Mumbai News Highlights: Maharashtra reports 37 new Covid-19 infections; no new cases of JN.1 sub-variant (2024)

In response to increasing COVID-19 cases, the state has formed a Covid task force, announced Health Minister Dr Tanaji Sawant. He said amid the surge and the emergence of the JN.1 variant, restructuring the Task Force is crucial.

Dr Raman Gangakhedkar, former head of epidemiology and communicable diseases at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), will lead it. The Task Force's responsibilities include establishing protocols for managing serious and critical COVID-19 patients, recommending staffing in critical care hospitals, and suggesting drug protocols for consistent treatment of severely ill COVID-19 patients.

A case has been registered by Navi Mumbai police against a man for allegedly giving triple talaq to his wife, an official said.

Besides a case under the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019, which bans instant triple talaq, offences were also registered against Sameer Sheikh (32), the husband, and three other members of his family for allegedly subjecting the 27-year-old woman to cruelty, said an official of NRI police station. No arrest has been made in the case yet, he said.

As per the woman, her in-laws harassed her and also beat her up on a few occasions.

Recently, they sent her a legal notice by post which said she had been given talaq twice earlier, and it was being given for the third time now. They also misappropriated the gold which she had brought with her at the time of marriage, the complaint stated.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, when asked about the contribution of party leader Uddhav Thackeray, said, "Those who are asking what is the contribution of Uddhav Thackeray, I should tell them, I understand it as a question to Shiv Sena. I want to remind them of the Ayodhya movement... When the Ayodhya movement was going on, those who consider themselves warriors today ran away from there."

"At that time, Balasaheb Thackeray came forward and said if this has been done by Shiv Sena, then I am proud of Shiv Sainiks who have done this work for Ram Temple...," Raut said.

Further, he targeted the Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and asked, "those who ran away at that time are asking about our contribution today. Tell us what has been your contribution?... Where were they?"

#WATCH Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut says, "Those who are asking what is the contribution of Uddhav Thackeray, tell what is your contribution?... When the Ayodhya movement was going on, those who consider themselves warriors today ran away from there and at that time… pic.twitter.com/R8vsR4m23n

— ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2023

Mumbai on Tuesday morning recorded the coldest day of this season as the minimum (night) temperature recorded at India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) Santa Cruz observatory showed 18.7 degrees Celsius.

According to the weather bureau, Mumbai’s night temperature may continue to range between 18 and 20 degrees for the rest of this week. The city will witness mainly clear skies through the day.

Earlier on December 24 (Sunday), the city recorded a minimum temperature of 18.9 degrees which was then regarded as the coldest day of this season.

Passengers who allegedly flew to France and reached the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International airport (CSMIA) in Mumbai early Tuesday, were seen leaving from Terminal 2 without completing formalities.

(Express Photos by Pradip Das)

As per India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) Santa Cruz observatory, Mumbai will witness mainly clear skies through the day.

The minimum temperature will likely be around 21 degrees Celsius, and the maximum temperature will be around 34 degrees Celsius.

Passengers onboard a plane, which was detained by French authorities over suspected human trafficking, can be seen leaving the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International airport (CSMIA) in Mumbai early Tuesday.

#WATCH | Maharashtra: Passengers leave from Mumbai airport.

A plane with Indian passengers that was grounded in France for four days over suspected human trafficking arrived in Mumbai, earlier today. pic.twitter.com/N93wPcbwr8

— ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2023

A plane carrying more than 300 passengers, mostly Indians, landed at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International airport (CSMIA) in Mumbai early on Tuesday, three days after it was detained by French authorities over suspected human trafficking, a source said.

The Nicaragua-bound flight that had taken off from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates with 303 passengers was grounded at Vatry airport, 150 kilometres east of Paris, on Thursday over suspected "human trafficking".

At present, the passengers are going through immigration procedures and custom checks. The airport authorities are recording their statements. The passengers will be allowed to exit the airport only after the formalities are completed.

The people are determined to vote for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Monday.

He was responding to a query on a survey indicating that the Bharatiya Janata Party would lose several seats and the opposition would perform well in next year's general elections. "At present, only Modiji's name is in the air. The people are determined to vote only for Modiji," Fadnavis said. "We will win more than 40 Lok Sabha seats (out of 48 in Maharashtra)," he added.

Recently, Ajit Pawar, also a deputy CM in the Maharashtra government, too had praised Modi and said the prime minister towered over all opponents. (PTI)

A Ppane carrying more than 300 passengers, mostly Indians, is expected to land at Mumbai airport early on Tuesday, three days after it was detained by French authorities over suspected human trafficking, a source said. As per the earlier flight plan, the plane was to land in Mumbai at 2.20 pm.

The A340 aircraft, being operated by Romania's Legend Airlines, is expected to land at Mumbai airport, from Vatry near Paris where it was grounded, at around 1 am, the source said on Monday.

The Nicaragua-bound flight that had taken off from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates with 303 passengers was grounded at Vatry airport, 150 kilometres east of Paris, on Thursday over suspected "human trafficking".

On Sunday, four French judges questioned the detained passengers. The hearings were conducted as part of the investigation opened by the Paris prosecutor's office on the suspicion of human trafficking.

According to the French media, some of the passengers spoke Hindi and the others Tamil. After authorising the plane to leave, the French judges on Sunday chose to cancel the hearings of the passengers due to irregularities in the procedure.

The plane includes 11 unaccompanied minors. Two passengers in custody since Friday had their detention extended on Saturday evening for up to 48 hours, according to French prosecutors. (PTI)

A fire broke out within the parking premises of the Phoenix Mill Compound's PVR Cinemas in Lower Parel charring approximately 25 - 30 bikes on Monday morning. The incident was reported at 1.45 pm in the open parking of the Phoenix Mall's premises. According to BMC reports, the fire remained confined to 25 - 30 bikes.

Even before the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) could arrive, the fire was extinguished within minutes by citizens who pressed a hydrant line from the mall into service. No injuries have been reported in the incident.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Monday said that as of now there is "no alternative" to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the country. Hewas replying to a query by reporters on the opposition parties planning to challenge Modi's leadership ahead of the Lok Sabha polls due next year.

Asked about opposition parties taking out rallies in Pune district against the state government, Pawar said a Lok Sabha MP from the NCP had expressed his willingness to step down as member of the Lower House of Parliament.

"When we gave him a ticket in 2019, he was popular because he played the role of Sambhaji Maharaj (in a TV serial) and was a good orator," he said apparently referring to Amol Kolhe, the Lok Sabha member from Shirur constituency in Pune who supports the NCP camp led by Sharad Pawar.

"I have decided on an alternative to him (in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls), and I can tell you now that my candidate will win the seat for sure," said Ajit Pawar, who along with eight other NCP leaders joined the Eknath Shinde-led state government in July this year. (PTI)

A fire broke out at a flat in a building in Mumbai's Chembur area, an official said on Thursday.

The fire official added that there were no reports of injuries in the blaze. Upon receiving the word, fire officials reached the spot and brought the situation under control.The exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.

"Fire broke at a flat of a building in the Chembur area of Mumbai. Fire officials reached the spot and controlled the fire. No one has been injured in the incident. Further details awaited," the Mumbai Fire Department said. (ANI)

Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Dhananjay Munde has tested positive for coronavirus, state Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said on Monday.

There is no need to panic about the viral infection, Pawar told reporters.

"One of my cabinet colleagues, Dhananjay Munde, has tested positive for COVID-19. However, the administration is taking care in the state and necessary instructions to check its spread have been given to officials," he said.

He tested positive on the last day (December 20) of the state legislature's winter session held in Nagpur, said a staffer from the minister's office. "The minister went home on December 21, remained in isolation and took the medication prescribed by doctors. There are no symptoms now and he has already started holding video conferences and taking follow-ups on several works," he said. (PTI)

On Monday, Mumbai recorded a minimum temperature of 19.4 degrees. At present the city is experiencing pleasant weather in the morning coupled with a cool breeze in some pockets that are in close proximity to the sea.

Yesterday, the night temperature had dropped to 18.9 degrees, making Mumbai the coldest day of this season so far.

Christmas is in the air. Malls and posh shops in the metros and bigger cities are decorated with tinsel and fake trees. There’s glitter, there are Santa hats and reindeer hairbands on sale. Plum cakes and stollen and yule logs crowd counters at bakeries. Christmas carols fill the air, sung by everyone from Nat King Cole to Taylor Swift. There is mistletoe and holly, snowflakes and candy canes: all the trappings of Christmas.

From witnessing the Christmas cheer on stage to bringing it to your plates, here is how you can celebrate the festival

? Christmas feast in a historic building

(Express Photos by Amit Chakravarty)

For the first time in 17 years, since its solid waste management bye-laws were approved in 2006, the BMC, after mandating a penalty of Rs 100 for burning garbage in the open, registered 42 cases between November and December against people who burnt garbage in the open in Mumbai. The civic body also recovered Rs 25,000 in penalty.

The Indian Express, as part of its investigative series ‘Death By Breath’ which highlights pollution woes in Mumbai, on October 25, had reported how not a single person had been penalised for burning garbage in the open in 17 years. The report also showed that the penalty sum of Rs 100 has not been revised for nearly two decades. Read more

While terming the Supreme Court’s decision to take up a curative petition on Maratha reservation on January 24 as a big step forward, the Maharashtra government urged Manoj Jarange-Patil to cancel a protest rally scheduled in Mumbai for January 24.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told reporters in Mumbai on Sunday, “The state government is very sincerely and positively working to resolve the Maratha reservation. It has taken concrete measures towards finding a lasting solution to the issue. Specifically, CM Eknath Shinde is closely monitoring the developments.” Read more

Maharashtra Legislature Secretariat Sunday disqualified Congress MLA from Nagpur and former minister Sunil Kedar after the MLA was convicted for five years in a case related to financial irregularities in the district's Central Cooperative Bank.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, speaking to reporters on Sunday, said that the double standards of the INDIA bloc has already been exposed.

"It is not an alliance. It is a conglomeration of individuals who are trying to save their own outfit or protect the interest of family. The INDIA front leaders' double standards have already been exposed. In Delhi, Mumbai they oppose industrialist Gautam Adani. But in Bihar Nitish Kumar who is their main constituent has welcomed Adani's Rs 8000 crore investment," Fadnavis said targeting the Opposition alliance.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Sunday said, "the state government under Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is seriously working towards finding a solution and implementation of Maratha reservation. Accordingly, a special session in February has been convened for Maratha reservation."

"The Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission is also expeditiously working to collect empirical data to establish backwardness of Marathas. The Sandeep Shinde committee has already submitted two reports. A third report is expected," Fadnavis said.

"All these will be conveyed to Maratha activists and organisations. We are hopeful they (Jarange Patil) will rethink about the agitation in Mumbai on January 22," he added.

More than 1,000 cases of child malnutrition have been found in Maharashtra's Thane district neighbouring Mumbai, according to officials, news agency PTI reported.

Currently, there are 83 cases of `severe acute malnutrition' and 1,161 cases of `moderate acute malnutrition' in the district, PTI quoted an official release.

Every effort will be made to end malnourishment in Thane within six months, Zilla Parishad chief executive officer (CEO) Manuj Jindal said after visiting the families of some of the malnourished children in the district's Shahapur taluka.

To bring down the number of malnourished children, 'Kuposhan Muktisathi Dattak-Palak Abhiyan' has been undertaken in the district in which government officials will adopt one child each and take care of him/her, the release said.

During his visit, the CEO took stock of the work being carried out at the public health centres in villages and child treatment centres.

He asked the officials to be in touch with the adopted children every 15 days and also directed the anganwadi workers, ASHA (accredited social health activist) workers, doctors, nurses and supervisors to visit the malnourished children daily and check their progress. (PTI)

The Supreme Court, meanwhile, will hear a petition filed by the Maharashtra government on the Maratha reservation issue on January 24, Chief MinisterEknath Shindesaid in a video message, news agencyPTIreported.

Moreover, activist Manoj Jarange-Patil announced that he will start anindefinite hunger strikeand launch another round of agitation inMumbaifrom January 20, a day ahead of the December 24 deadline that he had given to the state government to provide reservation to the Maratha community.

On Sunday morning, the city recorded the lowest night temperature of this season with the IMD recording 18.9 degrees Celsius — two degrees below normal.

According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), Mumbai will witness clear skies through the day.

The minimum temperature in Mumbai, according to Santacruz observatory, will be around 19 degrees Celsius, whereas the maximum temperature will be around 34 degrees Celsius.

Moreover, Mumbai’sAir Quality Index (AQI)decreased to 162 from 199, a day earlier. It will remain in the ‘poor’ category for the next few days until the ‘reversal of winds’, experts toldThe Indian Express.