The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted a partly cloudy sky over Mumbai and its suburbs, with light to moderate rainfall expected throughout the day. The IMD's Santacruz observatory recorded a maximum temperature of 31.6 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 27.5 degrees Celsius on Friday. Meanwhile, the Colaba observatory reported a high of 31.4 degrees Celsius and a low of 26.8 degrees Celsius, as per the latest Mumbai weather updates. The high tide is expected at 5:02 PM with a height of 3.87 meters, while the low tide will occur at 11:38 PM at 1.17 meters. On Saturday, July 19, 2025, high tide is forecast at 6:37 AM with a height of 3.59 meters, followed by low tide at 12:15 PM at 2.26 meters. Fishermen and waterfront residents are advised to stay cautious during the high tide periods. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) continues to monitor low-lying areas for potential waterlogging in case of intensified rainfall. Meanwhile, the water levels in lakes supplying drinking water to Mumbai have risen following heavy rainfall in their catchment areas. According to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) data, the combined stock in the seven reservoirs that provide water to the city now stands at 81.47 per cent. As per the BMC on Friday (July 18), the collective water stock in these reservoirs is 11,79,147 million litres, which amounts to 81.47 per cent of their total capacity. The BMC supplies drinking water daily from Upper Vaitarna, Modak Sagar, Tansa, Middle Vaitarna, Bhatsa, Vihar, and Tulsi lakes. Of these, Tansa has 91.04 per cent water stock, Modak Sagar 99.99 per cent, Middle Vaitarna 92.43 per cent, Upper Vaitarna 76.64 per cent, Bhatsa 76.20 per cent, Vehar 52.58 per cent and Tulsi 53.62 per cent. Lower (Modak Sagar), Middle and Upper Vaitarna lakes, along with Tansa, supply water to the western suburbs from Dahisar Check Naka to Bandra and to the western parts of the city from Mahim to Malabar Hill. Bhatsa, Vehar, and Tulsi together form the Bhatsa system. Water from this system is treated at the Panjarpur Water Treatment Plant and distributed to the eastern parts of Mumbai, covering the eastern suburbs from Mulund Check Naka to Sion and further to Mazgaon.
18 July,2025 10:15 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA day after a 46-year-old Ola driver reportedly died by suicide on Wednesday, drivers associated with aggregator companies intensified their ongoing protest at Nalasopara. The protesters alleged that the cab aggregator companies were bringing arbitrary polices, leading to huge financial losses, pushing drivers into poverty. “The driver was unable to pay his cab instalments and was driven to the wall. leading to the extreme step. We have decided to intensify the stir,” a cab driver said. “We are going on an indefinite hunger strike to draw the attention of the government to our demands and demand that the family members of the deceased be given adequate compensation. We are meeting at Azad Maidan on Friday to intensify the protest,” said Maharashtra Kamgar Sabha President Keshav Nana Kshirsagar, who is spearheading the agitation. The five key demands deal with the rationalisation of fares, having fares at par with metered cabs, banning bike taxis, capping cab and auto permits, making the welfare board of cab and taxi drivers functional and bringing in the Maharashtra Gig Workers’ Act.
18 July,2025 09:28 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarThe Western Railway (WR) on Thursday finally started the work on the missing roof at the Bandra foot overbridge on the west side. The roof had been missing since the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) dismantled the connected skywalk last year. The west side of the Bandra foot overbridge (FOB) has been left in the open, with commuters having to face the rain. mid-day had last month on June 6 highlighted the issue in its article on page 1 — “Are Mumbai stations rain-ready?” On Thursday, when mid-day again visited the site, work on putting up the roof had already started, and officials said work would be completed within a week’s time. Ashley Lobo, a daily commuter who had first complained about the missing roof, called the development ‘good news.’
18 July,2025 09:24 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-dayThe City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra (CIDCO) will issue tenders within two months for the automation of water supply in the Panvel-Uran region (part of Navi Mumbai). The transition from manual to automated water supply has been initiated to address the persistent water scarcity and irregular supply faced by residents of Kharghar, Panvel, Taloja, Ulwe, Kamothe, and Kalamboli. BJP MLA Prashant Thakur raised the issue of water shortages and instances of no supply for up to two consecutive days in the Panvel-Uran area. “People are buying flats worth lakhs and crores, yet water supply remains a major concern for residents,” Thakur said while raising a calling attention notice on the issue in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday. Thakur further pointed out that an international airport is coming up in the region, and the problem will only worsen. “What message are we sending through this situation?” he questioned, urging the government to provide an immediate solution. He also asked about the status of a report prepared by a private agency that was appointed to resolve the water crisis. “The report was completed a year ago. I have been following up, but there has been no response,” Thakur said. Industries Minister Uday Samant responded, “To resolve this issue, CIDCO will be instructed to float tenders within two months to implement automated water supply.” In response, Thakur stated that he has been pursuing this issue for years, but CIDCO officials continue to turn a blind eye. Samant assured him that the matter would be treated as a priority. “If CIDCO fails to float the tender within two months, action will be taken against the concerned officials during the next legislature session (Winter Session in December at Nagpur),” Samant added.
