The Thane traffic police on Tuesday announced major traffic diversions on Ghodbunder Road in the district due to repair works at Gaimukh Ghat. The traffic police said that repair works will begin from 11:55 pm on April 29, 2025 and will go on till 11:55 pm on May 1, 2025. The repair works will be carried out using Cement Grouted Penetration Macadam (CGPM) and Cement Base (CB) methods. To avoid traffic congestion and ensure smooth flow of vehicles, specific entry points for heavy vehicles will be temporarily closed, the police said. The fresh traffic notification was issued by the Thane traffic police days after it had announced that the movements on Ghodbunder Road in Thane district of Maharashtra would be affected due to planned road repair works which was scheduled on April 26. Thane: Traffic diversions on Ghodbunder Road from April 29 to May 1 due to Gaimukh Ghat repairs#Thane #traffic #Ghodbunder #news VC: Sources https://t.co/C4FuMvPC3l pic.twitter.com/UqqwaOk8u9 — Mid Day (@mid_day) April 29, 2025 The earlier traffic notification had said the road repair works at the Gaimukh Ghat section on the Thane-Ghodbunder Road (State Highway No. 84), was undertaken from April 26, 2025 to April 27, 2025. The traffic diversion notification issued on Tuesday said that following alternative routes have been made for motorists during the repair works- Traffic Changes – Thane to Ghodbunder direction - Heavy Vehicles from Mumbai/Thane towards Ghodbunder Road: Entry closed at Y Junction and Kapurbawdi Junction Alternative Route A: From Y Junction, take Nashik Road via Kharegaon Toll Naka – Mankoli – Anjur Phata to reach destination. Alternative Route B: From Kapurbawdi Junction, turn right towards Kasheli – Anjur Phata – destination. -Heavy Vehicles from Mumbra/Kalwa towards Ghodbunder Road: Entry closed at Kharegaon Toll Naka Alternative Route: Take Kharegaon Khadi Bridge underpass – Kharegaon Toll Naka – Mankoli – Anjur Phata – destination. - Heavy Vehicles from Nashik towards Ghodbunder Road: Entry closed at Mankoli Naka Alternative Route: Go under Mankoli Bridge – turn right – continue via Anjur Phata. From Ghodbunder to Thane direction - Heavy Vehicles from Gujarat towards Ghodbunder Road: Entry closed at Chinchoti Naka - Heavy Vehicles from Mumbai/Virar/Vasai towards Ghodbunder Road: Entry closed near Fountain Hotel Alternative Route: From Chinchoti Naka, take Kaman – Anjur Phata – Mankoli – Bhiwandi route to reach destination. The traffic notification will be in effect from the night of 29 April at until 1 May 2025 at 11:55 pm, the traffic police said.
29 April,2025 06:49 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA major fire broke out in a building housing an electronics goods showroom in the suburban Bandra area in the early hours of Tuesday, with the NDRF also being called in for firefighting operations, officials said. There were no immediate reports of any injuries in the blaze, they said. "Following a request from the Mumbai Fire Brigade, a team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was mobilised and reached the spot at 7.50 am," a civic spokesperson said. A major fire broke out early Tuesday morning at a building housing an electronics goods showroom in Bandra West, officials said. The fire erupted around 4:10 a.m. at the Croma showroom located in the basement of Link Square Mall, a three-storey commercial complex on Linking Road. The Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) received the first report at 4:11 a.m. Officials said the incident was initially classified as a Level I fire at 4:17 a.m., escalated to Level II at 4:28 a.m., and was declared a Level III fire — the highest severity — by 4:49 a.m. The blaze was largely confined to the basement of the showroom, but thick smoke quickly spread throughout the entire building, which includes three basement levels, a ground floor, and three upper floors, severely hampering visibility. Twelve fire engines, supported by other firefighting vehicles, were dispatched to the scene to battle the flames. Several agencies, including the Mumbai Fire Brigade, Mumbai Police, Adani Electricity, the Public Works Department (PWD), and local ward staff, responded to the emergency. Senior fire officials — including a Divisional Fire Officer (DFO), two Assistant Divisional Fire Officers (ADFOs), three Senior Station Officers (Sr. SOs), and three Station Officers (SOs) — led the operation. Resources deployed included 12 fire engines, nine jumbo water tankers, two breathing apparatus vans, a rescue van, and a water quick response vehicle. A 108 emergency ambulance was also stationed at the site as a precautionary measure. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. This incident marks the second major early-morning fire in Mumbai in just two days. On Sunday, a significant blaze broke out at a building housing the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office in the Ballard Estate area. The fire brigade received a call about the blaze at the multistorey Kaiser-I-Hind building, which houses the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office, near the Grand Hotel on Currimbhoy Road around 2:31 am on Sunday. Fire brigade teams rushed to the spot and began firefighting operations. Around 3:30 am, the fire was upgraded to Level-II, which is generally considered a major fire, the fire brigade control room confirmed. A civic official said the fire was confined to the fourth floor of the five-storey building. The official said eight fire engines, six jumbo tankers, one aerial water tower tender, one breathing apparatus van, one rescue van, one quick response vehicle, and an ambulance from the 108 service had been deployed to the spot.
