Environmental activists on Tuesday demanded a probe by the DGCA after a flock of flamingos was allegedly struck by an Emirates flight from Dubai to Mumbai, the PTI reported. An Emirates flight from Dubai had struck a flock of flamingos, resulting in the death of around 36 birds in Mumbai, an official said on Tuesday. "Emirates can confirm that EK508 from Dubai to Mumbai on May 20 was involved in a bird strike incident upon landing. The aircraft landed safely and all passengers and crew disembarked without injury, however sadly a number of flamingos were lost and Emirates is cooperating with the authorities on the matter," an Emirates spokesperson said, according to the PTI. The aircraft was also damaged in the incident on Monday night and, as a result, the return flight EK509 scheduled to depart to Dubai Monday night was cancelled, the spokesperson said in a statement. All passengers and crew were accommodated overnight and a replacement aircraft is being arranged for all passengers, Emirates said. The flight is scheduled to depart Mumbai on Tuesday night, the airline added. "Emirates apologises for any inconvenience caused. The safety of our passengers and crew is of the utmost importance and will not be compromised," the airline said in a statement. The bird strike, which happened closer to Laxmi Nagar in Ghatkopar East, claimed the lives of at least 36 flamingos, a forest official said, as per the PTI. Meanwhile, while demanding a probe by the DGCA in the matter, the environmental activists claimed urban planners had ignored warnings about such incidents, as per the PTI. While a police official said the birds were hit by the aircraft before it landed, Emirates said its aircraft was involved in the bird strike incident upon landing.Stray dogs scavenged a few birds after they fell on the ground and some body parts were also spotted by locals, said Pawan Sharma, honorary wildlife warden with the forest department, according to the PTI. The carcasses were sent for an autopsy and would later be disposed of as per the protocol, he said. Zoologist Chinmay Joshi said the Wildlife Conflict Mitigation and Management Plan needs to be reviewed by the airport authorities in coordination with the forest department and wildlife experts to avoid such incidents. B N Kumar, Director of NatConnect Foundation, an environmental protection organization in Navi Mumbai, said he has written to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation seeking a high-level probe to ascertain how the Emirates aircraft hit the birds. Kumar wondered why the pilot could not notice the flock on his radar. "Had any passenger been affected due to the bird hit, it would have made global headlines, but the death of 40 flamingos does not seem to bother the authorities and urban planners in particular," Kumar said, the news agency reported on Tuesday. Kumar cautioned that the upcoming international airport in neighbouring Navi Mumbai could also be prone to such incidents. This is because the wetlands and the flamingo abodes in Navi Mumbai are being systematically buried despite warnings from organisations such as BNHS, he said, a PTI report stated. The flamingos were apparently on way to Gujarat and their death is a warning on impending disasters, Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) researcher Mrugank Prabhu said. Environmental activist D Stalin from NGO Vanshakti suggested that the new power lines through the sanctuary area might be causing disorientation among the birds, leading to Monday's incident, the news agency reported on Tuesday. (with PTI inputs)
21 May,2024 09:43 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSeveral parts of Maharashtra on Tuesday recorded temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius with Jalgaon clocking 45.2 degrees Celsius, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said, reported the PTI. According to the news agency, the Santacruz and Colaba, the two meteorological observatories for Mumbai suburbs and city respectively, recorded 34.9 and 35 degrees Celsius respectively, it said. Meanwhile, Beed district in Maharashtra recorded 43.3 degrees Celsius, Malegaon 43, Nashik and Solapur 41.8 each, Parbhani 41.7, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar 41.6, Ahmednagar 41, Pune 40.6 and Dharashiv 40.5 degrees Celsius, the IMD said on Tuesday. Jalgaon records highest temperature, heatwave in Vidarbha likely Meanwhile