After sweeping the municipal councils and municipal corporations, the Mahayuti has now tightened its grip on the Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis. The BJP has emerged as the “Mota Bhau” (elder brother) of Maharashtra’s triple-engine sarkar. By securing the highest numbers and smashing its own 2017 record, the BJP has once again shown who is driving the Mahayuti’s political engine from the front. With the BJP securing victories in seven of the total 12 Zilla Parishads, the Mahayuti is set to form the ruling majority, further strengthening its hold on rural Maharashtra. CM Devendra Fadnavis said, “People have shown trust in the Mahayuti government. First it was the municipal councils, then the municipal corporations, and now the Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti polls. In all these elections, the BJP has broken all its own records of 2017,” he added. Following the tragic incident involving NCP leader Ajit Pawar’s plane crash, Fadnavis had called off his election rallies and decided not to campaign for the Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti polls. The Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction also kept a low profile during the campaign. Despite this, the Mahayuti delivered a peak performance, while opposition parties were reduced to negligible numbers. Reacting to the opposition’s poor performance, Fadnavis said the MVA remained visible mainly on television and failed to stay connected with people. Polling for 12 Zilla Parishads and 125 Panchayat Samitis in 12 districts of Maharashtra began Saturday. A total of 7438 candidates contested 731 Zilla Parishad and 1462 Panchayat Samiti seats. DCM’s 1st meet Sunetra Pawar, the newly elected deputy chief minister, is likely to attend her first state cabinet meeting scheduled in Mantralaya on Tuesday. She will also occupy the Dy CM’s office, and this will be her first visit to Mantralaya after taking the oath on January 31. She is the first woman to hold the post of deputy chief minister of Maharashtra. 12No of Zilla Parishads that went to polls
10 February,2026 08:38 AM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev ShivadekarTwo youths were injured after a slab from the second floor of a building collapsed on Linking Road in Khar West on Friday. The injured have been identified as Nirav Shantilal Nisar, 27, a businessman and resident of Grant Road, and his friend Harsh Kailash Porwal, 28, a resident of Ratlam in MP. According to police, the incident occurred around 9.40 pm on February 6 near the KFC junction on Linking Road. The two men were standing beside their two-wheeler when cement, sand and iron debris from a building’s second-floor slab suddenly collapsed on them. Both were initially rushed to Holy Cross Hospital and later shifted to another hospital for further treatment. Police said Porwal had recently arrived in Mumbai from Madhya Pradesh to attend a family wedding and was staying at his sister’s home in Marine Lines. Khar police have registered an FIR against the owner of Kadamb Kudpi House for negligence.
10 February,2026 08:35 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirish VaktaniaThe Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE), Pune, has announced the schedule and key arrangements for the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination, which will be conducted across the state from Tuesday, February 10, to Wednesday, March 18. The examination will be held through the Board’s nine divisional boards — Pune, Nagpur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Mumbai, Kolhapur, Amravati, Nashik, Latur, and Konkan. A total of 15,32,487 students have registered for the HSC examination this year. This includes 8,20,229 male, 7,12,240 female, and 18 transgender candidates. Registrations have been received from 10,664 junior colleges, and examinations will be conducted at 3387 main examination centres across Maharashtra. Secretary speaks Speaking at the press conference on Monday, Dr Dipak Mali, secretary, MSBSHSE, Pune, said, “To reduce exam-related stress, the Board has designed the timetable by providing gaps between most major subject papers. Students and parents have been advised to rely only on the official timetable published by the Board, as timetables from other websites or agencies will not be considered valid. The State Board has appointed 10 counsellors at the state level. Additionally, two counsellors per district have been appointed at the divisional board level to guide students and resolve queries. Schools and junior colleges have been instructed to ensure that students reach the examination centre at least 30 minutes before the scheduled time. Various measures To curb malpractice, the Board has deployed 271 flying squads across the