29 April,2025 05:27 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Commerce and Industry Ministry on Tuesday stated that Croatia has expressed its interest in investment in the Indian defence sector, solar cells production, food processing technology, automobiles and knowledge sharing amongst other sectors. Croatia extended the offer during the bilateral discussions held between Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal and his Croatian counterparts Zdenko Lucic, State Secretary for Foreign Trade and Development, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, and Ivo Milatic, State Secretary, Ministry of Economy. Ministry of Commerce and Industry further added that the meetings focused on advancing India-Croatia trade and investment relations, promoting sectoral collaboration, and reinforcing India's engagement with the Central European region, as per news agency ANI. During the meeting with Zdenko Lucic, State Secretary for Foreign Trade and Development, discussions were centred around taking forward the EU-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and enhancing bilateral trade cooperation, the Ministry added in the statement. The Commerce Secretary referred to the visit of the EU President and 27 Commissioners to India as the first visit of the College of Commissioners outside the European continent since the start of their new mandate and also the first such visit in the history of India-EU bilateral ties, reported ANI. Commerce Secretary mentioned the areas of collaboration between the two countries, such as Railways, Global Capability Centres, Electric Vehicles, IT, etc. In the meeting of Commerce Secretary with Ivo Milatic, State Secretary, Ministry of Economy, discussion was centred on promoting investment flows, and enhancing cooperation across key sectors including Healthcare, Education, Tourism, Entertainment (mentioned about WAVES summit), Supply-Chain integration, Logistics, Transports, Pharmaceuticals, Digital Technology, Renewable Energy and Manufacturing, reported news agency ANI. According to ANI, for the third Session of the Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation, which is due, both sides exchanged their views on improving the work of the commission with more frequent meetings and directly connecting the entrepreneurs of both countries for a stronger and faster progress, the Ministry added in the statement. The Commerce Secretary also participated in a business interaction event "Exploring Economic Cooperation Opportunities between India and Croatia," organised by the Croatian Chamber of Economy (CCE), where he met with the heads of various industry associations and leading Croatian business representatives. A presentation on the Croatian Economy, the trade and investment relations between India and Croatia and Industries potential on key sectors of mutual interest was shown. (With ANI inputs)
29 April,2025 02:42 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMumbai’s Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Vanaspati Udyan and Zoo recently celebrated the birth of three Humboldt penguin chicks—Noddy, Tom, and Pingu—bringing the zoo’s penguin population to 21. This marks the first successful hatching at the zoo in over a year. Mumbai’s Byculla Zoo has welcomed three new Humboldt penguin chicks named Noddy, Tom, and Pingu, born in March to two penguin pairs.This is the first penguin birth at the zoo in over a year, bringing the total count to 21.While they are now open for public viewing, the chicks… pic.twitter.com/P9BTGejuqJ — Mid Day (@mid_day) April 29, 2025 The chicks were born to three different pairs of penguin parents. Popeye and Olive welcomed Noddy on March 4, while Daisy and Donald saw the arrival of Tom and Pingu on March 7 and March 11, respectively. Their birth was officially announced on April 25, coinciding with World Penguin Day. २५ एप्रिल - जागतिक पेंग्विन दिवस.25 April - World Penguin Day.Watch VIRTUALLY WILD | EPISODE 02 | HUMBOLDT PENGUIN: A SUCCESSFUL JOURNEY > on THE MUMBAI ZOO YouTube Channel.#themumbaizoo #wildlife #birds #penguinday #25april #bycullazoo #ranibagh pic.twitter.com/UMeyFXRQCA — The Mumbai Zoo (@TheMumbaiZoo) April 25, 2025 Though the chicks—affectionately called the zoo’s “tiniest waddlers”—are thriving, they remain mostly within their nests and are not yet fully visible to the public. Zoo officials report that the parents are feeding the chicks by chewing food and passing it on directly. The penguins, whose average age is between 6–7 years, are part of a successful breeding program that has garnered praise from zoos across India. To support future expansion, the zoo has proposed an additional 400-square-foot enclosure capable of housing up to 40 penguins. In 2023, the Byculla Zoo celebrated the birth of three Humboldt penguins — Coco and Stella (females), and Jerry (male) — born to three different pairs. With the recent arrival of more chicks, the zoo’s penguin population has now risen to 21. However, the growing numbers have sparked logistical concerns. In response, the zoo has initiated animal exchange proposals, offering some of its penguins in hopes of acquiring other species. Yet, the initiative has seen no success so far, largely due to the high maintenance costs associated with penguin care. This has raised alarms over the potential space crunch at the zoo’s current penguin enclosure. “In 2016, we brought eight penguins into the zoo. Over the years, we have made sure that their habitat is taken care of so that they can live properly and breed as well. We also created rocky crevices in their habitat where the penguins could build their nest and lay eggs. Though we did not have any new hatchlings last year, three chicks joined the family in March. All of them are healthy and will start swimming as well in about three months,” Dr Abhishek Satam, zoo biologist, stated.
