Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Lok Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) Narayan Rane on Sunday hinted at retiring from active politics, saying he has "decided to sit at home" and focus on his family's business interests, news agency PTI reported. The 73-year-old former Maharashtra Chief Minister also pointed to the prevalence of conspiracies in politics today, which strengthened his resolve to step back from public life. "Now I have decided to sit at home. I will tell my two sons to live a content life. After me, developmental politics will be carried forward by Nilesh (Shiv Sena) and Nitesh (state minister). When they call, respond to them," Rane told party workers at a public felicitation held in his home district of Sindhudurg, 450 kilometres from Mumbai. The veteran leader said advancing age and exhaustion had influenced his decision, PTI reported. With both his sons well settled in politics, he said it was time for someone in the family to focus on business affairs. Speaking emotionally, Rane urged party workers to continue good work and remain committed to public service. Reflecting on his long political journey, he said he still lived a simple life and considered humanity his true religion. He acknowledged facing obstacles and opposition in the past and present but chose not to speak about those who worked against him. Addressing Mahayuti workers, Rane called for unity, cautioning against indulging in politics solely for financial gain, saying such gains do not last, PTI reported. He also warned against hatred in politics and emphasised prioritising the party over personal interests. Rane said he had been deeply touched by the love shown by the people of Sindhudurg after his Lok Sabha victory and asserted that his contributions to the district’s development were unmatched. He challenged critics to name any leader, past or present, who had done comparable work. Rane served as Maharashtra Chief Minister in 1999 with the undivided Shiv Sena, later joined Congress and held ministerial positions several times. He switched to the BJP, served as a Union minister between 2021 and 2024, and won the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg. (With PTI inputs)
04 January,2026 10:01 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAt least two persons were killed after rocks collapsed at an unauthorised stone quarry in Odisha's Dhenkanal district, officials said on Sunday, reported news agency PTI. The incident took place on Saturday evening when some workers were engaged in drilling and exploration of stone from the quarry located near Gopalpur village under Motanga police station limits in the district, they said. Rescue teams rushed to spot The exact cause behind the incident is not yet clear. Teams of local fire service, Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), along with dog squad were engaged in rescue operations, an officer said, reported PTI. Dhenkanal Collector Ashish Ishwar Patil and SP Abhinav Sonkar have reached the spot to supervise the rescue operation, reported PTI. Victims identified as migrant workers "As per available information, only two persons were there, and two bodies were recovered. One person belonged to Balasore district, while another deceased was from either Keonjhar or Mayurbhanj district. Their identities have not yet been established," Patil told reporters. Quarry lease and blasting permission had expired Blasting permission at the stone quarry expired in September while its lease period ended in December 2025, he said. "We will take legal action against the mine lease holder as blasting and mining continued at the quarry after expiry of the lease period," Patil said, reported PTI. The collector said that enforcement drives against illegal mining in the district will be strengthened in the coming days. The stone quarry was sealed following the incident. Local Tahsildar Manoj Majhi said police personnel will be deployed at the quarry so that no one can enter the area, reported PTI. Naveen Patnaik expresses grief, seeks probe Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik, in a post on X said, "I am deeply saddened to learn that workers lost their lives due to a rockfall following an explosion in a stone quarry in Dhenkanal. At this sorrowful time, I convey my deepest condolences to the family members, along with prayers for the eternal peace of the departed souls. "Let appropriate investigations be conducted into the circumstances under which this incident occurred and the state of the workers' safety measures, and let the government direct its attention toward immediately expediting rescue operations."
