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.
Crime
School Van Driver Arrested For Raping 15-Year-Old Girl In Navi Mumbai

Thane: A school van driver has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in Navi Mumbai, police said on Saturday.
Based on a complaint, the police on Thursday registered a case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for the assault that occurred in Panvel on March 3, an official said.
About The Case
According to the police, the girl was on her way to college when the accused, who lived in her neighbourhood, lured her into his school van.
The official said the accused allegedly drove the girl to a secluded spot in Chinchwali Shivara, where he raped her.
He said the victim informed her parents about the assault on Thursday, following which the police nabbed the accused.
The man has been sent to police custody until March 18, the official added.
Maharashtra
NCP (SP) Chief Sharad Pawar Urges Centre To Tackle Farmer Suicides In Maharashtra’s Marathwada, Vidarbha

Baramati: NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar on Saturday expressed concerns about farmer suicides in Marathwada and Vidarbha and said the Centre should come up with a policy to help cultivators.
Pawar’s statement comes in the backdrop of the data released by the state relief and rehabilitation department that revealed that 2,635 farmers died by suicide in Maharashtra in 2024.
“The information which has come from Marathwada and Vidarbha is worrying. We will collect accurate data from different locations. The Centre should prepare a policy to help farmers,” he told reporters in Baramati.
On speculations about NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil crossing over to the Ajit Pawar-led party faction, the senior politician said Patil had already given his statement to the media.
Patil, the state president of NCP (SP), had earlier said nothing about him was certain, sparking the buzz that he could quit the party.
On Friday, Patil met the NCP (SP) chief at an event in Baramati and later said he was not upset and a wrong inference was taken from his statement.
The former Union agriculture minister said farming is witnessing a revolution, and artificial intelligence (AI) will soon be used in sugarcane cultivation.
“The AI technology can be used to boost the quality of sugarcane. Many sugar factories will take part in the AI farming process. A meeting is scheduled later in the day with some officials of sugar factories. A revolutionary decision will be made soon, and the use of AI in farming will begin soon,” he said.
Pawar further said that Beed, which has been in the news for the murder of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh, was once a peaceful district.
“The situation in Beed was never like this. It was once a peaceful district. As many as six people from my party were elected from Beed. However, some of them misused their power, and we are witnessing the consequences,” he said.
Crime
Strict action against traffic rule violators during Holi in Mumbai, 17495 challans worth Rs 1.79 crore issued

Mumbai, March 15: Mumbai Traffic Police launched a special campaign against those violating traffic rules on the occasion of Holi and Holika Dahan. 17,495 challans were issued in this campaign which ran for two days on March 13 and 14. The total recovery was Rs 1 crore 79 lakh 79 thousand 250. To ensure road safety during the festival, the police blocked major places in the city and took strict action against those breaking the rules.
Mumbai Police had issued guidelines for the people before Holi. It was warned that action would be taken under the Maharashtra Police Act if the rules were not followed.
In this campaign, special attention was kept on those areas where there was a possibility of traffic rules being broken. Special attention was given to violations like drunk driving, speeding, riding a bike without a helmet, carrying three passengers and breaking signals.
In two days, the traffic police caught many cases of violations. 4,949 cases of riding a bike without a helmet were reported, while action was taken against 183 people for drunk driving. 33 challans were registered for driving in the wrong direction, 992 challans for breaking the rules on one-way roads and 1,942 cases of breaking signals.
Apart from this, 425 cases of carrying three passengers and 826 people were fined for driving without a license.
Mumbai Traffic Police says that this campaign was run to maintain the safety of the people and road discipline. During the festival, ignoring the rules amid the crowd and excitement increases the risk of accidents, so strictness was necessary. The police appealed to the people to follow the rules in future, so that the roads remain safe and the festival can be enjoyed without any hassle.
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