29 April,2025 02:06 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe police on Tuesday said that an 18-year-old girl riding pillion on a scooter died after a speeding truck ran over her in south Mumbai, reported news agency PTI. Police have apprehended the truck driver, who fled from the spot after the accident, an official said. He said the accident occurred on VP Road on Monday afternoon when the scooter attempted to overtake the heavy vehicle, reported PTI. Siya Uttam Mehta, who was riding a pillion, fell off the two-wheeler and was crushed under the rear wheels of the truck, the official said, reported PTI. He said the victim's friend riding the scooter didn't possess a driving licence. The official said she applied brakes, causing the two-wheeler to skid, and both girls fell, reported PTI. The victim was declared dead by doctors at the state-run J J Hospital, he said, adding that a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita and Motor Vehicles Act has been registered against the truck driver. Four killed as SUV collides with container truck in Maharashtra's Bhandara district In another incident, four persons were killed after an SUV collided with a container truck in Maharashtra's Bhandara district, police said, reported PTI. The accident occurred around 9.45 pm on Sunday when the SUV with five occupants, including the driver, was heading towards Nagpur from Balaghat, a senior official told PTI. He said the SUV was trying to overtake a vehicle when it collided head-on with a container truck. Four occupants of the vehicle died, while the driver sustained injuries and is undergoing treatment at a hospital, the official said, reported PTI. The police have registered a first information report (FIR), and further investigations are underway, he said. Two dead, one injured as truck hits scooter in Nagpur Two persons were killed and one injured after their scooter was hit by a speeding truck in Nagpur, a police official said on Saturday, reported PTI. The incident took place on Friday morning on Jalbalpur road, the Old Kamptee police station official said. "Saurav Wase (26), Shahrukh Khan Kadir Khan (30) and Praveen Pochpongale (24) were returning after lunch when the incident took place. Wase and Khan died, while Pochpongale is injured," he said, reported PTI. People chased down truck driver Bhimkumar Jharia (35) and thrashed him before handing him over to police, the official said, reported PTI. (With inputs from PTI)
29 April,2025 01:48 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Deccan Queen, India’s first electric express train, has been in a rare gesture, running with diesel locomotives since April 18. Not that it has affected journey timelines, but commuters, old timers and railfans have seen this as a fall of prestige for the iconic train and that too in the year Indian Railways is celebrating the centenary of its electrification. A major shortage of electric locos has hit the Mumbai-Pune rail section as almost all of the trains, like the Pragati Express, Sinhagad Express, Intercity Express, Deccan Express have now been converted to be used by diesel engines. Sources said the trains used to be hauled by a special class of engines classified as WCAM3, which has been Central Railway’s unique class capable of hauling trains in both Alternating Current (AC) and Direct Current (DC) power modes. But these engines have now started ageing and are unable to perform well any longer. It all started a few weeks ago when loco pilots operating trains between the Mumbai and Pune section started complaining in their logbooks that the WCAM3 engines were unable to climb the steep ghat section (1:37 gradient) at Khandala and had a lot of issues leading to detention of trains affecting punctuality. “The engines used to lose power and were unable to negotiate the steep inclines. We logged a complaint accordingly. The ideal replacement would have been the WAP4 or WAP7 or any other compatible electric locomotives able to perform heavy duties. But Central Railway has been facing a shortage of electric locos and hence decided to bring in diesel locomotives to haul all Mumbai-Pune trains, which is a comparatively shorter haul as diesel locos were available and lying unused at the workshops,” a loco pilot said on the condition of anonymity. However, sources said there has been a shortage of electric locomotives as most of the workshops are busy with other priorities. A CR spokesperson confirmed the development and said that there had indeed been a shortage