A portion of the road near Thakurdwar signal in Girgaon caved in on Monday morning, trapping the rear left wheel of a BEST bus.The incident occurred around 9:30 a.m. as the Route No. 121 bus (Bus No. 6232) from Backbay Depot was on its way to J. Mehta Marg.The cave-in happened at a spot where metro construction work is currently underway. A Metro Line 3 crane (MH01 EN-0039) stationed nearby lifted the stuck bus at 10:45 AM, and the bus was sent back to Backbay Depot by 11:00 AM. "Water ingress was observed in the basement pit of the proposed Girgaon rehabilitation building, likely due to a nearby utility leakage. This seems to have caused ground loss, forming a cavity that was not visible on the surface. In the morning, one tyre of a BEST bus sank in this area, which was retrieved shortly later. MMRCL is actively coordinating with BMC officials to trace and address any leakages from the water main, sewer main, or storm water drain (SWD) network. Necessary measures are being taken to reinstate the affected road section at the earliest and to prevent any recurrence," MMRCL said in a statement. A portion of Babasaheb Jaykar Marg in Girgaon caved in on Monday morning, causing the rear wheel of a BEST bus to get stuck in the sunken area.Fortunately, no injuries were reported.Via: Eeshanpriya MSVC: Special arrangement#Mumbai #BMC #BESTBus #MumbaiRoads #MumbaiNews pic.twitter.com/bUaFwRFfzk — Mid Day (@mid_day) June 16, 2025 No one was injured in the incident, and the bus did not suffer major damage. Although the bus had stalled at the location, it was still operational. Due to the incident, from 09:45 AM, the route for Bus No. 121 was diverted as follows: Up Direction: Kalaniketan – right turn – Metro – left turn – JSS Road – right at Thakurdwar Junction – continue on designated route. Down Direction: Thakurdwar Junction – right turn – JSS Road – Girgaon Church – left turn – Rajaram Mohan Roy Road – Charushila Gupte Chowk – left turn – M.K. Road – then follow the regular route. The BMC control room confirmed the development, adding that further details are awaited as officials assess the situation. Back in April, mid-day had reported that Mumbai resembled a chaotic treasure hunt, with almost every street and bylane dug up for road concreting, Metro work, utility repairs, or long-neglected infrastructure projects that had suddenly resurfaced. In many parts of the city, roads were freshly concreted only to be dug up again to lay amenities that were previously overlooked. Officials monitoring the works claim there’s “method in the madness,” and that small stretches are being taken up one at a time. But the sheer scale of this operation is taking a massive toll on citizens, from walkers and motorists to the elderly and disabled. Emergency vehicles are forced to take long diversions, delaying response times. In many areas, hospital access roads are dug up with no viable alternative routes. Despite the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, which mandates accessible infrastructure, Mumbai’s footpaths and streets remain largely non-compliant. For the city’s 4 lakh-plus disabled residents, navigating this mess has become nearly impossible. Experts say the lack of underground ducting for utilities is a key issue. Explaining the rationale behind the project, officials said that due to Mumbai’s heavy rainfall, traditional asphalt roads frequently develop potholes. In contrast, concrete roads last for at least 20 years, whereas asphalt roads typically last up to five years. Moreover, repairing potholes during the monsoon adds to maintenance costs.
