presence was unlikely. The approximate road distance between the SGNP main gate and Gorai, where pugmarks were found, is about 25 km. In February 2022, a male leopard was rescued from a dry stormwater drain near Jai Ambe Nagar in Bhayandar. That animal was found around seven to eight kilometres away from the nearest forest patch. Patterns to be matched Sources from SGNP said forest officials are attempting to match the rosette patterns of the leopard rescued from Bhayandar in 2022 with those of the leopard captured recently in Bhayandar East to determine whether the same animal may be involved in both incidents. On Friday, the leopard was rescued from this point in Bhayandar East, BP Road No. 5, Parijat Building Thursday 11.30 pmA local dog feeder spots the leopard in the Bhayandar East area and alerts authorities. Friday 7.45–8.00 amThe leopard is sighted on Talav Road, where Deepu Bhowmick is attacked on his first-floor balcony. Friday Around 8 amRakesh Yadav and Shyaam Sahani are attacked while returning home on BP Road after breakfast. Friday Around 8.15 amThe leopard moves towards Parijat Building and enters the Tak family’s first-floor flat. Friday 9.30–10.00 amForest department rescue teams reach the spot and begin search and containment operations. Friday 2.18 pmThe leopard is successfully tranquilised and brought under control after a six-hour operation. Leopard rescues in Mumbai, metropolitan region Nov 2022 A leopard that entered a building in Chinchpada, Kalyan East, was rescued following a nine-hour operation after injuring three people Dec 2019 A leopard spotted inside SEEPZ, Andheri East, was trapped within three hours and released into SGNP April 2019 A two-year-old leopard was rescued from Woodland Crest building in Marol June 2018 A leopard was rescued from an abandoned factory in Marol May 2018 A leopard entered a gymnasium at the SRPF camp near Aarey Milk Colony and was rescued Jan 2018 Leopard strayed into Mulund East, injured five people and was later rescued Dec 2017 A leopard was rescued from a kindergarten classroom in Andheri East Nov 2016 A leopard was trapped inside an under-construction building in Powai Dec 2012 Leopard rescued from ONGC Colony in Jogeshwari East near the Jogeshwari–Vikhroli Link Road
20 December,2025 07:12 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet Jadhav | Aditi AlurkarBecause coach knows best School-level footballers listen to their coach after a practice session at Cooperage Ground. A century of Ritwik Ghatak A still from Subarnarekha. Pics Courtesy/NFDC-National Film Archive Of India This year marks the birth centenary of legendary film director Ritwik Ghatak. The city-based Brief Encounters Film Club is celebrating this today with a screening of his film, Subarnarekha (1965), at a Bandra venue. Founder Aparajita Sinha, daughter of late director Bimal Roy, said, “I wanted to plan something in his honour in Mumbai. There will be a panel discussion with filmmaker Sudhir Mishra and screenwriter Amole Gupte, among others. Author Amborish Roychoudhury will also be present at the event.” Ritwik Ghatak Decking the streets with lights and melodies Pics/Atul Kamble With Christmas just around the corner, Convent Road in Bandra came alive with festive cheer on the evening of December 17, with a showcase featuring performers singing carols. The community event was curated by Errol DeSouza and Maria De Souza Blossom Coutinho, among others, and perfectly depicted the love, sharing, and goodness that form the true spirit of Christmas. From pain to paradise The group performs MORE MORE Paradise at a previous event. Pic Courtesy/Les Petites Choses Production The Taiwan-based Les Petites Choses Production put on a mixed-media performance, MORE MORE Paradise, at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) on Friday. Evolving from visual artist Chuang Che-Wei’s 2023 concept work, Paradise, the performance is a product of a personal injury to choreographer Lin Su-Lien. “It is a personal work reflecting Lin Su-Lien’s experience of struggle and transformation, it has sweeping universality. It encompasses many elemental emotions and dwells upon the human condition with great sensitivity,” revealed Aaron Fernandes, tour manager. Lin Su-Lien added, “Three years ago, I injured both my knees, and suddenly could not dance or work. Those days were painful and exhausting, but because of that accident, I also experienced the understanding, support, and care of the people around me. During that period, it felt as if I were living in both ‘heaven’ and ‘hell,’ an experience that became the starting point for the piece.” With a blend of generative AI paintings, on-site installations, and dance, art director Yang Nai-Hsuan said, “I believe this work will transcend borders and nationalities.” Ticket to treasure The complimentary pass. Pic Courtesy/Facebook Among the many items that constitute sporting memorabilia, are tickets to big ticket events (pun unintended). On Thursday, less than a week after the grand Lionel Messi show at Wankhede Stadium, someone put out his complimentary pass for sale on Facebook Marketplace. Asking price? A stiff R10,000. Considering the kind of hero worship that Messi enjoys on these shores and beyond, we don’t think it would have been a task to find a taker. A fiery avatar Srivastava cosplays at the premiere. Pic Courtesy/Medha Srivastava Mumbai-based cosplayer Medha Srivastava had quite a delight in store for fans of the Avatar film series, when she enacted Varang, a character from Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025), at its premiere on December 17 in Lower Parel. The film was released yesterday in India. “It was an amazing experience. Onlookers loved that I stayed in character throughout, creating a lively atmosphere,” she recounted to this diarist.
20 December,2025 06:42 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-dayADVERTISEMENT
