Mumbai's skies are set to remain mostly overcast today, 23 December 2024, with haze lingering throughout the day, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The city's air quality has deteriorated, reaching unhealthy levels, which has raised concerns for residents. The IMD forecasts temperatures in Mumbai to range from a low of 21°C in the morning to a high of 28°C by the afternoon. The sun is expected to rise at 7:07 AM and set at 6:06 PM, offering roughly 11 hours of daylight. However, the more pressing concern today is the city’s air quality. The Air Quality Index (AQI) stands at a concerning 220, classifying the air as 'unhealthy'. The deteriorating AQI has led to reduced visibility, and residents with respiratory issues are urged to limit outdoor activities. Experts recommend wearing masks to minimise exposure to pollutants. Several areas in Mumbai have recorded high AQI levels. Colaba leads with an AQI of 273, followed by Borivali East at 271, Malad West at 266, Mazgaon at 258, Kandivali West at 234, and Deonar at 210. These readings are far above the safe limits, which has led to widespread concern about the health impacts of the polluted air. The weather outlook for the next few days shows no immediate relief from the haze. On 24 December, Mumbai will continue to experience hazy skies with partial cloudiness, with temperatures ranging from 21°C to 31°C. The following day, 25 December, will bring slightly higher temperatures, ranging from 22°C to 34°C, with a partly cloudy sky and persistent haze. On 26 December, the city is expected to see a predominantly overcast sky with mist, with temperatures hovering between 23°C and 34°C. A return to partly cloudy skies with some haze is expected on 27 December, with temperatures between 23°C and 32°C. Finally, on 28 December, the city will experience more overcast skies and hazy conditions, with temperatures between 21°C and 30°C. As the AQI remains high, residents are advised to monitor the air quality and take necessary precautions to safeguard their health during this period of poor air quality.
23 December,2024 10:46 AM IST | MumbaiAs APAAR ID continues to spark confusion among parents and parent organisations, the Global Parents’ Teachers Association has demanded clarity from the state government. Amid suspense about rushing on the APAAR ID creation, parents fear their child’s academic data, health data, etc., will be compromised. The Global Parents Teachers Association (PTA) has sent a formal letter to the principal secretary of the School Education and Sports Department, the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, and the state project director of Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, seeking clarification on the APAAR ID and what actually it is needed for. A sample APAAR ID According to the Global PTA, no substantial awareness campaign, on par with large-scale initiatives like Swachh Bharat or the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana has been conducted to inform the public and stakeholders about the purpose and benefits of the APAAR ID. Many parents worry that the new system might link sensitive personal information, including academic achievements and failures as well as health records including vaccination details etc. “Parents have voiced concerns ranging from how the data may be used to whether the APAAR ID is truly mandatory. They question why a separate APAAR ID is needed when Aadhaar cards are already required," said Rohit Dandwate, president of Global PTA. Widespread rumours Some parents wonder if students who do not obtain an APAAR ID might lose their spot in school or face difficulties in the future. Others fear this new registry could be used to push specific health measures or vaccines without clear parental consent. “Due to social media, people have all kinds of doubts. Parents are asking if their child’s academic as well as health-related data will be under government control once they submit this consent letter. They want to know if any kind of vaccine will be administered, or whether they will eventually be forced to comply with new rules," Illegal schools Dandwate also raised questions about illegal schools. He said, "Further complicating the issue, the Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) data reportedly indicates that 674 illegal schools operate across the state. Parents are left wondering how such institutions will handle the new registry. Will students in unrecognised schools be eligible for an APAAR ID? Could these children be at risk of missing out on important educational documentation?” said Dandwate. Government intervention sought A member of the Legislative Council, Sachin Ahir, has raised the issue in the Lower House, urging state authorities to provide immediate clarification. “We need transparency to ensure no child’s education suffers due to confusion or lack of awareness,” he stated at the recent assembly session. Manan Ahuja, a parent of a Std VIII student asked, “What specific benefits do students gain by creating the APAAR ID? If it is truly mandatory, why isn’t there a large-scale promotional campaign? Will personal data and vaccination details be tied to this new registry? When we asked the school authorities to clear our doubts, they told us it's just like an Aadhaar card, then why is it needed at all? Schools are clueless themselves but are under pressure to submit consent forms.” Parents and educators alike are calling for the government to address these concerns urgently to avoid widespread confusion. “We have submitted our queries to the concerned authorities and are hoping for a swift response. Only transparent communication and robust public outreach can help dispel the rumours and ensure that the APAAR ID serves its intended purpose,” Dandwate added. Education official speaks Official School education department“The APAAR ID is an essential tool for students and we are ensuring that all students in Maharashtra have access to this vital resource. Parents do not have to fall prey to any rumours, no data of their child will be compromised,” said an official of the school education department.
