A tragic accident occurred on Sunday morning on Arnala Road in Virar West when a State Transport (ST) bus, reportedly speeding recklessly, crashed into an autorickshaw with tremendous force. The impact was so severe that a female passenger, identified as Kalpana Kolge, died on the spot. The woman driving the rickshaw sustained serious injuries in the collision. The accident took place around 8:30 AM near the Arnala Society bus stop. Following the crash, both the bus and the rickshaw were left stranded on the road, causing traffic disruptions in the area. The injured driver was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. Meanwhile, police reached the scene and have launched an investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the accident.
22 June,2025 12:21 PM IST | Mumbai | Diwakar SharmaHeavy vehicles descending the Bhor Ghat section of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway might soon move down the slope a bit faster, with authorities considering an increase in the existing speed limits, officials and transporters have said, reported news agency PTI. Deliberations are underway to raise the speed limit for heavy vehicles like trucks and buses from the current 40 kmph to 45-50 kmph on the downward incline of the Pune-Mumbai arm, also known as the Khandala Ghat. A decision is likely to be taken soon, they said. The current speed limit of 60 kmph for cars in the 10-km ghat section is unlikely to be changed. On other stretches of the country's first access-controlled expressway, the speed limit is 100 kmph for smaller vehicles and 80 kmph for heavy vehicles, reported PTI. The current limit on the ghat section, located between Lonavala in Pune district and Khalapur in Raigad district, results in frequent e-challans as it is challenging for heavy vehicles to move slowly on a sharp downward incline, slows down traffic and causes accidents, they claimed. After follow-ups and discussions, the authorities have given a positive signal for an upward revision of the speed limit, transporters said. According to transporters, particularly bus owners, e-challans have increased on the ghat section following the introduction of the Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS), which comprises several speed-monitoring cameras and other equipment, on the 95-km carriageway, reported PTI. A vehicle is fined Rs 2,000 for the first speed violation, and the amount increases for subsequent infractions. Teams from the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), highway police, the state transport department and transporters conducted a joint survey of the ghat section last month to assess the ground reality. The transporters and a few officials called the current speed limit of 40 kmph for heavy vehicles on Bhor Ghat "unscientific", "unrealistic" and "unfair". Allowing these vehicles to move a bit faster would save time, fuel, maintenance costs and help avoid "unnecessary" e-challans, they said, reported PTI. Harsh Kotak, a bus operator and leader of the Mumbai Bus Malak Sangh, explained the practical aspect of the challenges faced by drivers, reported PTI. "In special gear, vehicles can only reach speeds of 7-10 kmph, while it's 25-28 kmph in first gear and 45-47 kmph in the second gear. But if you stay in first gear for too long, the vehicle crawls and disrupts traffic. In the second gear, you either overshoot the speed limit or end up overheating the brake drum due to excessive braking," he said, reported PTI. Kotak said they have requested the authorities to "scientifically" set the speed limit at 50 kmph. "Around 30 per cent of the e-challans are issued to heavy vehicles on this 10-km ghat stretch, often for speeds between 43 and 50 kmph," he added, reported PTI. KV Shetty, another bus operator, claimed there are no proper warning signs to alert drivers in advance to slow down, reported PTI. "Sudden braking often leads to accidents. The government calls it an expressway, but expects vehicles to run at 40 kmph," said the bus operator. Maharashtra Transport Commissioner Vivek Bhimanwar told PTI that they have received several complaints from transporters concerning the speed limits. He called the concerns valid as it is "practically difficult" for heavy vehicles to maintain such low speeds on the sharp downward slope. "MSRDC is the agency responsible for decisions regarding the ghat section, while the highway police will finalise the speed limit," Bhimanwar said, adding that his department has already written multiple letters to the highway police, reported PTI. Additional Director General of Police (Highway) Pravin Salunkhe could not be reached for comment despite repeated attempts, reported PTI. However, an MSRDC official said the highway police were expected to convene a meeting to discuss the upward revision in the speed limit. Named after former chief minister Yashwantrao Chavan, the expressway was opened to traffic in 2002. It saw 191 accidents in 2024, according to official figures. (With inputs from PTI)
22 June,2025 12:13 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe 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 26.84 per cent. As per BMC records on Sunday (June 22), the collective water stock in these reservoirs is 3,88,523 million litres, which amounts to 26.84 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 9.99 per cent water stock, Modak Sagar 44.22 per cent, Middle Vaitarna 25.03 per cent, Upper Vaitarna 31.04 per cent, Bhatsa 21.79 per cent, Vehar 39.71 per cent, Tansa 29.13 per cent and Tulsi 38.33 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 Mazagaon. Meanwhile, residents of Mumbai can expect a generally cloudy sky today, with the possibility of intermittent spells of moderate rainfall across the city and its suburbs, according to the latest Mumbai weather updates by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The IMD's Santacruz observatory recorded a maximum temperature of 32.9 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 25 degrees Celsius on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Colaba observatory reported a high of 31.6 degrees Celsius and a low of 26 degrees Celsius, as per the latest Mumbai weather updates. As per tide predictions, high tide is expected at 9:28 AM with a height of 4.09 meters, followed by low tide at 3:06 PM at 2.09 meters. Another high tide is forecast at 8:52 PM, reaching 3.74 meters. Additionally, a low tide is expected early tomorrow at 3:25 AM, with the water level dropping to 0.59 meters on June 23, 2025.