18 July,2025 09:18 AM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev ShivadekarFollowing two recent incidents where a Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) animal keeper was injured, once while treating a captive tiger and another time during the rescue of a crocodile, wildlife conservationists are calling for insurance coverage for these frontline workers. Currently, temporary forest department staff and wildlife rescue team members operate without accident or medical insurance, despite regularly putting their lives at risk. Last week, rescue team member Rajendra Bhoir sustained serious injuries while rescuing an Indian Marsh Crocodile from a ditch near Kanheri Caves. The crocodile bit his upper arm, requiring stitches. Honorary Wildlife Warden Rohit Mohite said, “SGNP rescue team members are frontline staff who risk their lives to save wildlife. Unfortunately, they have no accident, life, or medical insurance. We urgently need to provide these workers with coverage similar to what fire brigade officials and others with occupational hazards receive. Most of them are daily wage earners with low salaries. Insurance that covers medical expenses, death, or permanent disability during rescue operations would greatly reduce their financial burden.” Many animal keepers, van majdoors (forest workers), fire watchers, and rescue team members are employed on a daily wage basis. Wildlife experts agree that insurance coverage would significantly benefit them. A source in the Maharashtra Forest Department told mid-day that these workers should be covered under occupational hazard-specific policies. Standard life or medical insurance policies may not cover incidents arising during high-risk rescue operations, as auditors might reject claims due to the inherent occupational risks. SGNP’s rescue teams routinely conduct animal rescues under dangerous and challenging conditions, including rescuing snakes, monkeys, and other wildlife. Honorary Wildlife Warden and President of NGO RAWW, Pawan Sharma, added, “Wildlife rescue teams perform high-risk jobs involving direct contact with wild animals. While some permanent staff are protected under general insurance, many team members are temporary daily wagers who cannot avail such coverage. Given the high risks involved, these teams need access to specialised insurance schemes and risk allowances.” Bhoir, who had spoken to mid-day from his hospital bed last week, said the accident might have been avoided had the team been equipped with proper rescue gear. The team was called to Kanheri Caves last Friday after reports of a four-foot-long Indian Marsh Crocodile trapped in a water body atop the hill. As the five-member team entered the chest-deep water and began draining it with buckets, the crocodile attacked Bhoir’s left hand. He was given three stitches and advised to remain in the hospital for five days.
18 July,2025 09:15 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavThe North Cyber police have busted a gang of cybercriminals involved in duping citizens by luring them into fake stock market investment schemes. Five individuals have been arrested from Rajasthan. The 50-year-old male complainant was contacted via WhatsApp between December 2024 and February 2025 by a woman identifying herself as Priya Patel, claiming she is an employee of ‘RK Group’. “She claimed to be a SEBI-registered broker and promised huge returns on stock market investments. The accused shared a web link under the guise of opening a Demat account and collected sensitive information, including Aadhaar and PAN card details, bank account details, and mobile number,” said an officer. The link redirected the complainant to a fake trading platform named JIO GLOBEX LTD, displaying bogus tabs like ‘Chart’, ‘Trade’, ‘Deals’, and ‘Profit’ — all designed to simulate a real trading experience. The victim was tricked into transferring funds to multiple bank accounts under the guise of stock purchases, with the cybercriminals eventually defrauding him of Rs 22.4 lakh. When the complainant attempted to withdraw the so-called returns, he was repeatedly asked to pay additional amounts, citing various excuses. Subsequently, an FIR was registered in February under Sections 318(4), 319(2), 336(2), 336(3), 338, 340(2), and 61(2) of BNS along with Sections 66(a) and 66(d) of the Information Technology Act, 2008 (Amended). Under the guidance of DCP Purshottam Karad, ACP Rajendra Shirtode, North Cyber Police Inspector (in-charge) Sudhakar Humbe, PI Kiran Ahere, and API Sanjay Pawar, along with the North Cyber police team, began the investigation. Technical analysis of the WhatsApp number and its ISP data revealed that the operation was being run from Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Based on this, a police team conducted raids and detained five suspects, identified as, Munawar Hussain Yusufbhai Sindhi, 30, Vipul Kumar Kantibhai Ode, 20, Rashid Mithubhai Sindhi, 28, Naveen Rameshbhai Ode, 20, and Mukeshbhai Gautambhai Ode, 28. The police team seized 24 mobile phones used in the cyber fraud, a list of mobile numbers used for scamming, a share market handbook, and a notebook with chat scripts used to trap victims, said an officer from North Cyber. It appeared the operation was targeting individuals across India. All five accused were produced in court and have been remanded to police custody for further investigation. “We appeal to citizens to remain cautious and not fall prey to such online investment scams. If approached by any unknown individual on WhatsApp or social media promising unrealistic returns, citizens are urged to report the matter immediately. Reporting cybercrimes Cyber Helpline1930 Websites www.cybercrime.gov.inwww.sancharsaathi.gov.in(Sanchar Saathi portal)