16 June,2025 05:23 PM IST | Mumbai | Eshanpriya MSThe Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) said that certain parts of the city will face a 12-hour water cut, starting 9 am on Thursday. The decision has been taken owing to the essential repair work undertaken by the Shahad Temghar Water Supply Authority (STEM) Authority. During this period, the Thane Municipal Corporation will manage water supply through its own sources, with a phased approach to ensure partial water availability across the city. The affected areas are as follows: Ghodbunder Road Patlipada Pawar Nagar Kothari Compound Azad Nagar Dongripada Waghbil Anand Nagar Kasarvadavali Owale Apart from these areas, certain parts of Samta Nagar, Ritu Park, Siddheshwar, Eternity, Johnson, Jail, Saket, Uthalsar, Retibandar, Kalwa, and Mumbra will also experience a water cut from 9 pm until 9 am on Friday. During this period, the Thane civic body has appealed to residents to store adequate water in advance and avoid wastage. It further stated that the supply might be available at a lower pressure for one-two days after the repairs are completed. Mumbai civic body to start releasing reserve lake water today The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has announced that it will start releasing reserve water stock from lakes from June 16 to meet the city’s demands of drinking water supply. As of June 13, the water levels in the seven lakes are at 9.21 per cent, or 133,364 million litres. At full capacity, the lakes carry a total of 1,447,363 ML (million litres) of water. The seven lakes that supply drinking water to Mumbai are Upper Vaitarna, Modak Sagar, Tansa, Middle Vaitarna, Bhatsa, Vehar, and Tulsi. Of the three lakes located on the Vaitarna river (Upper Vaitarna, Middle Vaitarna, and Modak Sagar lakes), the BMC on Thursday stopped using water from the Upper Vaitarna lake, located at the highest elevation on the river. The required amount of water has been transferred from the Upper Vaitarna to the lower lakes of Middle Vaitarna and Modak Sagar for supply to the city. This supply will suffice for the next two days, following which, reserve water stock will be used from the Upper Vaitarna Lake from June 16 onwards. The Upper Vaitarna Lake comes under the state government, and a specific amount of water is allotted to the BMC for use annually, according to information from the hydraulics department. Over the past 24 hours, the catchment areas of these lakes have received 103 millimetres of rainfall.
16 June,2025 05:20 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentDuring the early hours on Monday, a major accident was narrowly avoided after a dumper lost control and crashed into the divider. The dumper, while crashing, hit a streetlight pole near Patlipada Bridge on Ghodbunder Road in Thane (West). Fortunately, no injuries were reported in the incident. As per the Disaster Management Cell, information regarding the incident was received around 6:55 am from the Thane Traffic Police Control Room. The dumper was travelling from Ghodbunder towards Thane when the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle near the Patlipada Bridge and it collided with the central road divider and struck a streetlight pole, which subsequently collapsed onto the road. The officers from the city traffic police, Kasarvadavali Police, and T.M.P. Electricity Department arrived at the site to manage the situation with a Hydra crane. Soon after the incident, the electricity staff disconnected the power supply and removed the fallen pole from the road. However, the traffic moving from Thane towards Ghodbunder slowed significantly due to the obstruction, causing a 40-minute traffic buildup in the area. After which the dumper was successfully towed to the side of the road, clearing the way for smooth vehicle movement. Authorities, while addressing the accident, said that there were no casualties or injuries reported in the accident. In the mean time, Thane City Traffic Police monitored the situation on the ground, helping restore order and regulating vehicle movement while the recovery was underway. While the exact reason for the accident is being investigated, preliminary reports suggest that it could have been an error from the driver or a brake failure. No official statement has been released by the dumper’s owner as of now. This incident is a reminder of the need for strict vehicular safety and maintenance protocols, especially for heavy transport vehicles operating in densely populated urban corridors. Fire in Daund-Pune shuttle train, no casualty A fire broke out in the lavatory of the moving Daund-Pune shuttle train on Monday morning after a passenger allegedly threw a lighted cigarette in a dustbin. The passenger was held later, an official said, adding that the blaze was quickly doused and no one was injured in the incident. The incident caused panic among passengers. (with PTI inputs)
