At present, 12 fire engines and two cranes have been deployed for rescue operation. (Express photo by Deepak Joshi)Mumbai News Highlights: Eight people were killed and 74 were injured when a hoarding collapsed in Ghatkopar’s Pant Nagar locality after rains and gusty winds hit the city. Operations continue to rescue the scores of people feared trapped under the billboard. Civic chief Bhushan Gagrani said the hoarding was illegal, adding that railway authorities permitted its installation.
Meanwhile, an under-construction metal parking tower collapsed, leaving three persons injured and eight to ten vehicles damaged. Monday’s rains led to suspension of flight operations at Mumbai airport for an hour, leading to 15 diversions. While road travel was impacted by traffic snarls, suburban train and metro services ran with delays.
According to the IMD scientists, the rainfall activity is unlikely to continue on Tuesday. IMD Mumbai director Sunil Kamble said that Mumbai is in for hot and humid conditions tomorrow. A heatwave alert has been sounded for pockets in Thane and Palghar districts for Tuesday.
Hoarding that collapsed was three times larger than permissible size
The Ghatkopar hoarding, which collapsed on Monday, measured 120 x 120 as against the permitted size of 40 x 40 feet.
Civic chief Bhushan Gagrani said the Mumbai civic body lodged an FIR on May 19, 2023, in connection with the poisoning of eight trees at the location near Chheda Nagar junction to increase the visibility of the concerned hoarding. "We had repeatedly raised the issue for action," he claimed and added that the Licence Department of the BMC had also issued a notice.
Ghatkopar hoarding collapse: Billboard was illegal, says BMC chief
BMC chief Bhushan Gagrani said the hoarding, whose collapse led to four deaths, was illegal as the civic body had not given permission for erecting it. "It was an illegal hoarding. The location where the incident occurred has four hoardings set up on the railway land and one of them has collapsed. The BMC had been objecting to (setting up) hoardings for one year," the civic chief said.
He said the civic body would issue a notice for immediate removal of the hoarding and lodge a criminal complaint against the landholding authority and the owner of the billboard.
"The Railways has permitted to erect the hoarding," Gagrani claimed.
Ghatkopar hoarding collapse: CM announces Rs 5 lakh ex gratia for kin of deceased
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited the site where a 120X120 feet metal billboard collapsed, killing four people and injuring 64 others. He also announced Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia for the kin of the deceased.
Ghatkopar hoarding collapse toll rises to 4
The total number of deaths in the Ghatkopar hoarding collapse has risen to 4, while the injuries now stand at 64.
Of these, while 61 have been taken to Rajawadi hospital, three injured have been taken to HBT hospital.
Watch | NDRF carries out rescue ops in Ghatkopar
Apart from local authorities, the NDRF assisted rescue operations at a hoarding collapse site in Ghatkopar.
Hoarding collapse leads to traffic congestion on EEH
The traffic authorities said that heavy traffic congestion has been reported on the Eastern Express Highway and the roads leading to Ghatkopar (East). “We are trying to clear the debris but after the hoarding collapsed. Vehicular movement has been affected till Matunga,” said a senior police officer.
Traffic snarls have also been reported on the Western Express Highway in Bandra, Andheri and Malad.
Autorickshaw driver injured after coconut tree falls on him due to strong winds
An autorickshaw driver was critically injured after a coconut tree fell on the vehicle due to gusty winds amid rains in Mumbai.
The tree fell on the autorickshaw at Meghwadi Naka in the western suburb of Jogeshwari, and locals rushed the driver, Hayat Khan, to a nearby hospital. Khan's condition is said to be serious.
Central Railway services to return to normal after 7.30 pm
Central Railways said the overhead wire collapse issue between Mulund and Thane is expected to be resolved by 7.30 pm, till when long distance trains will be delayed by 1-2 hours. However, suburban services will continue to run normally.
Rains catch Mumbai unawares: A snapshot
Rains catch Mumbai unawares: A snapshot
Thunderstorms, rains likely till 8 pm
The IMD at 4pm issued a nowcast warning for Mumbai stating that thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and moderate spells of rainfall are slated to occur in isolated pockets over the next 3 - 4 hours. The weather bureau has indicated that gusty winds at the speed of 40-50 kmph are likely to sweep several pockets.
No rains on the cards tomorrow
According to the IMD scientists, the rainfall activity is likely to stop after a couple of hours, and Mumbai is unlikely to witness any rain activity tomorrow.
Speaking to Express, IMD Mumbai director, Sunil Kamble said that after experiencing rainfall activity today, Mumbai is in for hot and humid conditions tomorrow. "Owing to cloud formation, the humidity levels are expected to rise by 70 - 80 percent. While the temperatures won't witness a big spike, hot and humid conditions are likely to prevail in Mumbai. Therefore, we have issued a yellow warning for the same for tomorrow."
While the IMD has issued a yellow warning for Mumbai, a heatwave alert has been sounded for pockets in Thane and Palghar districts for Tuesday.
Uprooted trees block roads in Mumbai, traffic diverted
Trees were uprooted at Marathi school, Pant Nagar, Ghatkopar and at Hingwala lane Ghatkopar (E). Route 481, 381, 430 are diverted via Haveli bridge and operated from Ghatkopar West. Route 27, 489 are operated via Eastern Express highway in both the directions.
Watch: Ghatkopar advertisement board collapse
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Watch: Rainfall in Ghatkopar
Operations at Mumbai airport affected
According to inputs, the runway at the Mumbai airport was shut due to heavy downpour and thunderstorms
Local train services hit
Central Railway traffic was stopped as overhead wire pole between Mulund and Thane collapsed, officials said.
Yellow alert in Mumbai, intense rainfall, winds likely in parts of Maharashtra:IMD
Amid a yellow alert, the IMD Mumbai has issued a nowcast warning stating the likelihood of thunderstorms accompanied by moderate to intense spells of rainfall and lightning in Thane and Palghar districts, over the next 3 - 4 hours. Issuing a warning, the weather bureau has said that gusty winds at the speed of 50 - 60 kmph are slated to sweep pockets of the districts.
Fire breaks out in Kurla scrap compound; none injured
A major fire broke out in a Kurla scrap compound in Mankhurd’s Mandala area, officials said, adding no injuries were reported.
According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the fire was reported at 5.53 pm on Sunday at Kurla Scrap Mandala in the eastern suburb’s Mankhurd West. After gauging the intensity of the flames, it was declared level II, which refers to a medium fire, at 6.05 pm.
Speaking to The Indian Express, an official from the BMC’s disaster management cell said, “The scrap material in the compound caught fire. No injuries have been reported.”
The Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) pressed eight fire engines and jumbo tankers into operation.
If ideology is same, why remain separate? Tharoor on merger of smaller parties into Congress
Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor appeared amenable to views expressed in certain sections on the potential merger of smaller parties into the Grand Old Party.
"As far as smaller parties aligning or merging with Congress is concerned, I feel if the ideology is the same then what is the need to be separate? Let's see what happens,' Tharoor said while addressing a press conference in Mumbai.
Notably, veteran politician Sharad Pawar has predicted that in the next couple of years, several regional parties will associate more closely with the Congress, or even merge with it. He spoke about the future political landscape during an interview with The Indian Express.
11 seats in Maharashtra to vote on May 13 in 4th phase; Danve, Pankaja, Kolhe in fray
Polling will be held on Monday for the fourth phase of Lok Sabha polls to 11 constituencies in Maharashtra where Union minister Raosaheb Danve, BJP leader Pankaja Munde and actor-turned-politician Amol Kolhe are among the prominent candidates.
More than 2.28 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise to seal the fate of 298 candidates in the fourth phase of elections in the state.
The 11 constituencies - Nandurbar, Jalgaon, Raver, Jalna, Aurangabad, Maval, Pune, Shirur, Ahmednagar, Shirdi and Beed - are spread across the central Marathwada as well as northern and western regions of the state.
Weather update: Drizzle sweeps pockets of Mumbai, Thane on yellow alert as more rain is on anvil
A drizzle in some parts of Mumbai and Thane districts in Maharashtra on Saturday night caught many citizens off guard. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that Mumbai may experience light showers on Sunday.
Based on the IMD forecast, Mumbai and Thane districts are expected to receive more rainfall starting Sunday. Additionally, the weather bureau has issued a yellow alert (be aware) warning for Thane and Raigad districts, indicating the possibility of thunderstorm activity accompanied by lightning and gusty winds at speeds of 30-40 kmph in isolated areas.