last week, Jalgaon district in Maharashtra recorded highest temperature at 43 degree Celsius on Saturday, reported IMD. It marked the hottest day in Maharashtra this month so far. The lowest was recorded in Mahabaleshwar at 17.5 degree Celsius on the same day. As for other parts of Maharashtra, the weather department has predicted a heatwave in Vidarbha region with a rise in temperature by 2 to 3 degree celsius for the next four days. The region includes Akola, Amravati, Buldhana, Bramhapuri, Chandrapur, Gondia, Nagpur, Washim, Wardha, and Yavatmal. Mercury eases to 42.2 deg C in Delhi In Delhi, the maximum temperature eased slightly on Tuesday settling at 42.2 degrees Celsius, 2.2 notches above the season's average, but still in the 'Yellow' alert zone, the weather office said, as per the PTI. The weather department has four colour-coded warnings -- green (no action needed), yellow (watch and stay updated), orange (be prepared) and red (take action). The maximum temperature in Mungeshpur settled at 44.6 degrees Celsius, followed by Palam (44.4 degrees), Najafgarh (43.9 degrees), Pusa and Pitampura (both 43.4 degrees), and Aya Nagar (42.4 degrees). Light to moderate rain is expected in Jafarpur, Najafgarh, Dwarka, Palam, IGI Airport, and Aya Nagar in Delhi and some parts of NCR, including Gurugram at night, the Met office said. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted mainly clear skies with heatwave conditions at a few places, accompanied by strong surface winds at speeds of 25-35 kmph on Wednesday. The national capital will be on orange alert on Wednesday, according to the IMD. (with PTI inputs)
21 May,2024 09:33 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Tuesday announced a 24-hour temporary water supply shutdown in parts of N Ward, S Ward, and T Ward of the city from May 24th to May 25th, 2024. The BMC said that the work of diverting an existing 1200 mm diameter water main along Mulund Goregaon Link Road (GMLR), from Fortis Hospital to Udyog Shetra, Mulund (West), T Ward, is being undertaken by the BMC through the GMLR Department. This diversion is necessary because the 1200 mm diameter water main is infringing on the foundation of the GMLR flyover. As part of this work, two 1200 x 1200 mm diameter cross connections along GMLR Road are scheduled to be undertaken by the Hydraulic Engineer Department from 11:30 AM on Friday, 24th May 2024 to 11:30 AM on Saturday, 25th May 2024. To carry out this work, isolation of the water mains for 24 hours is required. During this period, from 11:30 AM on Friday, 24th May 2024 to 11:30 AM on Saturday, 25th May 2024, there will be no water supply in some parts of 'N', 'S', and 'T' Wards as mentioned below: N Ward: Areas: Vikhroli Village (East), Godrej Properties, Godrej Hospital.Supply Time: Normally 3:30 pm to 11:30 am.Impact: Water supply will remain closed on May 25, 2024. S Ward: Areas: Nahur (East), Bhandup (East), Kanjur (East), Tagore Nagar, Kannamwar Nagar (Vikhroli East, buildings 1 to 32 and 203 to 217).Supply Time: Normally 3:30 am to 11:30 am.Impact: Water supply will remain closed on May 25, 2024. S Ward: Areas: Mulund-Goregaon Junction Road Complex, CEAT Tire Road Complex, Sonapur Traffic Divya Complex, Subhashnagar, M.M.R.D Vasahat, Gaon Road, Dutt Mandir Marg, Anjana Estate, Shastri Nagar, Usha Nagar, Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg, Sonapur, Gavdevi Marg, Jangal Mangal Marg, Lake Marg, Draksha Bagh, Kaju Tekdi, Janta Market, Tank Road Complex, Maharashtra Nagar, Konkan Nagar, Sahyadri Nagar, Quarry Marg, Pratapnagar Marg.Supply Time: Normally 5:00 am to 10:00 am.Impact: Water supply will remain closed on May 25, 2024. T Ward: Areas: Mulund-Goregaon Junction, Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg, J. N. Marg, Devidayal Marg, Kshepanbhoomi Marg, Dr. R. P. Marg, P.K. Marg, Jhaver Marg, M.G. Marg, N. S. Marg, S. N. Marg, R. H.B. Marg, Walji Ladha Marg, V. P. Marg, Madan Mohan Malviya Marg, ACC Marg, B. R. Marg, Goshala Marg, S. l. Marg, Nahur village.Supply Time: Normally 24 x 7 hours.Impact: Water supply will be closed from 11:30 am on May 24, 2024, until 11:30 am on May 25, 2024. "The BMC has also advised residents to store sufficient water for the duration of the shutdown and to use water cautiously. As a precautionary measure, citizens are urged to boil and filter water for the next 4 to 5 days after the supply is restored to ensure safety," the BMC said.
