Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, arrived in Mumbai during the early hours of Saturday. As soon as the LoP landed in Mumbai, BJP workers staged a black-flag protest, calling it a response to the Youth Congress's protest at the AI Summit. Gandhi landed at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in the morning and travelled by road to Bhiwandi in neighbouring Thane district to appear before a court in the 2014 defamation case, reported PTI. While Rahul was on his way to Bhiwandi from Mumbai, a group of BJP supporters staged a protest at Mulund toll naka and raised slogans against him. Speaking to the media on Saturday, the protesters alleged that Gandhi consistently opposes the initiatives of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and accused him of tarnishing the country's image. One of the BJP supporters slamming Rahul Gandhi said, "Rahul Gandhi continuously opposes whatever the Prime Minister does. Even on issues concerning the nation. The Youth Congress workers raised slogans at the AI Summit, maligning India's image. That is why we protested against him," as cited by news agency PTI. Furthermore, the police had made elaborate security arrangements for Gandhi's visit to prevent any confrontation between workers of the ruling and opposition parties. Congress slams BJP over protest against Rahul Gandhi in Mumbai Meanwhile, Congress leader Sachin Sawant termed the BJP protest as "an attempt to divert attention from key national issues". The Congress leader further accused the ruling party of resorting to theatrics, as it had no answers for the public. He questioned the reasons behind what he termed the BJP's "surrender" before US President Donald Trump and sought clarity on matters related to financier Jeffrey Epstein, saying the party owed an explanation to the people. Sawant also alleged that the BJP had compromised the future of farmers in Maharashtra and the country by placing their interests at stake in the trade deal with the US. NCP (SP) also slams BJP The Nationalist Congress Party (SP) also hit out at the 'black flag' protest, calling it a "disrespectful" departure from democratic norms. NCP (SP) Thane city chief Manoj Pradhan said, "Rahul Gandhi holds a constitutional post as the Leader of the Opposition in the country's highest house. It is fundamentally wrong to show black flags to him in such a manner. This is not how a democracy should function." (With inputs from PTI)
21 February,2026 12:19 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentDays after the Mumbai Metro Line 4 pillar slab fell down on the road, killing one and injuring several others. Three people on Friday filed anticipatory bail applications in a court in connection with the collapse of a parapet segment after several people were implicated in the FIR registered by the Mumbai Police after the incident. As reported by news agency PTI, the bail applications will be heard on Saturday. Earlier a man died and three others were injured after a parapet segment of an under-construction bridge of Metro-4 collapsed in Mumbai's Mulund area on February 14 Anticipatory bail to be heard on February 21 Alpesh Patel and Ganesh Gholap – director and technical director of the contractor firm Milan Road Buildtech and project consultant T Sai Suresh Kumar moved the court with pre-arrest bail pleas. Notably, of these three, only Kumar is named as an accused in the First Information Report registered by the police against officials of Milan Road Buildtech and DB Hill LBG under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita section 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder). Police have until now arrested five employees of the two contractor firms. Victim's family receives Rs 39.50 lakh The family of Ramdhani Yadav, who was killed on Saturday in the Mulund Metro slab collapse incident, said that they have received Rs 39.5 lakh from the authorities, following which they will now take the body for the last rites. Yadav’s family had earlier said that they would not take the body for the final rites until they received compensation while also seeking compensation and government jobs for his kins. While the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) disbursed Rs 15 lakh to the victim’s family, Rs 20 lakh was given by the contractor, and an additional Rs 4.50 lakh was given for the air ambulance to lift the body to Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh. The chief minister has also announced Rs 5 lakh in compensation. Ramdhani’s brother Ramsamuj Yadav said, “We have received compensation from MMRDA, and we took the body. We will do the final rites of my brother. Our demands are that my brother’s kin should get government jobs.” (With inputs from PTI)
21 February,2026 12:00 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMumbai city and its suburbs are expected to witness mainly clear skies through the day. Warm weather conditions are likely to prevail, with the maximum temperature touching around 34 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature may settle near 22 degrees Celsius. According to the latest forecast issued at 10 am, clear skies expected across city and suburbs. Mumbai's Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 146 on Saturday morning, placing it in the ‘moderate’ category. According to the Centre’s SAMEER app, pollution levels varied across different parts of the city on Saturday. Bandra-Kurla Complex recorded an AQI of 147, Byculla 106, Andheri East 152, Chembur 118, Colaba 120, Deonar 171, Ghatkopar 155, Bandra East 128, Mulund West 118. All these areas reported an AQI in the 'moderate' category. Meanwhile, Borivali East recorded and AQI of 90 and Sion 68, placing them in 'satisfactory' category. According to the latest air quality readings, Worli recorded an AQI of 218 and Kandivali East 288 which is comparatively higher pollution levels than several other locations in the city. Both areas are reporting an AQI in the 'poor' range, indicating relatively elevated pollution levels compared to other monitoring stations that are showing lower readings. Delhi’s AQI remains in ‘poor’ category, IMD predicts clear skies According to IANS, Delhi’s air quality continued to remain in the 'poor’ category on Saturday, even as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast a mainly clear sky accompanied by morning mist. The maximum temperature is expected to hover around 28 degrees Celsius. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed varying AQI levels across monitoring stations in the national Capital. The 24-hour average AQI stood at 210 at 4 p.m. on Friday, marginally higher than Thursday’s reading of 208 recorded at the same time. Meanwhile, the minimum temperature on Friday was 12.8 degrees Celsius. According to the Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS), the AQI is expected to remain in the ‘poor’ category until Monday. Thereafter, it may fluctuate between the ‘poor’ and ‘moderate’ categories. Delhi’s weather has left residents experiencing contrasting conditions, with chilly mornings gradually giving way to warmer afternoons nearing 30 degrees Celsius. On Friday, the maximum temperature reached 28.4 degrees Celsius, which was 2.9 degrees above normal, while the minimum temperature settled at 12.8 degrees Celsius, one degree below the seasonal average, according to the IMD. The weather department has indicated that similar conditions are likely to persist in the coming days, with clear skies and light morning mist. Although no extreme weather events are anticipated, early-hour visibility may be slightly affected due to mist. Sunny afternoons have brought some relief following the recent cold spell, and many residents are welcoming the gradual shift toward warmer days across the capital.
21 February,2026 11:46 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentWestern Railway (WR) has earned a record Rs 1.72 crore from film and advertisement shoots on its premises from April 1, 2025, to February 15, 2026. According to officials, the process of granting shooting permissions has been simplified and streamlined, enabling production houses and filmmakers to obtain necessary approvals in a time-bound manner. An official said this is one of several innovative initiatives to boost non-fare revenue, while consistently striving to increase revenue from passengers and freight business. Shooting takes place at railway stations on Western Railway’s extensive network “Through a single-window system, production houses have to submit an application for shooting, and every other railway clearance is managed by the PR department, and permission is issued. At the same time, utmost priority is given to safety, operational requirements and passenger convenience while conducting such shooting activities,” a WR official said. Rs 1.64 CRAmount WR earned from shoots in 2022-23 Rs 1.72 crWR has earned a record amt How much money? The Rs 1.72 crore raked in by WR is almost 25 per cent more than the previous financial year’s earnings. The previous best performance was in 2022-23, when WR earned approximately Rs 1.64 crore from film shooting, reflecting steady growth in this segment and placing WR among the leading railway zones in the country in generating such revenue Films shot on locations O’ Romeo 2026Fateh 2025Sikandar 2025 Vande bharat for film shoots For the first time, film shooting inside India’s modern and premium train, Vande Bharat, has been permitted by WR. This achievement provided the film industry with an opportunity to utilise world-class railway infrastructure, highlighting the progressive and innovative approach of WR Advertisements . Lizol . Paytm . Colgate
21 February,2026 09:28 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarAhead of the announcement of the timetable for year-end examinations, a teachers’ group has written to the state government against conducting the exams in April. According to the group heads, the school year-end exams were pushed from March to April in the previous year, which resulted in several teachers and students having to bear the brunt of scorching summers. “We are writing to the authorities now so they can plan out the timetable well in advance. Last year, owing to the summer heat, many students fell ill, and the exam attendance was affected. Parents and teachers find this timetable inconvenient, too, and we hope to revert to the older system where exams were conducted by mid-March or by March-end,” said Tanaji Kamble, president of the Maharashtra Progressive Teachers Association (MPTA). As per an annual week-by-week timetable released by the education department, the Periodic Assessment Tests (PAT) is also scheduled in April — a move that had met strong opposition last year owing to prevalent heat spells, and a time crunch for paper correction. Demands made . Cancel any plans for exams in April; plan tests in March instead . Utilise April for guiding students who have failed exams, before they take re-tests. Allow principals to plan their annual school schedules ‘Hope tests begin early this time’ Principal, of Dadar-based school‘We hope the tests will begin early this time, since they went on till April 25 last year. We have nearly 50-60 students in every classroom, and our teachers only got a couple of days to declare the results. Given that the results have to be uploaded digitally, the process needs to be even quicker. If the authorities want us to have the students in schools for longer, we can always plan extra classes and no-bag days after exams. However, teachers need at least 15 days to declare results properly.’