16 June,2025 04:12 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentOn Monday, Mumbai is experiencing generally cloudy skies with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting heavy rainfall at a few places across the city and its suburbs. The India Meteorological Department's Colaba observatory recorded 100 mm of rainfall, while the Santacruz station logged 86 mm. Thane recorded 86.6 mm of rainfall, indicating moderate to heavy showers in the region as rain activity intensified across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, according to IMD The city and suburbs are expected to experience a generally cloudy sky with the possibility of heavy rainfall at a few locations. The maximum temperature is likely to hover around 29 degrees Celsius, while the minimum may settle near 26 degrees Celsius in Mumbai. Citizens are advised to stay alert, especially in low-lying areas, as the rainfall may lead to localised waterlogging. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a comprehensive weather warning for all districts of Maharashtra, effective from June 16 to June 20. Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg are expected to witness heavy to very heavy rainfall, especially on Monday, prompting an orange alert in Mumbai and several regions across Maharashtra. The ghat areas of Pune, Kolhapur, and Satara are likely to receive extremely heavy rain at isolated locations, raising the risk of localised flooding and landslides. Districts such as Dhule, Nashik, Jalgaon, and Ahmednagar are forecast to experience thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds reaching 40–50 kmph. Similarly, Vidarbha districts, including Nagpur, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, and Bhandara, are on alert for thunderstorms, lightning, and potential heavy spells. The IMD has warned of possible impacts such as cloud-to-ground lightning, the falling of weak trees or structures, power disruptions, and crop damage. Citizens are advised to remain indoors during storms, avoid open fields, and not take shelter under trees. Farmers are urged to harvest mature crops early, secure produce, and avoid irrigation or spraying. The hourly breakdown shows 3.56 mm up to 09:30 hrs, 5.33 mm up to 10:30 hrs, 3.05 mm up to 11:30 hrs, and a significant 25.91 mm recorded by 12:30 hrs, indicating a sharp increase in rainfall intensity With this, the total cumulative rainfall for the season has reached 457.85 mm, a substantial rise compared to 146.45 mm recorded during the same period in 2024. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation as the rains intensify. The next high tide is predicted on Tuesday at 03:31 hrs, measuring 3.44 metres. Meanwhile, low tide is expected tonight at 21:41 hrs at 1.86 metres, followed by another at 09:10 hrs tomorrow at 1.33 metres. With continued showers likely and tidal activity peaking, the civic authorities are monitoring the situation closely, and residents are urged to avoid venturing into waterlogged zones or coastal stretches during high tide periods. The probability of rain-related events in all districts is marked as “Very Likely” throughout the forecast period. Warnings Issued:Risk of cloud-to-ground lightning, fall of weak trees, and power disruptions. Potential damage to crops, plantations, and kutcha houses due to unseasonal rains and winds. The public is advised to avoid open fields, stay indoors during thunderstorms, and not seek shelter under trees. Agromet Advisory:Farmers are advised to harvest mature crops early, protect stored grains, support young plants, and avoid irrigation or pesticide spraying. Ensure safe shelter for cattle and arrange proper drainage in fields to avoid crop loss.
16 June,2025 03:27 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday said that the iron pedestrian bridge on the Indrayani river in Pune that collapsed, killing four persons, had been declared dangerous by the district collector, and warning boards had been put up at the site, reported the PTI. Talking to reporters at an event in Palghar, CM Fadnavis said that the contract for a new bridge at the site in Maval tehsil had been awarded, and work has begun. Four people died, and 51 were injured when a 32-year-old iron pedestrian bridge over the Indrayani River in Maval tehsil collapsed on Sunday afternoon due to overcrowding by tourists. CM Fadnavis said that the structure had been declared dangerous by the district collector before the incident, and villagers had also placed warning boards. Tourists might not have been aware of the severity of the bridge's condition, he said. The chief minister said that the administration had identified 500 dangerous locations, including bridges and water bodies, across Pune district for the monsoon season. "Notifications have been issued, and at some places, police are posted while villagers are also involved in cautioning people. We have to handle this with much more caution," CM Fadnavis said, adding that he has instructed the district collector to implement safety measures at these vulnerable tourist spots, according to the PTI. CM Fadnavis took part in welcoming students on their first day of the new academic year at the Zilla Parishad school in Durvesh. He highlighted the government's holistic approach to student welfare, which includes providing free uniforms and mid-day meals. CM Fadnavis further said that the Vadhvan port project will change the face of Palghar and generate approximately 10 lakh jobs. "The maximum benefit of these employment opportunities should go to the sons of the soil," CM Fadnavis asserted. The fishermen and the tribal community of Palghar should be the primary beneficiaries, and the government is working in that direction, he said. The chief minister said six agreements will be signed focusing on training, capacity building, and skill development for the local population to prepare them for these future roles, the news agency reported. (with PTI inputs)
