A group of commuters was left stranded inside a lift at Dadar railway station for nearly 15 minutes after severe overcrowding prevented the doors from functioning properly. Despite repeated requests from fellow passengers to step back and make space, many refused to move, worsening the situation during peak rush hour. A group of commuters was left stranded inside a lift at Dadar Railway Station for nearly 15 minutes after severe overcrowding prevented the doors from functioning properly. Despite repeated requests from fellow passengers to step back and make space, many refused to move,… pic.twitter.com/wZ9HHcwG3o — Mid Day (@mid_day) February 3, 2026 Panic and discomfort as passengers ignored warnings Rajesh Rajpurohit, a commuter, said, “The lift had reached its maximum capacity, but commuters continued to force their way in, ignoring repeated requests to step back. Despite appeals from fellow passengers and station users warning that the lift was overloaded, no one was willing to move out. As a result, the doors of the lift couldn't close, leaving those inside stranded.” Rajesh Rajpurohit. PIC/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Another commuter, Dinesh Bendel, described the panic inside the lift: “People kept saying just one more person, one more person. There was no co-operation at all. They just kept pushing us inside. It became so claustrophobic.” Dinesh Bendel. PIC/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT While no injuries were reported, regular station users pointed out that lifts at major railway stations are primarily meant for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and pregnant women, but are often misused by other commuters in a hurry.
03 February,2026 03:18 PM IST | Mumbai | Ritika GondhalekarNCP legislator Amol Mitkari on Tuesday demanded that the Maharashtra government's flagship Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin Yojana be renamed after late Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Mitkari, while talking to the media on Tuesday, said, “Ajitdada (as Pawar was fondly called) was the favourite brother of women in the state,” as cited by news agency PTI. The NCP MLC further added, "His wrist would be full of rakhis when he travelled across the state during his yatras. The state government would give a tribute to him if it names the scheme as the Ajitdadanchi Ladki Bahin scheme (Ajitdada's Ladki Bahin scheme)." Earlier on January 28, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others were killed in a plane crash at Baramati in Pune district. As the news of Ajit Pawar’s death in a plane crash spread, thousands of party workers and supporters gathered outside the Baramati Medical College, turning the hospital surroundings into a scene of intense grief and mourning. The supporters from Baramati and nearby areas raised cries of sorrow, expressing disbelief over the sudden loss of their leader. Ladki Bahin Yojana was announced by Ajit Pawar The Ladki Bahin scheme, announced by Pawar when he was the finance minister and started in July 2024, provides assistance of Rs 1,500 every month to eligible women in the age group of 21 to 65 through direct bank transfer. The scheme is believed to have played a crucial role in the victory of the BJP-led Mahayuti in the 2024 assembly elections. Earlier on Monday, Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also said the government won't stop the monthly financial assistance to women under the scheme, as it is helping them immensely, and that the aid will be increased from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,100 at the right time. Sunetra Pawar takes charge as deputy CM Days after Ajit Pawar’s untimely demise, his wife, Sunetra Ajit Pawar, was sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Sunetra’s swearing in as the Deputy Chief Minister created history, as she became the first woman to hold the post in the state. Her husband, the late Ajit Pawar, had earlier set a record by serving as deputy chief minister six times. On January 31, 2026, Sunetra Pawar was administered the oath of office by Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat at Lok Bhavan (formerly known as Raj Bhavan) in Mumbai.