22 June,2025 10:32 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentResidents of Mumbai can expect a generally cloudy sky today, with the possibility of intermittent spells of moderate rainfall across the city and its suburbs, according to the latest Mumbai weather updates by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The IMD's Santacruz observatory recorded a maximum temperature of 32.9 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 25 degrees Celsius on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Colaba observatory reported a high of 31.6 degrees Celsius and a low of 26 degrees Celsius, as per the latest Mumbai weather updates. As per tide predictions, high tide is expected at 9:28 AM with a height of 4.09 meters, followed by low tide at 3:06 PM at 2.09 meters. Another high tide is forecast at 8:52 PM, reaching 3.74 meters. Additionally, a low tide is expected early tomorrow at 3:25 AM, with the water level dropping to 0.59 meters on June 23, 2025. 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 26.84 per cent. As per BMC records on Sunday (June 22), the collective water stock in these reservoirs is 3,88,523 million litres, which amounts to 26.84 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 9.99 per cent water stock, Modak Sagar 44.22 per cent, Middle Vaitarna 25.03 per cent, Upper Vaitarna 31.04 per cent, Bhatsa 21.79 per cent, Vehar 39.71 per cent, Tansa 29.13 per cent and Tulsi 38.33 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 Mazagaon.
22 June,2025 10:21 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAmid public protests, the Panvel Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Friday carried out a demolition drive against two liquor-serving outlets — JJ Rasoi and Golden Crown Wine Mart — in Kharghar. Both establishments had recently received licences from the excise department, sparking fierce protests from residents, student groups, and local activists. While the area is not officially declared a ‘No-Liquor Zone’ under state laws, Kharghar has long been regarded as a de-facto dry zone by its residents due to its proximity to over 40 educational institutions and several residential complexes. The opening of these new establishments had led to daily protests and heightened tension in the locality. PMC’s action comes amid continuous pressure from residents who have been urging societies to voice opposition to liquor outlets. Locals stage a protest against liquor sale yesterday. Pics/Leena Garad Social activist Leena Garad, questioned the licensing process. “Despite so much struggle, why are beer bars and wine shops still getting licenses in Kharghar from the state excise department?” asked Garad. Kharghar resident and social activist Rajesh Srivastava raised concerns about the impact of liquor availability on students. “Kharghar has students from across the country. Easy access to alcohol leads to nuisance, affecting the academic environment. Unfortunately, when these licences were issued, no political party objected,” said Srivastava. Locals, who gathered to witness the demolition of shops, cheered the teams. However, legal loopholes still hamper the community’s efforts. Garad said, “Under current excise law there is no legal requirement for a society’s No Objection Certificate (NOC) to approve a wine shop or beer bar. Even NOCs from municipal corporations are not mandatory. Further complicating the issue is the “Upright Bottle vs Sideways Bottle” voting mechanism. This process requires that 50 per cent of women voters be against the outlet for it to be shut down.” Garad continued, “In a recent legislative session, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar made two promising announcements — one that a society’s NOC would be made compulsory for liquor licensing and second is that the voting rule would be changed under which, if 75 per cent of women oppose the shop, it would be shut down. However, these changes were backing.This delay is allowing more licences to be issued. We request Ajit Pawar to urgently bring a GR in the upcoming session,” she added. Kharghar police station Senior Inspector Deepak Survey said, “The Golden Crown Wine Mart, a wine shop at Shah Arcade in Sector 6 in Kharghar, remained closed today as the residents, activists and students gathered to protest the opening of the wine shop. We deployed around 50 policemen to see that the protest was conducted peacefully. Permission was taken before the protest. Also, we did not take any action against the wine shop.” Why Kharghar is dry Though not officially declared a ‘No-Liquor Zone’ under Maharashtra state laws, Kharghar is widely regarded as a de facto dry area by locals. The reason? It houses over 40 educational institutions, coaching centres, and student hostels, alongside several large residential complexes. Residents and activists argue that the presence of liquor shops near schools and colleges disturbs the academic environment and promotes youth substance abuse. This sentiment has shaped strong community resistance to the opening of any new beer bars or wine shops in the area.