21 February,2026 09:26 AM IST | Mumbai | Aditi AlurkarFollowing a Supreme Court order to remove street dogs from schools, hospitals, and other public institutions, the BMC has begun scouting land across Mumbai to build the city’s first network of dog shelters. With no civic-run shelters currently in place and limited open land available, the civic body plans to use a public-private partnership model and repurpose amenity plots to house sterilised and vaccinated dogs relocated from institutional premises. 2025November the month the SC verdict was passed Current situation in Mumbai . BMC-run dog shelters: 0. Dog population estimate: NGO-assisted census being carried out. Land availability: Severely limited, finding suitable land is the biggest hurdle Civic body’s action plan Land identification. Use DCPR 2034 amenity plots marked as gardens or markets. Convert select plots for animal shelter use. Seek vacant state government land for transfer to BMC Implementation model. Development through Public-Private Partnership (PPP). NGOs invited to submit expressions of interest Why this move now . Supreme Court order: November 2025. The court directed local bodies to: Remove dogs from schools, colleges, hospitals, and public institutions. Sterilise and vaccinate animals. Relocate them to shelters Potential locations under review Remote pockets of the western suburbs, including:. Andheri. Jogeshwari. Goregaon. Malad. Kandivli. Borivli Timeline . Land identification: 6-8 months. Shelter planning and execution: To follow the land allocation Scale of the project Estimated relocation capacity: Up to 90,000 dogs. Only dogs from institutions covered under the current order. Sterilisation and vaccination are mandatory before relocation
21 February,2026 09:15 AM IST | Mumbai | Eshanpriya MSA private tutor in Navi Mumbai has been booked for allegedly assaulting a 13-year-old Std VIII student after she failed to memorise the multiplication tables. The incident took place at a home-run tuition class in Ghotivali village, where the girl had been studying for nearly five years. Police said the minor was allegedly struck repeatedly on her hand with a wooden roti-flipping stick during class. The child suffered swelling and visible red marks and later complained of severe pain. Her family took her for a medical examination, which confirmed soft-tissue injuries but ruled out any fracture. The girl’s mother approached the police after confronting the tutor, who allegedly defended the act as disciplinary action and claimed other students were punished similarly. The family subsequently filed a formal complaint, prompting police action. The Rabale police have registered an offence and begun an investigation into the matter, also to determine whether similar instances of corporal punishment have taken place. Inspector Shyam Bansode, Rabale police, said, “We have registered an offence based on the complaint. The child has undergone a medical examination. We are recording statements of other students and verifying the facts. Further legal action will be taken as per the findings of the investigation.” 5No. of years the girl attended the classes Key details . Accused: Private tutor. Location: Ghotivali village, Navi Mumbai. Victim: 13-year-old Std VIII student. Reason for assault: Failure to memorise multiplication tables What allegedly happened . Student struck around 20 times. Weapon used: Wooden roti-flipping stick. Injuries: Swelling, red marks, severe pain. X-ray ruled out fracture Tutor’s response . She claimed punishment was for discipline . Said that other students were also similarly punished Police action . FIR registered . Other students’ statements are being recorded As per the law . Corporal punishment in educational institutions is prohibited . Juvenile Justice Act provisions may be invoked if cruelty is proven
21 February,2026 09:04 AM IST | Mumbai | Amarjeet SinghRosy beginnings Students at Saraswati Vidya Mandir High School in Mahim are greeted with roses before their SSC board examinations. Smoke House returns with fire A view of the new exteriors of the café in Borivli. Pics Courtesy/Smoke House Cafe The phrasing seems apt, as the name now moves northwards from Bandra. Riyaaz Amlani is back with a new venture in Borivli as the next evolution of the famed foodie favourite, Smoke House Deli. Titled Smoke House Café, the space will offer a more refined, and contemporary cafe experience at the Sky City Mall. The space marks the next step in the journey of Amlani’s restaurants. The kitchen will be helmed by an old familiar, chef Rollin Lasrado, which promises the familiar Smoke House Deli standards. The new café will also bring in the diversity of continental cuisine with fresh pastas, pizzas, and inventive cocktails. But it is the décor that promises more. We learned that the space will mirror the ‘earthy textures and muted tones’ of the neighbourhood. Riyaaz Amlani “Smoke House Café takes forward the 15-year legacy of Smoke House Deli, building on what people have always loved about the brand in a more contemporary setting. It brings together global flavours and ideas in a way that feels familiar, relevant and right for today’s neighbourhood,” shared operations head, Vinod Shetty. With the café set to open doors by next weekend, it will be interesting to see if this will live up to foodie expectations as well. Cut for happiness Poulami Chakraborty (standing) gives a member of the cafe team a makeover. Pic Courtesy/@bombaytobarcelonalibrary cafe Kindness to those in need doesn’t always have to involve volunteering at a school or making donations. Sometimes, it comes in the most interesting ways. That is what city-based hairstylist Poulami Chakraborty aka Paula did earlier this week, by giving a stylish makeover to team members of Bombay to Barcelona Library Cafe in Marol over a five-hour visit. Recalling the hairstyle sessions, she told us, “Everything was done in the café itself; we spread out a few spare newspapers, and let in some natural light to create a setting good enough for haircuts.” Chakraborty shared further, “Many of these team members are youngsters [from lower-income backgrounds], some barely 20-years-old. To them, it’s not just a new haircut, but mainly, a new sense of self, and also a necessity, considering they often need to look presentable for patrons at the venue.” United colours of Cutpiece A panel from Indu Harikumar’s book, Cutpiece Kumar It is a long journey from being a nickname to a table at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Author Indu Harikumar’s 2021 work, Cutpiece Kumar, will join the other nominees of the Bologna Ragazzi Awards on display in New York till March 13. “The story began when I used to teach in a school, and would collect forgotten objects, and unused clothes from tailor shops to create crafts. That’s how the name ‘Cutpiece’ came about,” she shared. Celebrating movement A performance by Ratikant Mohapatra As the Spectrum Dance Festival concludes with the performance of BRICKS at the Experimental Theatre at NCPA, Nariman Point tomorrow, it will be a moment of ‘celebration for all movement practices,’ shared Swapnokalpa Dasgupta, head, dance department, NCPA. “The festival reminds us of the sheer joy of movement.” Wild girls on the March Bboyer MGK. Pic Courtesy/Sudarshan Dudi Talk about being a girl’s girl, the Wild Wild Women are set to kick off March with The Wild Jam, a celebration of hip-hop, with dance battles to boot. Having completed five years in December 2025, the group has now stepped up to help the next generation of ‘wild women’. “It started off when two members, MGK and FlowRaw, wanted to do something similar to B-boying and breakdancing as what we have done for hip-hop,” shared Pratika Prabhune aka Krantinaari. The event is scheduled on the same day March 8) that the all-women group had released their first single, I Do It For Hip Hop was released in 2021. “The first half of the day will witness an open competition and dance battles for B-boyers and break dancers, including a BGirls only section, 7 to Smoke. The second half will see live performances and rap cyphers by an all women line-up,” Prabhune revealed. Readers can check out @wildwildwomen for details.