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Maharashtra Lok Sabha Polls: Young voters interact with Anil Desai, Varsha Gaikwad
In an effort to ensure that young voters from the minority community have a say in the polity of the country, a ‘Minority Youth Conclave’ was organised in Bandra, where young voters interacted with candidates from the Congress and Shiv Sena who are contesting from the various Lok Sabha constituencies of Mumbai.
Shiv Sena UBT’s Anil Desai and Congress candidate Varsha Gaikwad interacted with the young voters who quizzed the candidates on varied issues, including Muslim OBC students not getting the benefits of reservation, minority schools facing difficulties in getting recognition, unemployment, issues in getting admissions in schools, and closure of competitive examination classes by Haj Committee.
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'Black days' ahead if Modi govt is not defeated, claims Uddhav
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has claimed the country will see "black days" if the Modi government is not defeated.
Speaking about the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, Thackeray, in an interview to his party mouthpiece 'Saamana' which appeared in its Sunday edition, said the people of India will decide the future of their leaders.
"The future of the country will be peaceful and democracy will thrive if the present government is defeated...else the country will see black days. Acche din (good days) never came, but black days will..," he claimed. The former Maharashtra chief minister also alleged that protection of the corrupt is the "Modi guarantee."
(PTI report)
Case against cop from Navi Mumbai for abetting his wife's suicide
A case has been registered against a 37-year-old policeman for allegedly abetting the suicide of his wife in Navi Mumbai township of Maharashtra, officials said on Sunday.
The 31-year-old victim got married to the accused, a resident of Kharghar area in Navi Mumbai and a sub-inspector with the CISF, on November 30, 2014 and the couple has two sons aged 7 and 3, they said.
The accused used to allegedly beat up his wife and ask for money from her parents. She once invested money in shares on her husband's advice and incurred losses for which he blamed her, Kharghar police station's senior inspector Rajeev Shejwal said.
(PTI report)
7/11 serial train blasts: HC asks Mumbai University if convict can take law exams online
The Bombay High Court has sought to know from the Mumbai University if it can permit a convict in the 7/11 serial bomb blasts case to take his law examinations online.
A division bench of Justices Makarand Karnik and Kamal Khata on Friday said owing to security reasons, the situation may warrant to permit the candidate, Mohammed Sajid Marghoob Ansari, to appear for his exams online.
On July 11, 2006, seven bomb blasts occurred in coaches of some local trains in Mumbai, killing 189 persons and injuring 824 others. In September 2015, a special court convicted Ansari and others in the blasts case.
(PTI report)
Mumbai weather today: Orange alert, thunderstorms, and light showers
In what is set to bring in huge relief for people who have been reeling under simmering heat since April, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast light rain and thundershowers in Mumbai between Sunday and Monday. IMD Mumbai has also said, “Light drizzle is likely to occur in Mumbai and Thane… a yellow alert has been sounded for Thane on Sunday but that pertains largely to the interiors of the district and the portions which border the neighbouring districts.”
Bombay HC seeks info on steps taken to eradicate manual scavenging
The Bombay High Court directed the Maharashtra government to provide information regarding the activities carried out by the State Level and District Level Monitoring and Vigilance Committees constituted under the Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 so far in the last five years.
It also sought to know from the state panel what is the action plan for next two years to eradicate the practice of manual scavenging in the state.
A division bench of Justices Nitin M Jamdar and M M Sathaye on Friday passed an order in a plea by the organisation Shramik Janata Sangh and a father of a worker who had died while manual scavenging, argued through advocates Hamza Lakdawala and Deepali Kasul.
Read full ENS report.
Suspended by TISS, PhD student moves HC, seeks revocation of order
Days after Ramadas KS, a PhD student from Tata Institute of Social Science (TISS), was suspended by the institute authorities allegedly due to his “repetitive misconduct” and “anti-national activities”, he moved the Bombay High Court against the suspension order.
In the petition filed on May 4, the PhD student from the School of Development Studies at TISS has sought that the suspension order dated April 18 be revoked on grounds that it is the fundamental right of every citizen including students of this democratic country to freedom of thought and expression.
TISS suspended the student for two years for “repetitive misconduct and anti-national activities”.
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