A Mumbai-based foundation has developed an artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled pendant embedded with a quick response (QR) code for cows, designed to ensure their well-being and safety, news agency PTI reported. The 'Gau Raksha Kavach' pendant will send reminders via email or SMS about the vaccination dates of cows. When scanned, the QR code will display the medical history of cows immediately. The pendant also features a reflective collar to protect stray cows from road accidents. According to PTI, this initiative was launched by the Ridlan AI Foundation on Wednesday. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Member of Parliament (MP) Poonam Mahajan unveiled the pendants at an event. "This is a very brilliant idea of AI-complied pendants for cows, stemming from the ancient culture of India. I am blessed to connect with leaders of India who think about giving back to society and giving a voice to the voiceless," Mahajan said, while also remembering former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his birth centenary. "I have been working for animals, and with Akshay, the founder of the Ridlan AI Foundation, we have done this unique programme in the name of Atal Ji," she added. Mahajan explained that the QR code can also be used for stray cows, and those running cow shelters can approach the foundation for assistance. "We are using artificial intelligence here to save cows. The pendant called Gau Raksha Kavach is designed to ensure the safety of cows from many viruses that affect the animal," she said. Akshay Ridlan, founder of Ridlan AI Foundation, conceived the idea for the kavach for cows, PTI reported. "In the last two years, more than 2 million cows were affected, and around 200,000 cows lost their lives due to the lumpy virus. Vaccination and timely de-worming of cows are crucial to prevent such instances," he said. Ridlan further explained that the pendant will store the cow's information and send alerts to the owner to ensure their well-being. "The kavach has a reflective collar that will help protect stray cows from road accidents. This is a small initiative from us for the cows. The pendants are free for now, and the foundation is seeking sponsors," he added. (With PTI inputs)
25 December,2024 07:53 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) affiliated BEST Kamgar Sena on Wednesday protested over 'deteriorating conditions' of BEST and BMC commissioner's remarks. The Kamgar Sena has called on all employees to wear black bands at work on December 26 to protest against the deteriorating condition of the undertaking and the BMC municipal commissioner's reported statement that BEST is not the BMC's responsibility. Among the key demands are the cessation of all privatization, procurement of new, self-owned buses, the initiation of staff recruitments, payment of gratuity to retired employees, and the completion of payments for all pending Covid-19 allowances. “We are also protesting against the statement of the BMC commissioner, who stated that BEST is not their responsibility, which is incorrect, as the BMC is the parent body of the BEST undertaking,” a member of the union said. Following the accident at Kurla, a delegation from the Kamgar Sena met civic chief Bhushan Gagrani two weeks ago, led by their leader Suhas Samant, a former member of the BEST committee. They demanded that the BMC take over BEST instead of just providing financial aid. Samant also called for the complete cessation of the wet lease system for buses.
25 December,2024 07:52 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarThe first phase of the Balasaheb Thackeray Rashtriya Smarak at Mayor’s Bungalow premises in Dadar has been completed on Wednesday, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) stated in a press release. The first phase comprised the renovation and preservation of the cultural heritage of the Mumbai Mayor's bungalow building and its conversion into a museum. Additionally, the construction of the entrance building, admin block, and interpretation centre has also been completed. MMRDA had appointed M/s Abha Narain Lambah Associates as the consultant and Tata Projects Ltd as the contractor for the Phase-1 work, which costs Rs 180.99 crore. Under heritage conservation, civil and electrical works are carried out for internal and external parts of the structure. An interpretation centre, covering approximately 1530.44 square metres, has also been built in Phase 1. This underground centre includes an artist gallery and provision for museum and library, washrooms, and maintenance rooms. The entrance building, which spans an area of about 3099.84 square metres, and includes a multipurpose hall, security control room, underground parking for 27 vehicles, and two separate vehicle elevators. The admin block, covering 639.70 square metres, includes a cafeteria, artist gallery room, restrooms, and offices for the trust. The roof of the building is designed using the Mangalore tiles. Landscaping works in the peripheral area of buildings has also been carried out over a three-acre area, adding to its beauty. The Phase-2 works will include the creation of various technology-related services such as a laser show, singe and branding, digital mapping projection, narrative, story telling, film, virtual reality, audio visuals and technological components for the museum by the Information and Technology Department of MMRDA. In Phase 2, various photographs, videos, and information showcasing the life of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray and his political journey will be displayed. M/s Abha Narain Lambah Associates has been appointed as the consultant for the execution of the Phase-2 works. The selection process for the contractor for the implementation of Phase 2 is in progress.