16 June,2025 02:34 PM IST | Palghar | mid-day online correspondentPolice have seized 10 kg of ganja valued at Rs 2 lakh from a car and arrested two men in this connection in Maharashtra's Palghar district, officials said on Monday.Acting on a tip-off, the police laid a trap on Vikramgad-Jawhar road in Yeshwantnagar village on June 13 and intercepted a car having two occupants.Upon checking the vehicle, authorities found 10.258 kg of ganja concealed inside. The estimated market value of the seized contraband is Rs 2,05,160, a police release said.The police arrested the two persons, identified as Satish Wagh (52) and Sagar Balsane (29), both residents of Kumbharwada in Nashik, and also impounded their car.A case was registered against the accused under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, the release said.The police were investigating the source of the contraband and its intended recipients, the release added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
16 June,2025 02:06 PM IST | Mumbai | PTIPrior to Sunday morning’s helicopter crash in Kedarnath, which claimed the lives of three members of a business family from Vani town in Maharashtra’s Yavatmal district, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had already ordered a reduction in the frequency of helicopter operations, according to DGCA sources. The region had witnessed other helicopter-related emergencies earlier in 2025. While several of these incidents involved only technical or mechanical issues and no casualties, a crash on May 8 this year resulted in fatalities. The DGCA, in a statement issued on Sunday morning, confirmed the crash: “On 15.06.2025, Aryan Aviation Bell 407 helicopter VT-BKA operating flight on sector ‘Shri Kedarnath ji – Aryan Helipad, Guptkashi’ was involved in an accident.” The Bell 407 is a single-engine, four-bladed civilian helicopter also commonly used in emergency medical services. The Ministry of Civil Aviation also released a statement regarding the incident, reading: “Preliminary indications suggest that the probable cause may be Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT), with the helicopter reportedly airborne despite poor visibility and extensive clouding at the valley entry area. The exact cause will be determined through a detailed investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).” Rescue operations by National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF) teams are underway at the crash site, the ministry added. In response to the incident, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami convened a high-level meeting later in the morning. The meeting was attended by senior state officials, the secretary (Civil Aviation), DGCA, and other associated teams. Action taken after the meeting >> Aryan Aviation’s Char Dham Yatra operations have been suspended immediately. All helicopter services in the region are halted on June 15-16 as a precaution. >> UCADA has been instructed to review safety compliance with all operators and pilots before resumption. A dedicated command-and-control centre will monitor real-time operations. >> The DGCA, following Civil Aviation Ministry orders, will deploy officers to oversee helicopter activities in Kedarnath valley and ensure strict monitoring of UCADA’s control room functions. The Ministry of Civil Aviation reaffirmed its commitment to aviation safety, stating: “It is non-negotiable and no operations should undertake flights in violation of weather-related and other protocols.” The ministry also issued strict instructions to the DGCA to enforce all existing provisions with full authority and added, “Discipline in flying operations is to be maintained at all costs, given the sanctity of human life.” Earlier mishaps June 7, A Kestrel Aviation helicopter en route to Kedarnath made an emergency landing on the highway in Rudraprayag district after developing a technical snag shortly after take-off. It made a hard landing on the road close to populated buildings, with its tail rotor hitting a parked car. All the pilgrims on board, as well as the pilot, had a narrow escape. May 17, A heli ambulance from AIIMS Rishikesh crash-landed near the Kedarnath helipad in Uttarakhand due to damage to its rear part. Fortunately, all three occupants on board — a doctor, a pilot, and a medical staff member — escaped unharmed. May 12, A helicopter returning from Badrinath to Sersi with pilgrims on board had to make an emergency landing in a school playground in Ukhimath due to poor visibility. All pilgrims were safe. The helicopter took off again after about an hour when the weather improved. May 8, A private chopper on its way to Gangotri temple crashed near Gangnani in Uttarkashi district killing six people, including five women and the pilot, and leaving one male passenger seriously injured.
16 June,2025 09:05 AM IST | Mumbai | Madhulika Ram KavatturThe town of Wani in Maharashtra’s Yavatmal district woke up to heartbreaking news on Sunday morning, as three members of a local family died in a helicopter crash en route to Kedarnath. The deceased — Rajkumar Suresh Jaiswal, 41, his wife Shradha Rajkumar Jaiswal, 34, and their two-year-old daughter Kashi Rajkumar Jaiswal — were residents of Wani. The couple’s two sons, aged six and ten, survived as they had stayed back with relatives. The Jaiswal family had originally planned their pilgrimage to Kedarnath earlier but postponed it due to safety concerns following the recent India-Pakistan standoff in the Pahalgam region. They rescheduled the trip for this week through a travel company, said family friend Niket Gupta. Yavatmal Superintendent of Police Kumar Chintha confirmed the deaths and said the incident occurred around 5.30 am, when the helicopter, carrying seven people from Guptkashi to Kedarnath, crashed in a dense forest area between Gaurikund and Trijuginarayan. Authorities have confirmed that all seven on board perished. “Out of concern for their safety, the Jaiswal family had postponed their original travel plans,” Gupta said. “It’s deeply tragic that despite their precautions, they met with such a fate.” Other relatives of the Jaiswal family were also on the pilgrimage, but were at a different location and not aboard the helicopter. Rajkumar Jaiswal was a well-known coal transport businessman in Wani, operating for over a decade. Friends described him as kind-hearted and compassionate. “We received the shocking news around 7 am,” said Gupta, speaking with mid-day over the phone. “Some family members have already left for Kedarnath to assist with recovery efforts, but we haven’t received confirmation yet.” Wani, located approximately 100 kilometres from Yavatmal city, has been left in mourning by the tragedy. Just a year ago, the family had named their youngest daughter ‘Kashi’. In her honour, a grand religious event — Kashi Shiv Mahapuran Katha — was organised in Wani with deep devotion. The event, conducted by noted spiritual orator Pradeep Mishra, saw widespread participation from the local community.
16 June,2025 09:01 AM IST | Mumbai | Archana DahiwalAhead of the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has urged party leaders to focus on direct outreach with citizens across Mumbai. According to Shiv Sena (UBT) sources, while addressing party leaders and workers, Thackeray stated that it was time local leaders went door to door to connect with citizens and remind them what Shiv Sena has done for Mumbai. “Uddhav saheb has instructed us to attempt to connect with every citizen of the city and explain how Shiv Sena (UBT) has contributed to the development of the city, and how they [the ruling Mahayuti, comprising the BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP] are trying to erase this legacy,” said a party leader who attended the meeting. On Sunday, a closed-door meeting was held at Shiv Sena Bhavan, the party headquarters, in Mumbai, where Thackeray interacted with party workers and leaders such as Vibhag Pramukhs, Upvibhag Pramukhs and Shaka Pramukhs and even held a separate meeting for the party’s women's wing. Emphasising the importance of focusing on retaining control of the BMC, Thackeray, citing defections, told party workers and leaders that loyalty should be prioritised above personal or monetary gain. The BMC was scheduled to go to the polls in early 2022, but there have been no elections to the constituencies of 227 corporators as a case related to the OBC reservation issue is being heard in court. However, last month, the Supreme Court directed the Maharashtra government to conduct polls within four months. For nearly 25 years, the undivided Sena and BJP had been allies who ruled the civic body. But in 2017, the BJP and the undivided Sena contested the civic polls separately. The undivided Shiv Sena won 84 of the seats, while the BJP managed to bag 82 seats, a massive jump from its 2012 tally of 51. However, after a split engineered in 2022 by Eknath Shinde, the UBT camp has weakened. Such is the situation that of its 84 elected corporators, 43 joined the Shinde camp. This will be the first civic election since the Sena split. In such a scenario, this civic election is a do-or-die battle for the UBT camp, especially when the Shinde Sena is flexing its muscle in Mumbai and even the BJP has set a target of ‘Mission 150’ for the BMC polls. During the Assembly elections conducted in 2024, of the 21 seats the UBT contested in Mumbai, it won 10. It had 14 MLAs in 2019.
