Two people have died while three others have suffered injuries after being hit by a train while walking on the railway tracks near Sandhurst Road Station in Mumbai on Thursday evening, officials said. The group was walking along the tracks when a train approached, and they were unable to move away in time, sources said. While one of the victims has been identified as Hailey Mohmaya (19), the identity of the other is unknown. The three injured have been identified as Yafiza Chogale (62), Khusbu Mohmaya (45), and Kaif Chogale (22), authorities at Sir JJ Hospital said. Train movement on the route was affected after the incident, they said. Heavy rush of commuters were witnessed at Thane and CSMT stations among others on the Central Railway lines. Some of the closed-door AC local trains were also seen operating with open-doors on late Thursday evening due to heavy passengers rush. The incident took place shortly after railway employees on Thursday evening went on a flash strike at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) during the peak hours of Mumbai local train services. The strike was to protest against the FIR filed by the Government Railway Police (GRP) against two railway engineers in connection with the Mumbra train tragedy, sources said. The protest disrupted train services temporarily, they said. According to Dr Swapnil Nila, Chief Public Relations Officer of Central Railway, the situation was quickly pacified, and train operations resumed at 6.45 pm from CSMT. Earlier, two Central Railway engineers have been booked in connection with the June 9 Mumbra train accident in which four commuters died and nine others were injured after falling off two overcrowded local trains in Thane, a police officer had stated on Monday. The mishap occurred between Diva and Mumbra railway stations when two trains, one bound for Kasara and the other for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, were passing each other on a sharp curve. Further details are awaited.
06 November,2025 09:55 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarThe State Election Commission (SEC) has directed the formation of a committee, headed by the chief secretary, to examine proposals seeking exemption from the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for the Maharashtra local body elections. The move follows a suggestion made during a meeting on October 16 chaired by State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare and attended by the chief secretary and senior officials from various departments, SEC said in a statement. The committee, modelled on a similar body set up during the 2024 Lok Sabha and Maharashtra Assembly elections, will scrutinise all requests for MCC relaxation and recommend suitable cases to the SEC for approval, PTI reported. All government departments have been instructed to route such proposals only through this committee, the poll body added. As per Supreme Court directives, elections for all pending local self-government bodies in the state must be completed by January 31. Polls for municipal councils and nagar panchayats have already been announced and the MCC is in place. The newly formed committee will remain operational for all upcoming local body elections. SEC on Tuesday issued a detailed Code of Conduct for the upcoming local body elections across the state, bringing all municipal corporations, municipal councils, nagar panchayats, zilla parishads and panchayat samitis under the purview of the model code. The order will remain in force until the completion of the election process. The directive, issued under the Maharashtra Municipal Corporations Act, 1965 and the Maharashtra Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis Act, 1961, aims to ensure peaceful, transparent and fair elections in all local self-government bodies, the State Election Commission (SEC) said. SEC appeals candidates to conduct peaceful campaigning The SEC’s order lays down strict rules to maintain order and discipline during the poll process. It prohibits violence, intimidation or any attempt to create fear among voters. All political parties and candidates have been instructed to ensure equal opportunities for campaigning. Loudspeaker use will not be allowed between 10 pm and 6 am during the Model Code of Conduct period. The order also bans the distribution of cash, liquor or gifts as inducements to voters. Use of government vehicles, buildings or staff for electioneering has been strictly prohibited. The poll body has directed that no new government schemes or projects be announced or inaugurated during the election period, and that no political advertisements be issued using public funds. Violations could lead to censure, criminal proceedings, or even cancellation of candidature, warned SEC. Voters can visit SEC’s official website: sec.maharashtra.gov.in or call on the helpline 1800-22-1950 for more details. (With PTI inputs)
06 November,2025 07:41 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe railway employees on Thursday evening went on a flash strike at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) during the peak hours of Mumbai local train services. The strike was to protest against the FIR filed by the Government Railway Police (GRP) against two railway engineers in connection with the Mumbra train tragedy, sources said. The protest disrupted train services temporarily, they said. According to Dr Swapnil Nila, Chief Public Relations Officer of Central Railway, the situation was quickly pacified, and train operations resumed at 6.45 pm from CSMT. Earlier, two Central Railway engineers have been booked in connection with the June 9 Mumbra train accident in which four commuters died and nine others were injured after falling off two overcrowded local trains in Thane, a police officer had stated on Monday. The mishap occurred between Diva and Mumbra railway stations when two trains, one bound for Kasara and the other for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, were passing each other on a sharp curve. According to police, several commuters standing on the footboard fell onto the tracks after their backpacks brushed against each other. The duo has been booked under Section 25 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