21 May,2024 06:59 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAn association of the owners of hotels, restaurants and bars on Tuesday moved the Bombay High Court, challenging the orders passed by the Mumbai city and suburban Collectors, declaring the entire day on the counting day, reported the PTI. The votes of the Lok Sabha elections 2024 will be counted on June 4 which is declared as a dry day, reported the PTI. A dry day means the purchase and consumption of alcohol are completely restricted at stores, restaurants and other places. The Indian Hotel & Restaurant Association filed two separate petitions through advocates Veena Thadani and Vishal Thadani, claiming that it was arbitrary to ban the sale of liquor for the entire day as the counting of votes is likely to be completed and the election results would be declared by afternoon, according to the PTI. The plea is likely to be heard on Wednesday by a vacation bench. As per the plea, the petitioner association had in April approached the Mumbai City Collector and the Mumbai District Suburban Collector, requesting them to review their decision declaring the whole day of June 4 as a dry day, as per the PTI. However, the collectors said no such review could be done as the orders were passed pursuant to the directives from the Election Commission of India (ECI). The petitions claimed that the association members pay huge amounts as licence fees to the state government for carrying on business, whereas there are several illicit liquor manufacturers and bootleggers who have been manufacturing and selling illicit liquor as well as Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and beer in Mumbai, the news agency reported. Whenever the authorized outlets for sale of liquor are closed, for various reasons, such illegal businesses thrive and bootleggers make huge profits through the illegal and illicit sale of liquor, taking undue advantage of the fact that liquor is not officially available, as per the PTI. The pleas sought for the collectors' orders to be modified to state that the establishments which sell liquor be permitted to open up for business after the declaration of results instead of the whole day. (with PTI inputs)
21 May,2024 06:33 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Bombay High Court on Tuesday denied an urgent hearing for Ramadas KS, a PhD student at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), who has been suspended for alleged misbehaviour and anti-national actions. A vacation bench comprising Justices Arif Doctor and Somasekhar Sundaresan set the hearing until June 18, following the court's summer vacation, finding that there was no pressing need, reported PTI. According to the report, Ramadas, a student at the School of Development Studies, contested his two-year suspension, which was given on April 18. His attorney, Mihir Desai, claimed that the suspension resulted in the termination of Ramadas' scholarship, inflicting financial hardship. TISS stated that Ramadas had an alternative remedy, hence his petition was not maintainable. The court highlighted that arguments regarding the petition's maintainability must be heard first, the report added. TISS's affidavit stated that a high-level body within the institute addresses student misconduct, and any appeals should be submitted to the vice-chancellor. The institute requested the dismissal of the petition, arguing that Ramadas should have appealed to the vice-chancellor before approaching the high court. Reportedly, the document also claimed that Ramadas used political clout to pressure the institute, as indicated by letters from political parties and social media campaigns. It claimed that students are notified of their responsibilities upon admission, and any violations result in disciplinary action. In response, Ramadas denied utilising political influence, claiming that extensive support from students and organisations demonstrated that the suspension was wrong. He contended that the disciplinary proceedings breached natural justice and fundamental rights, necessitating the high court's intervention. "The entire disciplinary proceedings have been held in an arbitrary fashion, in violation of principles of natural justice and the fundamental rights of the petitioner, and accordingly, the High Court alone has jurisdiction to set aside the same," the rejoinder affidavit stated. Ramadas' petition asks the court to overturn the suspension and restore his student rights, claiming it was "unlawful, arbitrary, and unfair." He was suspended for protesting federal government policies in New Delhi and supporting the documentary 'Ram Ke Naam' at the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the PTI report stated.
21 May,2024 04:58 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA court in Maharashtra's Thane district acquitted a 52-year-old auto-rickshaw driver accused of assaulting a teenage girl in 2013, citing the victim's lack of cooperation in the prosecution's case. On May 8, Special POCSO court judge VA Patravale determined that the prosecution had failed to prove the charges against the accused, therefore giving him the benefit of the doubt. The order became available on Monday, reported PTI. According to the report, the prosecutor stated to the court that the 13-year-old girl told her mother that the accused, who drove her to school, sexually touched her and threatened her not to notify her parents. A case was later filed under Section 354A of the Indian Penal Code and the applicable provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Judge Patravale stated that the minor did not support the prosecution's case, even when given the opportunity to ask leading questions. As a result, the judge found no evidence to convict the accused of the alleged charges. Meanwhile, in another incident, a Mumbai man was arrested for allegedly raping a 24-year-old woman under the pretext of promising her a job. Joseph James, a 50-year-old Mumbai resident, is the accused. According to ANI, the incident took place near the city's Worli police station. Worli Police authorities told ANI that the woman, a Thane resident, was looking for work and had requested assistance from one of her male acquaintances. According to reports, the woman's friend provided her the mobile number of a man named Joseph and told her to contact him. Reportedly, the woman, her friend and Joseph met in Khar. Joseph first offered to drop the survivor to Khar station when she expressed she would be leaving around at midnight and later coerced her into sleeping in his car saying that no trains would be available. Later, around 3 am, when the woman was asleep, Joseph sexually assaulted her. The woman informed police that Joseph threatened her and warned her not to tell about the incident. However, she alerted her lawyer friend about the occurrence, which motivated the 24-year-old lady to make a complaint. She then went to the nearest police station and filed a report. Worli police investigated the victim's allegations and apprehended the perpetrators.