25 December,2024 06:21 PM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavFlamingos have begun to return to the 289 hectare wetland at Panje in Uran area of Maharashtra. Wildlife enthusiast Parag Gharat posted the pictures celebrating the sighting of over 300 flamingos at the wetland which often goes due to the blocking of intertidal water by vested interests who want the water body to remain dry, NatConnect Foundation said. But to the relief of environmentalists, the State government has recently listed Panje as one of the 564 wetlands listed and documented by a Chennai based research institute. It is now the responsibility of CIDCO, Raigad district collector to ensure that the water inlets at Panje are never choked, NatConnect director B N Kumar said. Vanashakti and Sagar Shakti have been fighting a legal battle at Bombay High Court to save the wetland and the biodiversity of ecologically fragile Uran. The bone of contention for the environmentalists is that the wetland has been allegedly wrongly leased out to NMSEZ (now NMIIA) of which the environmentalists claim that CIDCO itself is a 26 per cent stake holder. Nandakumar Pawar of Sagar Shakti asked: who will have a heart to bury such a beautiful, rich biodiversity?.The maintenance of this and other intertidal wetlands will ensure availability of fish in large numbers which in turn support the local community, he pointed out.
25 December,2024 06:09 PM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentA concrete water tank collapsed on a nine-year-old girl, resulting in her death, in Nagpada, Mumbai, on Wednesday afternoon. Mumbai Police have registered an accidental death report (ADR) in this matter and have identified the victim as Khushi Shah. According to the police, the water tank was built by labourers to store water at a construction site in BMC Colony, Nagpada. It collapsed around 12.30 pm, following which four injuries were reported. The girl was taken to Nair Hospital, but was declared dead on arrival. The other three injured are undergoing treatment in Fauziya Hospital.
25 December,2024 05:55 PM IST | Mumbai | Apoorva AgasheMaharashtra Transport Minister and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena leader Pratap Sarnaik on Wednesday met cricketer Vinod Kambli. He said that the condition of former India cricketer Vinod Kambli was stable. Vinod Kambli (52) was admitted to Akruti Hospital near Bhiwandi town on December 21 after he developed urinary tract infection. "Vinod Kambli is a shining name in Indian cricket, who has always made the nation proud with his performances. His eyes still reflect the same determination and fighting spirit that he has always displayed on the field. His condition is currently stable, and I am confident that he will recover soon," said Sarnaik, an MLA from Thane, in a post on X. "लवकरात लवकर बरा हो माझ्या मित्रा विनोद🤗"“Get well soon my friend Vinod 🤗”#PratapSarnaik #TransportMinister #VinodKambli #Cricketer #thane pic.twitter.com/7hmYzXioGR — Pratap Baburao Sarnaik (@PratapSarnaik) December 25, 2024 "I interacted with his family members and assured them that I will make sure he gets the best medical treatment and care," the Shiv Sena leader added. Meanwhile, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has come forward to help former cricketer Vinod Kambli, who is currently hospitalised at Aakriti Hospital in Thane, with the OSD of deputy chief minister Shinde, Mangesh Chivate meeting him and fully assuring him of support and help from the party. A total of Rs 5 lakh rupees worth of assistance was announced by Shrikant Shinde Foundation to the cricketer, reported the ANI. Earlier, Dr Vivek Dwivedi, treating Kambli at Aakriti Hospital in Thane, said on Tuesday that the 52-year-old's brain condition is not stable. Kambli was admitted to the hospital on Saturday evening after experiencing muscle cramps and dizziness at home. Earlier in December, Indian cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar met his childhood friend Vinod Kambli and unveiled a memorial for renowned cricket coach Ramakant Vitthal Achrekar at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Park. In the video of their meeting, Kambli appeared frail, raising concerns about his physical and emotional well-being. Speaking to ANI, Dr Vivek Dwivedi stated that Kambli had a high-grade fever when admitted. The doctor noted that while the former cricketer's vitals are stable, his treatment and physiotherapy are ongoing, and he is expected to be discharged in 2-3 days. "We admitted him on Saturday evening. He was experiencing muscle cramps and dizziness at home. He had a high-grade fever and difficulty walking due to the cramps. Upon investigation, we discovered he had a urine infection, as well as sodium and potassium deficiencies, which caused the cramps. A brain scan revealed old clots, likely from a recent stroke. He was admitted to the ICU due to low blood pressure. While his vitals are stable, his treatment and physiotherapy continue. We are planning to discharge him in 2-3 days. However, his brain condition is not stable, with degenerative changes observed. We are prioritising his rehabilitation," Dr Dwivedi told ANI. (with PTI and ANI inputs)