04 January,2026 02:37 PM IST | Bhubaneswar | mid-day online correspondentDera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, who is serving a 20-year jail term for raping two of his disciples and is currently lodged in the Sunaria jail in Haryana's Rohtak, was again granted a 40-day parole, sources told PTI on Sunday. Latest parole comes months after similar relief granted in August last year His latest parole comes months after he was granted a similar parole in August last year. Singh will come out of prison for the 15th time since he was convicted in 2017. Ram Rahim serving 20-year sentence in rape case, also convicted in journalist murder The Dera Sacha Sauda head is serving a 20-year sentence given in 2017 for raping two of his disciples. Singh and three others were also convicted in 2019 for the murder of a journalist more than 16 years ago. He was granted a 21-day furlough in April 2025 and a 30-day parole in January 2025, ahead of the February 5 Delhi assembly polls. Similarly, he was allowed a 20-day parole on October 1, 2024, days before the October 5 Haryana assembly polls. In August 2024, Singh was granted a 21-day furlough. He was also permitted a three-week furlough from February 7, 2022, barely two weeks before the Punjab assembly polls. Prior to his latest parole, Singh has come out of prison 14 times since being convicted in 2017. Sikh bodies have repeatedly opposed repeated parole to Dera chief Sikh organisations, such as Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, have in the past criticised the grant of relief to Singh. In May 2024, the Punjab and Haryana High Court acquitted Singh and four others in the 2002 murder of the sect's former manager Ranjit Singh, citing "tainted and sketchy" investigations into the matter. Earlier, a special CBI court sentenced them to life imprisonment in this case. It held Singh guilty of hatching a criminal conspiracy with his co-accused. On many of the 13 occasions in the past, when Singh was out of jail, he remained at the Dera's ashram in Uttar Pradesh's Bagpat district. The Sirsa-headquartered Dera Sacha Sauda has a number of followers in Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and other states. In Haryana, the Dera has a sizable number of followers in many districts, including Sirsa, Fatehabad, Kurukshetra, Kaithal and Hisar. (With inputs from PTI)
04 January,2026 02:29 PM IST | Chandigarh | mid-day online correspondentThe Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Saturday advised Indian nationals to avoid all non-essential travel to Venezuela amid the unfolding situation in the South American nation. It also urged Indians currently in Venezuela to exercise extreme caution, remain in contact with the Indian Embassy in Caracas, and share an emergency helpline number for assistance. "In view of recent developments in Venezuela, Indian nationals are strongly advised to avoid all non-essential travel to Venezuela. All Indians who are in Venezuela for any reason are advised to exercise extreme caution, restrict their movements, and remain in contact with the Embassy of India in Caracas through their email id: cons.caracas@mea.gov.in or the emergency phone number +58-412-9584288 (also for WhatsApp calls)," MEA said in a statement. The advisory comes after Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured in Caracas and flown out of the country in a joint operation involving intelligence agencies and US law enforcement, leading to heightened tensions and uncertainty. Earlier, Donald Trump said that Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, who were captured in Caracas during a US military operation, have been indicted on charges of alleged "drug trafficking and narco-terrorism conspiracies" in the Southern District of New York, and will face trial. He said that American forces, working with law enforcement agencies, captured Maduro and his wife in a night-time operation. While addressing a press conference in Florida, Trump said, "No nation in the world could achieve what America achieved yesterday or frankly, in just a short period of time. All Venezuelan military capacities were rendered powerless as the men and women of our military, working with US law enforcement, successfully captured Maduro in the dead of night." "It was dark, and it was deadly, but he was captured along with his wife, Cilia Flores, both of whom now face American justice. Maduro and Flores have been indicted in the Southern District of New York," he said. According to an unsealed indictment shared by Attorney General Pamela Bondi on X, Maduro and Flores face multiple counts of statutory allegations related to "drug trafficking and narco-terrorism conspiracies". The capture of Maduro comes amid rising tensions between the United States and Venezuela. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
04 January,2026 12:51 PM IST | New Delhi | ANIAmid chaos over water contamination in Indore, District Collector Shivam Verma said that nearly 5,000 houses have been surveyed and chlorine dosing has been completed in all borewells following the water contamination crisis in the Bhagirathpura area. Speaking to ANI, he said 149 people remain hospitalised. "We started the ring survey, and we have completed the survey of approximately 5,000 houses. Of the 65 people in whom symptoms were found, we have sent 15 to the hospital. Currently, 149 people are hospitalised, and 205 have recovered and returned home," Verma said. "A survey team has also arrived. They have shared some information. We have completed chlorine dosing for all our borewells. Some samples have also been taken. After the sample reports come in, we will take action accordingly," he added. The water contamination incident in Indore's Bhagirathpura has sparked widespread criticism after it claimed several lives and affected many families. Earlier, Indore mayor Pushyamitra Bhargav announced that a water supply survey would be conducted across the city over the next seven days and that complaints related to leaks would be resolved within 48 hours. Speaking to ANI, Bhargav said, "The team is continuously working in Bhagirathpura to ensure that people receive clean water regularly. The entire staff and team of the Indore Municipal Corporation are working among the people. Any complaints or requests are being addressed immediately." He further said, "Under the direction of the Chief Minister, a survey regarding water supply will be conducted throughout Indore over the next seven days. Any complaints or information about leaks will be addressed within 48 hours." Notably, several residents have said they do not trust the tanker water supplied by the municipal corporation and are hesitant to use it for drinking. Many residents are instead purchasing packaged drinking water and water cans from the market. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
04 January,2026 12:44 PM IST | Indore | ANIIndia’s first government hospital-based Artificial Intelligence clinic was inaugurated at the Government Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS). The AI clinic was inaugurated online by the Additional Director General of Health Services, Government of India. It aims to integrate AI tools into routine clinical practice and provide a real-world testing ground for AI-based healthcare startups. Officials said AI adoption would reduce treatment time and improve diagnostic accuracy. GIMS Director Brigadier (Dr) Rakesh Kumar Gupta said the initiative would “create direct access for innovation to reach doctors and patients” and called it “the need of the hour” for modernising government hospitals. The inauguration saw participation from over 100 experts, including doctors, researchers and policymakers from India and abroad. Collaborations with IIT Kanpur, IIT Madras, and IIIT Lucknow will focus on medical imaging, clinical decision support systems and data-driven care. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
04 January,2026 08:23 AM IST | Noida | AgenciesThe Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) has asked Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from its squad ahead of the IPL’s 2026 edition amid the growing strain in bilateral ties between the two countries. KKR had acquired the services of the 30-year-old left-armer for Rs 9.2 crore from a base price of Rs 2 crore after an intense bidding war with Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals. Mustafizur Rahman and Shah Rukh Khan BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said, “Upon request, BCCI will allow a replacement player.” In a statement, KKR said, “We confirm that BCCI/IPL, as the regulator of IPL, has instructed it to release Mustafizur Rahman from the squad ahead of the upcoming IPL season.” The pressure had been mounting on the BCCI over Rahman’s participation after the recent killing of a Hindu man in the country. The criticism has also extended to KKR co-owner Shah Rukh Khan with some BJP politicians questioning the call. As a result, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has decided to approach ICC for a change of venue for their matches during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup that India will be hosting jointly with Sri Lanka. Bangladesh is scheduled to play matches against the West Indies (Feb 7, 2026), Italy (Feb 9), and England (Feb 14) at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata and Nepal (Feb 17) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
04 January,2026 08:19 AM IST | Guwahati | AgenciesThe water contamination tragedy in Madhya Pradesh’s commercial capital Indore has left people shunning municipal tap supply and scurrying for bottled water, putting a financial strain on those with limited means. Stall owners are using bottled water to make tea to reassure customers of safety. Despite using bottled water, the price of tea has not been increased, pointed out tea stall owner Tushar Verma. According to officials, six people have died and more than 200 were hospitalised in an outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea caused by contaminated drinking water in Bhagirathpura, which has a large population from low and middle-income groups. The death figures, however, vary, ranging from 10 to 16. “Yes, we are now scared of drinking water from municipal taps. We need proof that the water is clean, only then will we drink it. My family is currently buying drinking water jars from the market, paying between Rs 20 and Rs 30 per jar,” Sunita, a resident of Marathi Mohalla, said on Saturday. She claimed the area was getting “dirty water” from taps for the past two to three years, but no one listened to the complaints of residents. “For a long time now, we have been adding alum (sulphate salt used for water purification) and also boiling water before drinking,” Sunita added. Many residents are drinking from water tankers. Pics/PTI Meanwhile, the local administration has got down to creating awareness about safe water use. “An information, education, and communication (IEC) campaign is being run in Bhagirathpura through NGO workers. These workers are telling people to boil water for 15 minutes before drinking it and to use only drinking water currently being supplied through municipal tankers,” District Magistrate Shivam Verma said. Chlorination is underway in municipal water supply pipelines and tube wells in Bhagirathpura, he added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
04 January,2026 08:16 AM IST | Indore | AgenciesMaharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar on Saturday accused the BJP’s local leadership of failing to deliver development in Pune and urged voters to support his party in the January 15 Maharashtra local body elections. Addressing a press conference, Pawar said that despite the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) having sufficient financial resources, residents continued to face serious civic problems. "Pune Municipal Corporation is among the largest civic bodies in the state, yet citizens have not received adequate amenities. Traffic problems remain unresolved even today,” Pawar said, adding that the NCP would make every effort to ensure development across the city, according to the PTI. Citing the TomTom Traffic Index, Pawar said Pune ranks fourth globally for traffic congestion. "It takes nearly 33 minutes to travel just 10 kilometres in Pune. Congestion is visible across the city, and in some areas bridges and flyovers have even had to be demolished,” he said. Dedicated traffic authority ‘failed to deliver’ Pawar claimed that while a dedicated authority had been set up to tackle traffic congestion, many planned measures were never implemented. "When I reviewed its functioning as guardian minister, I realised that most of the proposed solutions remained on paper,” he alleged. Attack on BJP’s record in PMC Targeting the BJP, Pawar said the lack of effective governance had derailed Pune’s development. "The PMC has failed to provide even basic facilities to its citizens,” he claimed. The BJP governed the PMC from 2017 to 2022, after which the civic body was placed under a government-appointed administrator. Defence of tickets to kin of gangster Pawar also defended his party’s decision to give election tickets to relatives of gangster Suryakant alias Bandu Andekar, who is currently in jail. The Ajit Pawar-led NCP has fielded Sonali Andekar, Bandu Andekar’s daughter-in-law, and Laxmi Andekar, his sister-in-law, through its ally RPI (Sachin Kharat faction). Both are accused in the murder of Ayush Komkar, Bandu Andekar’s grandson, and are presently in judicial custody. "Just because someone is a criminal, what is the fault of his wife or family? I have not given tickets to criminals,” Pawar said. Allegations of irregularities in PCMC At another press conference on Saturday, Pawar alleged financial irregularities in the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). "This civic body was once known as the richest in Asia and even won awards as India’s best city when the NCP was in power. However, in recent years, deposits worth nearly Rs 8,000 crore have been depleted,” he claimed. The BJP ruled PCMC between 2017 and 2022, and it has since been under an administrator. BJP hits back Pawar’s remarks drew a sharp response from the BJP. Maharashtra BJP president Ravindra Chavan warned that if the BJP began making counter-allegations, Pawar would face serious difficulties. Chavan advised the NCP leader to introspect before levelling accusations against the BJP. Although the NCP and BJP are partners in the ruling Mahayuti alliance, they are contesting the Pune civic polls separately. Elections to 29 municipal corporations, including Pune, will be held on January 15, with counting scheduled for the following day. In Pune, 1,166 candidates are contesting across 41 wards, which together account for 165 seats. (with PTI inputs)
03 January,2026 11:09 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondentFor over twenty million Mumbaikars, the local train is not just transport — it is routine, resilience, and reliability. The suburban railway network here is more than infrastructure; it is the city’s pulse. Every morning before dawn, platforms fill with people chasing livelihoods and aspirations. Every night, the last local carries home a city that refuses to slow down. Keeping this vast system safe, reliable, and capable of handling rising demand is one of the most complex urban mobility challenges anywhere in the world. As the city grows denser and faster, Western and Central Railway are undertaking a quiet but determined transformation to expand capacity, modernise stations, improve safety, and make everyday commuting more humane. Over the last few years, we have undertaken one of the most intensive phases of upgradation in Mumbai’s suburban rail history — not through isolated projects, but through a coordinated, system-wide approach. Mumbai’s suburban railway operates at one of the highest densities globally. Western Railway (WR) runs over 1400 suburban services daily, while Central Railway (CR) operates around 1810 services across its Main Line, Harbour Line, and Trans-Harbour corridors. With limited land and ever-growing demand, capacity expansion requires precision planning. Expanding capacity Working towards realising the vision of the Prime Minister’s Viksit Bharat, all efforts are being undertaken to develop railway infrastructure in Mumbai. Multiple projects worth more than Rs 8,000 crore are currently underway to transform the way our esteemed commuters travel in our suburban system by adding critical capacity and extending reach across congested corridors. The Borivli-Virar and Virar-Dahanu Road expansions will segregate suburban and mainline traffic on WR’s northern stretches, enabling significantly more local services. The Panvel-Karjat corridor will create a vital link, reducing travel time by nearly 30 minutes while easing pressure on the main Central line. The Kalyan-Asangaon and Kalyan-Badlapur projects address critical bottlenecks where existing tracks operate beyond 150 per cent capacity. These multiple new infrastructure and network expansion projects are expected to create more than 30 per cent new capacity for our suburban commuters over the next four to five years. Stations that work Tracks and trains alone cannot solve congestion unless stations are redesigned for current realities. Many of Mumbai’s stations were built decades ago and today handle footfall far beyond their original capacity. Under MUTP-3A and the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, major stations across both railway zones are being comprehensively upgraded. The focus is on wide elevated decks, additional foot overbridges, escalators, lifts, better lighting, clearer signage, and smoother passenger circulation. Moreover, in 2024-25 alone, more than R500 crore was invested in enhancing and upgrading passenger amenities facilities across Mumbai divisions of CR and WR, with special emphasis on platform raising and extension, provision of lifts and escalators and other key facilities. Khar Road station on the WR has emerged as a benchmark, with its large elevated deck easing platform congestion. Similar upgrades are underway at Kandivli, Mira Road, Bhayandar, Vasai, Nallasopara, and Santacruz. On CR, stations such as Dombivli, Ghatkopar, Mulund, Bhandup, Chembur, Govandi, and Mankhurd are witnessing visible improvements. At Virar, a new home platform is being constructed to accommodate 15-coach trains, while stations along the Virar-Dahanu corridor are being upgraded with improved booking offices, foot overbridges, lighting, and amenities. Accessibility is essential Accessibility has become a central pillar of station development. Hundreds of lifts and escalators have been installed across suburban stations, making daily travel easier for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, and families. Over 748 lifts and escalators are now digitally monitored through a centralised system, allowing real-time tracking and quicker restoration in case of faults. This shift from reactive to proactive maintenance has significantly improved reliability. Infrastructure improvements include the installation of ramps, tactile tiles at platform edges to prevent Divyangjan passengers from falling onto tracks, and dedicated Divyangjan and senior citizen compartments with signage painted on coach interfaces for easy identification. Recent station upgrades prioritise accessibility with features like disability-friendly counters and tactile pathways for seamless movement, representing ongoing efforts to transform one of the world’s busiest commuter networks into a more accessible system for all passengers. Over the last seven to eight years, there has been a renewed focus on building new as well as renovating old road overbridges (ROBs) and foot overbridges (FOBs) to provide more freedom and convenience of travel. In recent years, in collaboration with local authorities, we have dismantled and reconstructed 29 ROBs and 111 FOBs, and more are underway. Modern rolling stock Passenger safety remains paramount. The transition towards automatic doors on suburban trains, along with the induction of new-generation rakes, marks a significant step in reducing accidents caused by overcrowding and unsafe boarding. Mumbai's closed-door AC local trains represent a transformative upgrade for the city's 80 lakh daily commuters. The automatic door system dramatically enhances safety by preventing passengers from hanging on footboards or boarding moving trains — dangerous practices. Beyond safety, AC coaches offer superior travel comfort with regulated temperature, reduced noise, and protected interiors that shield passengers from extreme heat and monsoon conditions. The daily average AC local ridership in Mumbai more than doubled from 99,000 in 2022-23 to 2,48,000 in 2025-26, clearly underscoring the increasing patronisation by our esteemed commuters. The closed environment ensures cleaner air circulation and dignity during crowded peak hours. Given Mumbai’s growing population and commuter expectations, transitioning to a fully AC suburban system in a phased manner is considered to be an essentiality. It would standardise safety protocols across all services, provide consistent comfort regardless of ticket type, and position Mumbai’s railway network as a world-class transport system befitting India's financial capital. At the same time, non-AC services continue to be strengthened to ensure affordability and inclusivity. Digital tools Technology is quietly reshaping how commuters interact with the railway system. UPI and QR-code payments are now available at booking counters, ATVMs, and POS machines. The UTS on Mobile app has reduced queues and simplified ticketing during peak hours, and is now being integrated with the Rail One App. The Mumbai One app and Mumbai 1 Smart Card have taken integration a step further, allowing seamless travel across suburban rail, Metro, Monorail, and city buses. Real-time train indicators, improved public announcement systems, and centralised monitoring of amenities ensure commuters are better informed and issues are addressed faster. Ticket checking has also been reimagined. Initiatives such as the NAMASTE Abhiyan focus on combining firmness with dignity. Ticket-checking staff are equipped with hand-held terminals, while body-worn cameras and CCTV-monitored areas enhance transparency and safety, reducing friction between staff and passengers. Dedicated squads are ensuring that ticketless travel is discouraged both in AC and Non-AC services. Natural partner Mumbai’s expanding Metro network, particularly the fully operational Aqua Line 3, has emerged as a strong complementary mode. By absorbing short- and medium-distance trips through dense commercial corridors, Metro services help reduce pressure on suburban trains. Integrated ticketing ensures commuters experience public transport as one connected system. Road ahead Mumbai’s suburban railway system must continuously evolve to match the city it serves. Capacity expansion, modern stations, passenger amenities, digital convenience, safety upgrades, and Metro integration are not isolated initiatives — they are parts of one long-term vision, and we will strive to achieve them. It is always heartening to see the immense support we get from our passengers, and we expect this to continue. As users, we have a collective responsibility to maintain the cleanliness of our railway stations. Simple acts like disposing of waste in dustbins, not spitting on platforms, avoiding littering, and reporting unhygienic conditions can transform our stations into cleaner, healthier spaces. When we treat our railway stations with the same care we show our homes, we not only create a more pleasant commuting experience for ourselves but also demonstrate respect for fellow passengers, railway staff, and our city. Mumbai moves because its local trains move. Strengthening this lifeline remains our unwavering commitment — today and for the decades to come. -Vivek Kumar Gupta is the General Manager, Western and Central Railway)
03 January,2026 07:40 PM IST | Mumbai | Vivek Kumar GuptaThe Chief Minister Mohan Yadav-led Madhya Pradesh government, on Saturday, appointed Kshitij Singhal, a 2014 batch IAS officer, as the new Commissioner of Indore Municipal Corporation days after several people lost their lives after drinking contaminated water. A notification for the appointment of Kshitij Singhal as the new Municipal Commissioner of Indore was issued by the State Chief Secretary Anurag Jain, as cited by news agency IANS. The 2014 batch IAS, Kshitij Singhal, has replaced Dilip Kumar Yadav, who was transferred from Indore on Friday. The major development came a day after the Chief Minister, Mohan Yadav, ordered the suspension of the Indore Additional Commissioner, Rohit Sisoniya, and Sanjeev Shrivastava, who is the Superintendent Engineer in charge of the Public Health Engineering department. Indore district administration started a survey to check water quality After various people in Indore died due to allegedly drinking contaminated water, the Indore district administration on Thursday started a survey to check the water quality being supplied through tankers in Indore's Bhagirathpura area. Apart from various people losing their lives, more than 200 people are still admitted to multiple hospitals across the city. Along with an extensive checking of water quality, teams of district administration are also making residents of the Bhagirathpura area aware of the use of safe drinking water to ensure the safety of people, especially children and senior citizens, who were the most affected due to the contaminated water supply tragedy in Indore. The awareness campaign and inspection led by the Indore District Collector Shivam Verma began early morning on Saturday, and it will continue till the evening. During the door-to-door visit, officials from the Indore district administration are also inspecting water stored in underground and rooftop tanks built in the area. Speaking to the media, District Collector Verma said that multiple teams of staff members have been deployed to conduct door-to-door inspections in Bhagirathpura. District collector Verma emphasised, "Our team is continuously conducting investigations. Wherever cases of food poisoning have been reported and patients have tested positive, we have instructed all departments to carry out thorough inspections in the surrounding areas. Along with this, our water supply lines are also being checked," as cited by news agency IANS. Over 200 people are still admitted to hospital after drinking contaminated water in Indore The District Collector also said that people admitted to hospitals are being provided better treatment and are recovering fast. He said that the condition of two out of 27 patients admitted to ICU wards was critical till Friday; however, they recovered on Saturday. Over 200 people are admitted to more than 30 hospitals -- both government and private healthcare institutions in different parts of Indore, reported IANS. On the other side, more than 22 teams of medical staff are conducting health checkups through camps in the Bhagirathpura area. (With inputs from IANS)
03 January,2026 06:00 PM IST | Indore | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