22 June,2025 08:09 AM IST | Mumbai | Abhitash SinghThe Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on June 20 issued an order to three senior officials in Air India, and instructed the airline to remove the officials from all roles and responsibilities related to crew scheduling and rostering. More trouble for the airline arises as the repeated and serious violations were voluntarily disclosed by the airline concerning flight crew being scheduled and operated despite lapses in licensing, rest and recency requirements. The three officials who are addressed in the order include the divisional vice president. According to the DGCA’s regulations, pilots who are operating a cockpit together must qualify specific criteria to be paired together, such as the total number of flying hours meeting the minimum set by the DGCA. And the crew has to be scheduled following the Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms, which are set to provide the crew proper rest before their next flight. The DGCA has also given directions to the airline to have internal disciplinary proceedings against the officials without delay, and report back to the DGCA with the outcome within 10 days from the date of issue of the letter. The DGCA warned, “Any future violations of crew scheduling norms, licensing, or flight time limitations detected in any post-audit or inspection, will attract strict enforcement action, including but not limited to penalties, licence suspension, or withdrawal of operator permission as applicable.” The airline according to DGCA has repeatedly violated these norms along with the licensing and recency norms, prompting the authority to send a Show Cause notice to the Accountable Manager of Air India who had operated two flights from Bengaluru to London (AI133) on May 16 and 17 this year, which had both exceeded the stipulated flight time limit of 10 hours and neglecting the FDTL norms. The notice addressing the Accountable Manager states, “The Accountable Manager of Air India has failed to ensure adherence to the provisions and compliance requirements,” and adds that the Additional Manager has to show cause within seven days of receiving the notice on why “appropriate enforcement action should not be initiated against you (Manager) under the applicable provision of Aircraft Rules and Civil Aviation Requirements for the aforementioned violations.” The airline has also issued a statement saying, “We acknowledge the regulator’s directive and have implemented the order. In the interim, the company’s Chief Operations Officer will provide direct oversight to the Integrated Operations Control Centre (IOCC).” According to the DGCA, officials have been involved in the following lapses>> Unauthorised and non-compliant crew pairing>> Violation of mandatory licensing and recency norms>> Systematic failures in scheduling protocol and oversight
22 June,2025 08:06 AM IST | Mumbai | Madhulika Ram KavatturEveryone who would call Shivani and Payal would address them as “Sir”. The shock would come later at the face-to-face meeting. Despite going through several gender-affirming surgeries, vaginoplasty, hormone therapies, and chest feminisations, there was still something holding them back from being completely female. “I got my sex change operation done from Delhi. My doctor mentioned that I would need to take hormone medicines before the surgery which I had for 10 months and then got my gender-affirming surgery done. But still, people would give me weird looks and address me as if they are talking to a man. That irritated me and I started researching if changing my voice was possible,” says Shivani Gupta, a transwoman who lives in Andheri. Recounting a similar experience is Payal Nikumb, another transwoman who hails from Shirpur town of Dhule district in Maharashtra, and got her sex change operation done in Jalgaon. “I looked like a woman, but I wasn’t sounding like one. So, people would not know whether to consider me a girl or a boy. And right from the day I decided that I want to transform into a woman, I had decided that I would change everything — from my appearance to my voice to also being capable of biologically bearing a child. Thus, a few years after my gender-affirming surgeries, I looked for doctors who would help me change my voice,” shares the 29-year-old. Payal Nikumb worked as a beautician and dancer to save for the surgery. Pic/Special Arrangement While gender-affirmation surgery has by now become quite common, with many doctors across the country specialising in it, not even a handful of doctors specialise in Wendler’s glottoplasty, the surgery required to feminise a male voice, as hormonal therapy does not change the voice. “I tried looking for many doctors who would help me with voice change operation. But many