18 July,2025 09:03 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanShiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde launched a veiled attack on Uddhav and Raj Thackeray while claiming that Mumbaikars would witness pothole-free roads in the city for the next 25 years. The deputy chief minister slammed Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav allegedly for siding with contractors and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj for opportunistically raking up the issue of Mumbai’s separation from Maharashtra in the run-up to the polls. Shinde stated that for them (the Mahyuti government), 'Mumbai first' was the policy, but for others, a reference to Sena UBT, the policy was always contractor-first. “By December 2027, all roads in Mumbai will be of cement concrete. Mumbai will be pothole-free for the next 25 years. Road maintenance costs will not be there,” the deputy chief minister added. Shinde was replying, on Thursday, to queries raised by the members of the Legislative Assembly in debate held under rule 293 of the Maharashtra Legislature, which allows members to deliberate on matters of public concern. Shinde mentioned that in the erstwhile government (when he was chief minister), now Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and I called the then Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal. “We [Shinde and Fadnavis] asked the civic chief about the poor road quality. He replied that every year, 50 km of road are concreted. We asked if there was any rule limiting the length of roads that could be concreted, to which the municipal commissioner replied in the negative,” Shinde stated. The earlier government decided to complete the concreting of all roads in two phases. “Some of the roads are done; the remaining will be completed by December 2027,” Shinde added. The deputy chief minister further questioned why Marathi speakers were dislodged from Mumbai and forced to leave the city. “Our policy, infrastructure-related work and development of the city are aimed at bringing back the Marathi people to Mumbai,” Shinde mentioned. Anti-Raj salvo Taking a veiled dig at the MNS chief, Shinde stated that every time an election drew near, the issue of Mumbai being separated from Maharashtra was raked up. “Amhi Mumbai jodnyache kam kartho [We are doing the job of unifying Mumbai], take example of Atal Sethu, Coastal Road, Metro,” Shinde said, uttering the phrase ‘Swarthacha zenda and satecha agenda (flag of self-interest and agenda of power)’. The landslide mandate given to the current regime by voters is an endorsement of the quality of work done by the Mahayuti government, the leader stated. As Shinde concluded his reply, Opposition members apparently tried to object to some of the statements. However, Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar cited the rule book, which categorically mentions that only members who initiated the debate (in this case, UBT MLA Aaditya Thackeray) could ask for the right to reply. Since Aaditya was not present, the speaker refused to allow Opposition members to reply. As an uproar in the assembly over this issue ensued, Narwekar adjourned the House for ten minutes. When proceedings resumed, Shinde Sena camp leader Shambhuraj Desai demanded action against Aaditya and another Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA, Bhaskar Jadhav. Even Shinde agreed that members of the Opposition benches should try to maintain decorum and avoid pointing fingers at the speaker. “Members should know that the decision taken by the speaker is final,” Shinde added. Finally, Narwekar said, “If Aaditya Thackeray had been present, he would have been allowed to reply. But, since the member who initiated the debate is not there, I am moving ahead with the proceedings [next business of the Assembly].” Other highlights of Shinde’s reply On hawkers: The deputy CM said that the hawkers’ survey was conducted, and of one lakh, only 30,000 were found to be licensed. “The case is sub judice. Once the hearing is done, hawking and non-hawking zones will be marked. As hawkers will not be allowed beyond designated areas, pedestrians will find roads free of vendors,” he said. Mithi river cleaning row: Actor Dino Morea is being investigated by authorities in connection with irregularities in contracts for the cleaning of the Mithi river. “Tyani zar thond ugadla tar barycah lokancha morya hoi [If he — referring to Morea — opens his mouth, it will spell trouble for many],” Shinde said in veiled reference to Aaditya Thackeray, who is said to be good friends with the actor. On the airport funnel zone impacting redevelopment: “No government did anything concrete to provide relief to residents who are unable to opt for redevelopment due to the restriction on the height of structures falling in the airport funnel zone. “We are allowing the sale of TDR [transferable development rights] to make this project viable on a no-profit-no-loss basis,” Shinde added. Hike in BEST fares: BEST bus fares were hiked after 10 years. Prior to this, the BEST was earning 1.9 crore per day, which has increased to R2.73 crore per day. On an average, 24 lakh passengers use BEST buses daily.