25 December,2024 05:32 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentShiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) Member of Parliament (MP) Sanjay Raut on Wednesday hailed the late Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stalwart and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as the "second Nehru" of Indian politics, during a media interaction, news agency PTI reported. Raut remarked that as India observes the birth centenary of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the country will continue to remember him whenever "Raj Dharma (the duty of governance)" is under threat, PTI reported. "Although my party is not aligned with BJP, Vajpayee will always be remembered," Raut said, adding, "The current BJP may try to undermine the legacy of India's first Prime Minister, Pandit (Jawaharlal) Nehru, but Vajpayee was the second Nehru. He was the Nehru for non-Congress parties." According to PTI, Raut further highlighted that despite his strong commitment to Hindutva, Atal Bihari Vajpayee always believed in the inclusive nature of India. "Vajpayee believed the country belongs to all," he stated, adding, "The BJP under Vajpayee was inclusive, and people trusted that the party wanted to keep India united and strong." Raut also noted that even Pandit Nehru had acknowledged and respected Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He added, "Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray had tremendous respect for Vajpayee and valued his opinions." "Whenever Raj Dharma is under threat, the country will remember Vajpayee," Raut emphasised. When asked about Shiv Sena (UBT)'s plans for the upcoming local body elections in Mumbai, Raut replied, "Let the poll schedule be announced, and you will know... but we have already started our preparations." The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) is part of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which also includes the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar). Thackeray had severed ties with BJP after the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly Elections over the issue of sharing the chief ministerial post. In the recent state elections, the ruling Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar's NCP, won 230 out of the 288 assembly seats, while MVA secured only 46 seats. The elections for various civic bodies in Maharashtra, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), are overdue. The undivided Shiv Sena had controlled BMC for 25 consecutive years, from 1997 to 2022. (With PTI inputs)
25 December,2024 05:18 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA speeding tanker carrying a chemical caught fire after it overturned near Mumbai-Pune highway in Maharashtra's Raigad district on Wednesday morning, police said, reported news agency PTI. VIDEO | #Maharashtra: A speeding chemical tanker caught fire after it overturned near Mumbai-Pune highway in Khopoli, Raigad district on Wednesday morning. (Source: Third Party) pic.twitter.com/GQsLFIfC8v — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 25, 2024 No casualty was reported, an official said, adding that traffic movement on the road was affected for a couple of hours. The incident took place at 6.15 am at Patel Nagar, Shilphata, near the Mumbai-Pune highway exit in Khopoli area, he said, reported PTI. According to the official, the driver lost control over the wheels due to which the speeding tanker overturned. As the tanker was carrying an inflammable chemical, it caught fire and suffered damages, he said, reported PTI. After receiving information, the Khopoli police reached the spot. Fire-fighting vehicles of Tata, Godrej groups, HPCL and JSW were also rushed to the spot, the official said, reported PTI. The blaze was later brought under control, he said. Man killed, 15 persons injured as bus hits truck on Pune-Solapur highway A man was killed and 15 other persons were injured when a speeding private bus rammed into a truck on a highway in Maharashtra's Pune district on Wednesday morning, police said, reported PTI. The accident took place at 5.30 am at Khadki on Pune-Solapur highway in Daund area, an official said, reported PTI. The speeding luxury bus rammed into the truck from its rear side while it was going towards Pune, he said, reported PTI. A man sitting in the bus cabin (near the driver's seat) died, while 15 other passengers received injuries, the official said. Local police rushed to the spot and rescued the injured persons, who were taken to a state-run hospital in Pune, he said. (With inputs from PTI)
25 December,2024 03:06 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSamajwadi Party legislator Rais Shaikh on Wednesday has argued that the recent assembly election results in Maharashtra refute the narrative of 'vote Jihad,' which suggests that the Muslim community votes uniformly against the BJP, reported news agency PTI. The MLA from Bhiwandi (East) highlighted that in the November 20 assembly elections, the BJP-led Mahayuti coalition secured 21 out of 38 seats in constituencies where the Muslim population ranges from 20 per cent to 52 per cent. Shaikh emphasised that most of the winning candidates in these areas were Hindus. "If 'vote Jihad' existed, this would not have been the case. Some Mahayuti candidates won by a margin of as little as 1,500 votes. But the claim of 'vote Jihad' has been used to malign the Muslim community," he alleged, stated PTI. Shaikh also pointed out his own victory in a Muslim-majority constituency, which he won by a substantial margin of 52,000 votes, including about 18,000 votes from Hindu voters. He asserted that divisive slogans from the BJP, such as 'Batnege to Katnege' and 'Ek Hai Toh Safe Hai,' failed to have any impact on the voters. Additionally, he noted that Muslim candidates Hasan Mushrif and Abdul Sattar were elected from predominantly Hindu constituencies in Kagal and Sillod, respectively, as further evidence against the 'vote Jihad' narrative. Shaikh highlighted the disparity in representation, stating that while Muslims make up 11.56 per cent of Maharashtra's population, their presence in the newly formed assembly is only 3.47 per cent. During the election campaign, BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had accused the opposition of attempting to polarize the electorate, suggesting that 'vote Jihad' could only be countered through a 'dharma yudh' of votes. The Mahayuti swept the polls to the 288-member assembly polls, with BJP bagging 132 seats, Ajit Pawar’s NCP winning 41 seats and Shinde’s Shiv Sena winning 57 seats. The opposition Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) of Sharad Pawar managed to win just 16, 20 and 10 seats, respectively. The BJP had the highest strike rate of 88.59 per cent after winning 132 of the 149 seats it contested. (With inputs from PTI)
25 December,2024 02:32 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA man was killed and 15 other persons were injured when a speeding private bus rammed into a truck on a highway in Maharashtra's Pune district on Wednesday morning, police said, reported news agency PTI. The accident took place at 5.30 am at Khadki on Pune-Solapur highway in Daund area, an official said. The speeding luxury bus rammed into the truck from its rear side while it was going towards Pune, he said, reported PTI. A man sitting in the bus cabin (near the driver's seat) died, while 15 other passengers received injuries, the official said. Local police rushed to the spot and rescued the injured persons, who were taken to a state-run hospital in Pune, he said, reported PTI. Chemical tanker catches fire near Mumbai-Pune highway; traffic hit A speeding tanker carrying a chemical caught fire after it overturned near Mumbai-Pune highway in Maharashtra's Raigad district on Wednesday morning, police said, reported PTI. No casualty was reported, an official said, adding that traffic movement on the road was affected for a couple of hours. The incident took place at 6.15 am at Patel Nagar, Shilphata, near the highway exit in Khopoli area, he said, reported PTI. According to the official, the driver lost control over the wheels due to which the speeding tanker overturned, reported PTI. As the tanker was carrying an inflammable chemical, it caught fire and suffered damages, he said, reported PTI. After receiving information, the Khopoli police reached the spot. Fire-fighting vehicles of Tata, Godrej groups, HPCL and JSW were also rushed to the spot, the official said. The blaze was later brought under control, he said. (With inputs from PTI)
25 December,2024 01:55 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe body of a 45-year-old man was found in a drain in Thane city of Maharashtra on Wednesday morning, civic officials said, reported news agency PTI. The disaster control room here received a call at 9.16 am about the body being spotted in the drain at Raghunath Nagar in Wagle Estate area, Thane Municipal Corporation's disaster management cell chief Yasin Tadvi said, reported PTI. Emergency response teams, including local fire personnel and the regional disaster management cell members, rushed to the site. It took them nearly an hour to retrieve the body from the drain, the official said. The deceased was identified as Sunil Jagdish Thakur, he said, adding the circumstances leading to his death were not yet clear, reported PTI. The body was sent to a government hospital for postmortem and a case of accidental death was registered, a police official said. A probe was on into the man's death, the police added. Man held for 12-year-old girl's murder in Thane Police on Wednesday arrested a man in connection with the murder of a 12-year-old girl in Maharashtra's Thane district, an official sai, reported PTI. The girl was allegedly kidnapped by an unidentified person at around 4 pm on Monday when she was playing outside her house in Kalyan town, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-III Kalyan) Atul Zende told reporters, reported PTI. The body was found near the wall of a graveyard at Bapgaon near Bhiwandi at about 10 am on Tuesday, he said. The motive behind the murder was not yet known. The body was identified by the girl's parents, who had lodged a missing person complaint at Kolsewadi police station in Kalyan on Monday evening after searching her for several hours, reported PTI. Police initially registered an FIR under section 137 (kidnapping) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and launched a search to trace the girl. During the probe into the crime, the police arrested a man and were searching for another person suspected to be involved in the crime, Zende said. After the body was found on Tuesday, BNS section 103(1) (murder) was added to the case, Kolsewadi's senior police inspector Ashok Kadam told PTI. "We are waiting for the postmortem report and if rape is detected, other penal sections will be added to the FIR," Kadam said. Six teams have been formed to trace the other wanted accused, who is a habitual offender against whom several criminal cases are already registered, Zende said. (With inputs from PTI)
25 December,2024 01:51 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