06 November,2025 07:19 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarThe Central Railway’s Mumbai Division will operate special night traffic and power blocks between Kalyan and Badlapur for the launching and de-launching of a foot overbridge (FOB) from November 7 to 9. The block will be in place from 1.50 am to 3.20 am, officials said on Thursday. During the block period, several long-distance and suburban services will be affected. Two mail and express trains, 11020 Bhubaneshwar–CSMT Konark Express and 18519 Visakhapatnam–LTT Express, will be diverted via Karjat–Panvel–Diva. Trains that usually halt at Kalyan will instead halt at Panvel and Thane for the convenience of passengers. In addition, the 12702 Hyderabad–CSMT Hussainsagar Express will be regulated at Vangani between 3.13 am and 3.20 am, while other late-running services may also be diverted depending on operational requirements. Suburban train services between Kalyan and Karjat will remain suspended during the block. The affected services include the CSMT–Ambernath (A1) local departing at 12.02 am and the Ambernath–CSMT (A66) local leaving at 10.15 pm, both of which have been cancelled. The CSMT–Karjat (S1) local at 12.12 am will be short-terminated at Thane, while the Karjat–CSMT (S2) local at 2.30 am will originate from Thane at 4 am, the release stated. The press release, issued by Dr Swapnil Nila, Chief Public Relations Officer, Central Railway, noted that these measures are essential for infrastructure development and passenger safety. Railways clears plan for passenger holding areas at 76 stations, including five in Mumbai In a major boost to passenger comfort and crowd management, the Ministry of Railways has approved the creation of passenger holding areas at 76 railway stations across India. The move follows the success of a similar facility at New Delhi Railway Station, which helped manage the festive rush during Diwali and Chhath this year. Mumbai features prominently in the expansion plan, with five key stations — CSMT, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, Dadar, Mumbai Central, and Bandra Terminus — selected for upgrades under the project. Announcing the initiative, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the new holding areas would feature modular designs customised to local station layouts. “These zones will provide passengers with safe, comfortable spaces to wait during peak travel hours and festive seasons. The modular design will improve crowd flow, safety, and the overall travel experience,” the minister said. Mumbai, one of India’s busiest rail hubs, handles lakhs of commuters daily across suburban and long-distance trains. Festival travel pushes footfalls beyond capacity, leading to congestion on platforms and concourses. The new holding areas are expected to reduce overcrowding and streamline station management significantly. Construction is set to begin soon, with the deadline to complete all 76 facilities before the 2026 festive season.
06 November,2025 07:01 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has announced the schedule for reservation allocation for the Mumbai civic polls. According to an official notification, the draft reservation list will be released on Tuesday, November 11, 2025. Following this, the draft will be open for objections and suggestions from November 14 to 20, 2025. "The citizens can submit their feedback to the respective election ward offices or online via the BMC website," the notification said. It said that the reservation allocation will cover categories such as Scheduled Caste (Women), Scheduled Tribe (Women), Other Backward Classes (OBC), OBC (Women), and General Women candidates. The reservation draft will be published at 11 am at Bal Gandharva Rangmandir in Bandra (West), the notification said. The objections and suggestions can be submitted until 3 pm on November 20 after which the final reservation notification will be issued, it said. 🔹For the General Elections of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) - 2025, a programme is being announced for conducting the draw of lots for the reservation of seats under the following categories: Scheduled Caste (Women), Scheduled Tribe (Women), Backward Class of… pic.twitter.com/VaCxeaGkdO — माझी Mumbai, आपली BMC (@mybmc) November 6, 2025 Meanwhile, earlier this week, Maharashtra State Election Commission had on Tuesday announced that the elections in 246 municipal councils and 42 nagar panchayats across Maharashtra were scheduled to take place on December 2, with counting of votes set for December 3. The state Election Commission, however, have not yet declare the schedule for BMC elections. Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Waghmare did not announce the election schedule for 29 municipal corporations, 32 zilla parishads, and 336 panchayat samitis, where polls are also due. Polling will be conducted using electronic voting machines (EVMs) to elect 6,859 members and 288 presidents across the 246 municipal councils and 42 nagar panchayats on December 2, with votes counted on December 3. With the announcement of the poll schedule, the model code of conduct has come into effect in the respective municipal councils and nagar panchayats. The total number of eligible voters stands at 1.7 crore, comprising 53,79,931 men, 53,22,870 women, and 775 others. Polling will be conducted across 13,355 polling centres, covering 3,820 wards. Of the 6,859 seats to be filled, 3,492 are reserved for women, 895 for Scheduled Castes, 338 for Scheduled Tribes, and 1,821 for Other Backward Classes (OBCs). Waghmare also highlighted that the State Election Commission has launched a dedicated website, mahasecelec.in, for online submission of nomination forms and affidavits. Another portal, mahasecvoterlist.in, allows voters to verify their names and polling stations. A total of 13,726 EVM control units and 27,452 ballot units have been arranged to facilitate smooth conduct of the polls.
