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Maharashtra: Senior Congress leader Sangram Thopte joins BJP
Senior politician and three-time former MLA Sangram Thopte, who hails from a prominent Congress family, officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday. Thopte, who represented the Bhor constituency in Pune district, had been increasingly dissatisfied with the Congress leadership in recent months. His father, Anantrao Thopte, was a six-time Congress MLA, making the Thopte family a significant name in Maharashtra politics. On April 19, Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal revealed that the party had intended to nominate Sangram Thopte for the position of Speaker of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. However, he alleged that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis thwarted those efforts, which reportedly contributed to Thopte's disillusionment with the party. “Recently, the Congress had decided to make him the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, but Devendra Fadnavis did not allow that to happen. This was an injustice to Thopte. He should not fall under Fadnavis’s influence,” Sapkal told reporters in Pune. “Had Sangram Thopte been appointed Speaker at that time, today’s situation could have been avoided. Fadnavis is responsible. Thopte should avoid taking any step that sends the wrong message,” he added. Ultimately, BJP MLA Rahul Narwekar was elected unopposed as the Speaker of the 15th Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in December 2024 after the Opposition alliance, Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), chose not to contest the position.
22 April,2025 12:23 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Mumbai: Mahim bridge undergoes urgent repairs
The Western Railway has initiated urgent repair work on the Mahim South foot overbridge, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The decision was made following the discovery of cracked precast RCC slabs and severely corroded, perforated supporting beams. To ensure commuter convenience, two alternate foot overbridges located at the north end of Mahim station remain accessible, allowing passengers to move between the station and both the eastern and western sides. “In the interest of passenger safety, the replacement work is essential. The repair work commenced on April 16 and is expected to be completed by April 30. The bridge spans a total length of 40 meters and a width of 4 meters. So far, the damaged precast RCC slabs have been dismantled, and 20 meters of corroded supporting beams have been replaced. The laying of chequered plates is currently in progress,” a spokesperson said.
22 April,2025 12:15 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. Aklekar
Mumbai: 10-year-old girl, woman killed after fire breaks out in Mankhurd area
A 10-year-old girl and 25-year-old woman were killed after a fire broke out in Mankhurd’s Mandala area on Monday, civic authorities said on Tuesday. According to the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB), the fire broke out around 8:20 PM in Janta Nagar, behind the Hanuman Temple in the Mandala locality. Emergency response teams rushed to the spot to douse the flames and rescue those injured. Among the victims was 25-year-old Farah Khan, who sustained 70 per cent burn injuries. She was initially admitted to Shatabdi Hospital in Govandi but was later shifted to Sion Hospital due to the severity of her condition. She was declared dead at 11:30 PM on April 21. The second victim, 10-year-old Khushi Khan, was declared dead on arrival. The total death toll from the incident stands at two. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the fire. Massive fire breaks out in multiple scrap units in Thakur Pada area of Navi Mumbai In another incident, A massive fire broke out in multiple scrap units in the early hours of April 19 in Thakur Pada area of Maharashtra's Navi Mumbai, the civic officials said. The blaze was reported in scrap units in Irani Masjid, Thakur Pada in Dahisar area of Navi Mumbai, the officials said. The fire began at around 1:19 am and was reported to the Disaster Management Control Room at approximately 4:15 am, the officials said. Following the information regarding the blaze several fire engines and officials rushed to the spot to launch a major fire-fighting operation, they said. The blaze started in a cluster of 25 to 30 temporary scrap units, built using tin sheets, which stored plastic items, tar drums, empty metal drums, compressors, and other scrap materials, an official said. He said that all of these makeshift structures were completely destroyed in the fire. Fire brigades from several areas including teams from Koparkhairane, CBD Belapur, Kalamboli, Nerul, Vashi, and Thane rushed to the spot to join the fire-fighting operations, an official said Each team arrived with either fire engines or high-rise fire-fighting vehicles to launch a rescue and relief operation, the official said. Due to the intense flames, the fire-fighters conducted a nearly nine-hour operation and finally brought the blaze under control, he said, adding that by around 10:30 am on Saturday the fire was completely extinguished. "No injuries were reported in the incident," an official said.
22 April,2025 11:59 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Pope Francis passes away: A pope who believed in dreams, imagination
Two years ago, when I was floundering as an author, struggling to string even a decent sentence together, and still only resting on the laurels of my previous books, I met Pope Francis. Personally, it was a time of great self-doubt. It had been over four years since the release of my debut novel, Bombay Balchão, set in a Catholic neighbourhood in South Mumbai. And while the book had found its readers, I feared I didn’t have another story inside me. I would sometimes pick up the novel, read a few lines, and tell myself, ‘That writer is not coming back’. To make it worse, my health wasn’t keeping up, and I found myself inundated with prescriptions. The only thing going for me back then was my job as a journalist. It’s under these circumstances that I received an unexpected email from Fr Mark Bosco, a Jesuit professor at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, who wanted me to participate in a conference in Rome, titled The Global Aesthetics of the Catholic Literary Imagination. The conference was bringing together poets, writers, artistes and filmmakers from North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and East and South Asia whose works drew from their Catholic experience. It was, however, the second email, which came closer to the conference, that took me by greater surprise. Pope Francis, the Holy Father, wanted to meet all of us at the Vatican. I was curious about the Pope’s interest in us and our work. My own writing had barely stemmed from a place of making a case for my religion. I wanted to instead make room for the community of Indian Catholics who’d either been misrepresented and reduced to stereotypes or invisiblised in popular literature and cinema. I wanted their experiences to be felt, heard and seen. In that, yes, my faith did influence my writing. But not enough to secure an audience with the Pope. Despite my hesitation, I remember walking wide-eyed into the large chamber decorated by massive frescoes in the maze that was the Vatican, on that warm Saturday morning in May. Seated ahead of me was filmmaker Martin Scorsese, who’d come there with his family and who was going to be speaking at the conference later that day. The Pope arrived a few minutes later, taking slow steps with the help of a crutch. Not one for protocol, he immediately walked towards our side to greet Scorsese. This was two weeks before he was going in for an abdominal surgery, but despite not keeping well, he had chosen against calling off the engagement. Taking a seat on a chair in front of the fireplace, Pope Francis addressed us for the first time. He told us about his life as a young teacher of literature at the Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepción of Santa Fe in Argentina. “I have loved many poets and writers in my life, among whom I think especially of Dante, Dostoevsky and others still…,” he said. “The words of those authors helped me to understand myself, the world and my people, but also to understand more profoundly the human heart...” Recognising the power of imagination, he called our work most vital. “You are eyes that see and dream. We human beings yearn for a new world that we will probably never see fully with our eyes, yet we desire it, we seek it, we dream of it.” So, “continue to dream, to be restless,” he said, “to conjure up words and visions.” Those words come back to me now as we bid farewell to a Pope who carried with him not just a love for his faith, but also for humanity. He relentlessly spoke for the poor, for peace, for inclusion, for kindness, for imagination. He believed in dreams, and he asked us to believe in them too. I remember queuing up to meet the Pope, and when my chance came, I nervously brought my hands forward for a blessing. He instead shook my hands, and encouraged me to speak, listening to me intently and smiling through it all. As I sit here now, writing this piece in the quiet town of Stirling in Scotland, nearing the end of my second novel, a book I thought I would never write, I am thinking of the Holy Father and his words, to me and everyone else in the audience that day: “Persevere, then, tirelessly and with creativity and courage.”
22 April,2025 11:30 AM IST | Mumbai | Jane Borges
Man killed as car gets crushed between two heavy vehicles in Thane
An official said that a 27-year-old man was killed after his car got crushed between two heavy vehicles in Maharashtra's Thane district in the early hours of Tuesday, reported news agency PTI. The accident occurred around 4.30 am on the Mumbra Bypass Road, said Yasin Tadvi, chief of the civic disaster management cell, reported PTI. He said a truck rammed into the car from behind, causing it to hit another heavy vehicle in the front. The four-wheeler got crushed between two heavy vehicles. The victim, Vishnu Pal, a resident of Navi Mumbai, was trapped inside the mangled car and was extricated after a two-hour-long rescue effort, the official said, reported PTI. Pal was rushed to a civic hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival, he said, reported PTI. The accident affected traffic on the busy bypass road in the early morning hours. The damaged vehicles were moved using a Hydra machine. The local police are probing into the incident, and the body of the deceased has been sent for post-mortem, the official said. 3 killed, 12 hurt as truck hits multiple vehicles on highway in Pune In another incident, three persons were killed and 12 others injured after a truck crashed into five vehicles on the old Pune-Mumbai highway near Lonavala hill station in Maharashtra, police said on Monday, reported PTI. The incident took place at 10.20 pm on Sunday at Battery Hill near Bor Ghat. The truck apparently suffered a brake failure while descending a slope. It then ran amok and hit five vehicles, a police official said. "A 10-year-old girl and her father, who were travelling in a car, and another person died in the accident," Lonavla police station's senior inspector Suhas Jagtap said, reported PTI. Twelve other persons were injured and rushed to a nearby hospital where they were currently undergoing treatment, he added. 35 injured after bus carrying 'Dev Darshan' devotees collides with truck in Buldhana A total of 35 people have been injured, with 10 being admitted to the hospital after a bus carrying devotees going for 'Dev Darshan' from Nashik to Shirdi collided with a parked truck in Buldhana, according to police officials on April 18. (With inputs from PTI)
22 April,2025 11:04 AM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondent
Nobody`s roads
Mumbai's dug-up roads: Who took my footpath?
Walking on Mumbai’s congested streets has always been tough, but ongoing roadwork is making it worse. In this part of the series, mid-day explores how infrastructure projects are shrinking already limited footpaths, making it harder to walk and access roads. Our reporters visited areas across five zones—south, central, western, eastern and northern—to assess how roadwork has worsened traffic jams and hindered accessibility near public utilities, hospitals, schools, and colleges. The daily struggle is now a routine for many residents. Citizens are complaining about poor accessibility, the lack of footpaths, and long traffic jams. Ongoing roadwork without proper barricading at Lohar Chawl, Mahim, on April 6. File pic Central Mumbai (Matunga, Sion, Wadala, Mahim) Debris on footpathsDarayush Bacha, a resident of Dadar Parsi Colony, said, “We understand the urgency of the work and are cooperating with contractors and the BMC. We know the footpaths can’t be repaired immediately. One side of the road under construction near Guru Nanak College, Raoli Camp, GTB Nagar, on April 6 However, before the monsoon, contractors should clear all obstacles from the footpaths so people can use them safely.” In Sion Koliwada, Guru Tegh Bahadur Nagar (GTB Nagar) and Rajyogi Jaimal Singh Road present a daily challenge for pedestrians. There is no proper safety or provision for them. Professor K Praveish Vishwanath Aiyar said, “This work causes major inconvenience to pedestrians, the elderly, and the differently-abled, as there’s no proper infrastructure or consideration for their movement.” Dug-up footpathsAnother Parsi Colony resident pointed to worsening conditions along Jame Jamshed Road. “The walkability here is terrible. Parts of the footpath have been dug up for utility work and left in poor condition. Several obstacles need to be cleared immediately,” she said. Unfinished and poorly maintained footpath at Shankar Matha Road, Matunga, Mumbai, on April 4 Payal Shah, a resident of Matunga, echoed similar concerns. “We welcome the road concreting and have not objected to it, but there should be proper planning. On Gokul Hall Road, the concreting is complete, but the footpath that was damaged during the work hasn’t been fixed. On M Madhavan Road, there is no proper walkway for pedestrians,” she said. Shah added, “The work in Parsi Colony has been substandard. “Footpaths are damaged, and there are several obstructions, making walking difficult. There should be a proper plan to ensure pedestrian safety.” Road visitsMatunga East During mid-day’s visit to Shankar Matha Road, most footpaths were found damaged. Payal Shah at Jame Jamshed Road, which is currently under construction in Matunga, Mumbai, on April 6 Residents noted, “The roadwork is nearly complete, and we manage to walk on the road at our own risk.” They said the footpath was dug up around 10–12 days ago but hasn’t been repaired. “The surface is uneven. If not fixed soon, the monsoon will make things worse,” locals warned. MahimMahim’s well-known Kapda Bazar is currently under concreting work, leaving little to no space for pedestrians in the already narrow lane. Drainage work remains incomplete, and proper barricading is missing. Near one house, pipeline repairs are ongoing, again without barricades. “This is a narrow lane. I’m not opposing the roadwork, but pedestrians need space too,” said local resident Sabnam Sheikh. “Small sections of road could be concreted later to allow walkable space, and there must be proper barricading to ensure safety.” Mogul LaneThe concreting of Mogul Lane in Mahim has been completed, but nearby footpath work on Manmala Tank Road has caused other issues. During repairs, a tree collapsed due to the ongoing work. Residents said construction debris and equipment are often dumped on the footpath, damaging it. Manmala TankResidents of Manmala Tank Road voiced frustration: “We are fed up. There’s no safety for pedestrians. Half the footpath is regularly covered with debris and construction material. We’ve complained to the BMC, but nothing has been done,” they said. South Mumbai (Colaba, Cuffe Parade, Charni Rd) In southern Mumbai, road concreting has led to damaged footpaths, making walking difficult. A senior citizen walks on the under-construction 1st Pasta Lane, Colaba, Mumbai, on April 11 “We understand the need to concrete dilapidated roads, but random concreting is wasteful and disruptive. Woodhouse Road has been dug up since January, and no work has been done for months. The footpath and bus stop are destroyed. Where should pedestrians walk?” said Jianne Mathew, a Cuffe Parade resident. Roadwork in progress at Sukhatwala Lane, Fort, Mumbai, on April 5. Pic/ATUL KAMBLE “Pasta Lane has been dug up since last December, but work is inconsistent. The road is blocked, making walking impossible. Elderly residents are especially affected,” said Ajay Multani, a resident of Colaba. Roadwork in progress at Pandey Road, Colaba, Mumbai, on April 5. Pic/ATUL KAMBLE “I would reach college every day in just 15 minutes on foot. But since the road work began on the JSS Marg, walking has become impossible. One side of the road is dug up, and the other half is being used as a two-way road, which leaves no space for pedestrians. The road is too narrow for pedestrians,” said Aarshi Sahijawala, a Charni Road resident. Western (Bandra, Andheri) mid-day visited Bandra West and Andheri West and found that at many places, the roadwork is in progress. Local residents allege that the planning for these projects has been poorly executed, making accessibility difficult. St Roques Road dug up at Bandra West, Mumbai, on April 6. Pic/Shadab Khan (right) The internal roads in SVP Nagar in Andheri have been dug up to create cement concrete roads Inaccessible footpathsRatnakar Ahire, a redevelopment consultant and urban development expert who also resides in Andheri West, said, “This is nothing but the Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas alliance of ruling parties, BMC contractors, and an unelected BMC administration that has been running the show for over two years. It’s a massive conspiracy against honest Mumbaikars who pay taxes but are forced to live in dangerous, broken-down conditions. Everywhere you look, it’s chaos. What can we expect from a government more interested in digging up graves than building anything for the common man?” Ratnakar Ahire, a redevelopment consultant (right) John Baptist Road dug up at Bandra West. PIC/SHADAB KHAN Activist Zoru Bhathena said, “Pavements in Mumbai have become totally unwalkable. Every attempt at improvement only makes things worse. Mumbai is not a city for walking.” Unplanned diggingMukesh Waghela, a resident of SVP Nagar in Andheri West, said, “The internal roads in my area have been dug up to create cement concrete roads, which is good because they have a longer lifespan compared to tar roads and won’t develop potholes. However, the work should have been planned better to avoid causing inconvenience to people. Right now, there is no place to walk on the footpath, making it difficult for pedestrians.” Mukesh Waghela Andheri and Zoru Bhathena Road visitsBandra West At St Roques Road in Bandra West, we found that the 260-metre stretch from Rebello Road junction to MT Carmel Road was under construction. As a result, residents and daily commuters were finding it difficult to walk, as footpaths in some places were inadequate. Due to the dug-up roads and improper footpaths, accessibility has become a major issue, especially for senior citizens. Andheri WestSeveral roads in Sardar Vallabhai Patel Nagar in Andheri West, have been dug up, making access to footpaths challenging. In some places, the footpath is completely obstructed, forcing pedestrians to walk on uneven road surfaces. Similarly, Adarsh Nagar in Andheri West near Link Road is facing the same issue, where dug-up roads have led to the disappearance of footpaths. Northern suburbs (Borivli, Malad, Dahisar) To assess the ground reality, mid-day visited several localities across North Mumbai and spoke to residents, commuters, civic activists, and political workers. Their accounts reveal a grim picture of neglected pedestrian infrastructure amid large-scale construction and digging work. Pankaj Trivedi, Borivli BorivliPankaj Trivedi, a resident of Srikrishna Society in Borivli, expressed his frustration bluntly. “It seems like the BMC has launched a money-making scheme by digging up the entire northern suburbs. I recently had the misfortune of trying to use the footpaths—and it's a nightmare,” he said. Dev Nagar Derasar Road dug up for drainage work in Borivli West; (right) Shimpoli Road dug up at Kastur Park, Borivli West. PIC/SATEJ SHINDE “In a city where lakhs rely on public transport and walking to get to work, school, or even just shop, the state of footpaths is absolutely terrible. Hawkers block random stretches, so you can’t walk more than 100 metres without being forced onto the road. There are uneven paver blocks, unauthorised barriers put up by societies, pipes sticking out of nowhere—it’s a mess,” he said. DahisarRajesh Kumar Pandya, a teacher from Dahisar, echoed similar concerns. “Every other day, someone trips or twists their ankle. We can’t walk without watching every step. There are no signs, just barricades put up by the BMC’s road and traffic department. In many places, both the road and the footpath are dug up or encroached. Where are we supposed to walk?” Shopkeepers place goods on the Saibaba Mandir Road footpath, Borivli West; (circle) Hawkers and parked vehicles occupy Saibaba Mandir Road amid drainage work in Borivli West. PIC/SATEJ SHINDE He pointed to the road near Anandnagar in Dahisar, close to Vidya Mandir School, which has been dug up for nearly a month now. “The entire stretch from CS Road to SV Road and towards Dahisar Subway is in shambles.” He said. MaladDipesh Tank, a resident of Malad West, pointed out the repeated wastage of public money and lack of coordination between departments. “The footpath stretching from Chincholi Bunder in Malad West up to Goregaon West, near Infant Jesus School, was rebuilt just a few months ago. And now it’s been dug up again—this time for bollards or some railing work, apparently,” he said. Dipesh Tank, Malad To assess the ground reality, mid-day visited several localities across North Mumbai and spoke to residents, commuters, civic activists, and political workers. Their accounts reveal a grim picture of neglected pedestrian infrastructure amid large-scale construction and digging work. BorivliPankaj Trivedi, a resident of Srikrishna Society in Borivli, expressed his frustration bluntly. “It seems like the BMC has launched a money-making scheme by digging up the entire northern suburbs. I recently had the misfortune of trying to use the footpaths—and it's a nightmare,” he said. “In a city where lakhs rely on public transport and walking to get to work, school, or even just shop, the state of footpaths is absolutely terrible. Hawkers block random stretches, so you can’t walk more than 100 metres without being forced onto the road. There are uneven paver blocks, unauthorised barriers put up by societies, pipes sticking out of nowhere—it’s a mess,” he said. DahisarRajesh Kumar Pandya, a teacher from Dahisar, echoed similar concerns. “Every other day, someone trips or twists their ankle. We can’t walk without watching every step. There are no signs, just barricades put up by the BMC’s road and traffic department. In many places, both the road and the footpath are dug up or encroached. Where are we supposed to walk?” He pointed to the road near Anandnagar in Dahisar, close to Vidya Mandir School, which has been dug up for nearly a month now. “The entire stretch from CS Road to SV Road and towards Dahisar Subway is in shambles.” He said. MaladDipesh Tank, a resident of Malad West, pointed out the repeated wastage of public money and lack of coordination between departments. “The footpath stretching from Chincholi Bunder in Malad West up to Goregaon West, near Infant Jesus School, was rebuilt just a few months ago. And now it’s been dug up again—this time for bollards or some railing work, apparently,” he said. Eastern Suburbs (Mulund, Ghatkopar, Chembur) A large number of roads in the eastern suburbs have been dug up, affecting both small and major roads. A dug-up stretch in Neelam Nagar in Mulund Road visitsMulund East Multiple stretches, including Navghar Road, RB Thakur Marg, and Neelam Nagar, are dug up. The construction on Navghar Road causes daily traffic jams. Footpaths are occupied by hawkers and shop extensions, making walking nearly impossible. Nirmal Thakkar Mulund WestRoads like Devidayal Road and Mahakavi Kalidas Road are dug up, slowing traffic. Footpath obstructions from roadside parking and barricades limit accessibility, making it difficult for senior citizens to walk. BhandupA road in Bhandup West has been dug up for two months, causing major accessibility issues, with the only bus route diverted, forcing residents to walk longer distances. Roads in Chembur are dug up to make cement concrete roads Ghatkopar-ChemburRoads in the Ghatkopar-Chembur belt are dug up despite municipal orders prohibiting new digging, causing inconvenience to both pedestrians and motorists. “Why are they digging up roads without any prior survey or demand from residents? It’s a nightmare to drive on Navghar Road. Traffic is down to one lane, and there’s no pedestrian walkway. How will people access bus stops or ambulances?” said Mulund resident Chetan Bordawekar. Chetan Bordawekar, Mulund “Dug-up roads are causing traffic jams and delays for students heading to exams. Footpaths are already encroached by hawkers,” said citizen activist Nirmal Thakkar.
22 April,2025 10:52 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-day
Thane: Body of 5-month-old boy found near nullah in Kalwa
The police on Tuesday said that the body of a five-month-old baby boy was found near a nullah in Maharashtra's Thane city, reported news agency PTI. Passersby spotted the infant's body near a nullah carrying wastewater in the Waghoba Nagar area of Kalwa on Sunday morning and alerted the local police, an official said, reported PTI. He said the body was sent for post-mortem to a government hospital, and a probe has been initiated. The police have registered a case against unidentified persons under section 94 (concealment of birth by secret disposal of dead body) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita. Body of newborn baby found near garbage in Thane In a similar incident, the body of a newborn girl has been found near a pile of burning garbage in Maharashtra's Thane district, police said on Monday, reported PTI. Some locals spotted the body near the garbage pile at Barodi village in the Bhiwandi area at around 9 am on Sunday, an official from Narpoli police station said, reported PTI. After being alerted, local police rushed to the spot and sent the body to a government hospital for post-mortem, the official said. The police have registered a case against unidentified persons under section 94 (concealment of birth by secret disposal of dead body) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, he said. A probe was on into the case, the police added. Woman strangled, body dumped on roadside in Thane district In another incident, unidentified persons strangled a woman and dumped her body on the roadside in Maharashtra's Thane district, police said on Saturday, reported PTI. The woman, in her early to mid-30s, was found dead in the Thakurgaon area of Bhiwandi on Friday, an official said, reported PTI. He said the deceased woman's identity is yet to be established. After preliminary investigations revealed that the woman had died of strangulation, a case of murder was registered at Kongaon police station, he said, reported PTI. The official said the body has been sent for post-mortem, and efforts are underway to identify the victim. (With inputs from PTI)
22 April,2025 09:59 AM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondent
"I got threat via email from D-company": Baba Siddique's son Zeeshan
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Baba Siddique's son Zeeshan Siddique has received a death threat via email, said police officials on Monday. According to the police, the threat email said that he would be killed the 'same way' as his father. The sender also demanded Rs 10 crore from Zeeshan Siddique, reported ANI. The sender further said that he would send such emails every six hours, the officials added. Meanwhile, speaking to ANI, Zeeshan Siddique claimed that the death threat email he received was sent from D-company, and they have demanded a ransom of Rs 10 crore. "I got a threat via mail from D-company, as mentioned at the end of the mail, they demanded a ransom of Rs 10 crore. The police have taken the details and recorded the statement. Our family is disturbed because of this", the NCP leader told ANI on receiving a death threat. Talking to PTI, Zeeshan Siddique said, "Since the last three days I have been receiving emails continuously, with content that 'you would be killed just like Baba Siddique if you don't pay Rs 10 crore'." The sender claimed the 'D-company', a name given to Mumbai's organized crime syndicate founded by fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, and not the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, was behind the killing of Baba Siddique, he said. "Fed up with the repeated emails I contacted the Bandra police," said the former MLA. A police official told PTI after receiving a complaint, they have launched a probe into the death threat and extortion demand. Baba Siddique, an NCP leader, was shot dead by three assailants near his son Zeeshan Siddique's office in Mumbai's Nirmal Nagar on October 12, 2024. The Lawrence Bishnoi gang had claimed responsibility for the NCP leader's murder. Mumbai Police's investigation into the Baba Siddiqui murder case has revealed that the prime suspect, Akashdeep Gill, arrested in Punjab, used a labourer's mobile hotspot to communicate with key conspirators, including mastermind Anmol Bishnoi, police said. Gill was identified as the logistics coordinator in the murder plot orchestrated by notorious gangster Anmol Bishnoi. (With inputs from ANI and PTI)
22 April,2025 09:22 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Mumbai weather updates: Heat and humidity grip city, but AQI stays ‘good'
The city continued experiencing hot and humid weather on Tuesday, with the maximum temperature reaching 33.9 degrees Celsius. According to the latest Mumbai weather updates from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Mumbai is expected to experience a clear sky on Tuesday, April 22. Temperatures will range from a cool 25 degrees Celsius in the morning to a warm 36 degrees Celsius during the day. The sun rose at 06:49 AM and will set at 06:57 PM. According to the Mumbai weather updates of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Santacruz observatory in suburban Mumbai recorded a maximum temperature of 33.6 degrees Celsius and a minimum temperature of 23.5 degrees Celsius. The weather department's data showed that the city observatory in Colaba recorded a maximum temperature of 33.9 degrees Celsius and a minimum temperature of 25.4 degrees Celsius. The IMD’s latest Mumbai weather update forecasts a "mainly clear sky" for the city and its suburbs over the next 24 hours. Mumbai weather updates: City's AQI in 'good' category On April 21, the Central Pollution Control Board’s SAMEER app reported in its latest Mumbai weather updates that the city’s air quality remained in the 'good' category, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 77 at 8:05 AM. As per the SAMEER app dashboard, many areas across Mumbai showed 'good' AQI. Bandra Kurla Complex recorded 'good' air quality with an AQI of 95. Sewri, Malad and Borivali recorded 'good' air quality with an AQI of 69, 66 and 74, respectively. Byculla, Kandivali and Ghatkopar recorded 'good' air quality, with an AQI of 72, 47 and 64, respectively. Meanwhile, Worli and Chembur recorded 'good' air quality, with an AQI of 74 and 42, respectively. According to data from the SAMEER app, Navi Mumbai recorded air quality in the 'good' category with an AQI of 100, while Thane registered a 'good' AQI of 64. The air quality index from 0 to 100 is considered 'good', 100 to 200 'moderate', 200 to 300 'poor', 300 to 400 'very poor' and from 400 to 500 or above 'severe'.
22 April,2025 09:04 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Mumbai civic body to run summer library programme for Class 6 to 10 students
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to run a summer library programme for students from Class 6 to 10. A wide variety of books will be made available, with one library operating in a civic school in each administrative ward. According to a BMC official, 25 libraries will function between May 2 and June 12. These libraries will remain open daily from 10 am to 1 pm and 4 pm to 6 pm for students. Access will be available to students from both BMC-run and private schools. Each library will have dedicated classrooms and separate restroom facilities for boys and girls. To gain entry to the summer library, students must carry their school ID card, Aadhaar card, and a consent letter from their parents. To make information easily accessible, the civic body has provided a QR code. When scanned, it will provide details, including Google Map locations of all 25 libraries operating across the city. Ward-wise list of the summer libraries: A Ward – Lord Harris Municipal School B Ward – Janabai and Madhavrao Rokade Municipal School C Ward – Nizampura Municipal School D Ward – Gilder Lane Municipal School D Ward – Balaram Marg Municipal School E Ward – New Byculla East, Patanwala Road Municipal School F-South Ward – Parel Bhoiwada Municipal School F-North Ward – Korba Mithagar Municipal School G-South Ward – Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Municipal School G-North Ward – Dadar Woolen Mill Municipal School H-East Ward – Shastri Nagar Urdu Municipal School H-West Ward – Hasanabad Municipal School K-East Ward – Nityanand Marg Municipal School K-West Ward – Vile Parle West Municipal School P-South Ward – Unnat Nagar Municipal School P-North Ward – Rani Sati Marg Marathi Municipal School R-South Ward – Akurli Marathi Municipal School No. 1 R-Central Ward – Poinsur Hindi Municipal School No. 3 R-North Ward – Bharucha Road Municipal School L-Ward – Nehru Nagar Municipal School M- East Ward – Shivaji Nagar Municipal School No 1 M-East 2 Ward – Govandi Station Marathi Municipal School No 2 M-West Ward – Tilak Nagar Municipal School N-Ward – Maneklal Mehta Municipal School S-Ward – MVR Shinde Marg Hindi Municipal School T-Ward – Goshala Marg Municipal School
22 April,2025 08:49 AM IST | Mumbai | A Correspondent
Pope Francis passes away: ‘Build bridges in a divided world’
The Archdiocese of Bombay joined the global Catholic community in mourning the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, 88, on Monday, April 21, at Casa Santa Marta, at the edge of Vatican City (Rome, Italy). The Archdiocese said in a statement, “Our hearts ache with grief as we bid farewell to our beloved Holy Father—Supreme Pontiff, Vicar of Christ, and successor of St Peter. His departure leaves an immeasurable void in the Universal Church and in the hearts of India’s faithful, who cherished his prophetic voice and tender compassion.” Peace icon Archbishop John Rodrigues and Cardinal Oswal Gracias said Pope Francis was “A shepherd of boundless mercy, who lived the gospel by walking alongside the marginalised, advocating for peace, and tirelessly calling the Church to be a refuge of healing.” They added, “Even in his final days, he exemplified steadfast faith, returning to Casa Santa Marta after 38 days of hospitalisation for pneumonia—a battle rooted in lifelong respiratory challenges that began in his youth in Argentina.” His humility Archbishop John Rodrigues stated, “Pope Francis taught us to find Christ in those the world overlooks. His humility, his dream of ‘a poor Church for the poor,’ and his courage to engage a wounded world transformed not only the Church but countless souls. While we mourn, we also give thanks for a legacy that will live on in every heart stirred by his example.” Cardinal Oswald Gracias reflected, “The Holy Father’s vision knew no boundaries. He urged us to be bridge-builders in a divided world, and his reforms—even to funeral rites—emphasised simplicity and faith in the Risen Lord. He led not as a monarch, but as a disciple. In our sorrow, let us honour him by embracing his mission: to be pilgrims of hope and witnesses of mercy.” The shepherd theme ran through tributes for the Pope. Sister Sarla Macwan, executive director, St Elizabeth’s Hospital at Teen Batti, Malabar Hill, said succinctly, “Our Pope was a saintly man, icon of mercy and shepherd of the poor.” His courage Of the many sterling qualities, he will be remembered most for his courage. Fr Joshan Rodrigues, Editor-in-Chief of The Examiner Catholic Newsweekly, Archdiocese of Bombay official news magazine, added, “Pope Francis was my personal hero, and I’m sure of millions around the globe. He was a man of prophetic courage who brought long-needed reforms to the Catholic Church and positioned it to be a powerful beacon of hope in the modern world. He was a spokesperson for migrants and for the poor. He empowered women. There are many women today in leading positions in the Vatican due to his vision. Those who had been discarded by the ills of modern society were a priority of his papacy.” Close encounter A cherished memory, said Rodrigues, was “The privilege of encountering him up close several times during my student days in Rome. What struck me always was the radiant glow that emanated from him, like a sign of holiness. I unfortunately never got a picture with him, but my fondest memory is when I accidentally met him outside the lift at Casa Santa Marta, his residence. I was able to kiss his hand and take his blessings. He was truly a Pope of the people and a shepherd with the smell of his sheep. That is a phrase that he came up with. It means that priests need to be very close to the people they serve, just like a shepherd is so close to his sheep that he smells of them.” Fr Daniel Fernandes, assistant parish priest at Infant Jesus Church Jogeshwari (E) said, “The Holy Father Pope Francis will always be remembered for his simplicity, courage, pastoral and a genuine good shepherd’s heart always for the people of God.” A Requiem Mass for Pope Francis was held on Monday evening at the Cathedral of the Holy Name, Colaba.
22 April,2025 08:04 AM IST | Mumbai | Hemal Ashar