23 December,2024 10:08 AM IST | Mumbai | Dipti SinghThe Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has spent R38 crore from the last financial year to date on the inaugurations and ground-breaking ceremony programmes linked to various projects. The amount will rise by the end of the present fiscal year as more bills will be approved, according to sources. According to data received from the BMC, in the current financial year, Rs 10 crore has been spent so far on inaugurations and ground-breaking ceremonies. In 2023-24, 2022-2023 and 2021-2022, the civic body spent around Rs 28 crore, Rs 1.80 crore and Rs 28 lakh ,respectively, on such activities. According to BMC data, in the past two years, various projects worth R1 lakh crore were started by the civic body, including a sewage treatment plant, the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road tunnel, Versova Dahisar Link Road, Dahisar-Mira Bhayandar connector, city beautification drive and road concreting project. According to officials, in this financial year, bills related to inaugurations worth R10 crore have already been approved. However the total expenditure will not match last year’s as the Model Code of Conduct was imposed twice by the Election Commission of India in 2024 due to the Lok Sabha and state Assembly polls. Recently, the BMC approved a proposal to pay for the ground-breaking ceremony of a tunnel between Goregoan and Khindipada in Bhandup. This tunnel will pass under Sanjay Gandhi National Park. The BMC spent R70.80 lakh on the programme which was held on April 17. “It is certain that the bigger the leader, the higher the expenses will be. Leaders want to promote themselves and grand ceremonies are held for this purpose. But, many times, because leaders do not have time, projects do not start even after completion due to lack of inauguration”, said civic activist Rajkumar Sharma. “Politicians are doing PR for themselves with public money. Does a huge amount of money really need to be spent on inaugurations and ground-breaking ceremonies?” asked activist Zoru Bhathena. Vishakha Raut, former mayor and Shiv Sena (UBT) member, said, “When I was the mayor in 1997, the BMC was suffering losses. By controlling expenditure and curbing wasteful spending, the BMC’s deposits have reached R90,000 crore. Yes, BMC is not a profit-making entity, but we need huge amounts for projects. Therefore, one should think twice before spending indiscriminately. This is the taxpayers’ money. It should be used thoughtfully so that facilities can be provided to citizens. If such expenditure continues, there may come a day when even paying the salaries of employees will be difficult. Therefore, all political parties should think about this.”
23 December,2024 10:06 AM IST | Mumbai | Sameer SurveA ride to Remember A ferris wheel ride at the ongoing Mahim Fair brings out contrasting emotions in a couple. Going out with a jab A moment from the drive Kalyan-based community Paw Diaries ended the year’s operations with one last gift for the strays of the neighbourhood yesterday. ”With the help of feeders who guided us to areas in the suburb that required attention, we vaccinated nearly 40 stray dogs, all free of cost. That takes our count for the year to nearly 200,” shared founder Taniishi Masand, who leads the 25-member group. Art attack in Khar A participant paints a section of the wall in Khar during a community session; (right) the beautified wall More Mumbaikars than usual might stop by the BMC-run HBT Aapla Davakhana in Khar West this week; and it’ll be for all the right reasons. A massive wall mural project by art collective 3Art House that had been in the works since October has come to fruition. “The artworks came to life through the many community art sessions that were open to all. People joined us from suburbs as far as Kalyan and Vashi,” shared co-founder Jasmeet Kaur Bagga, adding that the panels depict a lesson in cleanliness for those who have an eye for detail. “With this project wrapped up, we’re already on the lookout for the next spot to beautify,” she assured this diarist. Jasmeet Kaur Bagga Medusa’s day out in Matunga Students dressed as characters from Greek mythology You could’ve mistaken the classrooms and hallways of Ramnarain Ruia College in Matunga for a scene out of the popular Night At The Museum film series last weekend. As part of the ongoing Utsav Aarohan annual cultural fest, the college hosted a ‘live statue’ contest for the first time. “The theme this year is Greek mythology, and so, we thought it would be fun to have the characters — Gods and heroes alike — come alive,” shared Siya Vagal, member of the fine arts team for the festival. The students definitely got the memo. While one of them slipped into a white flowy robe and body paint with golden props to play goddess of war Athena, another female participant grabbed eyeballs, quite ironically, with her Medusa