could only do the cosmetic part of reducing the size of the Adam’s apple and none of them specialised in giving me a female voice. That was when, luckily, I came across a news article on Voice Surgeon Dr Nupur Nerurkar. I read that she is doing these surgeries at Bombay Hospital in Mumbai and I immediately rushed there,” says Shivani. New year, new beginnings and new voice — Shivani finally underwent her voice change operation on January 1 this year, which she says, “was the last piece of puzzle left to complete the beautiful frame of femininity”. On the other hand, Payal found out about Dr Nerurkar via YouTube. “There were many videos of her on her channel which gave me the confidence to approach her for the surgery. I visited Bombay Hospital and enquired about her consultation timings, and then told her my wish to get a female voice,” she shares. The treatment, however, wasn’t an easy process. “In other surgeries it was more of a cut, stitch, heal, and recover. But this surgery was different, mentally as well as physically,” says Shivani.Shivani and Payal were both asked to strictly quit consuming alcohol and smoking before the surgery. “I had to get a female voice, and I was ready to do whatever was necessary,” says Shivani. They were also asked to give up spicy and oily food, and “avoid shouting or talking loudly”. “First, I was very scared. I had thoughts like, what if I cannot talk ever? What if I go mute? What if the voice distorts to a level that finally I sound neither like a man nor like a woman? But after Dr Nerurkar explained everything in detail, I gained some confidence and felt ready for the operation,” shares Payal. D-Day came, both underwent surgery, but the real struggle began after the operation when they had to maintain complete silence. “We had been told prior to the surgery that we could not speak at all for at least three weeks, otherwise our stitches would open,” say both. Payal adds, “I was a very talkative person and used to a lot of mischief and shouting. So, I had to train my mind not to talk. I had reduced talking even before undergoing the surgery so I wouldn’t feel so weird.” Shivani remarks, “We take many things for granted in life. Regular communication with cab drivers, vegetable vendors, neighbours became next to impossible. I had to write everything to pass on my message and make people understand what I was trying to say. Even now, when I am allowed to speak, it sometimes becomes a problem because I still cannot speak loudly. So it becomes difficult in crowded places or in a lot of traffic,” shares Shivani. However, being unable to talk led them to become more thoughtful. “The three weeks that I could not talk, I thought about myself. I got time to peacefully embrace my struggles and feel proud about them. I got time to make peace with the fact that despite having no support from my family, I have been able to establish a life for myself and that too without earning money through any wrong or illegal means. Also, it made me more empathetic towards those who are deaf and mute or for that matter towards anyone with any disability,” shares Shivani. Parents often tell their children, “Creativity will fetch you no money.” However, for both Shivani and Payal who did not have any family support during their gender-affirming surgeries and voice-change operations, it was their creativity itself which came to the rescue. While Shivani saved everything that she earned through her make-up and mehndi appointments along with some modelling assignments, Payal saved money through belly-dancing and other dance shows and by working as a beautician at a parlour. “No one from the family gave money as they were totally against what I was doing. Also, I did not get any concession for my gender-affirming surgeries in Delhi. I spent nearly R7-8 lakh part-by-part for all sex-change operations and implants. I was left with just a few thousand rupees when I came to Mumbai for my voice change operation. But when I approached Dr Nerurkar, she informed me about the special package at Bombay Hospital where they charged only Rs 20,000 for this surgery. So, after my first consultation, I took up as much work as I could, collected little over the required amount, and got the operation done,” says Shivani. Sharing her experience, Payal says, “As I had no support from my family, I had gone to Jalgaon for my gender-affirming surgery. I began working as a beautician at a local parlour and began taking up dance shows across India. This way I saved for my surgeries. And slowly and steadily I got my various surgeries done one by one. I have been living in Dubai for the last three years. I have a tie-up with an event management company and I do many shows in the Gulf. And so, I told Dr Nerurkar that I will pay the full amount