21 May,2024 04:58 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis have instructed the police to take strict action regarding Pune luxury car accident involving a 17-year-old boy that resulted in the deaths of two individuals, according to Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar. The accident occurred early Sunday morning in Pune's Kalyani Nagar region, when a Porsche driven by a juvenile who was reportedly under the influence of alcohol collided with and killed two motorbike riders. Days after the Pune luxury car accident, authorities apprehended the boy's father, a real estate mogul, and arrested three hotel executives for supplying alcohol to minors. "The chief minister, the deputy chief minister and home minister (Fadnavis), and the (Pune) guardian minister (Deputy CM Ajit Pawar) have given clear instructions to the police to take stringent action in this case. The state Director General of Police has also instructed for strong action," Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar said, addressing public concerns about the adequacy of police action in the case. He emphasised the commitment of both the government and the police to ensure accountability. Kumar denied charges of police pressure and insisted that their activities were perfectly legal. He invited legal specialists to consider the possibility of more rigorous legal sanctions and said, "I mentioned yesterday that we are ready to discuss every legal step taken by the police. We have taken the most stringent possible action. If legal experts believe there are more stringent provisions available, they should come forward for a public discussion." Initially, the youngster was accused under Indian Penal Code Sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 304A (causing death through negligence). They also requested court permission to try the juvenile as an adult in Pune luxury car accident owing to the gravity of the act, but their request was denied. The police have appealed to the district sessions court and are awaiting a judgement. "We also moved an application before a court seeking permission to treat the juvenile as an adult due to the heinous nature of the act. Unfortunately, the court rejected our application. We have now approached the district sessions court and are awaiting the judgment," he said while talking about the police's plea in Pune luxury car accident. Kumar stated that the juvenile's blood report is waiting, but CCTV footage and restaurant bill payments show alcohol consumption. He also ensured that any police personnel discovered to be giving preferential treatment to the juvenile would face strict action. The victims, Anis Awadhiya and Ashwini Costa, both 24-year-old IT professionals from Madhya Pradesh, were killed when the speeding Porsche hit their motorcycle at 3:15 am on Sunday. The juvenile was granted bail by the Juvenile Justice Board shortly after the Pune luxury car accident. In addition to the charges against the juvenile, the police have charged his father under sections 75 and 77 of the Juvenile Justice Act and have targeted the bar owners and staff for serving alcohol to a minor. The investigation of these cases has been transferred to the crime branch.
21 May,2024 02:56 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondentOn Tuesday, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut criticised the Election Commission, accusing it of behaving as a "extended branch of the BJP." Raut stated that the voting process in Maharashtra's 13 Lok Sabha constituencies amid phase 5 of India General Elections 2024 was purposefully slowed in places where Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) candidates anticipated a large participation, reported PTI, Speaking to reporters, Raut stated that the polling went well in areas where the BJP or its allies were expected to gain more votes. Following Monday's vote in these constituencies, including six in Mumbai, during the final phase of the India General Elections 2024 in Maharashtra, poll officials reported an average turnout of 54.33 per cent. Official turnout figures will be announced later, the PTI report added. Reportedly, the six Mumbai constituencies had an average turnout of 52.27 per cent after voting during phase 5 of India General Elections 2024 on Monday, down from 55.38 per cent in the 2019 election. Raut reported that voting in regions expected to support the Shiv Sena (UBT) or MVA was particularly delayed. He focused on issues in Thane and Kalyan, where his party projected strong support. "Wherever the Shiv Sena (UBT) or MVA was expecting good votes, there was a snail-paced election. The Election Commission is an extended branch of the BJP," he claimed. "The polling process was messed up in Thane and Kalyan where there was a possibility of the Shiv Sena (UBT) getting more votes," he said. Raut noted specific issues in Mumbra (Thane district), where only 11 votes were cast in one hour, blaming this on fears of defeat inside the ruling Shiv Sena-BJP coalition. He accused the ruling parties of interrupting the India General Elections 2024 process to deter voting because EVMs could not be hacked and vote-buying was impossible, the PTI report stated. Despite efforts to hold down voting, Raut said that people remained undaunted, presenting the delays as a desperate drive by the BJP to avoid electoral losses. "At some booths in Mumbra (in Thane district), only 11 votes could be cast in one hour and this was due to the ruling Shiv Sena-BJP's fear of losing. The mess in the polling process was to desist the electors from voting as the EVMs could not be hacked and money could not be distributed," Sanjay Raut charged. He said, "While such attempts of slowing down the poll process were made till the very last minute, there was no effect on the voters. It was the last-ditch attempt by the BJP to save itself."
21 May,2024 01:54 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentPolice have arrested a 28-year-old man on charges of illegal slaughter of animals and transportation of the meat in Maharashtra's Thane district, an official said, reported news agency PTI. A police team on patrol duty spotted a tempo moving near a roadside eatery in Bhiwandi area on the Nashik-Mumbai highway on Sunday morning. Based on suspicion, they stopped the tempo and on inspection found the vehicle was carrying 2,000 kg of animal meat valued at Rs 3.10 lakh, the official from Narpoli police station said, reported PTI. The police subsequently arrested the tempo occupant, hailing from Govandi in neighbouring Muumbai, and registered a case against him and another absconding accused under Indian Penal Code sections 429 (mischief by killing, poisoning, maiming or rendering useless an animal) and 34 (common intention) and provisions of the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act, he said. The police were trying to find out from where the accused got the meat and to whom they planned to deliver it for illegal slaughter of animals, the official said, reported PTI. In another case, police on Sunday arrested a 44-year-old man and his son, both street vendors, for allegedly trying to kill two persons following a quarrel over a banana in Maharashtra's Thane district, an official said, reported PTI. A 27-year-old man, who is a mandap decorator, and his friend purchased a dozen bananas from the vendors in Bhiwandi town on Saturday and made the payment for it. However, the man's friend later picked up an extra banana from the vendors' basket which led to a quarrel between the two sides, the official from Narpoli police station said. The person who picked up the banana offered to pay for it, but the argument escalated following which the two vendors allegedly thrashed the two men with iron rods and threatened them with dire consequences if they were seen there again, he said, reported PTI. Based on a complaint by one of the victims, the police registered an FIR against the two vendors late Saturday night under Indian Penal Code sections 307 (attempt to murder), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 34 (common intention). Both the accused were arrested on Sunday, the police added. (With inputs from PTI)
21 May,2024 01:30 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentMummy, Maa, Aai, Ammi- these words evoke a certain warmth in one’s heart as reminiscence peaks when they utter them. From memories of crying while bidding adieu on the first day of school to fighting with her and convincing her to do away with anger- everyone has a plethora of such instances with their mother figures. This is precisely why celebrating these supermoms isn't limited to Mother’s Day, they are celebrated for life. One such superhero is Sejal. Sejal’s daughter Viha is a child with special needs. “Due to some issues in my pregnancy, I just got a premature baby, and they were a pair of twins, so one could not make it. And since I feel Viha is a fighter, she was in the NICU for 100 days. And after 100 days, when she was held with us, they told us to check all the parameters. And then we came to know that Viha has lost her vision because of retinal detachment due to excess oxygen.” she said. Parenting is a full-time 24x7 non paying job. But if the child is specially-abled, it becomes even harder. When asked about her journey with her daughter she said, “At the age of five or six years, I felt like taking her to the play school. So then I started going to the Helen Keller Institute and I went there for five years. When Viha was nine years old, they told me that now we needed to move out from this and go to a bigger school where they could help her with vocational training. In South Bombay, I tried one or two centres, but Viha was a challenging kid. Not only because of the vision issue, but she also had other milestones that needed to be achieved. We never found such a school in our area which could help Viha with her daily routine.” When she couldn't find an appropriate school for her specially challenged daughter, it motivated her to create one. That is how the Mariposa Foundation Centre for multiple disabled children was born. Gradually, Mariposa grew into not only a learning haven for Sejal's daughter Viha but also for other specially challenged kids. Mariposa not only helps her daughter but other children too with multiple disabilities and other intellectual and developmental disabilities. “Now, Mariposa is almost 14 years old, and we currently have 14 such challenging kids. So basically, we work on their functional skills like eating, dressing, fine motor, and gross motor. We have physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and these kids, you know, they lack sensory integration, where all our five senses work together, they have this coordination lacking in them. So we give a lot of sensory stimulation for them, and we do have other recreations like art and music. Whatever the kids like to