03 February,2026 02:46 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSmoke on the water A thick haze descends on the Coastal Road at Haji Ali as Mumbai experienced AQI in ‘severe’ and unhealthy categories last week A festival of voices A performance by Ankur Tewari at an earlier edition of the festival. Pic Courtesy/Spoken Fest Mumbaikars can look forward to a homecoming of words. The 10th edition of Spoken Fest will kick off on February 21 and 22 at Jio World Garden, BKC. From Kommune’s stable, the festival brings together poetry, storytelling, performance, music, and conversation, with voices such as Sheeba Chaddha, Swanand Kirkire, Raj Arjun, and Waseem Barelvi. Roshan Abbas Co-founder of Kommune, Roshan Abbas told this diarist, “The milestone edition marks a homecoming that celebrates language and shared listening. Spoken Fest exists to remind you that your voice is not background music, but the entire song.” A take on philosophy Mumbai’s followers of philosophical thought have a chance to listen to Sharad Baviskar, assistant professor, Centre for French and Francophone Studies, JNU, who will take the stage as the keynote speaker at the annual programme of the Dr Aroon Tikekar Centre for Advanced Studies at the Asiatic Society of Mumbai today. With the subject titled Philosophy of Non-Philosophers, Baviskar is certain to plant some seeds of thought in this city. Readers who might be interested can log on to asiaticsociety.org for more details. Jazz notes return to Gaylord Rajesh Punjabi (left) and D Wood (right) in performance. Pic Courtesy/@gaylordrestaurantmumbai Music rolled back the years within the vintage-soaked walls of Churchgate’s iconic Gaylord Restaurant on Friday, January 30. For the first time since the late 1960s, the restaurant welcomed the Bombay Jazz Club led by Rajesh Punjabi and D Wood for a performance. “Gaylord used to be one of the original homes of jazz in the city. It was once the hub along the line from Colaba to Churchgate where artistes would drop in and perform,” shared Punjabi. In September 2025, Gaylord celebrated its 70th year with a new look and an upgraded menu. A view of the refurbished interiors. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi A first concert within the restaurant seems to be the next step to its evolution. “We were delighted when the restaurant reached out to us to ask if we would be available. A large part of what we do as a collective is to rekindle the love for jazz and its complexities among audiences. It felt only right [to accept] considering the legacy of the restaurant and its connection to the genre of music,” the veteran composer Punjabi added. Ashley Perez, restaurant manager, revealed to this diarist that the concert is the beginning of more to come. “We are looking to host more such experiences at the restaurant,” he shared, adding that the next event might be scheduled this month. “It is a chance to roll back the years of Bombay jazz,” Punjabi summed up. A man of his time Kekoo Gandhy. Pic Courtesy/Ram Rahman Were he around, late gallerist Kekoo Gandhy (inset) might have a thing to say about the rising AQI in the city limits. “He would not recognise the Mumbai of today,” shared daughter Behroze Gandhy, whose short film, Kekee Manzil: The House of Art will be screened this weekend by the Brief Encounters Film Club in Bandra. Incidentally, today (February 2) marks the 106th birth anniversary of the gallerist. “It is a fascinating film about a person who encapsulated the lofty ideas of his time,” shared Aparajita Sinha, founder, Brief Encounters Film Club. A touch of Sindh Monica Mahendru On February 6, theatremaker Nikhil Katara will bring history, personal and cultural memories to life with the production Paanjo Kirdaar, at the ongoing Kala Ghoda Arts Festival. Staging at the Horniman Circle Garden, the production is a collaboration with author Saaz Aggarwal, and her research on the people of Sindh. “It examines Sindhi culture through the stories of five incredible people told through monologues,” he shared.
03 February,2026 02:41 PM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-dayThe Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Board (MHADA) has announced the sale of 120 flats in Mumbai on a first-come-first-served (FCFS) basis, offering another opportunity to homebuyers after the units remained unsold in previous lotteries. Online registration for the flats will begin on February 5 at 11 am through MHADA’s official portal, https://bookmyhome.mhada.gov.in, the authority said in a notice issued on Sunday, February 2. Of the total flats on offer, 84 units have been constructed by MHADA and are located in areas such as Kandivali, Wadala, Powai, Malad, and Mankhurd. The remaining 36 flats have been received under Development Control Regulations (DCR) 33(5) and 33(7) and are situated in Vikhroli, Ghatkopar East, Byculla, Tardeo, Lower Parel, Sion, and Andheri West. MHADA said the flats were earlier offered through lottery schemes but remained unsold, following which they are now being made available under the FCFS model. MHADA cautions homebuyers against unauthorised agents The entire process — including online application submission, payment of application fee and security deposit, and flat selection — will be conducted online only. MHADA has clarified that it has not appointed any agents or brokers and has urged applicants to beware of unauthorised persons claiming to facilitate allotments. As per eligibility norms, applicants must be Indian citizens and at least 18 years old. Submission of Aadhaar and PAN cards is mandatory, along with other documents as applicable. All payments must be made through online modes. After selecting a flat, applicants will be required to pay 10 per cent of the flat’s sale price to confirm the booking, MHADA said.
03 February,2026 01:05 PM IST | MumbaiIn a noteworthy incident reported from the Borivali police station limits, a bag containing valuables worth approximately Rs 21 lakh was traced and returned to its owner within just one hour, highlighting the promptness of the Mumbai Police. The incident occurred on February 2, at around 10 am, when Vikas Chavan, a professional director associated with advertisements and small and large-scale shoots for various companies, was on his way to Gorai Beach for a shoot. After alighting from an autorickshaw, he accidentally left behind his bag containing valuable equipment. The rickshaw driver drove away, leaving Chavan distressed. The bag contained a camera, laptop, tablet and other costly equipment. Realising the lossed possession, Chavan immediately approached Borivali Police Station and lodged a complaint with PSI Sagar. Borivali Police launched an immediate search operation Acting swiftly on the complaint, the crime detection team of Borivali Police launched an immediate search operation without any delay. With the coordinated efforts of Police Constables Yogesh Khedkar and Rishikesh Naikare, first investigating officer Vilas Satpute, along with Police Sub-Inspector Wudre, the concerned autorickshaw was traced within an hour. The police safely recovered the bag and returned it to the complainant. The recovered items included a laptop worth approximately Rs 3 lakh, a tablet valued at Rs 50,000, a camera worth Rs 50,000, and other miscellaneous items worth around Rs 1 lakh, totalling Rs 5 lakh in physical assets. Notably, the data stored in the laptop was estimated to be worth nearly Rs 16 lakh. Thus, the Borivali police officers and staff successfully recovered and returned a bag valued at around Rs 21 lakh to the complainant within an hour.
03 February,2026 12:57 PM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanA fire broke out in an electric duct on the 10th floor of a residential high-rise in Thane West early Tuesday, leaving two residents injured and prompting the evacuation of dozens of people, officials said. According to the Disaster Management Cell of the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), the incident was reported at around 4.14 am at Milan Hill Building, a ground-plus-18-storey structure located in Shastri Nagar. The information was initially relayed to civic authorities by a journalist. Fire brigade personnel, along with officials from the Disaster Management Cell, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) and the Mahanagar Gas Company, rushed to the spot. The emergency response included one fire engine, one rescue vehicle and a utility vehicle. The blaze damaged the electric duct between the 10th and 13th floors. The main doors of two flats on the 10th floor—Room No. 1005, owned by Pushparaj Mendhan, and Room No. 1006, owned by Vidya Jadhav—were also charred. Heavy smoke from the fire trapped nearly 60 to 70 residents inside the building. Of these, four occupants in Room No. 1005 and three in Room No. 1006 were stranded on the 10th floor. All were safely evacuated by fire brigade personnel and disaster management staff as a precautionary measure, officials said. Two residents sustained burn injuries in the incident. A 74-year-old woman, Ruchira Deshmukh, a resident of Room No. 1104, suffered burns to both hands and was admitted to Jupiter Hospital. Another injured resident, Vivek Pradhan (62), who lives in Room No. 1502, sustained burns to his hand and leg and was admitted to Bethany Hospital. The fire was brought under control and completely extinguished by around 5.30 am. Officials said the situation is now stable and under control. Charging battery of electric two-wheeler explodes, triggers fire in flat In another case, the battery of an electric two-wheeler exploded while being charged inside a flat in Diva area near Thane on Monday, triggering a fire, civic officials said. While the explosion caused extensive damage to the house, nobody was injured in the incident that occurred after 4 PM in a room on the third floor of Siddhant Regency Building No. 1. The fire rapidly spread through the living room, said Yasin Tadvi, chief of the Disaster Management Cell of the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC). "A battery used to charge an electric two-wheeler exploded in the house, causing a fire. The sofa, furniture, and electrical wiring in the house were completely burnt and damaged. However, the fire has been completely extinguished. No one was injured," he added. Firefighters managed to bring the situation under control and extinguish the flames by 4:40 PM.
03 February,2026 12:18 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) has launched a sharp attack on the Union Budget 2026 presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, calling it a package of “imaginary assurances” that merely replaces unfinished promises with distant projections for 2047, reported news agency IANS. Market reaction exposes gap between claims and reality In an editorial published in the party mouthpiece Saamana, the Thackeray faction said that despite the government’s claims of strong economic performance over the past 12 years, the immediate reaction to the Finance Minister’s 85-minute budget speech exposed a starkly different reality. The editorial pointed out that while the Prime Minister and ruling party MPs applauded the speech in Parliament, the stock markets reacted with what it described as an “objective assessment”. Within minutes of the budget’s conclusion, the markets witnessed a sharp fall, wiping out nearly Rs 16 lakh crore in investor wealth. The editorial attributed the panic to fresh levies on options trading and a hike in the Securities Transaction Tax on futures, reported IANS. Middle class, salaried taxpayers feel the squeeze Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi describing the budget as a “Reform Express”, the Sena (UBT) said middle-class investors—many of whom now depend on mutual funds and equities—experienced the impact far more harshly than suggested by government rhetoric. The editorial further criticised the budget for failing to provide relief to salaried individuals, noting that income tax slabs remained unchanged despite rising inflation. It also accused the Centre of neglecting farmers, alleging there was no mention of guaranteed prices linked to production costs. Recalling earlier promises to double farmers’ incomes, the party claimed it was cultivation expenses that had doubled instead, pushing agriculture into distress, reported IANS. Questions raised over rupee fall and rising national debt Highlighting what it termed a widening gap between “words and actions”, the editorial questioned the sharp depreciation of the rupee over the past decade and the steep rise in national debt since 2014. ‘Viksit Bharat’ vision likened to suspense film Concluding on a sarcastic note, Saamana likened the government’s vision of a “Viksit Bharat” by 2047 to the suspense film Bees Saal Baad, suggesting that after an immediate loss of Rs 16 lakh crore, citizens are being asked to wait decades for any meaningful returns. (With inputs from IANS)
03 February,2026 12:13 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA Thane court has acquitted five persons accused of assaulting police personnel in 2020, citing "glaring and irreconcilable" contradictions in testimonies, lack of medical proof or witnesses, missing duty records, and no evidence of common intention or pre-arranged plan, reported news agency PTI. Judge calls prosecution claim ‘physically impossible’ A sub-inspector and another policeman had alleged that one of the accused caught hold of their collars at the same time during the incident at Kalwa police station in Maharashtra's Thane district on February 7, 2020. Pointing out the logical impossibility of the prosecution's claims, Additional Sessions Judge V L Bhosale said, "This is physically impossible. One person cannot simultaneously catch the collars of two different persons. This contradiction is not on some minor or collateral matter, but goes to the very heart of the prosecution case - namely, who assaulted WHOM," reported PTI. A copy of the order dated January 29 was made available on Monday. Assault alleged at Kalwa police station in 2020 According to the prosecution, the accused entered the Kalwa police station, became aggressive and assaulted some security personnel. The accused -- Chittaranjan Bharti, Pawan Kuril, Chandrakant Kuril, Rupali Kuril and Savita Kuril -- faced charges under Indian Penal Code sections 353 (assault on a public servant), 504 (intentional insult), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), and 160 (affray), reported PTI. The case against the sixth accused, Kanchan Motilal Kuril, was abated as she died during the pendency of the trial. Court notes absence of medical and duty-related records The defence lawyers punched holes in the prosecution's case and challenged the charges against the accused. The Thane court found the testimony of the four police witnesses to be riddled with "fatal defects". It further noted the complete absence of any medical evidence, crucial in a case of assault, reported PTI. The Thane court also pointed to a lack of documentary evidence to establish that the officers were on duty, as well as no duty roster and no station diary entries produced for the relevant time. In a case involving police officers as witnesses, production of the duty roster and related documents is essential, it said. Prosecution fails to prove case beyond reasonable doubt On the charge of affray (Sec 160), the court said, "The word 'fighting' necessarily implies mutual combat -a situation where both sides are actively engaged in fighting with each other. One-sided assault or attack does not constitute 'fighting'." The prosecution failed to bridge the gap between "may be true" and "must be true", it said, while granting the benefit of doubt to the accused, reported PTI. "The prosecution has completely failed to prove its case against the accused persons beyond reasonable doubt," the judge said. (With inputs from PTI)
03 February,2026 12:02 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentSenior NCP (SP) leader Jitendra Awhad claimed on Monday that a merger between the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party was "2,000 per cent" certain to happen, reported news agency PTI. The unification of the NCP (SP) led by Sharad Pawar and the NCP, headed by the late Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, was in advanced stages, he said. The MLA visited the NCP office in Thane to pay floral tributes to the departed leader. ‘Merger date fixed for February 12’ "It is 2,000 per cent true that the merger of the two NCPs was going to happen. While such high-level matters are for the leadership to discuss, I can say with absolute certainty that this unification was imminent," Jitendra Awhad told reporters. He hailed the administrative acumen of Ajit Pawar, describing his death in a plane crash as an irreparable loss to Maharashtra's governance. Awhad praises Ajit Pawar’s administrative grip Awhad noted that he had not seen a leader in 40 years with such a strong command over the administration. He praised the late leader for his lightning-fast decision-making, stating that during Ajit Pawar's tenure, "no file was ever stalled in the ministry," reported PTI. Sharad Pawar fuels speculation over merger talks The unification speculation gained momentum after Sharad Pawar last week claimed that it was his late nephew Ajit Pawar's wish to unite both factions, and gave a February 12 timeline for the merger. "Now we feel his wish should be fulfilled. Ajit Pawar, Shashikant Shinde and Jayant Patil had initiated the talks about the merger of the two factions. Even the merger date had been fixed - it was scheduled on the 12th (February). Unfortunately, Ajit left us before that," he had said, reported PTI. Fadnavis dismisses claim, NCP leaders play down possibility Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had virtually dismissed Sharad Pawar's claim, saying if the merger talks were really in progress, then Ajit Pawar would have shared details with him, reported PTI. Leaders of NCP have, however, indicated that such a unification is a remote possibility, further deepening the political intrigue. (With inputs from PTI)
03 February,2026 11:25 AM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra minister Nitesh Rane has triggered a major controversy after warning that development funds would be withheld in areas where candidates of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) emerge victorious in the upcoming Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections, reported news agency PTI. Funds linked to poll symbols, says minister at Sindhudurg rally Addressing an election rally in the Fonda constituency of Kankavli in Sindhudurg district on Sunday, Rane said the release of funds depended on the poll symbol of the winning candidate. “If I see the lotus or the bow and arrow, funds are sanctioned immediately. But if the flaming torch appears, I will even stop funds that have already been approved,” he said, referring to the symbols of the BJP, Shiv Sena and Sena (UBT), respectively, reported PTI. Rane, who was campaigning for a Shiv Sena candidate, claimed a similar strategy had been adopted during recent gram panchayat elections. He alleged that sarpanches were warned that no funds would be released unless they aligned with the ruling side, following which they “quickly switched over”. Opposition calls remarks misuse of power, violation of oath The remarks drew sharp reactions from the Opposition. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Akhil Chitre said the state treasury was public money and not a personal reserve of any minister. He described Rane’s comments as an open admission of misuse of power and said they violated the oath of impartiality taken by a minister. Chitre questioned whether the chief minister and the governor would act against Rane or remain silent, which, he claimed, would amount to tacit approval of such statements, reported PTI. State Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal alleged that Maharashtra, under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, was witnessing the erosion of democratic values. He claimed the government was attempting to weaken the Opposition and undermine constitutional principles. Local body polls scheduled for February 7 As many as 12 Zilla Parishads and 125 Panchayat Samitis across Maharashtra are scheduled to go to polls on February 7, with counting slated for February 9. Rane, Bawankule trade barbs with Sena (UBT) over fund allocation Rane further claimed that the local body elections were becoming one-sided, asserting that voters were questioning the relevance of rival parties. He said the polls were being contested under the leadership of MP Narayan Rane and expressed confidence that Sindhudurg district would remain under his leadership for the next five years, reported PTI. Taking a swipe at the Shiv Sena (UBT), Rane said the party was “barely visible” on the ground during the campaign and claimed that its candidates would eventually have to approach the ruling dispensation for funds after the elections, reported PTI. Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule also weighed in, alleging that when Uddhav Thackeray was chief minister, officials were instructed not to release funds for projects recommended by him. He said those decisions were now rebounding politically. Nitesh Rane has been at the centre of multiple controversies in recent months. During the civic poll campaign in January, he made inflammatory remarks targeting a particular community, drawing widespread criticism. In another instance, responding to comments by an AIMIM corporator about “painting Mumbra green”, Rane said the area would be “painted in saffron” and claimed that every inch of land belonged to a “Hindu Rashtra”, reported PTI. At a rally in Vasai last month, he also warned against disruptions during Hindu festivals and said those raising slogans other than “Jai Shri Ram” should be sent “to their fathers in Pakistan”, remarks that further escalated political tensions. (With inputs from PTI)
03 February,2026 11:11 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThree members of a family were injured after a high-speed Mercedes, allegedly driven by a 17-year-old boy, crashed into vehicles inside the Mumbai Coastal Road tunnel in south Mumbai, police said on Monday, reported news agency PTI. The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday when the luxury car, travelling towards south Mumbai, struck another vehicle from behind inside the tunnel. The impact caused the Mercedes to ram into a second car ahead, an official from D B Marg police station said, reported PTI. As a result of the collision, three occupants of one of the cars—including an elderly woman—sustained injuries and were taken for medical treatment, police said. Following an investigation, police registered a case against a businessman from the Agripada area, who owns the Mercedes, his 18-year-old granddaughter, and her 17-year-old male friend, who was allegedly driving the vehicle at the time of the crash, reported PTI. Police said preliminary findings indicate that the minor lost control of the car while driving through the tunnel, leading to the accident. Further investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident is underway. Driver trapped after Thane truck collision, rescued by fire brigade In another incident, one person was injured after a heavy truck collided with another vehicle near Kharegaon Toll Naka in the Retibandar area of Kalwa, Thane (West), early Tuesday morning, officials said. According to the Disaster Management Cell of the Thane Municipal Corporation, the accident occurred around 6.02 am on the road leading towards Mumbra. A heavy Ashok Leyland truck (MH 04 KU 2012), carrying debris and garbage from Mulund Dumping Ground to Mumbra, rammed into an unidentified vehicle moving ahead of it. The truck was owned by Rupesh Talwar and driven by Rajkumar (32), a resident of Taloja. Following the collision, the driver was trapped inside the vehicle. Fire brigade personnel, including a divisional officer and sub-station officer, rushed to the spot with a fire engine and a rescue vehicle. Teams from the Disaster Management Cell, city traffic police and staff from Kalwa Police Station were also deployed, along with an ambulance. The trapped driver was successfully rescued from the cabin. He sustained serious injuries to his leg and was admitted to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital for treatment. Meanwhile, traffic police personnel were engaged in clearing the accident site by shifting the damaged vehicle to the side of the road to restore traffic movement. (With inputs from PTI)
03 February,2026 10:53 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