18 July,2025 08:56 AM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev ShivadekarResidents of dilapidated buildings in Mumbai’s eastern and western suburbs, as well as tenants stranded in stalled redevelopment projects, may finally get relief. By December 2025, the Maharashtra government is set to introduce new rules and legislation to address two persistent issues: landlords refusing to opt for redevelopment despite dangerous building conditions, and developers who take over properties but neither begin construction nor pay rent to displaced tenants. BJP MLAs Yogesh Sagar and Mihir Kotecha raised the issue in the state Legislative Assembly on Thursday through a calling attention motion, highlighting the plight of citizens stuck in limbo, living in uninhabitable buildings or waiting for work that never begins. Industries Minister Uday Samant responded in the Assembly, stating, “By the next session (i.e., the Winter Session in Nagpur), the government will bring in a law that will put an end to such practices.” Sagar cited how, in Mumbai’s island city, the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) is empowered to take over redevelopment of old cess buildings if landlords or developers delay the process. “MHADA proceeds with demolition and redevelopment while protecting the landlord’s share. But no such rules exist for the suburbs. This has left thousands of tenants in limbo,” Sagar said. The Charkop MLA added that he has been raising this issue since 2018, yet nothing has moved on the ground. “We are now in 2025. It’s been seven years. I urge the government to announce the rules today itself.” Replying to the demand, Samant reiterated the government’s commitment to enact the required laws and plug the policy gap. Kotecha, MLA from Mulund, also urged the government to ensure suburban tenants get a minimum of 300 sq ft flats in redevelopment projects, on the lines of Slum Rehabilitation Authority provisions, even if original homes were smaller.
18 July,2025 08:50 AM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev ShivadekarAround 30 egrets reportedly died after falling from their nests during tree pruning and trimming work at a private housing society near Ghodbunder Road in Thane on Thursday. Honorary Wildlife Warden Rohit Mohite told mid-day that the incident occurred due to the negligence of the contractor hired for the pruning activity. The work was allegedly being carried out at Thane’s Anand Nagar Rutu Enclave Society. Upon witnessing birds falling from their nests during the pruning, local animal lovers immediately informed the NGO Wildlife Welfare Association (WWA). A team from the NGO rushed to the site. Videos showing the dead birds and ongoing pruning work have since gone viral on social media, prompting calls from wildlife activists for strict action against those responsible. Speaking to mid-day, Mohite said, “We were at the site, and the tree contractor appointed by the society didn’t stop the work. They claimed to have a permission letter from the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC). I spoke with the TMC tree officer, who clearly stated that any violation or harm to wildlife automatically cancels the permission, and this is clearly mentioned in the letter.” Sources from the Forest Department said the pruning began on Wednesday evening. By Thursday morning, local residents spotted dead birds and chicks on the ground and alerted WWA. Officials from the Thane Forest Department (Territorial) visited the site on Thursday evening. They confirmed the recovery of approximately 35 dead birds and 26 chicks, including egrets, pond herons, and juveniles. Rescue operations are ongoing, and more birds may still be saved. Mohite has demanded strict action against the private contractor responsible for the pruning activity that led to the deaths of the birds.