makeover. “She even carried a board that read ‘Don’t look into my eyes’,” Vagal recalled. Remembering Rafi sahab An illustration made by the artist to mark Mohammed Rafi’s centenary For people who love old Bollywood songs, Mohammed Rafi remains one of the greatest voices of his era. With his 100th birth anniversary at hand on December 24, author and illustrator Indu Harikumar has decided to gather inputs from fans, friends and music lovers to share their favourite songs of the famous singer. “My introduction to Mohammed Rafi was through Shammi Kapoor. I grew up watching a lot of Doordarshan and loved Kapoor. I used to borrow audio cassettes from my neighbours that included many of Rafi’s songs,” she shared. Harikumar has already started receiving responses from Rafi fans all across the world. “Someone from Lahore reached out to tell me that they will send a recording,” Harikumar shared with this diarist. Those keen to know more can log on to @induviduality on Instagram. Woohoo! Walliams is here British best-selling children’s book author David Walliams will be in Mumbai as part of a multi-city tour in January. The BAFTA-winner who starred in Little Britain and Come Fly With Me, will be in the city where he will be visiting select schools and signing copies of his books for children like Gangsta Granny, Astro Chimp (that’s also made into a comic), Super Sleuth and Billionaire Boy (all HarperCollins). Speaking about this upcoming tour, he told this diarist, “I am very excited to tell you that I am visiting your beautiful country very soon to do a nationwide book tour. I will be going to Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Pune, Delhi and Jaipur. It is going to be a lot of fun and I can’t wait to see you there.”
23 December,2024 08:14 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-dayA stray dog caused widespread panic in Vasai by aggressively attacking nearly three dozen pedestrians within two hours in the Parnaka area late Saturday evening. The dog bit children and elderly people, leaving them with bleeding injuries. In its frenzy, it tore clothes and even muscle with its strong bite force. The corridors of DM Petit hospital were crowded with dog bite victims, many bleeding profusely and some with grievous injuries. The anguished cries of injured children filled the air as they awaited treatment, while adult victims examined their torn clothes and bleeding wounds. A total of 17 out of the 35 dog bite victims were administered immunoglobulin to reduce the effects of inflammatory conditions involving the immune system, according to a civic doctor. Narrating their ordeals, victims recounted being attacked by a stray dog while walking on the road. Advocate Mridula Khedekar, one of the victims, said, “I had gone to the market to buy vegetables on Saturday evening when a stray dog suddenly pounced on my leg and bit me. I rushed to the hospital and learned that at least 20 others had already been bitten by the same dog. While I was waiting for my turn for treatment, another 12 people came in.” “The stray dog attacked everyone, including a young girl and elderly people. One of the victims had his muscle severely torn,” she added. Local residents and social workers accused the Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC) of ignoring serious civic issues, alleging that the dog sterilisation program in the area has been neglected. “The municipal corporation has not taken any initiative to curb the menace of dog bites in Vasai-Virar and Nalasopara, where the number of stray dogs is increasing exponentially,” Khedekar alleged. “If you visit a government hospital for treatment, there are no proper doctors or nurses at the facility. The municipal corporation must immediately take action to control the stray dog population, as back-to-back dog bite incidents have created terror in the area,” she added. Panicked bystanders in Vasai West scrambled for safety as the dog continued its rampage. When the situation spiralled out of control, municipal corporation officials finally acted, capturing the stray dog in the dead of night. An elderly victim, Ramesh Pujari, shared his ordeal, “I was heading home after closing my shop late Saturday evening when the stray dog suddenly attacked me and bit my leg. The bite was so aggressive that I had to use my other leg to fend it off. Before me, around 31 people had already reached the hospital with similar injuries.” Ashwin Kannaujia, the father of an eight-year-old girl attacked by the dog, said, “She was playing in the area when a white stray dog came and bit her. When she fell, the dog continued to chew on her. It was a horrible situation.” Those bitten were rushed to the hospital, with some requiring stitches and others being assessed for potential infections, including rabies. When contacted, the Medical Officer of Health (MoH) of VVCMC, Bhakti Choudhari, said, “The dog bite victims were treated at the hospital. Seventeen of them had more serious injuries and were administered immunoglobulin injections. All the patients were sent home after receiving appropriate medical care.” Dec 21Day of the incident
23 December,2024 07:38 AM IST | Mumbai | Diwakar SharmaIn what will expedite project work and help commuters beyond Kalyan, the work of new infra projects and that of a new rail corridor between Kalyan and Badlapur took a big leap in a period of two hours 25 minutes on the intervening nights of Saturday and Sunday with the launch of 22 girders for multiple projects, a record of sorts. While 22 girders were launched by the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC) as a part of the Kalyan-Badlapur additional corridor project, the CR team also launched all sets of girders of the Patri Pul in a period of three hours 20 minutes, replaced turnouts, and overhead wires, and completed a host of other works. “This is a commendable feat of engineering and teamwork,” an MRVC spokesperson said. “During the block period, 11 girders were launched at Ulhasnagar. Additionally, nine more girders were launched post-block period at a location away from the railway line, which did not require a block. This resulted in the successful launch of 20 girders at Ulhasnagar in a single night, contributing to a total of 31 girders launched by MRVC in the Kalyan-Badlapur section and at Neral. At Neral, a 110-ton capacity crane was employed, with 23 workers and officials contributing to the smooth execution of the task,” the MRVC spokesperson added. Kalyan-Badlapur project update. Sanctioned cost Rs 1,510 crore. Progress: 26%. Executing Agency: MRVC. Land Acquisition: Private land (Pvt. land revenue 6.59 hectares, Pvt. land MIDC 3.18 hectares = 9.77 ha. Total 9.77 ha of private land has been acquired.. Government land (2.59 ha): Entire government land required for the project has been acquired.. Forest land (0.25 ha): Stage I clearance received. Working permission received.
23 December,2024 07:32 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarIn another fascinating journey of a big cat, a male tiger born in the Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary in Yavatmal (southwest of Nagpur) has travelled approximately 500 kilometres to reach the Solapur district, located in southeastern Maharashtra. Sources from the Maharashtra Forest Department told this newspaper that they are closely monitoring the tiger’s movement. Camera traps have been installed in the area where the tiger is currently located to track its further movements. At present, the young male tiger is said to be in Barshi taluka of Solapur district. According to researchers, the male tiger is the cub of tigress T22 from Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary and was born there in 2022. In Solapur district, some farmers alerted forest department officials to an increase in cattle attacks over the past weeks. Following these reports, the department installed camera traps, which revealed the presence of the male tiger. This marks the first recorded sighting of a tiger at the Yedshi Ramalinga Wildlife Sanctuary in Dharashiv district, Marathwada. The big cat has since entered Barshi taluka of Solapur district. Senior Scientist Dr Bilal Habib from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) stated: “A male tiger, born in 2022 at Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary, has travelled from its birthplace to Solapur district. This young dispersing male’s journey highlights that the landscape remains suitable for tiger movement, with males particularly utilising it to explore new areas.” The 2.5-year-old tiger is believed to have travelled in search of new territory. “Most territories in the Central Indian landscape are already occupied, prompting young male tigers to travel in search of new areas. While we previously observed tigers heading toward the Kawal Tiger Reserve in Telangana, this movement pattern has shifted in the past four to five years, with tigers now venturing in different directions. We are investigating the reasons behind this shift toward the Marathwada region—whether it is due to linear infrastructure projects or other factors,” said Dr Bilal Habib. In Maharashtra, tigers are being monitored as part of a long-term research initiative—a collaborative effort between the Maharashtra Forest Department and the WII.Kushagra Pathak, deputy conservator of forest (Solapur), and BA Pol, deputy conservator of forest (Dharashiv), along with their teams and the Pune-based organisation RESQ Charitable Trust, are tracking the tiger’s movements. Neha Panchamiya, founder and president of RESQ Charitable Trust, said, “The RESQ CT team has been assisting the Dharashiv and Solapur Forest Department on the ground in tracking and monitoring the tiger since December 12. We are also conducting Primary Response Team (PRT) training. This is a dispersed young male tiger searching for a suitable habitat to settle and establish territory. Current efforts focus on tracking, preventing human-wildlife conflict, and ensuring safety for both humans and animals.” OfficialsSpeak BA Pol said, “Our forest department teams, along with experts, are keeping a close watch on the tiger’s movements using camera traps and thermal drones. We are also visiting villages and human settlements in the area to raise awareness and prevent any negative interactions between humans and the tiger.”Pol added that the tiger might have travelled from Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary to Painganga Wildlife Sanctuary in Yavatmal, then to Nanded district in Marathwada, before moving to Latur district, Yedshi Ramalinga Wildlife Sanctuary in Dharashiv district, and finally Barshi taluka in Solapur district.The tiger has been entering Solapur district and returning to Dharashiv. 2022Year the male tiger was born T3C1, the traveller In 2021, a young male tiger, T3C1, walked from Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary in Vidarbha to Gautala Autramghat Wildlife Sanctuary in Aurangabad, covering 330 kilometres. Remarkably, this tiger’s journey from Pandharkawda to Gautala occurred without any human-animal conflict incidents.The tiger was first captured on a camera trap on March 15, 2021. Forest department officials confirmed that this was the first tiger sighted in Gautala Autramghat Wildlife Sanctuary since 1940. After matching the tiger’s image with their database, they identified it as T3C1 (Walker 2), a two-year-old tiger from Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary. Experts believe T3C1’s journey spanned Pandharkawda, Umarkhed, parts of Telangana, Akola, Dnyanganga (Buldhana), Hingoli, and Gautala via the Ajanta mountain ranges, covering nearly 2,000 kilometres.
23 December,2024 07:30 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavThree individuals fell victim to cyber fraud in three separate incidents, losing a total of Rs 20.38 lakh, police said. The latest fraud happened on Saturday (December 21), wherein a 73-year-old retired deputy education inspector, a resident of Yari Road in Versova, lost Rs 6 lakh after she received a call from a person posing as a CBI officer who claimed that an FIR had been lodged in Delhi against her. According to the Versova police sources, the woman was “digitally arrested” by the accused, who claimed that several bank accounts had been opened using the victim’s Aadhaar card, which were involved in money laundering. In a similar incident, a 68-year-old man from Malad West received a call from someone posing as a crime branch officer, claiming that a person named Goyal had used his Aadhaar card to open a bank account, which was allegedly involved in money laundering. The caller further threatened him, stating: “We are arresting you.” The incident took place on December 18. In his statement to the police, the victim said, “The accused made a video call to me, and I saw a person in a police uniform speaking to me. He demanded R10 lakh in exchange for not arresting me. Out of fear, I transferred R8.6 lakh—the entire amount in my account—to the number provided.” In another case registered at the Borivli police station, a 35-year-old woman was duped into earning money by sharing, liking, and giving ratings to hotels and restaurants on Google Maps. The woman residing in Dattani Nagar, Borivli West, said that she was defrauded after receiving a message promising an opportunity to earn money from home. Upon clicking the link, she was lured into earning money by rating hotels on Google Maps. On December 18, she was later added to a Telegram group and assigned investment tasks. “She invested approximately R5.78 lakh, but when she attempted to withdraw her profit and the invested amount, she was blocked. Realising she had been duped, she approached the Borivli police station and filed a complaint,” said an officer. The cyber cell is conducting further investigations into the case, said police. Dec 21Day Versova fraud took place
23 December,2024 07:19 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanThe essential land acquisition of private property in Borivli has been completed, paving the way for the construction of a new rail corridor within city limits between Kandivli and Borivli. Work has now begun alongside the operational tracks, with completion targeted for March 2025. This project is set to provide significant relief on the Western Railway suburban line, which has long awaited a dedicated corridor from Bandra Terminus to Borivli.“Private land of area 424.5 sqm has been acquired at Borivli after lifting court stay. Alternative allotment to 12 project-affected parties has been handed over and dismantling of the infringing building and structures is in progress,” a senior rail official said. Cables being excavated for laying the sixth line in Kandivli; (right) Bridge No. 61 that will be upgraded in Kandivli “The elevated booking office on the east side of Kandivli station has been completed and is ready to open to the public. Meanwhile, work is underway to strengthen and replace the old steel girders of a major bridge (No. 61) with a pre-stressed concrete slab (PSC). Night blocks during shutdown periods are being used for earthwork and bridge construction in the Kandivli yard. Additionally, the relocation of hundreds of overhead masts and portals is ongoing, along with the shifting of numerous signalling, telecom, power, and traction distribution cables,” he added. The Western Railway is building a fifth and sixth line between Bandra Terminus and Borivli. This will be the mail/express train national corridor, segregated from the Mumbai suburban corridor. At present, the fifth line is in place which is used as a bidirectional line. The sixth line is being built now. As of today, work on the sixth line has been completed in phases, first on a 9-km stretch of Bandra Terminus to Goregaon completed in November 2023 and then on a 4.5 km stretch between Goregaon to Kandivli this year in October. The final stretch till Borivli is expected to be completed by March 2025. How it will help commuters The new corridor will help in operations of trains from Jogeshwari Terminus and free up space on suburban fast lines till Bandra. The final 3.21 km stretch between Kandivli and Borivli will complete the 5th and 6th line corridor from Bandra Terminus to Borivli. Once complete, it will add more rail lines in the busy Mumbai suburban section. Once the new corridor is ready, all mail express trains leaving the city and coming from (to) Bandra Terminus or the proposed Jogeshwari Terminus will be exclusively using this corridor, freeing up space on the fast local line corridor, the paths for which can be used by additional services. “The project on its completion will greatly benefit the passengers. It will provide a huge respite to Mumbaikars with the addition of train services in future. The project will enhance the line capacity of Mumbai suburban section and will help ease the congestion, improve punctuality and help to add more train services,” an official said. Critical work on the stretch Four-hour work window: The earthwork is being done in a sandwiched location between working suburban lines in the west and Kandivli yard lines in the east with no direct entry to the site. There is only a single entry through when the level crossing gate is open at night after taking safety precautions and work is done during the shutdown period of four hours of night shadow block. Bridge upgrade: The existing major bridge number 61 will be upgraded with pre-stressed concrete slabs between Kandivli and Borivli. Work is in progress.Boundary wall demolition: The boundary wall of the Kandivli car shed needs to be dismantled after taking a block on the 5th line and the whole debris to be removed by a muck special train. 4.5KMLength of the sixth line stretch between Goregaon to Kandivli
23 December,2024 07:16 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarThe city’s air quality continues to decline, with a dense layer of haze blanketing numerous areas and reducing visibility. Experts warn that as temperatures are likely to drop in the coming days, there may be no immediate improvement in current conditions. Poor visibility in the city has prompted many netizens to post videos and photos of the smog blanket on social media. on Sunday evening, the Environment Ministry’s SAMEER app recorded Mumbai’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 180 (classified as ‘moderate’), marking the fourth consecutive day of thick smog. Earlier this week, the AQI briefly climbed to 198, entering the ‘poor’ category. Smog seen at Gorai Beach on Sunday morning. Pic/Nimesh Dave Five air quality monitoring stations reported ‘poor’ AQI levels, while others indicated ‘moderate’ readings. The worst-affected areas included Borivli East (268), Navy Nagar in Colaba (268), Malad West (262), Mazagaon (244), Kandivli West (233), and Deonar (208). A hazy Saturday at Bandra Reclamation. Pic/Ashish Raje According to the AQI scale, readings from 0 to 50 are considered good, 51 to 100 satisfactory, 101 to 200 moderate, 201 to 300 poor, 301 to 400 very poor, 401 to 450 severe, and above 450 severe-plus. The city's deteriorating air quality has drawn scrutiny from the Bombay High Court. On Friday, the average 24-hour AQI in most parts of Mumbai hovered around or exceeded 200, prompting a bench led by Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice G S Kulkarni to question whether authorities are taking adequate measures to address the alarming pollution levels. Hazy skyline in Wadala on Saturday. Pic/Shadab Khan Dr Gufran Beig, chair-professor at the National Institute of Advanced Sciences (NIAS), provided insights into the haze and reduced visibility. “Normally, when Mumbai’s humidity is high, particulate matter attaches to moisture droplets and remains close to the ground, worsening air quality. Currently, moisture levels are low, and strong horizontal and vertical winds propel pollutants upward until they encounter an inversion layer that prevents them from rising further. As a result, the pollution lingers just below this layer, creating the hazy, smoggy conditions observed from below.” Meteorologists have predicted cooler weather starting from Monday. The IMD's Santacruz observatory recorded a minimum temperature of 20.0 degrees Celsius on Sunday, while the Colaba observatory recorded a minimum of 21.5 degrees Celsius. Independent weather enthusiast Rushikesh Agre, known for his social media handle ‘Mumbai Rains’ on X, wrote: “Cold morning ahead for Mumbai...! Monday and Tuesday seem to be cooler mornings in the next week as WNW (west-northwest) winds will impact Mumbai and Konkan. Borivli-Andheri and Thane-Mulund will be the coolest places in Mumbai. Many areas will record low temperatures.” 180Mumbai’s overall AQI on Sunday 268AQI reported at Borivli on Sunday
23 December,2024 07:03 AM IST | Mumbai | Dipti SinghAfter seeing a minor spark in the vehicle, I got startled and lost control,” said Sanjay More, the BEST bus driver, who on December 9 rammed into several pedestrials and vehicles in Kurla, killing nine and injuring 49 others. Speaking with mid-day while being escorted by police to the Kurla metropolitan magistrate court, More recalled the horrifying incident saying, “I wasn’t provided sufficient training to drive an electric bus. I didn’t know what to do. I tried to control the vehicle to the best of my ability, but couldn’t. So I swerved left to reduce the speed of the bus and minimise damage.” According to the police, Sanjay More accidentally hit the accelerator instead of the brakes, leading to the accident. The incident created havoc in Ambedkar Nagar in Kurla. A mob gathered following the accident, looking to assault More. However, he was saved by Advocate Siddiqui Asif Hussain before the crowd could get hold of him. Recalling the incident, More said, “After the accident, I had to face public outrage and I feared that someone would beat me to death. An unknown person saved me and then the police took me away from the spot.” The smashed front of the bus involved in the December 9 accident. File pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi The police pressed charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder against More and arrested him. They are yet to book the BEST Undertaking and the contractors and sub-contractors for failing to provide adequate training to the driver. “It was rash driving and the driver’s negligence and that caused the accident. His medical reports suggest that he is mentally stable and was not under the influence of alcohol when the incident took place. We will take action against any other person if we find they are at fault. So far, no one else has been booked,” a senior official had told mid-day on condition of anonymity. More’s lawyer, however, expressed concerns over the investigation as no sub-contractor has been booked so far. “My client has cooperated with the investigation. He has told the police and has also stated to me that the BEST had provided inadequate training. He told me that he had attended a three-day training programme in Dindoshi, and during that time, only an introductory session was conducted. He did not get a chance to actually drive the bus and was asked to take two rounds in the name of training. The police are not agreeing to investigate the training process despite More’s statement,” Samadhan Sulane told mid-day. Meanwhile, More’s son said the driver appeared to be frightened. “He has been having sleepless nights after the incident. When he was at home, he often complained that he worked for long hours and that the contractors treated the leased drivers as slaves. He is an excellent driver, but after this accident, he has lost his confidence. The contractor must be booked for not providing adequate training,” he told mid-day. According to Sulane, BEST drivers who are outsourced generally work for longer hours and protocols are generally not followed. “More told me that they have to complete five rounds daily. On December 9, he completed his first round and found that there were no mechanical issues with the bus. During the second round, he noticed a minor spark and then lost his control over the vehicle,” he said. The Kurla police, however, stated that there were no mechanical issues with the vehicle. “The RTO and the BEST reports have stated that the bus has no mechanical error,” said Ganesh Gawade, DCP, Zone V. The Kurla magistrate court sent More to judicial custody on December 21. 9No. of people killed in accident
23 December,2024 07:00 AM IST | Mumbai | Apoorva AgasheADVERTISEMENT
