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Maharashtra

MVA demands probe by retired judge into Maha-Bhushan post-event tragedy

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Tightening the screws on the government, the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi on Tuesday demanded a judicial probe into the Maharashtra Bhushan Award post-event tragedy that left 13 dead and enhanced compensation for all the victims.

Nationalist Congress Party’s Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar has shot off a letter to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde seeking a probe into the incident by a retired judge.

Shiv Sena (UBT) National Spokesperson Kishore Tiwari has demanded a compensation of Rs one crore to each victim who succumbed to sunstroke after sitting for hours in the open during the event on Sunday, April 16.

Not mincing words, Pawar said that the deaths were due to a ‘disaster’ created by the state government in which the innocent followers fell victims of poor planning of the event in which reformer Dattatreya Narayan Dharmadhikari — revered as Appasaheb — was conferred the ‘Maharashtra Bhushan Award’ 2022 by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

“This tragedy should be probed by a retired judge and a case of culpable homicide should be lodged against the culprits. The victims should be given a compensation of Rs 20 lakhs each and the injured in hospitals should get Rs 5,00,000 plus free treatment,” Pawar said in his tough single-pager to the CM.

Tiwari said that the state government spent Rs 13 crore from the state exchequer for the grand function, and now 13 poor persons have lost their lives, so each of the victims must be given Rs one crore each.

The Sena (UBT) leader pointed out that at least four local civic bodies were involved in making the preparations but a lot was ignored, specially erecting tents or a marquee for the crowds, adequate drinking water supply, sufficient number of exit points, proper crowd control and other safety measures.

“Around 20 lakh followers attended the event and 13 have perished due to the scorching temperatures of up to 42 C degrees that afternoon. I was numbed by the shrieks of the relatives of the dead victims,” said Pawar in the letter.

Now, many have questioned the need for organising such a mega-event in the open and the loss of lives could have been prevented if it was held in a closed venue as in the past, he said.

“This was not a natural calamity but a man-made disaster and the state government is entirely responsible for the deaths… A retired judge should investigate all aspects of the event planning, the fatalities, pin the responsibility and book them for culpable homicide,” Pawar said.

On Monday, several MVA leaders, including Sanjay Raut, Dr. Raghunath Kuchik, Clyde Crasto, Atul Londhe had given strong reactions and demanded appropriate action by the government.Late evening, Appasaheb Dharmadhikari had issued a statement expressing his deep anguish over the tragedy and called upon political parties not to politicise the incident.

Maharashtra

Vasai-Virar Tragedy: 17-Year-Old Teen Drowns While Swimming In Well In Dhumal Nagar

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Palghar, Maharashtra: A 17-year-old boy tragically drowned while swimming in a well near the crematorium ground in Dhumal Nagar, Vasai, on Sunday afternoon.

The deceased, identified as Masoom Samsul Khan, a resident of Vasai, originally from Uttar Pradesh. He was the son of Jinat Samsul Khan, who works in a private company.

Rescue Efforts and Medical Response

According to police, Masoom had gone swimming in the well when he accidentally drowned. Fire brigade personnel retrieved his body and rushed him to Nagnath Municipal Hospital in Tulinj, Nalasopara East, where doctors declared him dead before admission at 9:50 a.m.

he Pelhar Police have registered an accidental death case under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The cause of death has been recorded as drowning.

Assistant Police Inspector Yuvraj Choudhary is conducting further inquiries.

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Maharashtra

Thane News: Ambernath, Badlapur & Ulhasnagar Face Prolonged Power Cuts Due To Pipeline Rupture; Water Supply Disruption Feared

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Thane: Residents of Ambernath, Badlapur, and Ulhasnagar faced significant power cuts starting from Monday morning. The power supply was interrupted because of a rupture in the high-pressure line near Golegaon, Ambivali on the main line from Padgha. Employees of the Maharashtra Distribution Company indicate that restoring the power supply may take at least 4 to 5 hours.

The power outage has halted all activities, affecting everything from domestic tasks to large and small industries. Residents are voicing dissatisfaction due to the ongoing power outages in this region. The daily power outages in Ambernath and Badlapur are also significantly impacting the water supply, forcing residents to wait longer for water due to inadequate storage in tanks.

The Maharashtra Distribution Company is vigorously engaged in fixing the damaged wires. Nonetheless, as these issues often arise during the rainy season, the tolerance of residents is beginning to diminish. “Residents have insisted that lasting solutions are essential to enhance the power supply quality in Ambernath and Badlapur, or else the issues of water scarcity and disturbances to daily activities will only worsen.

Despite Mahavitaran’s maintenance and repairs, the power supply in Badlapur and Ambernath cities appears to remain poor. On Saturday, the day of Raksha Bandhan, electricity was cut off multiple times in different areas of Badlapur. On Sunday, a holiday, power outages occurred to varying degrees in different parts of Badlapur East.

The day on Monday started with interruptions in the power supply. A problem in the high-pressure line from Morivali caused power outages in parts of Badlapur. As a result, residents will encounter difficulties right from the very first day.

Owing to ongoing power outages, festivals and celebrations must be observed in the dark. Ganeshotsav will commence in the upcoming days. Citizens are insisting that measures be implemented to guarantee a continuous power supply, at least during that timeframe. There is a request for maintenance and repairs to continue for several more days, taking as long as needed, but ensuring electricity is supplied during the festival.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai Metro 3: MMRC Plans To Boost Ridership On Aqua Line Through Discounts, Exclusive Offers & More

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Mumbai: The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC), operator of the city’s underground Aqua Line (Metro Line 3), is preparing a promotional push to increase ridership on its newest corridor. Officials are considering discount schemes, corporate tie-ups and digital collaborations to attract more passengers, with formal decisions expected later this week.

Phase-wise Inauguration Of Mumbai’s 1st Underground Metro

The 33.5 km Aqua Line connects Cuffe Parade in south Mumbai to Aarey in the western suburbs and is being opened in phases. The first stretch, from Aarey-JVLR to Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), began operations on October 7, 2024. The second segment, from BKC to Worli’s Acharya Atre Chowk, was inaugurated on May 9 this year and opened to commuters the next day. The final leg to Cuffe Parade is scheduled for launch by the end of August.

Currently, a 12.69 km operational stretch, including the recently opened 9.77 km section, carries over 52,500 passengers daily on weekdays. Before the Worli extension opened, the average ridership per trip was just 91 passengers, far below the trains’ maximum capacity of 2,500. MMRC had projected 1.4 million daily passengers once the entire line is functional.

To bridge the gap, the MMRC plans to appoint an external agency to market the metro, identify major commercial and residential hubs near stations and set up promotional kiosks,QR codes at these kiosks will link commuters to the metro’s mobile app. Officials are also considering offering discount coupons for first-time monthly pass users to encourage a shift from road-based transport.

Potential partnerships include collaborations with online platforms, mobile wallets, IRCTC and Indian Railways’ UTS app for ticket bookings. The MMRC is also exploring the integration of Line 3 into Google Maps to improve trip planning. For last-mile connectivity, talks are underway with private taxi operators, e-bike providers, intermediate public transport services and bus operators.

While these promotional activities may be rolled out only by late 2025, a few months after the full line becomes operational, MMRC says the effort is a first-of-its-kind initiative for the corporation. “Such a thing has not been done earlier.

The Aqua Line project’s cost has risen sharply to Rs 37,275.5 crore from the initial Rs 23,136 crore, mainly due to construction delays and legal battles. Environmentalists had earlier opposed tree felling in south Mumbai and the location of the car depot at Aarey Milk Colony, leading to prolonged disputes before work could proceed.

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