21 February,2026 07:57 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-dayTwo days after his meeting with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde triggered political speculation, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray clarified that not every interaction with leaders from the ruling party should be viewed through a political lens. Irked by the speculative buzz in political circles over his meeting with the Shiv Sena leader, the MNS chief said that meetings with leaders from the ruling party are sometimes held to discuss public and administrative matters, and should not automatically be seen as signals of alliances or political realignments. According to media reports and MNS leaders, Raj met Shinde, who holds the Urban Development portfolio, to discuss issues related to traffic congestion, illegal parking, and the rise of unauthorised, haphazard constructions in Mumbai. “There is nothing wrong with meeting those running the government. After all, to address citizens’ issues, one has to meet ministers and political leaders. Tomorrow, if required, I may even meet the chief minister,” Raj clarified, while asserting that merely constructing roads, bridges, and flyovers does not mean development. Feb 18Day Raj Thackeray met Eknath Shinde in Thane Meeting causes speculation MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Wednesday met Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at his residence in Thane. This was the first time the two leaders met after the civic poll results. The meeting triggered political speculation, especially after MNS corporators extended their support to the Shinde-led Shiv Sena in the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation. Why meeting raised questions MNS chief Raj Thackeray had contested the civic polls in alliance with his cousin Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT). However, after the results were declared, the MNS extended support to Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena in the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation and Nashik. Since Shinde’s Sena is seen as the main rival of Sena (UBT), Raj’s decision to back Shinde came as a surprise to political circles and didn’t go down well with Uddhav. Similar claims last year After a meeting with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in 2025, Raj Thackeray had made similar claims, asserting that he met with the CM over civic issues, including two-wheeler riders not following traffic rules, and parking issues in Mumbai, especially in Dadar.
21 February,2026 07:52 AM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev ShivadekarThe Sahar police have arrested a 47-year-old man, Diwan Singh Mohan Singh Chauhan, from Dehradun for carrying a fake Yellow Fever vaccination certificate at Mumbai International Airport. “On Wednesday, Chauhan approached the Airport Health Organisation near the airport for renewal of his certificate. He informed Dr Kashi Pandian that he had taken the vaccine on November 17, 2024, and that the certificate had expired in 2024. The certificate bore the number D-15803. However, upon verification of departmental records, no such entry was found. Further examination by Dr Pandian confirmed that the stamp, signature, and certificate number were forged,” said a police officer. Chauhan claimed that the Airport Health Organisation had issued the certificate upon payment of a fee. Rs 300Official fee charged to issue Yellow Fever Card Why vaccine is necessary According to Sahar Police officials, Yellow Fever vaccination is mandatory for passengers travelling to certain countries in Africa and South America. Although no Yellow Fever cases have been reported in India, vaccination is compulsory to prevent the disease from entering the country. The Airport Health Organisation administers the vaccine at an official fee of Rs 300, and it can only be given at authorised centres. The vaccine must be taken at least 10 days prior to travel and is administered only once in a lifetime. After vaccination, an international certificate (Yellow Fever Card) is issued. What is Yellow Fever? Yellow Fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease transmitted by infected Aedes and Haemagogus mosquitoes, primarily in tropical Africa and South America. Symptoms typically appear 3-6 days after a bite. While most recover, a severe infection can result in death. Prevention relies on a highly effective vaccine. Key aspects of Yellow Fever SymptomsInitial: Sudden fever, chills, severe headache, back pain, body aches, nausea, fatigueSevere (toxic phase): High fever, jaundice (yellow skin/eyes), abdominal pain, vomiting, bleeding from nose/mouth/eyes/stomach, and shock TreatmentNo specific anti-viral drug exists; treatment is supportive, focusing on managing symptoms, hydration, and fever ComplicationsSevere infections can lead to kidney failure, severe bleeding, liver failure, and death PreventionVaccination is crucial for travellers and residents in endemic areas
21 February,2026 07:35 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirish VaktaniaMumbai's air quality slipped deeper into the moderate zone on Friday, with the city recording an AQI of 130, its fifth-highest reading this month, signalling that pollution levels have remained persistently elevated through February despite a few brief dips. 172AQI reported in BKC a key business district 256AQI recorded in Worli placing it in poor category
21 February,2026 07:30 AM IST | Mumbai | AgenciesADVERTISEMENT