06 November,2025 06:16 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Bombay High Court (HC) on Thursday observed that allowing every individual to submit a voter enrolment application immediately upon turning 18 would overwhelm authorities with verification work and “open the floodgates”. According to the news agency PTI, the court clarified that an individual who turns 18 is included in the electoral roll only during its next revision. A division bench of Justices Riyaz Chagla and Farhan Dubash made the observation while hearing a plea filed by Rupika Singh, an 18-year-old Mumbai resident, whose application for voter registration was rejected because she turned 18 after the cut-off date of October 1, 2024. The Maharashtra Assembly Elections were held in November 2024. While referring to a Supreme Court judgment, the bench noted the distinction between the freedom to vote and the right to vote. “Once you turn 18, you have the freedom to vote, but the right arises only when your name is included in the revised electoral roll,” the court stated. The judges further observed that if everyone began applying for voter registration the moment they turned 18, authorities would be overburdened with verification work. “This will open the floodgates,” the court said, while directing the Electoral Registration Officer to consider Singh’s application within six weeks. Senior counsel Ashutosh Kumbakoni, representing the Election Commission of India and the Chief Electoral Officer of Maharashtra, agreed to review Singh’s application, PTI reported. Singh had approached the court, claiming her fundamental right to vote was being violated because her name was not included in the electoral roll, preventing her from voting in the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls, which have been pending since March 2022. Kumbakoni informed the court that the voter list prepared as of October 2024 would be used for the local body polls, meaning Singh would not be eligible to vote this year. He also explained that the electoral rolls are revised before each parliamentary or assembly election. After turning 18 in April 2025, Singh tried to apply online through the Election Commission’s portal, but was unable to do so as there was no option for applicants born on or after October 2, 2024. Her offline application was also rejected. She later learned that July 1, 2025, was set as the next enrolment cut-off date, meaning only citizens listed as voters by that date would be eligible to vote in the local body elections, PTI reported. In her plea, Singh argued that the non-acceptance of her application violated her freedom of expression, as she was denied the opportunity to cast her vote. (With PTI inputs)
06 November,2025 05:59 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Western Railway on Thursday said that it has collected over Rs 121 crore in fines through intensive ticket-checking drives conducted between April and October 2025. An official statement said that the checks were carried out across Mumbai local trains, as well as Mail, Express, passenger and special trains, to curb ticketless and irregular travel. According to the Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of Western Railway, Vineet Abhishek, "In October along, an amount of Rs 24.20 crore was recovered through detection of 3.39 lakh ticketless/irregular passengers, including unbooked luggage cases registering an increase of 100 per cent over the previous year’s October figure. To prevent unauthorised entry in AC local trains, frequent surprise ticket checking drives are also being carried out. As a result of focused drives in AC locals, almost 62 thousand unauthorised passengers were penalised during April to October 2025 and Rs 2.02 crore were collected as fine, which is almost 76 per cent higher than the corresponding period last year." In October alone, Western Railway recovered Rs 24.20 crore by detecting around 3.39 lakh ticketless or irregular passengers, including cases of unbooked luggage — a 100 per cent rise over last October, it said. Western Railway said these efforts reflect its commitment to ensuring fair travel, passenger comfort, and protection of public revenue. It also appealed to passengers to always travel with valid tickets, it further said. Meanwhile, last month, the Western Railway had said that it achieved a new milestone by recording its highest-ever single-day earnings from ticket checking, collecting Rs 1.39 crore on October 18. A total of 17,383 cases of ticketless travel was reported by the Western Railway on the day. According to a statement issued by Western Railway in October, the performance surpasses the previous best of Rs 1.28 crore recorded on November 10, 2023. The feat marks a significant improvement in revenue collection and reflects the intensified efforts of the railway's ticket-checking teams. Despite a large number of ticket checking staff being deployed for crowd management duties, especially in view of the Diwali festive season, Western Railway had managed to achieve this record-breaking revenue.
