Mumbai: The Maharashtra Agriculture Department has warned that several parts of the state may experience thunderstorms accompanied by rain and gusty winds between March 17 and 20.

According to the preliminary forecast, cloudy conditions are likely to develop mainly in the afternoon during this period, leading to thunderstorms and rainfall in parts of Vidarbha region, Marathwada region, Khandesh region and areas of Central Maharashtra.

The department said lightning, strong winds and rainfall are likely during this period, while the possibility of hailstorms in some areas cannot be ruled out. As per the current forecast, the intensity of these weather conditions may increase between March 18 and 20.

Farmers have been advised to closely monitor updated weather forecasts over the next few days and plan agricultural activities accordingly. As harvesting of rabi crops is currently underway in many parts of the state, farmers should store harvested produce in safe places or ensure it is properly covered.

The Agriculture Department has also urged farmers to take necessary precautions to protect crops from possible damage caused by strong winds, rain and potential hailstorms during the forecast period.

Thane: Two women in Kalyan-Dombivli have fallen victim to an online fraud after scammers allegedly posed as representatives of Mahanagar Gas Limited and tricked them into downloading a malicious application on their phones, police confirmed on Friday.

According to Suhas Hemade, Assistant Commissioner of Police, the victims received calls from an unknown person claiming to be from the gas distribution company. The caller asked them to download and open an APK file and fill out a form on their mobile phones under the pretext of updating gas-related information.

After the women completed the process, around Rs 4 lakh was allegedly debited from their bank accounts. Police have registered two cases of online financial fraud at Dombivli Police Station and launched an investigation into the incident.

The scam has surfaced at a time when several parts of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, including Navi Mumbai and Thane, are witnessing an acute shortage of LPG cylinders.

Earlier today, residents in Sanpada were seen queuing up from as early as 3 am to obtain LPG cylinders amid dwindling supply. Viral visuals shared on X showed large crowds gathered outside a gas agency, with people waiting in long queues carrying empty cylinders.

The shortage has also severely impacted the hospitality sector across the region. According to Vijay Shetty, president of the Association of Hotels and Restaurants (AHAR), around 20 percent of the city’s 16,000 restaurants had shut by Tuesday due to the shortage, with the number rising to 35 percent on Wednesday.

In addition, more than 20 percent of hotels in Raigad district and Navi Mumbai had reportedly shut operations by March 11 as LPG supplies dried up. Hoteliers have alleged that cylinders are being sold in the black market at prices starting from Rs 3,000, higher than usual rates.

Hotel associations have urged authorities to immediately ensure adequate LPG supply to prevent further closures and protect the livelihoods of thousands of workers dependent on the hospitality sector.

Mumbai: A 36-year-old housewife from Andheri approached the police after CCTV footage capturing a private moment inside a residential lift was allegedly circulated among residents of her housing society nearly three months after the incident.

The complaint was registered at Sakinaka Police Station in Mumbai after the woman claimed she was publicly mocked by residents when the clip began circulating within the society.

The incident occurred in January 2026 inside the lift of the housing complex where the woman lives with her husband and two children. Cops stated the woman had entered the lift while returning home when an unidentified man also stepped inside. During the ride, the two appeared to share an intimate moment, kissing each other, unaware that a CCTV camera installed in the lift was recording the interaction.

The matter came to light on March 9 when the woman went to a nearby market and was allegedly mocked by a group of women who referred to the viral lift footage. A young resident present at the scene reportedly informed her that the clip had been circulating within the housing society.

Police suspect that the footage may have been accessed from the society’s CCTV backup system and later shared among residents. Cops believe the clip was first extracted from the backup server and circulated within the housing complex before being shared with people outside the society as well.

According to the preliminary probe, the suspected person involved in accessing the footage is believed to be a relative of a society office bearer who had access to the CCTV backup system.

Officials said unauthorised extraction and circulation of surveillance footage can amount to serious violations of privacy and may attract criminal charges.

The police have registered an FIR and launched an investigation to determine how the CCTV recording was accessed, copied and circulated. Authorities are also examining the society’s surveillance system and questioning individuals who had administrative access to the CCTV backup data.