Maharashtra
Ambernath Gas Leak: MPCB Sends Closure Notice To Nikakem Products, Chemical Factory Behind Fugitive Emissions

Thane: The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) reportedly issued a closure notice to Nikakem Products, a chemical factory based in Ambernath, on Friday following a gas leak that affected local residents on Thursday night. The incident led to widespread complaints of eye irritation, breathing difficulties and reduced visibility as a thick haze spread across the area. Residents from Morivli village, near the MIDC industrial area, were particularly affected, with some experiencing vomiting and panic as the smog-like conditions enveloped their surroundings.
Factory Manufactures Hazardous Chemicals
The gas leak began around 11:00 pm and quickly spread, covering a one-kilometre radius by 11:30 pm. The situation was brought under control within two hours, and fortunately no injuries or hospitalisations were reported. The factory manufactures hydrochloric acid, phosphorus trichloride and phosphorus pentoxide, all of which are hazardous chemicals.
Rajendra Rajput, a senior official at MPCB’s Kalyan region, the factory had closed operations at 7:00 pm, but it was storing excessive amounts of acid in drums without taking proper safety precautions. Rainwater, leaking through the roof, came into contact with the stored acid, causing a chemical reaction that released harmful fumes. As a result, the MPCB issued an immediate closure notice to the company on Friday. A gas detection system was also deployed at the site to assess the extent of the leakage and monitor air quality.
The Ambernath police were alerted to the situation at 11:00 pm when smoke was observed in the MIDC area of Morivali village. Senior Police Inspector Jagannath Kalaskar stated that the smoke originated from Nikakem Products and was the result of a chemical reaction involving two partially cut yellow drums. The fire brigade quickly extinguished the chemical process and the police are maintaining vigilance to prevent any further incidents.
Locals Express Dissatisfaction Over Incident
Local residents expressed frustration with the recurring issues of chemical leaks and toxic fumes from factories in the area. Jayesh Nair, a resident of Morivli while speaking to HT, described the night as terrifying, with visibility so poor that he couldn’t see out of his window. He experienced vomiting and eye irritation and many other residents faced similar symptoms. Nair also criticised the MPCB for its lack of effective monitoring, stating that chemical leaks happen frequently but are often ignored by authorities.
Another resident, Satish Waghmare, recounted his own experience, noting that he couldn’t see a building gate just a few feet away during the incident. His eye irritation persisted for several hours and the night was marked by coughing and panic among his neighbours.
Maharashtra
Mumbai News: BMC Pushes Ahead With ‘Civic Health Collaboration Model’, Outsourcing Dialysis, MRI, CT Scan & Blood Bank Services

Mumbai: Despite strong opposition from residents and health activists, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is pressing ahead with the privatisation of key hospital services. In its latest move, the civic body has invited tenders for setting up dialysis units, cath labs, MRI and CT scan facilities, and even a blood bank for transfusion patients in various peripheral hospitals through private operators.
New Model Replaces PPP for Hospital Services in Peripheral Facilities
This time, however, the outsourcing will be done under a new ‘Civic Health Collaboration Model’ instead of the earlier public-private partnership (PPP) framework.
Under this model, the civic body will rent out space in its peripheral hospitals to private operators, who will run these services and charge patients as per agreed rates. However, there is no clarity on the minimum number of patients to be referred daily from BMC hospitals for these facilities.
A senior official from the BMC’s Health Department admitted the model is not significantly different from the earlier PPP arrangement. “It is similar to the PPP model, where patients still have to pay for these services,” the official said.
The peripheral hospitals where this model will be implemented include Rajawadi Hospital in Ghatkopar, MT Agarwal in Mulund, Dr Ambedkar Hospital in Kandivli, Bhabha Hospitals in Bandra and Kurla, and Bhagwati Hospital in Borivali.
Dialysis at Rs 500 per Session for BMC Patients; Government Scheme Rates Apply
Under the new model, the civic body will set up dialysis centres at its peripheral hospitals in Borivali, Mulund, Ghatkopar, and Kandivali for a period of 10 years, with the option of two extensions of 10 years each. BMC patients will be charged Rs 500 per dialysis session, while those covered under government schemes will be billed as per approved rates.
Similarly, MRI and CT scan facilities will be established at Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Hospital, Kandivali (West), Khurshidjee Behramjee Bhabha General Hospital, Bandra (West), Harilal Bhagwati Municipal Hospital, Borivali, and M.T. Agrawal Municipal Hospital, Mulund. The civic body will provide dedicated space for these services on an annual rental basis.
Activists Warn of Commercialisation, Lack of Patient Referral Safeguards
However, the tender documents do not specify the service charges or the minimum number of BMC-referred patients to be served daily. “Without such clarity, the private operator could run the facility for commercial purposes, catering to patients from outside hospitals,” warned a health activist.
Health activists have questioned whether the civic body — which operates 212 health posts, 192 dispensaries, 30 maternity homes, and five specialised hospitals, including four medical colleges and major hospitals in the city — is steadily moving towards the privatisation of key healthcare services. “We have already seen doctors being appointed on contract, and even an unregistered doctor working in the ICU of V.N. Desai Hospital,” one activist said.
Business
Indian Railways Introduces Discounted ‘Round Trip Package’ To Ease Festive Season Travel

New Delhi: To avoid rush by ensuring hassle-free ticket booking experience during the upcoming peak festive seasons, the Ministry of Railways on Saturday said that it has decided to formulate a ‘Round Trip Package’ on discounted fare and rebates benefit.
The move will facilitate passengers and redistribute the peak traffic for a larger range during peak festival seasons and ensure both sides utilisation of trains, including special trains.
“It has been decided to formulate an experimental scheme named as Round Trip Package for festival rush on discounted fare,” the Railways Ministry stated.
According to the ministry, the scheme will be applicable for those passengers who choose their return journey during the prescribed period.
Under this scheme, rebates shall be applicable when booked for both the onward and return journey for the same set of passengers.
Passenger details of the return journey will be the same as those of the onward journey. Passengers can book their tickets from August 14 for the advance reservation period (ARP) date of October 13.
“An onward ticket shall be booked first for the train start date between 13th October 2025 and 26th October 2025, and subsequently return journey ticket shall be booked by using the connecting journey feature for the train start date between 17th November and 1st December 2025,” the Ministry stated.
However, advance reservation period will not be applicable for booking of return journey.
Other conditions to avail the benefits of the railway’s new special scheme are the booking shall be permissible only for confirmed tickets in both directions, total rebates of 20 per cent shall be granted on base fare of return journey only, booking under this scheme shall be for the same class and same O-D pair for both onward and return journey.
According to Railways, no refund of fare shall be permissible for the tickets booked under this scheme.
This scheme shall be allowed for all classes and in all trains, including special trains (Trains on demand), except trains having Flexi fare.
In addition, no modification will be allowed on these tickets in either of the journeys, and there will be no discounts, Rail travel coupons, Voucher-based bookings, or Passes be admissible during return journey booking on concessional fare.
Passenger can book their ticket via both online and offline modes; however, both onward and return journey tickets must be booked using the same mode (online or offline).
Maharashtra
‘Two Persons Met Me Before 2024 Maharashtra Assembly Polls, Guaranteed 160-Seat Win’: NCP (SP) Chief Sharad Pawar

Nagpur: NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday claimed that two individuals had met him in New Delhi before the 2024 Maharashtra assembly polls and “guaranteed” the Opposition’s victory in 160 of 288 constituencies.
Addressing the media in Nagpur, Pawar said he introduced the duo to the leader of the opposition, Rahul Gandhi.
The disclosure by Pawar comes amid a huge row over Gandhi’s “vote theft” charge against the BJP and the Election Commission.
“Two persons met me in New Delhi before the 2024 assembly polls in Maharashtra. They offered to help the Opposition (Maha Vikas Aghadi) win 160 of the 288 seats with a guarantee,” the former Union minister claimed.
“I introduced them to Rahul Gandhi. He ignored what was told to him. He was also of the view that we (Opposition) shouldn’t get involved in such things and go to the people directly,” he added.
Pawar claimed that since he didn’t assign any importance to claims made by the two individuals, he didn’t possess their names and contact details.
The BJP won 132 seats in the assembly elections with allies Shiv Sena and NCP adding 57 and 41 constituencies, respectively, to the saffron tally.
The Maha Vikas Aghadi, which bagged 30 of 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra months before the assembly elections were held, had attributed its rout to discrepancies in EVMs and fudging of data.
Gandhi on Thursday made explosive claims of a “huge criminal fraud” in polls through collusion between the BJP and the Election Commission, citing an analysis in a constituency in Karnataka, and saying it was “a crime against the Constitution”.
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