do, we are ready to help them.” says Sejal. When asked to share her memories with her daughter Viha, she gleefully said, “One of my happiest memories with her is when she started saying her first word ‘Papa’. I felt that we were able to finally connect with her as she has partial vision, and we did not know what she was able to understand. But when she said "Papa", I was really happy. That was the best time of my life. Every day, I hope that she will come talk to me, hug me, speak to me, chat with me like a normal kid. It's just like you have hope each day, and it's what makes you go on.” Sejal also expressed her take on accepting differently-abled people. “I think a mother is a mother; she can handle everything. Accepting a specially challenged kid, for anyone, is tough. Like, you know, Viha is not one to look at you and greet you. From inside, we have a lot of challenges. But frankly speaking, I accepted it very soon. Because I had a positive thought that I just had to keep on doing things. But that hope, that one day she will walk, she will run, and she will see, that was the only thing at the beginning of my life. And now, literally, when I'm growing up, I have accepted who she is, I'm accepting it. But I want her to be happy and healthy for the rest of her life.” Sejal reflects on her personal growth and learnings in the process of raising Viha and starting Mariposa. She states, “I see a lot of learning at my centre. It feels like I am learning every day when looking at the kids coming, and when each different kid comes, I feel like doing a lot of research for different kids and trying to make all different programs to help them go ahead. For me, even my growing is there in this, my knowledge, and that keeps me passionate, like, you know, I'm learning through experience.” While this supermom has successfully overcome major adversities on her parenting journey with her positivity, there's also a fear, which seems to be hovering over her optimism. “As a mother especially for a challenging kid, the biggest fear is, what if the mother is no more? Who will take care of my child? It's a very common fear. But, again, that is what makes you weak, that fear and overthinking. So a change of thought process is a must. My faith in God helps me out here. Even if I think and worry, nothing is going to change. I would rather just live and make my life cherished with happy moments. So it's better to think positive and move forward. When life gets tough, you get tougher. As a mother, Sejal turned her love into inspiration and challenges into motivation to help not only the special kids at her home but also the ones who have no appropriate means to learn. They say love can move mountains. For Sejal, the love for her daughter showed her a purpose for life- moving mountains for specially-abled kids.
21 May,2024 01:27 PM IST | Mumbai | Tanishka DesaiThe Maharashtra State Board for Secondary and Higher Secondary Education announced the Class 12 (HSC) results on Tuesday, with 93.37 per cent of students passing the exams. According to the report in PTI, the Board chairperson Sharad Gosavi, speaking about the Maharashtra HSC 12th Result 2024, said that 95.44 per cent of girls cleared the examination compared to 91.60 per cent of boys. According to the PTI report, out of the 14,33, 371 students who were set to appear for the examination held in March, only 14,23,970 had appeared for the examination and out of that 13, 29, 684 cleared the examination. Per the Maharashtra HSC 12th Result 2024 data, cited in the PTI report, the Konkan division achieved the highest pass rate at 97.51 per cent, followed by Nashik with 94.71 per cent, Pune 94.44 per cent, Kolhapur 94.24 per cent, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar 94.08 per cent, Amravati 93 per cent, Latur 92.36 per cent, Nagpur 92.12 per cent, and Mumbai with the lowest at 91.95 per cent. In the science stream, 97.82 per cent of students passed. The pass rates for other streams were 85.88 per cent for arts, 92.18 per cent for commerce, and 87.75 per cent for vocational courses, the PTI report stated. The Maharashtra HSC exam in 2024 was held at 10,388 centres and the highest registration was for the Science stream followed by Arts and Commerce. Starting this year, the students appearing for board exams were given 10 extra minutes to write their papers. The Maharashtra board circular issued earlier this year stated that the question paper would not be distributed 10 minutes before the commencement of the exam given the increased instances of cheating, and paper leaks on social media. Reportedly, the exams were held in two schedules--morning and evening. The morning schedule exams were held from 11 am to 2.10 pm while the evening exam was held from 3 pm to 6.10 pm. Reportedly, the state government had also directed that photocopy shops, within a 50-meter radius of the examination centres, will be shut ahead of the board exam as part of their "copy-free exam" campaign.
21 May,2024 01:23 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