18 July,2025 08:43 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavAt least seven people were injured after a portion of a chawl structure collapsed early Friday morning in Bharat Nagar, near the Namaj Committee Masjid in Bandra East. The incident, which occurred around 5:56 am, triggered a multi-agency emergency response led by the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB). According to officials, the second and third floors of a ground-plus-three storey structure—Chawl No. 37 in the BKC area—collapsed, trapping an estimated 8 to 10 individuals under the debris. The MFB initially declared a Level I alert at 6:19 am, which was escalated to Level II by 6:55 am due to the severity of the situation. Rescue operations are currently in progress with teams from the MFB, police, MHADA, PWD, Adani, and BMC’s ward staff at the site. Firefighting and rescue personnel deployed include two Assistant Divisional Fire Officers (ADFO), five Senior Station Officers (SrSO), one Station Officer (SO), five fire engines, one Major Water Tanker (MWT), one Control Fire Fighting (CFF) unit, one Flood Tender (FT), one Rescue Van (RV), and one Water Quick Response Vehicle (WQRV). Emergency medical services from 108 Ambulance are also on site. As per information from the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) on duty at Bandra Bhabha Hospital, seven injured individuals have been admitted and are undergoing treatment. Their condition is currently awaited. Bedroom slab of 6th floor room collapses, falls into flat below in Thane; no one hurt In another incident, the bedroom slab of a flat in a ground-plus-seven residential building in Thane West collapsed onto the flat below on Thursday evening, though no one was hurt in the incident, a civic official said. The incident took place at 7:45 pm in Aniket Society in Uthalsar Naka, said Thane Municipal Corporation disaster management cell chief Yasin Tadvi, reported PTI. "The bedroom slab of room number 601 on the sixth floor collapsed into the bedroom of room number 501 directly below. The ground-plus seven structure with 17 rooms is around 23 years old. No one was hurt in the incident. However, the sixth floor slab is now in a very fragile condition," he said, reported PTI. "Eight rooms on the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh floors of the building have been sealed and 19 residents have shifted to stay with their kin. Regular structural audits of older buildings are essential to prevent such accidents. Residents must report any signs of structural weakness in their buildings to the TMC without delay," Tadvi added, reported PTI. (With inputs from PTI)
18 July,2025 08:39 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA renowned doctor from Pune allegedly orchestrated a false rape case against his brother-in-law as his estranged wife had lodged a domestic violence complaint against him and her brother was supporting her. The Samta Nagar and Pune police were on the verge of arresting the doctor’s brother-in-law when inconsistencies in the statement of the ‘victim’ raised suspicions and led to the unmasking of the mastermind, the doctor. The allegations According to the police sources, on July 8, an 18-year-old woman approached the Samta Nagar police station accompanied by a woman social activist and a man. She claimed she had been raped multiple times, once in Kandivli and twice in Pune by a 25-year-old man, allegedly the brother of the doctor’s wife. According to her statement, the accused raped her during a New Year’s party in January 2024 in Kandivli when she was a minor. She also claimed that, later, he promised her a catering job and took her to Pune, where he raped her again and clicked obscene photos. About a month and a half ago, he allegedly took her to a bungalow in Pune with a friend, and both men took turns raping her and filming the act. Cops swing into action Taking the allegations seriously, Samta Nagar police registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections dealing with rape and gang rape, along with sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and deployed multiple teams to investigate the matter. Under the guidance of DCP Mahesh Chimate, Assistant Commissioner of Police Kailas Barve, and Senior Inspector Jaywant Shinde of the Samta Nagar police station, multiple teams were formed and began the investigation. “Although the woman described the Pune locations in detail, she couldn’t identify the scene of the alleged first rape in Kandivli. This raised suspicions among the investigation team, which halted the arrest of the accused at the last minute. And a reverse investigation and interrogation of the woman and her companions revealed startling facts,” said an officer from Samta Nagar police station. According to the police, the investigation revealed that the entire story was scripted by the doctor, whose wife had earlier filed a domestic violence case against him. “Her brother had been supporting her through the legal process, which angered the doctor. In a bid for revenge, the doctor manipulated a woman from Beed district and, luring her with money, got her to file a false rape case against his brother-in-law,” a police officer said. ‘Miscarriage of justice averted’ “The doctor believed the severity of the POCSO charge would lead to the immediate arrest of his brother-in-law, and his plan nearly succeeded. However, the police’s cautious approach and detailed questioning prevented a grave miscarriage of justice,” the officer added. “We are going to file the B-Summary report in this case before the Dindoshi sessions court,” said Senior Inspector Jaywant Shinde of Samta Nagar police station. This report is filed when a complaint is found to be baseless or fabricated. The police said they will decide the course of action to be taken against the doctor after approaching the court.
18 July,2025 08:34 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanADVERTISEMENT
