During discussions among Mahayuti partners about seat allocation for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections, state unit NCP president Sunil Tatkare announced on Saturday that the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP will contest the elections under the collective leadership of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, reported IANS. Per the news agency report, Tatkare denied speculations of the NCP's expulsion from Mahayuti, stating that top BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and party president JP Nadda, have confirmed the NCP's crucial role in the alliance. He emphasised that seat-sharing negotiations between the three parties will be done cordially. Tatkare indicated that there is no rush to announce Mahayuti's Chief Ministerial candidate if the alliance regains power. He directed party spokespersons to refrain from making public pronouncements concerning seat sharing, emphasising that such conversations would be handled by senior leaders from the three parties. He also instructed party members to disregard any statements or videos demanding the NCP's exclusion from Mahayuti, the IANS report added. Sunil Tatkare was quoted in the IANS report as saying, "I have asked the party spokespersons not to make any public statement on seat sharing among Mahayuti partners as it will be done at the level of senior leaders of three parties. I have also directed party spokespersons and cadres to neglect any statement or video against NCP demanding the party be kept away from the Mahayuti." He added, "In fact, the bonhomie between the BJP and the NCP has increased, and it will further strengthen. Our national president, Ajit Pawar, is known for his administrative skills and command over the party. He will play a crucial role in the Mahayuti during the upcoming assembly elections." The Mahayuti alliance was battered in the Maharashtra Lok Sabha Elections 2024 with the BJP-Shinde Sena and Ajit Pawar faction of NCP winning only 17 seats while Maha Vikas Aghadi won 30 seats. Among the three constituents of Mahayuti, Ajit Pawar's faction of NCP performed the worst with only one seat to its credit. Since the results were announced on June 4, reports of a rift among the ruling alliance sporadically hit the headlines.
30 June,2024 10:27 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMumbai and the metropolitan region have been receiving intermittent spells of moderate to heavy rainfall since Thursday bringing relief from the heat. The latest Mumbai weather update states that the city and suburbs will be seeing moderate rainfall for the next 48 hours. The India Meteorological Department, in its Mumbai weather update, stated that the city and suburbs will see a generally cloudy sky and receive moderate rainfall. The weather department, per the Mumbai weather update, has predicted that the maximum temperature in the city is likely to settle at 31 degrees Celsius and the minimum temperature will be recorded at 25 degrees Celsius. The weather agency has given a green alert to Mumbai city and suburban areas. Meanwhile, it has given yellow alerts to Thane, Raigad and Palghar areas. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation in their Mumbai weather update stated that a high tide of about 3.79 meters is expected to hit the city's coast at 6.28 pm today. The island city recorded 17.64 mm of rainfall, eastern Mumbai 28.38 mm and western Mumbai 23.54 mm of rainfall in the 24-hour period ending at 8 am on Sunday. Mumbai weather update: Gusty winds expected along and off Maharashtra's coast "Squally weather with wind speed 35 kmph to 45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph likely to prevail along and off North Maharashtra coast on 30th June. Squally weather with wind speed 45 kmph to 55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph likely to prevail along and off North Maharashtra coast on 01st July to 3rd July. Fishermen are advised not to venture along & off North Maharashtra coast during above mentioned period," the IMD had stated in their warning for fishermen. Mumbai weather update: Heavy rainfall causes traffic snarls, train delays On Friday, Mumbai had moderate to heavy rains, resulting in some tree falls, traffic jams, and suburban train delays. The city experienced 24 occurrences of tree or branch falls, four short circuits and two wall collapses, but no one was injured, according to a civic disaster management department update. There were no complaints of serious waterlogging, however, local trains on the Central Railway network were 10-20 minutes late in the morning, and Western Railway trains were also delayed, according to a PTI officer. He told PTI that widespread rains since Thursday evening caused waterlogging in various low-lying parts of Kurla West and Andheri tube last night. With PTI inputs
30 June,2024 10:27 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe family members of a woman who succumbed to a rare type of uterine cancer have taken to social media, alleging that it was her gynaecologist’s negligence during a surgery that led to the spread of the cancer and her eventual death. The deceased patient’s daughter posted on social media that they had gone to Khar-based Women’s Hospital run by Dr Gayatri Rao for laparoscopic removal of her mother’s fibroid. They alleged that their request for a biopsy before the procedure went unheeded. The fibroid was 20 cm long, they said, alleging that the surgery led to “spillage”, which refers to spread of cancerous cells. “We trusted her as a professional. A week after the surgery, the histopathology report stated that what was removed was leiomyosarcoma—an extremely rare and aggressive type of cancer,” the patient’s daughter posted on Instagram. “If a lump is suddenly growing in a short span of time, then we opt for an open technique so that the fibroid is taken out intact without disturbing the surrounding tissue,” said Dr Kavita Singh, affiliated to the Association of Gynaecologic Oncologists of India. While mid-day’s attempts to reach out to the family went unanswered, Dr Rao said, “There were no features suggestive of cancer before the surgery and there was no indication for open surgery as per established protocols. The patient had an unexpected diagnosis of... cancer.”
30 June,2024 07:52 AM IST | Mumbai | Eshan KalyanikarIn a tragic accident on the Samruddhi Highway, seven people died and four others were injured late Friday night. According to the highway police, a car travelling on the wrong side of the road collided with an SUV heading towards Mumbai. The incident occurred after one of the cars had stopped to refuel. One of the injured was speaking to his wife when the head-on collision happened. Three of the seven deceased are the residents of Malad. The injured were immediately given first-aid in the district hospital, Jalna, and were then moved to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. All seven bodies have been brought to Mumbai for post-mortem. According to the highway police, the accident occurred between 10.51 pm to 11 pm on channel number 351 near Kadavanchi village in Jalna district. “It is believed that the Swift Dzire car, numbered MH 12 MF 1856 stopped at a fuel station and then took the wrong side lane towards Nagpur. Whereas an Ertiga car, numbered MH 47 BP 5478 was coming from Nagpur towards Mumbai. Both vehicles came in front of each other in high speed and collided. The fault was clearly of the car which came from the wrong direction,” said a highway police official who was on the spot. On receiving information about the accident, the Samruddhi highway police and Jalna taluka police rushed to the spot and carried out rescue operations. They moved the demolished cars to the highway’s side using cranes and opened the traffic. “Primary information reaching here said around 10 to 12 persons were injured in a road accident, out of which four passengers were admitted to District General Hospital for treatment. Around three of them have been sent to the District General Hospital at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar as their conditions were said to be critical, while one is being treated at the Jalna District General Hospital,” said Umesh Jadhav from the district hospital. According to the police, the seven deceased include: Sandeep Manik Budhwant, 30; Vilas Sudam Kayande, 25; Pradeep Laxman Misal, 25; Aniket Dnyaneshwar Chavan, 24—all from Buldhana district. Chavan died during treatment at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Faizal Shakeel Mansuri, 19; Altamash Shakeel Mansuri, 17, and Faiyaz Ahmed Hamid Ali Mansoori, 38, all residents of Malad, were in Ertiga, and are undergoing treatment. The bodies have been handed over to the family. Malad family usually travelled by air Shakeel Mansuri, who is into AC repair and installation business, does contract work with a well-known private company. His family was in Nagpur for a business deal. Mansuri regularly travels to Nagpur, mostly by air. “But this time, his elder son Faizal told him that he would join him, too. Faizal’s cousin Faiyaz and Altaf also tagged along. They were returning to Mumbai after the meeting when the accident took place,” said a close relative of the Mansuri family. Faiyaz was seated in the passenger seat. Faizal and Altaf were seated in the middle seat, and Shakeel Mansuri was on the rear seat. “Altaf was on the phone with his wife when the car collided. His wife heard the screams and informed her relatives...,” said a relative of Mansuri family.
30 June,2024 07:38 AM IST | Mumbai | Faisal Tandel | Samiullah KhanThe water level in the lakes supplying water to the city has risen by mere inches in the absence of sustained spells of heavy rain. The overall water stock increased by just 1,000 million litres, while the city consumes around 4,500 million litres of water every day. The combined stock in lakes is 78,579 million litres, which is 5.4 per cent of the total stock. Though monsoon was delayed in the past two years as well, the water storage level had improved by the end of June. This is the lowest stock the city has witnessed in the past three years. The BMC has so far drawn 74,644 million litres of water from the reserve stock of upper Vaitarna and Bhatsa, which is almost equal to the current total stock in the lakes.
30 June,2024 07:35 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentIn a major crackdown, the Karnataka police on Saturday arrested one Auranganda Arvind Kumar alias Aditya Deshmukh, who allegedly ran a NEET counselling centre in the Sakinaka area and was absconding after abandoning the facility. Kumar was arrested from Market Yard locality in Belgaum district of Karnataka. The company, Advay’s Vidya Pravesh Margdarshak Private Ltd, that ran its office in Sakinaka at 1 Aerocity Corporate Park, had shut down its NEET-UG counselling operations amid a probe by the CBI. The matter came to light when the employees turned up to work on Friday and found the counselling centre to be shut abruptly. They approached the police to file a written complaint. “The employees approached Sakinaka police when they found the counselling centre to be shut on June 28. The centre was run by Aditya Deshmukh. He had shut the centre and had sold the computers before fleeing. He was later identified as Auranganda Arvind Kumar by the Karnataka police, who arrested him in Belgaum...,” said DCP Zone 10 Mangesh Shinde.
30 June,2024 07:28 AM IST | Mumbai | Apoorva AgasheThe canopy at Rajkot Airport’s pick up and drop area collapsed on Saturday morning amid heavy rains, marking the third such incident across the country in three days. The incident is followed by canopy collapses at the Jabalpur Airport in Madhya Pradesh and Delhi Airport’s T1 on Thursday and Friday, respectively. “Preliminary information indicates no injuries or casualties were reported. Gujarat is currently experiencing heavy rainfall as the southwest monsoon is advancing further into the state,” said sources from Rajkot airport. “Amid the forecast of heavy to very heavy rainfall in some areas, seven teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed in Kutch, Rajkot, Devbhoomi Dwarka, Gir Somnath, Bhavnagar, Narmada, and Valsad districts,” said sources from NDRF. The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has ordered a structural audit of all airports across India following the canopy collapse at Delhi airport on Friday. The MoCA has instructed the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to issue circulars to all airports in India to conduct structural audits and submit their findings to the ministry. “The AAI has been tasked with issuing a circular to all minor and major airports, mandating a thorough inspection of structural strength. These inspections are to be carried out urgently, with a tight deadline of 2-5 days for completion. Following the inspections, comprehensive reports are to be submitted to the MoCA for review,” the MoCA spokesperson told mid-day.
30 June,2024 07:10 AM IST | Mumbai | Prasun ChoudhariMaa ka laadla! A doggie gets a joyride on a local train, and becomes the centre of attention. A wish list come true... Raghav Sachar Singer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Raghav Sachar’s collaborations are making waves on Instagram. The music cognoscente recently posted a video with veteran singer Rekha Bhardwaj, performing her cult classic Namak Ishq Ka, which has garnered lakhs of views. “Rekha ji is phenomenal. Having her in my studio was an amazing experience. She is a motherly figure, who guides whoever is working with her. I was told that Vishal (Bhardwaj) ji would love to be around in my studio, too, which is such a great honour,” said Sachar speaking to this diarist, clearly smitten. On collaborations, he said, “Whenever I work with a maestro, I appreciate that they trust the work they are doing with me. As an artist, their work needs to be presented as authentically as possible. And if I get to showcase their talent through me, nothing likes it. I want to collaborate with four artiste per month.” Michael Vaughan bats for SoBo roadside barber, gifts cricket kit SoBo barber Dindayal Sharma says British cricketer Michael Vaughan has been going to him for haircuts and shaves for two years. PIC/ASHISH RAJE Every time British cricketer Michael Vaughan flies down to Mumbai, there is one person he just has to meet—Dindayal Sharma, 50, a roadside barber from Bihar who has been cutting hair and giving the cleanest shaves outside BEST Bhavan in Colaba for over 30 years. “He has been coming to me for a haircut or shave or massage for the last two years, and drops by every time he is in the city,” says the barber. Last week, Vaughan went to see Sharma for his usual shave and massage, and brought a surprise along. “He brought a brand new cricket bat and full kit for the local children after I told him how they like to play cricket near my barber stall. I gave the kit to the children and they were so happy,” says Sharma. “He [Vaughan] stays at fancy hotels like the Taj, but always gets his hair cut by me. Initially, I didn’t even know who he was, and was very surprised to learn that such a famous man wants to get his hair cut by a roadside barber,” says Sharma. Aunty mat kaho na! Author Richa S Mukherjee was so over the use of the word aunty being used to put women in their place. It made her think, “It has gone from being a term of endearment to an insult,” she tells this diarist in an amused tone. This diarist can relate. But since everyone, everywhere seems to pining to give their unsolicited opinion thanks to social media, Mukherjee, author of five books, decided to show the world what aunties can do in her new book, Vigil Aunties. The book, a soft comedic thriller, is set in a unnamed yet quaint little town and an even more sleep housing society, that is similar to the gossipy housing societies of Mumbai. Protagonist Philadelphia Waghmare, finds out that her mother Varsha, considered a boring “aunty”, is anything but that. “Philadelphia comes to know that her mother is a part of a secret society. That is how I have done my bit to personally rebel against this term,” giggles Mukherjee. We think it’s time to join one of these secret clubs. What say? Greening—the Milky Way Hansu Pardiwala (l), Kunti Oza and Chitra Hiremath started the Milk Bag Project back in 2019 which converts milk bags into bins and pencil boxes The Milk Bag project, started in 2019 still has some swag in the bag. Contrary to several well-meaning initiatives which start strong but fizzle out, this environmental endeavour is soldiering on. The project—collects used milk plastic bags. “People send us these bags, the only prerequisite is that it needs to be washed and dried. We store them at our space at Cooperage ground, after which they are sent to the recyclers. These bags are reborn into products like pencil boxes, benches, desks, bins, buckets etc. All of them are made up of the recycled plastic from these milk bags,” say the three Mumbai women: Chitra Hiremath, Hansu Pardiwala and Kunti Oza, who have founded the initiative. “It’s an on-going effort. Though we have different chapters through India, we receive bags in Mumbai from Mumbaikars of course, but also from Faridabad, Surat and other places. It shows the power and reach of the movement,” she tells this diarist. The trio’s advice? “Visit beaches, or speak to those involved in any beach cleaning movement, and you will witness that amongst the mounds of rubbish are a huge number of milk bags,” say these voices of experience. In their most recent collection, the women had three bins full of bags, “Overall, we had 300 kgs approximately, which equals to 1,20,000 milk bags which have been sent to the recyclers,” the three signed off. The message is simple: drink milk? Have bag? Wash, dry and say goodbye. South Africa… it’s been a while South Africa captain Hansie Cronje bowls during the Wills International Cup final against West Indies at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka on November 1, 1998. PIC/GETTY IMAGES South Africa is not known to win big cricket trophies despite the kind of talent they have put out on the park ever since they returned to international cricket in 1991. If you wake up to the unlikely news of them beating India in the ICC T20 World Cup final held at Bridgetown, Barbados, it will be unprecedented in a big final against the multiple world champions, and another example of so near yet to far for the Rainbow Nation. However, those who believe South Africa have no ICC trophy in their cabinet, we must remind you of their 1998 mini World Cup triumph in Bangladesh, where Hansie Cronje & Co clinched the Wills International Cup.It was a Jagmohan Dalmiya-driven ICC event and Brian Lara’s West Indians were beaten by four wickets in the final. Cronje led from the front by claiming two wickets and ending the game with an unbeaten 61. The Caribbeans could have got far more than 245 centurion had Lara’s troops capitalised on opener Philo Wallace 103 off 102 balls. The next highest score was Carl Hooper with 49.
30 June,2024 06:59 AM IST | Mumbai | Team SMDAndheri residents waiting for the BMC to make good on its assurance to connect Barfiwala flyover and Gokhale bridge by July 1 may be in for yet another disappointment. Though the connection work is almost completed, it is still unclear whether the route will opened to the public on Monday, as asphalting and other related works are not finished yet. Gokhale Bridge, a crucial connector between east and west Andheri, has become a classic example of conflict between residents and the administration. A year-and-a-half after the bridge was shut for refurbishment, the BMC was to open one of its arms on February 26. But due to increased height of the approach roads of the newly refurbished Gokhale Bridge, there was almost a four-and-a-half-foot-high gap between it and Barfiwala flyover. This engineering gaffe became a topic of national mockery. Following a huge public outcry over the blunder and the resulting constant traffic gridlock at the SV Road junction in Andheri West, the corporation requested Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI) to propose a solution. VJTI submitted a report stating that the bridges could be connected by lifting the last four spans. Experts from IIT-Bombay reviewed the VJTI report and suggested lifting only two spans. After much discussion, the BMC started work on connecting the two bridges in April and had aimed to complete it by June 30, despite the advent of the monsoon. On June 14, the civic body had once again reassured residents that the route would be opened on July 1. The BMC used hydraulic jacks to lift two spans of girders required for merging the alignment of the two flyovers. The spans were lifted by 1,397 mm and 650 mm each. The corporation also installed six new bearings in the structure. “It takes at least 14 days for the concrete to be cured. After curing, a load-bearing test is a must. Traffic can be allowed on the flyover only after completion of all the work,” said a civic official. Another senior official said they would only be able to confirm today whether the route would be open for traffic starting Monday. Dhaval Shah, founder of Andheri Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizens Association, said, “The BMC hasn’t completed asphalt work which can be done within a few hours. But we don’t know whether they conducted a load-bearing test where the gap between two bridges was filled up. This is crucial as heavy vehicles will travel on the bridge once the height barriers are removed.” Rs 8 crTotal cost of realigning both arms of the bridges
30 June,2024 05:46 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentDo you know what the stars hold for you in terms of love life, career, business and personal wellness? Well, read on to know your astrological predictions as per your zodiac sign. AriesMarch 21 – April 19Make the most of opportunities even if they seem relatively minor. Pay attention to important relationships, and do not take people for granted.Health tip: Avoid overexerting while working out as you could injure yourself. Those with circulatory system issues need to take a little extra care of themselves. TaurusApril 20 – May 20A new idea is workable as long as you are willing to modify your approach. This is a positive time for investments from a long term perspective.Health tip: Be very careful if you run on a treadmill, as you are prone to injuries. Avoid food and environments (for eg: cigarette smoke) that you are allergic to. GeminiMay 21 – June 20Let go of any regrets over the past and deal with situations as they are now. Do not make any decisions if you are in a highly emotional state.Health tip: Those with a sensitive immune system need to take a little extra care of themselves. Focus on healthy habits that are sustainable. CancerJune 21 – July 22A fresh perspective would give you important insights while handling any negotiation. Manage your time efficiently and do not give in to procrastination.Health tip: A niggling health issue could become worse if you do not take care of yourself. This is a positive time for those who want to conceive a child. LeoJuly 23 – Aug 22 Think before you speak, even though you may feel you are completely in the right. Those on a restricted budget need to be mindful with expenses.Health tip: Those prone to headaches and migraines need to take a little extra care of themselves. Older Leos especially, must ensure that they drink enough water. VirgoAug 23 – Sept 22Think your choices through, if faced with multiple options. Avoid getting into any ego issues with family and friends.Health Tip: Take any prescribed medicines in the right manner, as advised by the doctor. Those prone to respiratory and throat related illnesses need to take a little extra care of themselves. LibraSept 23 – Oct 22Let go of the past and avoid dwelling over failed situations. This is a positive time for self employed businesspersons who have an online business.Health tip: People who are on medications with international origins must be aware of its side effects. Be careful of not straining your back. ScorpioOct 23 – Nov 21Make the most of opportunities, even if they are not exactly what you want. Avoid taking on any unnecessary debt.Health tip: Older Scorpios need to take a little extra care of themselves. Those withhealth issues related to the circulatory system need to follow their doctors’ advise. SagittariusNov 22 – Dec 21Be mindful of your expenses and stick to a budget. Let go of the outcomes that are not in your control. Make astute decisions instead of emotional ones. Health tip: If you need to consult a specialist, consider a second opinion. For some, a complete lifestyle change may be the only choice. CapricornDec 22 – Jan 19Any legal issue needs to be handled proactively and in a very timely manner. This is a positive time for singles who are open to an arranged marriage.Health tip: Those with a chronic health issue need to be extremely disciplined in their habits. Be mindful about what you eat as you could be prone to stomach issues. AquariusJan 20 – Feb 18Focus on what really matters, and let go of the others. Self employeed businesspersons will benefit from this time. Health Tip: Try improving one habit of yours, even if it’s a minor one. Get enough restful sleep, and do not overstrain yourself while working out. PiscesFeb 19 – March 21Make the right choice while making a decision. Self employed professionals in family businesses will benefit from this time. Health tip: Main a sustainable lifestyle instead of going on extremes. Avoid over medicating yourself if you get a headache or sinusitis.
30 June,2024 12:09 AM IST | Mumbai | Aparna BoseMumbai Police joined the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) as alleged unauthorised construction at two bars in south Mumbai was pulled down on Saturday, an official said, reported the PTI. According to the PTI, around a dozen personnel from D B Marg police station and BMC's D ward were involved in the action at bars, he said. "Illegal construction at both the bars have been razed," he said. Police have not registered any case so far. "We will do it after BMC approaches us. They asked us to provide protection (during demolition) which we did," the official from D B Marg police station in south Mumbai said, the news agency reported on Saturday. The campaign against such structures will continue, he said. Earlier this week, the authorities in Thane district and Pune carried out similar drives against bars and pubs. The action followed a viral video purportedly showing a group of youths partying at a Pune bar that operated beyond the permissible time. A few of them were also seen with a drug-like substance. PMC's crackdown on illegal structures at pubs and bars continues The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) in Maharashtra continued its crackdown on unauthorised structures at pubs and bars in the city for the second day on Wednesday, officials said, reported the PTI. The action comes in the wake of alleged consumption of drugs at a local bar, the officials said. According to the PTI, as part of the action, the officials of the PMC's building department demolished illegal structures of some prominent bars, including Eskobar and FML Resto Bar in Baner during the day, they said, the news agency reported. Following timing-related violations at Liquid Leisure Lounge (L3) bar on Pune's Fergusson College Road and alleged drug use at the establishment, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had instructed to run a bulldozer on the unauthorised structures linked to the narcotic substance. Accordingly, the PMC has been taking action against the unauthorised structures of bars and pubs. "Today, while carrying out a drive in Baner area, we razed unauthorised structures at Eskobar in Baner. The bar was seized by the state excise department following some violations. Since there were some violations related to the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act, we demolished its illegal structures measuring 10,000 square metres," a PMC official said, as per the PTI. Similar action was taken against the FML Resto Bar, he said, reported the PTI. "So far since morning, we have demolished illegal structures built on around 25,000 square metres of area," he said. The Pune civic body on Tuesday demolished an "unauthorised" structure inside the L3 bar while police filed a case against its owners, a day after the Maharashtra government ordered a crackdown on buildings flouting rules in the city. (with PTI inputs)
29 June,2024 10:18 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