of required electric locos, and they had requisitioned the railway board. “The change is technical and passengers or the journey timelines are not affected in any way,” he added. Another railway official said this was likely to continue till September 2025, by which time, CR will be able to procure electric locomotives. Also, there is a long-term plan to manufacture 264 new WAP7 class locos in 2025-26 and 365 in 2026-27. Voices Kaushik Dharwadkar, railway enthusiastDeccan Queen was introduced by the Great Indian Peninsula Railway (now Central Railway) to let its passengers know that the distance between Mumbai and Pune has been brought down by half due to the swiftness offered by electric traction. She is India’s first superfast train to have electric locomotives from the day of her inception. It hurts to the core when our beloved Deccan Queen, who has already become a bit distant due to its incongruous livery, now seems even more distant from rail enthusiasts’ hearts after they see it is being hauled by a diesel locomotive. The very zone in the entire Indian Railways that once had its own power generating plant, i.e. Kalyan Vijlee Ghar or Chola power house at Thakurli, and people pan India used to see this as a benchmark for comparison with other railway zones,” said avid electric railway expert Kaushik Dharwadkar. Harshad Joshi, railway enthusiast“Railways decided to go ahead with 100 per cent electrification without considering the availability of adequate electric locomotives. It is very disappointing to see a heritage train like Deccan Queen getting diesel locomotives due to this mismanagement,” said commuter and rail fan Harshad Joshi. Vijay Aravamudhan, rail enthusiast“An iconic train and a unique symbol of the CR Mumbai and Pune divisions has systematically lost its importance and pride, thanks to the callous and insensitive attitude of both the CR and the Railway Board. This train was always hauled by an electric locomotive, but now that pride is also gone, with diesel engines taking over, along with end-on-generation cars at the rear, causing pollution. Central Railway seems to know best how to degrade its heritage value and uniqueness,” rail expert Vijay Aravamudhan said.
29 April,2025 12:41 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarThe Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has announced a special heritage tour-- 'Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Circuit' by Bharat Gaurav Train, the officials said. The tour, a 5-day journey, has been designed to showcase the life, legacy, and landmarks associated with the great Maratha warrior, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. An official statement said that the tour, starting on June 9, 2025, will be conducted aboard the Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train, offering travellers an immersive experience across key historical and spiritual sites linked to Shivaji Maharaj’s life. The journey will begin and end at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Mumbai, with boarding also available at Dadar and Thane, it said. The IRCTC shared the details of the tour, with the itinerary including visits to the following- - Raigad Fort – the site of Shivaji Maharaj’s coronation and former capital of the Maratha kingdom. - Lal Mahal and Kasba Ganpati in Pune – significant to Shivaji Maharaj’s early life. - Shivneri Fort – his birthplace. - Pratapgarh Fort – site of his legendary battle with Afzal Khan. - Panhala Fort – remembered for Baji Prabhu Deshpande’s bravery. - Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga Temple and Mahalakshmi Temple in Kolhapur are also included as part of the pilgrimage aspect of the tour. The tour duration and its schedule include the following- - The journey spans 5 days, with early morning arrival in Mumbai on the 6th day. - Key destinations include Mumbai, Raigad, Pune, Shivneri, Bhimashankar, Pratapgarh, Kolhapur, and Panhala. Additional Pilgrimage Sites included in the itinerary: - Bhimashankar- Jyotirlinga Temple. - Kolhapur- Mahalakshmi Temple: an important Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Mahalakshmi, who is worshipped by locals as Ambabai The tour is available in three categories: Economy (Sleeper Class): Rs 13,155 Comfort (3AC): Rs 19,840 Superior (2AC): Rs 27,365 - AC/Non-AC hotel stays based on package - Onboard and offboard vegetarian meals - Local sightseeing with entry fees - Ropeway charges at Raigad and entry to monuments - Not included are personal expenses, optional sightseeing, tips, and adventure activities. The passengers can book through www.irctctourism.com or call our staff on 8287931886 for assistance in planning their tour. 8287931886 is a common number for Tourism planning and booking for all of Maharashtra and Goa. Earlier this month, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis had announced tour train, aimed to showcase rich heritage of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. CM Fadnavis had made the announcement during a joint press conference which was held on April 11 at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai along Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav.