06 November,2025 05:56 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) has issued a notice to Bhojpuri actor and singer Khesari Lal Yadav, who is contesting the Bihar Assembly elections as a Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) candidate, for alleged unauthorised construction at his residence in Mira Road, an official said on Thursday, reported the PTI. According to the MBMC, the notice concerns the “unauthorised installation of iron angles and a tin-sheet shed” at the property. “The notice instructs the owner to remove the illegal additions. If the encroachment is not cleared voluntarily, the civic body will proceed with demolition as per municipal laws, and the cost will be recovered from the owner,” the official stated, according to the PTI. Residents in the area said the house has remained locked for several weeks, with some claiming that Yadav’s family has travelled to Bihar to support him during his election campaign. Yadav is contesting from the Chapra Assembly constituency on an RJD ticket, a seat held by the BJP’s C. N. Gupta since 2015. Attempts to reach Yadav for comment were unsuccessful, the PTI reported. Khesari Lal Yadav, one of the best known singers and actors in the most popular dialect of Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh, had in October joined the RJD. Yadav had joined the party along with his wife Chanda, a home maker, amid speculations that she might get a party ticket. At a late-night impromptu press conference at RJD president Lalu Prasad's residence last month, his son and heir apparent Tejashwi Yadav announced that the couple have joined the party. Meanwhile, polling was underway at a moderate pace on Thursday across 121 assembly constituencies of Bihar, where 53.77 per cent of 3.75 crore voters had exercised their franchise till 3 pm to decide the fate of over 1,000 candidates, even as Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha alleged that his convoy was attacked by RJD supporters in his home turf Lakhisarai. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who addressed rallies in a couple of constituencies going to polls in the second and final phase, felt that the noticeably high number of women turning up to vote was a good sign for the NDA. (with PTI inputs)
06 November,2025 04:40 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentCongress has so far received over 1,150 applications from prospective candidates seeking tickets for the forthcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections in Mumbai, the party said on Thursday, reported the PTI. Although the BMC election schedule is yet to be declared, applications have been submitted from all six districts of Mumbai, said city Congress spokesperson Sureshchandra Rajhans in a statement. The six districts correspond to the Lok Sabha constituencies in the city. Meanwhile, State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare announced earlier this week that elections for 246 municipal councils and 42 nagar panchayats across Maharashtra will be held on 2 December, with the counting of votes scheduled for 3 December. However, he did not release the election timetable for 29 municipal corporations, 32 zilla parishads, and 336 panchayat samitis, where polls are also due. “The Mumbai Congress has so far received more than 1,150 applications from aspirants seeking the party’s ticket,” Rajhans stated, adding that, owing to the strong response, the deadline for applications may be extended. Preparations for the civic polls are being overseen by Mumbai Congress president and MP Varsha Gaikwad. In-charges have been appointed for all 227 wards, and meetings are being conducted across the city to mobilise party workers, Rajhans added. A majority of Congress workers have reportedly expressed their desire for the party to contest the polls independently, though a final decision on whether to go it alone or enter into an alliance will rest with the central leadership in Delhi, he noted, according to the PTI. Meanwhile, facing a crucial test ahead of Maharashtra local body elections, the Congress is working to rebuild its organisation and reconnect with urban voters especially ahead of the BMC polls. In preparation for the polls, the party has formed several committees to strengthen coordination and streamline its election strategy. According to the PTI, former minister Suresh Shetty will head the manifesto committee, while party spokesperson Sureshchandra Rajhans will lead the war room. MLA Amin Patel has been appointed chief of the election campaign committee, senior leader Manhas Singh will chair the election management committee, and B.K. Tiwari will oversee the disciplinary committee, the party said in a statement. Mumbai Congress president and MP Varsha Gaikwad expressed confidence that the newly formed teams would work collectively to ensure a strong performance in the civic polls. Party insiders said the committees will focus on drafting the poll manifesto, planning outreach campaigns, and maintaining internal discipline and communication, as per the PTI. Once a dominant force in Mumbai politics, the Congress has steadily lost ground over the past decade. In the 2017 BMC elections, the party secured only 30 of the 227 seats. Its decline has continued since 2014, with poor results in both Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. In the 2024 state elections, it managed to win only 16 of the 101 seats it contested. (with PTI inputs)