16 June,2025 08:56 AM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev ShivadekarDr Tadie MRA, a medical professional at the Gujarat Cancer & Research Institute (GCRI) in Ahmedabad, narrowly escaped the Air India plane crash that struck the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital hostel. Speaking to mid-day, he revealed that he had gone to the hostel canteen for lunch and left just two minutes before the aircraft crashed into the building. He is currently undergoing trauma counselling. Dr Tadie is stationed at the cancer treatment centre in Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. In the aftermath of the crash, which destroyed one hostel building and damaged three others, he and more than 70 doctors were relocated to another hostel within the hospital campus. Recalling the horrific moment, Dr Tadie said, “On June 12, I was on duty and had gone to the hostel canteen for lunch. The canteen is very old, and I usually eat there. That day, I had just finished my meal and left. Two minutes later, a part of the aeroplane crashed into the canteen area with a huge explosion. Many people died in the incident. I was fortunate to survive.” “I’m still in shock and undergoing counselling with a team of doctors. We've been moved to another hostel on the hospital campus. Sadly, we lost several students and colleagues in this tragedy,” he added. Local builder Rashmin Chauhan also had a narrow escape. He was driving home from a construction site when the plane crashed near his route. Sensing danger, he accelerated and managed to get away just seconds before the area was engulfed in flames. The entire episode was recorded by residents. The video shows Chauhan’s car speeding past the explosion, barely escaping the fire, and eventually crashing into a wall once it cleared the impact zone. The footage reveals that the car’s windshield was damaged. Fortunately, Rashmin Chauhan escaped without any injuries.
16 June,2025 08:50 AM IST | Ahmedabad | Shirish Vaktania | Nimesh DaveThe Fire Department believes the pilots of Air India flight AI 171 saved thousands of lives by making a critical decision within just 15 seconds — choosing to land the aircraft in an open green zone to minimise casualties. The plane crash occurred within a 900-metre radius surrounded by greenery and four hostel buildings of BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad. Remarkably, just a week before the tragic June 12 crash, Chief Fire Officer Om Jadeja of the Gandhinagar Fire Station had conducted a training session on how to respond to a plane crash. The session included procedures for extinguishing fires caused by aviation fuel and strategies for passenger rescue. Firefighters work alongside multiple agencies in a race against time to rescue victims and recover bodies from the charred remains Speaking with mid-day, Chief Officer Jadeja said, “The pilots likely knew they wouldn’t survive, but still chose the best possible crash site where the impact would cause the least devastation. The area was largely open and green, with only a few hostel buildings nearby. We surveyed the 900-metre crash zone and concluded that if the plane had crashed just 100 metres ahead, casualties could have been in the thousands due to the proximity to BJ Medical College and Civil Hospital.” How rescue op was conducted Chief Fire Officer Jadeja explained, “We received a fire alert call at 1.42 pm on June 12. Our team reached the crash site by 1.53 pm — just 11 minutes later. Initially, the call reported a fire in the BJ Medical College area. Over 500 personnel from various agencies rushed to the scene to rescue victims and extinguish the flames.” Emergency response teams from the Army, Intelligence Bureau (IB), National Investigation Agency (NIA), Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF), Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), local police, hospital staff, and the municipal corporation coordinated at the scene. Chief Fire Officer Om Jadeja “By the time we arrived, the ARFF team was already attempting to extinguish the fire, but it was extremely difficult due to the intense heat and highly flammable aviation fuel,” Jadeja added. Fighting flames “The fire had spread across a 900-metre radius. We had a golden hour to rescue as many people as possible. The aircraft was using aviation gasoline, which is extremely pure and highly flammable. We targeted one section of the wreckage to break through the flames and reach trapped victims,” he said. “We had already conducted a training session on June 5 about how to handle an aircraft crash. That training helped us understand the aircraft layout — including the location of the black box, economy and business class sections, cockpit, and tail. Our team of 37 firefighters reached the site and discovered that 70 per cent of the passengers were still strapped in their seats,” he added. “Within the first hour, we managed to retrieve 54 charred bodies, all severely burnt. Over the next several hours, we removed a total of 255 bodies. The intensity of the fire made survival impossible. In the last two days, we also recovered three more bodies, including two children and one cabin crew member,” Jadeja said. Training proved crucial Jadeja explained that the June 5 training with 37 fire officers proved essential. Conducted by the ARFF team, it included detailed briefings about aircraft structure and rescue protocols.
16 June,2025 08:45 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirish Vaktania | Nimesh DaveADVERTISEMENT