29 April,2025 12:30 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra BJP president and minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Tuesday criticised Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar's statement on the Pahalgam terror attack, reported news agency ANI. Wadettiwar had sparked a row with his statement "do terrorists have time to ask about religion?" Bawankule termed the Congress leader's remark as very "shameful" and "insensitive" stating that PM Modi will teach a "lesson" to Pakistan. #WATCH | Nagpur: On Vijay Wadettiwar's statement on Pahalgam terror attack, Maharashtra minister and state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule says, "He has made an insensitive, very shameless statement regarding the Pahalgam attack. He has no right to make such a statement. Modi… pic.twitter.com/yHO8hgf15V — ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2025 "He has made an insensitive, very shameless statement regarding the Pahalgam terror attack. He has no right to make such a statement. Modi ji will teach Pakistan a good lesson. In such a situation, the whole country stands with Modi ji...", Bawankule told reporters in Nagpur. "Do terrorists have time for all this? Some people say that this did not happen. Terrorists have no caste or religion. Catch those who are responsible and take action. This is the sentiment of the country", Wadettiwar said in his statement. However, as the matter began to heat up, Wadettiwar released a video stating that terrorists' actions aimed to "make the country unstable" and incite division between religions. "If they (terrorists) asked religion, then this was done to make the country unstable, to create conflict between the two communities. Terrorists asked people to read 'Kalma'. This is Pakistan's politics to hurt our country. Hindu-Muslim communities should not be divided over this. Terrorists have no religion. Their only aim is to destroy the country", the Congress leader said in a video released by his office. He reaffirmed Congress's support for any action the central government decides to take against Pakistan in response to the attack. "We believe that the guides and drivers in Kashmir who helped tourists have shown humanity by leaving religion and caste behind. Congress will stand together with the government on any measures they take," he said The terror attack on April 22 in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, killed 26 people, including one Nepali citizen, and targeted tourists. Following the attack, India has taken strong measures against Pakistan for its support of cross-border terrorism. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis hit out at the senior Congress leader over his remarks and said that such statements "add insult to injury" for the family members of the victims, who were killed in the Pahalgam terror attack. "Such statements add insult to injury for those who have lost their relatives. We all have seen what the family members of the victims have said. They were killed before them, and they have said this," Fadnavis said.
29 April,2025 12:24 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondentThe city continued experiencing hot and humid weather on Tuesday, with the maximum temperature reaching 34.2 degrees Celsius. According to the latest Mumbai weather updates from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Mumbai is expected to experience a mainly clear sky on Tuesday, April 29. Temperatures will range from a cool 26 degrees Celsius in the morning to a warm 33 degrees Celsius during the day. The sun rose at 06:49 AM and will set at 06:47 PM. According to the Mumbai weather updates of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Santacruz observatory in suburban Mumbai recorded a maximum temperature of 33.5 degrees Celsius and a minimum temperature of 25.3 degrees Celsius. The weather department's data showed that the city observatory in Colaba recorded a maximum temperature of 34.2 degrees Celsius and a minimum temperature of 26 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. The mercury is expected to touch 40 degrees Celsius as May draws near. Meanwhile, the major civic-run hospitals in the city that lack special facilities for heatstroke cases altogether are the Topiwala National Medical College and BYL Nair Hospital, Seth Gordhandas Sunderdas Medical College and KEM Hospital, Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College and Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital (Sion Hospital), and Hindu Hriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Medical College and RN Cooper Hospital. Mumbai weather updates: City's AQI in 'good' category On April 29, 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 9:05 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 91. Byculla, Malad and Kandivali recorded 'good' air quality with an AQI of 62, 72 and 79, respectively. Chembur, Ghatkopar and Mazgaon recorded 'good' air quality, with an AQI of 71, 58 and 64, respectively. Meanwhile, Borivali recorded 'moderate' air quality, with an AQI of 190. According to data from the SAMEER app, Navi Mumbai recorded air quality in the 'good' category with an AQI of 93, 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'.
29 April,2025 12:15 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFormer Mumbai mayor and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Datta Dalvi joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena more than a year after he was arrested for using abusive language against him. In 2023, Dalvi was arrested by Mumbai police for using "abusive language" against Shinde. He was later released on bail. Dalvi, incidentally hails from Vikhroli, which is represented in the Maharashtra assembly by Sunil Raut, brother of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut. Apart from Dalvi, several Sena (UBT) functionaries from Mumbai, including from frontal organisations, joined the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, the development coming ahead of the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls. Functionaries from Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and NCP (SP) from Jalgaon also joined the Shiv Sena. Shinde said 40-50 former corporators of Sena (UBT) have returned to the "original Shiv Sena". The Deputy Chief Minister said so far 70 former corporators from Mumbai have joined the Shiv Sena. Shinde, who is also the chief leader of Shiv Sena, said the next target is to secure local bodies in the state. After the Mahayuti government came to power, it took decisive steps to clean and revitalize Mumbai. For the first time since the British era, the streets of Mumbai were thoroughly washed, said Shiv Sena’s senior leader and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Shinde criticised how some individuals had treated the BMC as their personal fiefdom. Under Mahayuti’s leadership, however, stalled development projects in Mumbai have resumed, and efforts are underway to ensure Mumbaikars receive rightful housing and improved healthcare facilities. For the past two and a half years, leaders and workers across political parties have been joining Shiv Sena. “We are committed to furthering the ideology of Balasaheb Thackeray and Dharmaveer Anand Dighe and accelerating developmental projects. We deliver on our promises—that is why lakhs of workers are joining Shiv Sena,” said Shinde. Reflecting on recent electoral performances, he noted: “When we contested 80 seats, we won 60. But at the same time, they contested 100 seats, they could win only 20. The people have made it clear who the real Shiv Sena is. Our next goal is to raise the saffron flag over all local bodies.” He criticized his opponents for refusing to introspect. “Instead of asking why their members are leaving, they call defectors garbage. But how can one person be right and millions wrong?” he asked pointedly.
29 April,2025 11:57 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentNCP leader Zeeshan Siddique on Tuesday blamed the fire department for failing to control the Bandra blaze that broke out at the Croma showroom located in the Link Square Mall, reported news agency ANI. A fire broke out early Tuesday morning at the Croma showroom, located in the basement of Link Square Mall, situated on Linking Road in Bandra West, Mumbai, according to officials. The fire was first reported at 4:11 AM, and by 4:49 AM, the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) had declared it a Level-III fire, indicating a serious situation. Speaking to the media persons, NCP leader Zeeshan Siddique said, "We have been here since 4 AM. The fire department has failed to control the fire... It could have easily been controlled initially, but the fire officers were ill-equipped. There was just a small spark in the basement of the Croma store, and it could have been easily controlled if action had been taken in time. However, the fire officers were not properly equipped, and even when they had the necessary equipment, they didn't use it correctly," reported ANI. Siddique alleged that the Bandra blaze, which began as a small spark around 4 AM, could have been easily brought under control if the fire brigade had responded effectively. "We kept requesting them to supply more water, but nothing was done. Even when some parts of the store were still burning, they were unable to handle the situation. When we arrived at 4 AM, no one from the fire brigade or police was there. I had to call the Special Commissioner at 6 AM before anything happened. I warned them that there were gas cylinders in the restaurants above and that this could lead to a massive explosion. Still, no one took it seriously. It's really unfortunate. Many officers in the Mumbai Fire Brigade are capable, but without proper equipment or training, their efforts are wasted. If there were 100 people inside that building, many lives could have been lost. We have videos showing how poorly the situation was handled. This is a very serious issue, and the officer in charge must be held responsible for the damage caused," Siddique told ANI. He also pointed out that there was no presence of a fire brigade or police officials when he arrived. Siddique further warned that the situation could have been far more dangerous due to gas cylinders stored in restaurants above the fire site. A fire broke out at a showroom and has now engulfed the entire mall.
29 April,2025 11:41 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