state. District collectors, who also head the district vigilance committees, have been authorised to make necessary arrangements to ensure the transparent and fair conduct of the Std X and XII examinations. The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (ST) has been instructed to operate buses regularly and on time for students. Board chairman highlights importance of mental health Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Chairman Trigun Kulkarni told mid-day that board examinations are often the first major competitive experience for many students, which can naturally cause anxiety. Trigun Kulkarni, chairman, Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education. PIC/MSBSHSE “State board exams are significant and can lead to a certain amount of stress for some students. The counselling facility is a regular support system provided by the Maharashtra State Board to help students deal with exam-related pressure,” he said. Kulkarni added that, to curb misinformation and ensure direct communication, the Maharashtra State Board has launched its official social media platforms, including a verified YouTube channel, and expanded its presence on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram. “All important updates related to examinations, results and academic matters will now be shared only through the board’s verified platforms,” Kulkarni said. Out-of-turn exams Students who are unable to appear for practical, oral, graded or internal assessment examinations due to medical or unavoidable reasons within the prescribed period will be given another opportunity. These examinations will be conducted out of turn from March 12 to March 14, 2026, after the written examinations. The marks for practical, oral and internal assessments will be submitted online, and detailed instructions have been provided to schools and junior colleges through divisional boards. *Counsellors’ mobile numbers9960644411, 7972573742, 9834084593, 9359978315, 8169202214, 9371661255, 7208429381, 7709156068, 8421150528, 9404783996 3387No of main examination centres in state
10 February,2026 08:32 AM IST | Mumbai | Archana DahiwalThe Std X board exams are often considered the first major challenging experience for students. However, this isn’t the case for Shravan Vishwakarma, 17, who has battled blood cancer (Leukaemia) and resumed education to take his Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exam. A native of Uttar Pradesh, Shravan was diagnosed with blood cancer at the age of 12. Right before the pandemic, his family moved to Mumbai for his treatment. After being under chemotherapy, radiotherapy, COVID treatments, and finally undergoing a bone marrow transplant, Shravan found himself re-enrolled in BMC’s Mumbai Public School, Navghar, Mulund, set to appear for the board exams this month. “I have always wanted to study, appear for exams, and play with children my age. Neither was I scared of my cancer, nor am I scared of the board exams,” he told mid-day. Owing to frequent illness and fatigue, Shravan would barely attend his school back in UP. Now, he has turned out to be the school ‘chatterbox’. “You just have to spark a conversation, and Shravan can keep carrying it. It shows how engaged he is in the classroom. When it comes to chess, he remains our top student,” said the school in-charge, Varsha Kalanke. Ramu Vishwakarma with his son Sravan. PIC/ADITI ALURKAR Ramu Vishwakarma, Shravan’s father recalls the hardships the family had to go through. For months, owing to frequent, distant hospital visits, the father-son duo would find themselves sleeping at railway stations and bus stops. “We would often miss the last train and had to come back early the next morning. All we did was travel. At these hospitals, we would see other children battle cancer and often succumb to it. Finding time to work as a carpenter was tough during this period,” said the father. What was encouraging for the family was Shravan’s easy-going attitude. “Not once did he cry. Even when he was smaller, being administered injections or chemotherapy,” said Ramu. Shravan, proud of this feat, believes that this is the mantra of his life. Currently, he has to get tests and medications administered every few months. He has also developed a cataract problem owing to radiotherapy, and will have to undergo surgery after his exams, for which he is preparing without help. “I love talking, being with my friends, and staying happy. I believe ‘jo hoga dekha jaega’. So why worry?” he told mid-day. With the fast-approaching board exams, Shravan has complete faith in his preparation, especially with history, political science, and sciences being his favourite subjects. “I’ll do well… we have done well so far,” smiled the student, who now volunteers in cancer support groups.
10 February,2026 08:29 AM IST | Mumbai | Aditi AlurkarThe Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) achieved only 66 per cent of its target for post-monsoon desilting of nullahs for the year 2025-26, even as desilting for the pre-monsoon season of 2026-27 is set to begin on April 1. While the civic body targeted the removal of 1,96,727 metric tonnes (MT) of silt from the city’s nullahs from October to December, it has only managed to remove 1,31,201 MT until February 7. The nullahs in the western suburbs have fared much worse than the eastern suburbs, with only 40 per cent of desilting targets completed, in comparison to 97 per cent in the eastern suburbs. Of the 26,592.53 MT of silt that was to be cleared in the western suburbs after the monsoon, only 10,829.26 MT has been removed. In comparison, of the 15,320.07 MT to be removed from eastern suburbs nullahs, 14,534.89 MT has been removed so far. Garbage piled up in Mithi river. File Pic/Nimesh Dave As for removing 3810 MT of silt from boxed nullahs, no post-monsoon work has been carried out. Work on desilting of the 17-km-long Mithi river has been the slowest, with only 30 per cent (16,440.93 MT) of silt being removed against a target of 53,578.88 MT. The BMC annually carries out desilting work on Mumbai's nullahs in three phases. In the pre-monsoon phase, between April and May every year, the target is to remove 80 per cent of the silt from the beds of nullahs to augment their water-carrying capacity and mitigate flooding during the monsoon season. During the monsoon months of June to September, 10 per cent of desilting work takes place. The remaining work takes place between October-December. While no desilting work took place in October and early November, work was significantly stalled from December 2025 until January 15, 2026. After the civic elections concluded, post-monsoon desilting work has picked up pace, with maximum desilting taking place starting January 15.
10 February,2026 08:24 AM IST | Mumbai | Eeshanpriya MSNearly a decade after the Bombay High Court banned horse-drawn carriage joyrides — popularly known as Victorias — at least one such carriage continued to ferry tourists along Marine Drive and Churchgate. Animal rights activists had lodged complaints at the Marine Drive and Azad Maidan police stations, which have jurisdiction over the area. Police informed the activists that action could be taken only when the carriage was spotted on the road. Caught by patrolling cop On the day of the India-USA cricket match at Wankhede Stadium, a senior police officer on patrolling and inspection duty noticed a horse-drawn carriage ferrying tourists on Maharshi Karve Road in Churchgate. The sighting enabled the police to act on the month-old complaint. The Azad Maidan police stopped the carriage, confiscated the cart, and registered an FIR against the person operating it under Section 291 of the BNS for negligent conduct regarding animals. A senior official from the Azad Maidan police station said, “I spotted the carriage ferrying tourists which gave us a chance to nab the owner. We stopped the carriage and interrogated him. The cart has been confiscated, while the horse was returned to its caretaker. The activists who followed up on the complaint have been informed.” The official added that further investigation would be carried out to determine whether more horse-drawn carriages are still plying Mumbai’s streets under the guise of tourist joyrides. Horse-drawn carriages, a remnant of the British era, were once a major tourist attraction at Gateway of India, Marine Drive, and Kala Ghoda. In 2012, PETA approached the Bombay High Court seeking a ban on the carriages, citing animal cruelty. The court banned these carriages in 2015. In 2021, the state government’s transport department granted in-principle approval for e-carriages to revive the Victoria tradition — this time without horses. Mumbai-based animal rights activist Sneha Visaria, who is associated with PETA, said, “I first noticed the horse-pulled carriage about a month ago, around 9.30 pm, ferrying tourists near Crawford Market. I spotted it several times over the next few weeks. I complained to the police, but was told the owner could be nabbed only when the carriage was spotted and caught red-handed.”
10 February,2026 08:19 AM IST | Mumbai | Eeshanpriya MSA fire broke out on the 13th floor of Suvidha Pearl building in Vile Parle East at 9.51 am on Monday, killing a 63-year-old woman and injuring two others. The deceased was identified as Bhavna Bharat Satra, 63. The injured include Aneree Jitendra Satra, 34, and Mohammad Rashid, 22. A security guard of the building, who spoke to mid-day on condition of anonymity, said they heard a loud sound before glass from the 13th floor shattered and fell near the lobby. “We panicked and immediately alerted the fire brigade. Thankfully, the fire did not spread,” he said. The blaze reportedly started in flat No. 1301, owned by the builder of the apartment, where family members had gathered ahead of a wedding scheduled for Tuesday. Deepak Shinde, a family friend, told this newspaper that several relatives had arrived from different cities and were out when the incident occurred. “When we rushed back, we found that two family members had been injured,” he said. All three victims were rescued and taken to Nanavati Hospital, where Bhavna Satra was declared dead on arrival. The other two are undergoing treatment. Amol Shashikant Khanolkar, assistant station officer, said three people were rescued from the flat. “We found both women in the passage outside the flat. To rescue the man, we had to break open doors. He suffered minor injuries. One woman was declared dead at the hospital, while the other is being treated. The cause of the fire is under investigation,” he said.
10 February,2026 08:06 AM IST | Mumbai | Madhulika Ram KavatturResponding to concerns raised by residents facing displacement due to the Elphinstone bridge demolition, the MMRDA has asked affected families to search for homes on their own from a newly issued list of “available” houses. Residents of Haaji Noorani said MMRDA officials shared a fresh list of transit accommodation options last Friday and asked families to identify suitable homes themselves. However, project-affected persons (PAP) who tried verifying the addresses claim the list contains multiple discrepancies. House already occupied “When we checked the Ahilya Building in Dadar West, the watchman told us that a family is already staying in flat 502, which is mentioned in this fresh list. After confirming this, we called Ghule, the MMRDA officer we have been corresponding with, and informed him. Sukhakarta building on Currey Road. Parel residents had refused to occupy flats in the structure In response, he said, ‘Yes, it’s possible that some houses might be occupied. You will have to check.’ This is nothing but a way to kill time,” said Suhas Badade, one of the affected residents. Residents also said several addresses on the list could not be traced. Sent on house hunt “We were promised safe, habitable, ready-to-move homes within a 2.5-km radius. Instead, we are being sent on a house hunt. When we went to locate buildings listed as Loksatta, spread across nearly 50 structures, we could not identify the exact flats. After searching for nearly two hours, we returned,” said Ashok Wagh, another resident. Building under construction Another address on the list was the Sukhakarta Building in Currey Road, which residents said had already been rejected earlier. “We had clearly refused to take possession of flats in this building. The building is still under construction, and a large tower stands directly in front of it, blocking light and ventilation,” Badade said. Residents have demanded joint inspections, verified housing options, and immediate allotment of livable homes. MMRDA trying its best Yashwant Ghule, deputy community development officer, MMRDA, said, “We have already offered homes as per eligibility and MHADA’s availability, but residents refused to take possession. We are trying our best to find solutions. The list shared includes whatever housing is currently available in the vicinity.” Key promises vs reality Promised>> Ready-to-move homes>> Safe and habitable buildings>> Within 2.5 km radius On ground>> Families sent on house hunt>> Inaccurate and outdated addresses>> No joint inspections
10 February,2026 08:01 AM IST | Mumbai | Ritika GondhalekarThe Amboli police have arrested members of an interstate gang involved in smashing car windows and stealing valuables, cracking several thefts in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Thane. A case was filed on January 29, after unidentified persons broke the window of a car parked along New Link Road in Andheri West and stole a laptop, a bag, a laptop charger, and an iPhone charger. After registering an FIR, PSI Pradip Phunde and his team scanned footage from nearly 70 CCTV. They tracked the suspects’ movement for three days and arrested them from Narpoli area of Bhiwandi. The accused have been identified as Gautam Venkatesh Naidu (Mahesh), 22; Jai Kumar Vilasani, 24; and Sada Viramani Naidu, 36. Police recovered stolen property and tools worth Rs 3.25 lakh, including three laptops and an Apple iPad. They also seized tools used to break car windows.
10 February,2026 07:57 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirish VaktaniaAs many as 21 horses have joined the Mumbai Police, to be deployed for patrolling the beaches of Girgaon, Juhu, Aksa, Dana Pani, Gorai, and Uttan. The horses have been sourced from Rajasthan, Haryana, Kerala, and Pune, and are fully trained in jumping, riding, running, and other operational activities. The equines have been brought to the Marol Police Camp, where they are housed in a newly constructed stable. Four additional stables are under construction at the spot, and the Mumbai Police are expected to induct more horses in the near future. The horses, which are between two and five years old, are named Karishma, Ranveer, Baji, Meghdut, Arjun, Samrat, Abhimanyu, Suvarnarekha, Shivalik, Vijayjyoti, Krishna, Padmavati, Randheera, Manju, Veer, Dash, Bijli, Chetak, Tufan, Badal, and Hirkani. Police Sub-Inspector Sagar Shinde, who is in charge of the stable, told mid-day, “We have 36 smaller stables, along with restrooms, guest rooms, veterinary doctors, a swimming pool for horses, and medical facilities. The entire facility for the horses has been constructed on 2.96 acres of land. We have more than 50 trained staff engaged in training and caring for the horses.” “These horses will be deployed for patrolling at Mumbai’s beaches and will also be used in forest areas where vehicles cannot reach. The police horses will also participate in parades, raising day celebrations, and sports events. All horses have undergone six months of training and are well-trained. They are also fully vaccinated,” PSI Shinde added. Four ambulances equipped for medical emergencies are available at the centre, along with veterinary doctors. In case of emergencies, these vehicles are used to transport horses to hospitals. Regular check-ups Speaking with mid-day, Hanmant Shingate, nursing assistant with the Mumbai Police, said, “We regularly conduct health check-ups and vaccinations for the horses at this stable. Veterinary doctors are available 24×7 to treat any ailments.” The stable was constructed in 2023 under the guidance of the Commissioner of Police and Joint CP Satyanarayan Chaudhary (Law and Order) and Joint CP (Administration) S Jayakumar. DCP Sunil Lokhande, along with PSI Shinde, is overseeing activities at the facility.
10 February,2026 07:52 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirish VaktaniaA couple was left critically injured near Somaiya College in Vidyavihar after their scooter was rammed by a speeding car allegedly driven by a minor, who relatives claim had earlier posted stunt videos from the same stretch on Instagram. The husband is on a ventilator, while the wife remains in critical condition. The accident occurred on February 5 at around 11:15 pm near Gate No. 3 of Somaiya College on Tansa Pipeline Road. The injured have been identified as Ghumil Premji Patel, 33, who runs a plywood business, and his wife, Minal Patel, 32, a private tutor. The survivors, who are residents of Ghatkopar West, were rushed to Rajawadi Hospital and later shifted to Zynova Shalby Hospital due to the seriousness of their injuries. Screen grab of viral videos showing the minors performing stunts According to police, the Patels were returning home on their scooter from their shop in Parel when a Kia Seltos car coming from the opposite direction allegedly rammed into their two-wheeler at high speed. The car was being driven in a rash and negligent manner, the police said. Instagrammer The stretch where the accident occurred was allegedly a known stunt spot for the minor. After the crash, videos of car and bike stunts posted by him on Instagram surfaced online but were later deleted. The car involved in the crash near Somaiya College in Vidyavihar shows extensive damage. Pic/By Special Arrangement A member of the Patel family said, “He [the minor] was driving rashly and witnesses said the vehicle was moving at around 120 kph. We found Instagram reels of car and bike stunts with his friends, which were deleted after the incident. Videos showed stunts on the same road in daylight, with people lying on the bonnet and roof of a moving car, as well as triple-seating on a two-wheeler and performing wheelies.” Who was driving Age: 17 yearsLicence: NoneMinor status verified through Aadhaar and birth certificate The scooter ridden by the Patels lies damaged after being hit by a speeding car near Somaiya College, Vidyavihar Father booked for negligence The complaint was filed by Mahesh Karamsi Patel, the uncle of Ghumil Patel, after he was informed about the accident by a family friend in the early hours of Friday. FIR registeredBoth vehicles involved in the accident were completely damaged. Confirming the action taken, Deputy Commissioner of Police Sameer Shaikh told mid-day, “We have registered an FIR against the car owner and are investigating the matter.” What happened Date: February 5Time: 11.15 pmLocation: Near Somaiya College, VidyaviharVehicles: Kia Seltos and scooter Victims Ghumil Patel, 33>> On ventilator>> Head injuries, rib fractures>> Injuries to the knee and wrist Minal Patel, 32>> Critical condition>> Arm fracture>> Eye and internal injuries Police investigations revealed that the car was being driven by a 17-year-old boy. His father, the owner of the vehicle, has been booked for allowing a minor without a driving licence to drive.
10 February,2026 07:48 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirish VaktaniaADVERTISEMENT
