Mumbai: A massive fire broke out at the Croma showroom in Link Square Mall, Bandra, on April 29, 2025. The blaze was reported at 4:11 AM, and the Mumbai Fire Brigade quickly responded to the emergency. No casualties were reported, but the fire caused significant damage to the mall.

The fire was classified as a Level-III emergency, indicating a serious situation. Thick smoke spread throughout the mall, and firefighters used three small hose lines and 12 motor pumps to control the blaze. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.

The Mumbai Fire Brigade deployed 12 fire engines, nine jumbo water tankers, two breathing apparatus vans, one rescue van, and one quick response vehicle to tackle the fire. A 108 emergency Ambulance service was also on standby. The firefighting efforts were successful in preventing the fire from spreading to nearby buildings.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was called in to assist with the firefighting efforts. The NDRF team arrived at the scene at 7:45 AM and helped bring the fire under control. The fire department’s efforts were led by Chief Fire Officer Ravindra Ambulgekar.

The fire broke out in the Croma showroom, which is located in the basement of the Link Square Mall. The mall’s structure consists of three floors above ground and three below. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, despite the severity of the fire.

Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with thick smoke billowing out of the mall. The fire caused significant damage to the showroom and its contents, including electronic goods. The exact extent of the damage is yet to be assessed.

The local authorities diverted traffic to allow fire and rescue operations. Commuters faced delays, and shops in the area remained closed until the fire was brought under control. The fire department’s prompt response and efficient handling of the situation prevented any major casualties.

The fire was finally brought under control, and the cooling operations are underway to ensure the safety of the building and its surroundings. The authorities are working to assess the damage and determine the cause of the fire.

The significant blaze that broke out in the early morning of April 29 was visible from an aircraft flying above the region. A passenger on the flight captured the dark smoke billowing from the mall, resulting in dense black smoke engulfing the city

The Mumbai Police and Fire Department have launched a joint investigation into the incident to determine the cause of the fire. The investigation is ongoing.

Mumbai: Samajwadi Party MLA from Bhiwandi East Raees Sheikh has demanded a reduction in the fee charged for testing and entry of sacrificial animals on the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha.

In a letter to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Dada Pawar, Raees Sheikh said that a delegation from the Quraish Human Welfare Association met us recently and gave us a letter requesting a reduction in the fee charged for testing and entry of sacrificial animals. He said in his letter that in a public interest litigation filed on April 8, 2025, as per the order passed by Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice MS Karnik of the Bombay High Court, the petitioner has been allowed to file his petition before the Secretary, Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Department.

The association says that till 2022, a fee of Rs 20 was collected for the examination and entry of animals into the slaughterhouse at Deonar Slaughterhouse, but from 2022, the fee has been increased by 100% to Rs 200, which has put a considerable financial burden on small traders and farmers. In 2023 and 2024, a temporary fee of Rs 20 was charged on the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha, which shows that work can be done by charging a fee of Rs 20. Therefore, considering the above and the court order, the association demands that the Secretary of the Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Department permanently fix the fee collected for the examination and entry of sacrificial animals at Rs 20. Raees Sheikh told Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Dada Pawar that Muslims across the country, including Maharashtra, celebrate the festival of Eid-ul-Adha with great devotion and respect, so the government should take steps to provide maximum facilities so that Muslims can celebrate the festival of Eid-ul-Adha in a better way.

Mumbai: Civic activists have demanded that the chief minister appoint a special task force for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to immediately address the civic infrastructure collapse in Mumbai. The activists have alleged that the task force is necessary to bring an end to the systematic corruption prevailing in the civic body.

Members of the Watchdog Foundation have written to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis urging him to appoint a special task force to bring an end to the systematic corruption in the BMC. They have alleged that the corruption prevailing in the civic body is the reason for the infrastructural collapse in Mumbai.

The letter written on Tuesday alleged that the municipal commissioner and his team have consistently failed to provide basic civic amenities across multiple fronts. It alleged that the ongoing road concretisation works are being carried out in a haphazard and uncoordinated manner. Numerous roads have been dug up and left incomplete, causing severe air pollution, traffic congestion, and posing a grave risk to pedestrians, the letter alleged.

The activists raised concerns regarding multiple road work contracts being awarded to a few contractors. They also alleged that BMC has failed to mandate the creation of underground ducts for utilities, which leads to repeated road digging. It also pressed on the issues of encroachments of roads and footpaths, illegal parking, and repeated repairs of footpaths, resulting in waste of taxpayers’ money.

“It may be recalled that in the year 2001, the Maharashtra Government had taken the unprecedented decision to dissolve BMC following the recommendations of an expert committee constituted to probe into the widespread corruption prevalent in the civic body. Unfortunately, despite the passage of over two decades, the situation within the BMC has only deteriorated further,” read the letter.

The letter also alleged a scam in the desilting of riverbeds and nullahs, including the Mithi river, and expressed disappointment, saying that the situation remains pathetic even after hundreds of crores being allocated annually for the projects. The letter also added concerns like the proliferation of slums, rampant tree cutting, and harassment of law-abiding citizens.

“The citizens of Mumbai are losing faith in the system, and urgent corrective action is the need of the hour. We urge you to institute a high-level inquiry into the functioning of BMC and transfer all senior officials, if necessary, to cleanse it of its deeply entrenched corruption. Implement systemic reforms to ensure transparency, accountability, and efficient civic governance in Mumbai,” said Godfrey Pimenta, trustee of Watchdog Foundation.