06 November,2025 02:42 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Dahisar police have traced the parents of the newborn baby girl who was found abandoned in the Ashokvan nullah on October 27. The infant was rescued by officers of Dahisar police station and rushed to Shatabdi Hospital in Kandivli. While hospital authorities stated that the baby's condition is stable and would be discharged soon, the next step in the case remains uncertain — whether the infant will be handed back to her parents or placed in the care of a child welfare home is yet to be decided. “We will inform the police about the stable condition of the child and will hand over the baby to whoever the police ask us to hand her over to,” said a senior official from Shatabdi Hospital. Police officials, along with hospital authorities and the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), are currently in discussion to determine what would be in the best interest of the baby. “The couple already has three daughters. They come from an impoverished background. The mother works as a domestic help, and her husband as a daily-wage worker. And so, we are discussing what should be done once the baby is discharged,” said a senior officer of Dahisar police station. According to police sources, the infant’s parents — a couple residing in a slum settlement behind the nullah — have confessed to abandoning the newborn due to severe financial distress and societal pressure. “They told us that they were struggling to make ends meet and feared the financial burden of raising a fourth child,” said the police officer. The police have not registered a case yet and are still discussing whether to arrest both parents or just one of them. The identity of the parents has not been revealed, as the police continue to handle the matter with sensitivity.
06 November,2025 02:06 PM IST | Mumbai | Ritika GondhalekarMaharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray engaged in a sharp exchange of words on Thursday, as Thackeray continued his tour of the Marathwada region to assess the condition of farmers affected by debt and crop losses. During his interaction with farmers, Thackeray played an audio clip of a past statement by Chief Minister Fadnavis promising a complete loan waiver to farmers ahead of the elections. In the recording, Fadnavis can be heard saying, “We are going to give a complete loan waiver to our farmers.” Addressing the gathering, Thackeray said he had not come to seek votes but to “give courage” to distressed farmers. “No matter who has helped the farmers or not, I will use whatever power I have for the benefit of the people. With your blessings, I had waived off loans. But today, after every crisis, leaders only come to take photos and do relief work for publicity,” he said, criticising the state government’s response to agrarian distress. Raising concerns over soil erosion and delayed compensation, Thackeray added, “If farmers get a fair price or guaranteed price for their crops, will they have to worry about loans? The rain has eroded the soil of many farms — what should they do with that land? Stand with the farmers if you really care about them.” Reacting sharply to Thackeray’s remarks, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis hit back, saying he was glad Thackeray had “finally come out among the people.” “When he was the Chief Minister, he never stepped out to meet farmers in distress. Now, after repeated electoral defeats, he has realised the need to go to the people,” Fadnavis said. He claimed that Thackeray’s outreach was politically motivated. “Farmers have turned their backs on him because they know these visits are only about elections. He isn’t getting much response, so the effort to capture public attention is on,” the Chief Minister remarked. Defending his government’s handling of the farmers’ relief package, Fadnavis explained the delay in disbursement, citing procedural requirements. “The government’s package is reaching the accounts of farmers. It’s true that some are yet to receive it, but all affected farmers will receive aid soon,” he assured. Concluding his remarks, Fadnavis said that despite Thackeray’s attempts to regain ground ahead of the elections, “he will not get much response from the people.”
06 November,2025 01:25 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
