Mumbai: experienced a refreshing winter nip on Friday morning, as clear skies, cooler winds and mild temperatures gave residents a pleasant start to the day. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said temperatures were expected to range between a minimum of around 18°C and a maximum of 33°C, making it one of the more comfortable winter days of the season.

However, the seemingly picture-perfect weather masked a growing environmental concern. A thin layer of haze hovered over large parts of the city, underlining Mumbai’s persistent struggle with air pollution. According to data from air quality monitoring platform AQI.in, the city’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at a worrying 277 in the early hours of Friday, placing it firmly in the ‘unhealthy’ category.

While the AQI showed marginal improvement compared to some of the extreme readings recorded in recent weeks, pollution levels remain dangerous, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children, senior citizens and people suffering from respiratory or cardiac conditions.

The deteriorating air quality is largely due to dust and fine particulate matter generated by Mumbai’s relentless infrastructure expansion. Ongoing government projects, including metro rail corridors, coastal road construction, flyovers, bridges and extensive road-widening works, combined with aggressive private real estate development, continue to release large volumes of dust into the atmosphere. Vehicular emissions during peak traffic hours further compound the problem.

Area-wise AQI data revealed stark contrasts across the city. The Wadala Truck Terminal emerged as the worst-affected zone, recording a staggering AQI of 384, categorised as ‘severe’. Such levels pose serious health risks even to otherwise healthy individuals. Chembur (332) and Worli (328) also reported severe air quality, while Bandra East and Deonar registered AQI readings of 324 and 321, respectively in the severe range.

Suburban regions fared slightly better, though air quality remained far from acceptable. Kandivali East and Borivali East recorded AQI levels of 143 and 157, while Borivali West stood at 167. Malad West (180) and Mulund West (183) were also placed in the ‘poor’ category, indicating widespread pollution across the metropolitan region.

For reference, AQI values between 0–50 are considered ‘good’, 51–100 ‘moderate’, 101–150 ‘poor’, 151–200 ‘unhealthy’, and readings above 200 are deemed ‘hazardous’. With Mumbai’s air quality consistently crossing unhealthy thresholds, concerns are mounting over long-term public health impacts as winter progresses and pollution episodes become more frequent.

Palghar, Maharashtra, Dec 25: Pelhar Police have arrested one accused involved in an ATM card swapping fraud and recovered cash and a vehicle used in the crime, successfully cracking the case within 24 hours of its registration.

The incident occurred on December 21, 2025, around 5:00 pm, when the complainant, Ramashankar Devkinandan Tiwari (53), a resident of Nalasopara East, visited an Axis Bank ATM at Vasai Phata to withdraw cash.

According to police, three unidentified men entered the ATM booth and engaged the complainant in conversation, claiming that their transaction had failed. Taking advantage of the distraction, the accused allegedly swapped the complainant’s ATM card through sleight of hand and handed him a different Canara Bank ATM card before leaving the spot.

The accused later used the complainant’s ATM card at another location to withdraw ₹50,000 from his bank account, thereby committing financial fraud.

Following a complaint lodged by the victim, Pelhar Police registered a case on December 22, 2025, under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

During the investigation, the Crime Detection Unit examined CCTV footage from the ATM and nearby areas, which revealed that the accused used a Maruti Suzuki WagonR car.

Tracing the vehicle’s ownership and conducting technical analysis led the police to apprehend the accused, identified as Mohammad Afzal Mohammad Aslam (25), a resident of Ulwe, Navi Mumbai.

During interrogation, the accused confessed to committing the offence along with two accomplices. Police recovered ₹40,000 in cash from the accused, part of the defrauded amount, and seized the car used in the crime. The case was solved within 24 hours of registration.

The search for the remaining two absconding accused is ongoing. The arrested accused has been remanded to police custody until December 27, 2025.

Bhayandar: Following the long-awaited confirmation of the alliance between the Thackeray brothers, which had the entire state of Maharashtra watching, an atmosphere of intense enthusiasm was seen among Shiv Sena and MNS workers in the Mira-Bhayandar area. The reunion of Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray after nearly two decades has triggered a wave of joy among party activists.

Against the backdrop of this historic development, Shiv Sena and MNS workers celebrated at the Golden Nest Circle in Bhayandar by distributing sweets, bursting firecrackers, and cheering in jubilation. The area resonated with slogans of “Thackeray Brothers Together.” Workers were seen dancing to the traditional beats of Dhol-Tasha.

Speaking on the occasion, activists stated that the alliance of the Thackeray brothers is a victory for Marathi pride (Asmita) and will have a significant impact on upcoming elections. They expressed confidence that the coming together of both parties would increase organizational strength and help address local issues more effectively.

Meanwhile, the political ripples of this alliance are being felt across Maharashtra, including Mira-Bhayandar. This partnership is being viewed as a crucial turning point for the upcoming Municipal Corporation and other elections. The reunion of the Thackeray brothers clearly signals the emergence of new equations in state politics.