for my voice change operation so that the hospital can use the money for someone who really cannot afford paying the full bill. So far, I have spent nearly Rs 15 lakh, including Rs 1.5 lakh for my voice-change operation. Now my last wish is to get a uterus implant and gain the most powerful capacity of being a woman — that is of bearing a child. Once I save a good amount, I will get that done too.” What is Wendler’s glottoplasty? Explaining the surgery, Dr Nupur Nerurkar, Laryngologist and Head of Voice and Swallowing Centre, Bombay Hospital, says, “This surgery is required in cases of male-to-female trans persons who want to permanently feminise their voice. In cases of female-to-male trans persons, testosterone injections almost always masculinise the voice, so surgery is not needed. A female voice has a higher pitch compared to a male voice. Dr Nupur Nerurkar. Pic/Special Arrangement Typically, a man’s voice is around 100 hertz, whereas a woman’s voice is around 200 hertz. So we need to raise the pitch of the sound.” The most common question patients ask is, “Will I sound completely like a woman, or how much similarity in voice will I achieve?” says Dr Nerurkar. This depends on each person’s vocal folds and resonance, she says. “However, one does definitely sound less like a man and more like a woman.” Dr Nerurkar explains the operation: “The vocal folds are stitched with thin sutures. Once the vocal cord is shortened, the pitch increases.” The procedure has seen massive advancements, she adds. “Earlier surgeries required an incision on the throat, but now we perform it endoscopically. This surgery yields more predictable results and avoids having scars on the patient’s neck,” she adds. After the surgery Dr Zainab Nagree. Pic/Special Arrangement Post-operative therapy of many months, depending on each case, is as crucial a part as the main operation. Explaining this, Dr Zainab Nagree, consultant voice and swallowing therapist at Bombay Hospital, says, “The role of speech therapy is to aid patients’ voice recovery post-surgery. Speech therapy also addresses other aspects, such as resonance, loudness, intonation, pitch range, and stability. The therapist employs a variety of exercises and techniques to achieve this. Vocal exercises facilitate pitch stability and range. However, a feminine voice is not defined solely by pitch; other aspects, including resonance, loudness, and speaking manner, are also important. The speech therapist works on exercises to improve these aspects, targeting a brighter resonance, and more varied and expressive intonation. Loudness drills are conducted for range and volume stability, and some patients require guidance on accent and speaking manner isms.”
22 June,2025 08:02 AM IST | Mumbai | Ritika GondhalekarA pall of grief enveloped Rayle Compound in Badlapur on Saturday, as the mortal remains of 33-year-old Deepak Pathak — an Air India cabin crew member who lost his life in the tragic Ahmedabad plane crash — were brought home for his final rites. After a painful wait of several days, Pathak’s body was finally handed over to his family late on Friday night following DNA confirmation. Initially, the samples given by his two sisters did not match, prompting a fresh test using his mother’s DNA at Mumbai’s Civil Hospital. Once a match was established, his wife and both sisters travelled to Ahmedabad to complete the formalities. Pathak’s body was flown from Ahmedabad to Mumbai in a special aircraft on Friday night. On Saturday morning, an ambulance carried him from the airport to his residence in Badlapur. As the vehicle arrived at Rayle Compound, a heavy silence fell over the neighbourhood. A makeshift platform had been arranged near the building to receive the coffin with dignity. But as the casket was brought down, the silence broke into heart-wrenching wails. Pathak’s elderly parents, wife, and sisters were inconsolable. His father, barely able to speak, kept murmuring, “If he hadn’t boarded that flight, he would still be with us.” Neighbours and friends remembered him as a soft-spoken, hardworking young man — proud to serve with Air India, yet always humble and rooted in his community. At around 2.30 pm on Saturday, the funeral procession moved quietly to the Manjarli village crematorium. Colleagues from the airline, local residents, and well-wishers joined the grieving family for the last rites. As the pyre was lit, Badlapur bid farewell to one of its beloved sons — gone too soon, and deeply mourned. Pathak had served with Air India for several years and was part of the cabin crew on the ill-fated flight. His tragic death has not only shattered his family but also struck a chord across the aviation fraternity — a stark reminder of the risks silently faced by crew members in the line of duty.
22 June,2025 07:55 AM IST | Mumbai | Shrikant KhuperkarThe monsoon season, which officially set in over Mumbai on May 26, continues to bring moderate rainfall across the city. A slight increase in rainfall is expected over the next three days, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Mumbai has issued a yellow alert for June 22 until June 24, “We are expecting a slight increase in rainfall activity between June 22 and 24 as the westerly winds are strengthening and aligning,” said Sushma Nair, Scientist at RMC, IMD. According to the BMC, Mumbai is expected to record a maximum temperature of 32°C and a minimum of 25°C today. The BMC also said the city will witness the lowest tide at 1.30 am at 1.12 metres and the highest tide at 8.25 am, reaching 3.78 metres. As of Saturday morning (June 21), the water stock in Mumbai’s seven lakes had reached 25.87 per cent or 3,74,419 million litres, according to the BMC’s daily report. The total storage capacity of the lakes is 14,47,363 million litres. Despite the consistent rain, daytime temperatures remain around 32°C and humid. The IMD has clarified that these weather conditions are well within normal. “Even with the rain, the temperature around 32°C is considered normal for Mumbai in June. A variation of one or two degrees is quite usual,” Nair added. The yellow alert should not cause citizens to be alarmed, she said, as it is an update. Normal monsoon activity is expected to resume from June 25 onwards , with moderate rainfall and no disruption to daily life foreseen.
22 June,2025 07:32 AM IST | Mumbai | Ananya RajeIn what can be considered an important documentation, the Indian lionfish, a species of venomous marine fish, has been recorded for the first time along the Mumbai coast. The sighting highlights the rich marine biodiversity of the coast. Marine Researcher Raniya Ansari from Coastal Conservation Foundation (CCF) told Sunday mid-day that Pterois miles, commonly known as the Indian lionfish, is a venomous marine fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae (Scorpion fish). Native to the western Indo-Pacific region, this species is instantly recognisable by its bold zebra-like stripes, long fan-like pectoral fins, and venomous spines that serve as a potent defence mechanism against predators. It may be noted that the Indian lionfish plays an interesting ecological role, both as a predator and a cautionary indicator of environmental shifts. As an ambush predator, it feeds on smaller fish and invertebrates, helping regulate populations in its native reef ecosystems. However, in non-native regions, lionfish species are known to become invasive, outcompeting local species and altering food webs. “The sighting of the Indian lionfish, documented through citizen science, making it the first formal record of the region, is a powerful reminder that life thrives in our waters. It is because of curious, observant citizens that we are uncovering these stories from our shores. It is now more urgent than ever to recognise, respect, and protect the biodiversity that still persists here,” said Ansari CCF, along with the help of its team members, has been documenting and spreading awareness about marine biodiversity along the Mumbai coast.
22 June,2025 07:31 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavA tragic accident took place in Aarey Colony on Friday evening when a recklessly driven forklift ran over two men, killing one and severely injuring the other. The Aarey Police have registered a case under multiple sections of the IPC and Motor Vehicles Act and issued a notice to the driver involved. According to police sources, the incident occurred around 5 pm on Friday, near Modern Bakery in Gautam Nagar, Aarey Colony. The complainant, Nitesh Sunil Rai, 28, a businessman and resident of New Azad Nagar, Jogeshwari East, was on an outing with his friend Amar Dev Jaiswal, 26, on his two-wheeler. When the duo reached Gautam Nagar, a forklift being driven at high speed by the accused, Naim Ikrar Husain, 36, rammed into them. Rai suffered serious injuries to his left leg, while the vehicle’s tyre crushed Jaiswal’s abdomen, resulting in fatal injuries. “The driver said the forklift’s brakes failed, causing him to lose control. Trying to regain control, the driver began steering the forklift in different directions, during which it hit the two-wheeler. The front clip of the forklift was found entangled with the scooter,” said an officer from Aarey Colony police station. An FIR has been registered and the driver served notice. Police Sub-Inspector Raikar is investigating the case under the supervision of Senior Inspector Ravindra Patil of Aarey Police Station, the officer added.
22 June,2025 07:24 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanADVERTISEMENT
