Mumbai: A massive fire broke out in early hours of Thursday at the Wajid Ali Compound, located in the India Market area on Khairani Road, Saki Naka in Kurla West. The fire, classified as a Level-III emergency, broke out at approximately 6:00 am and engulfed a large area of scrapped and plastic materials stored in godowns.

Details On The Fire

According to the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB), the blaze spread over an area of about 1,000 x 500 sq. feet, impacting the ground floor and a partially constructed first floor of the structure. Ten hose lines were deployed to combat the flames as firefighters worked relentlessly to control the situation. Visuals of the massive blaze have surfaced on the internet.

The MFB declared the incident a Level-III emergency at 7:21 am, escalating response efforts. Resources mobilised included 11 fire engines, 9 jumbo tankers, 11 advanced water tenders and 1 multipurpose water tanker. A team of senior fire officials, including a Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Divisional Fire Officers and Assistant Divisional Fire Officers, were present at the site to oversee operations.

No Injuries Reported So Far

Fortunately, no injuries or casualties have been reported so far. Emergency medical services, including a 108 ambulance, were stationed at the scene as a precautionary measure.

The fire caused substantial damage to the storage facility, which housed a huge quantity of plastic and scrapped materials, but authorities have yet to determine the exact cause of the blaze.

Efforts are ongoing to fully extinguish the fire and assess the extent of the damage. Investigations will be conducted to establish the cause of the incident. Further updates are awaited.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts that Mumbai will enjoy pleasant weather on December 28, featuring partly cloudy skies all day. Light to moderate rainfall has been noted in several areas of the city; check for more details to plan your day effectively.

Mumbai Weather Today

The temperature will vary from a low of 19 degrees Celsius in the early morning to a high of 32 degrees Celsius in the afternoon. The wind is blowing at a speed of 6 kmph today and the humidity stands at 67%. The sun will come up at 7:10 AM and go down at 6:10 PM, offering around 11 hours of daylight.

Unexpected Rainfall In Mumbai

According to reports, areas such as South Mumbai, Kalyan, Dombivli, Ulhasnagar, and parts of Palghar experienced light to moderate rainfall on Friday night. Light rain was observed in Navi Mumbai at midnight and also during the early morning hours. This might be because of the yellow alert issued in various areas of Maharashtra.

Mumbai Air Quality Today

The Air Quality Index (AQI) shows that Mumbai’s air quality is at 165, which signifies that it is at a poor level. Individuals with respiratory problems are recommended to remain indoors and warned.

Mumbai Weather Forecast

On December 29, the weather in Mumbai is expected to be mostly clear, with temperatures varying from 18 degrees Celsius in the morning to 34 degrees Celsius in the afternoon.

On December 30, the sky will be predominantly clear, featuring a morning temperature of 17 degrees Celsius and a peak of 34 degrees Celsius in the afternoon.

On December 31, the weather is expected to be predominantly clear, with morning temperatures beginning at 16 degrees Celsius and peaking at 33 degrees Celsius throughout the day.

On January 1, the atmosphere will remain predominantly clear, featuring a morning temperature of 16 degrees Celsius and a peak temperature of 33 degrees Celsius during the day.

United Nations, Dec 28: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is saddened by the passing of India’s former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who played a “pivotal role” in shaping the nation’s “economic trajectory”, according to his Associate Spokesperson Stephanie Tremblay.

“The Secretary-General was saddened to learn of the passing of Dr Manmohan Singh,” she said in a statement on Friday.

He “played a pivotal role in India’s recent history, particularly in shaping its economic trajectory,” the statement said.

“As Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, Singh oversaw a period of significant economic growth and development in India.”

“Under his leadership, India also strengthened its collaboration with the United Nations, contributing actively to global initiatives and partnerships,” it added.

Singh cooperated with Guterres’s two predecessors Kofi Annan and Ban Ki-moon during his 10 years as Prime Minister, meeting them at the UN headquarters in New York as well as at other international forums.

Singh addressed the UN General Assembly five times.

Fighting climate change has been a top item in the UN’s agenda along with sustainable development for poverty eradication.

In pursuing these goals, Singh reiterated India’s commitment but also constantly reminded world leaders that the developing countries’ historical context should be taken into account and the developed countries had a special responsibility in pursuing them.

At the UN Climate Change Conference in Denmark in 2009, he declared, “India was a latecomer to industrialisation and as such we have contributed very little to the accumulation of greenhouse gas emissions that caused global warming, but we are determined to be part of the solution.”

When the negotiations began while he was Prime Minister for the landmark Paris Climate Change Accord that was adopted in 2015, he made it a firm condition that it should be “equitable” taking into account the disproportionate role the developed countries had in creating the greenhouse gas crisis and its consequences suffered by developing countries.

He also attended the Rio+, the UN Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio De Janeiro in 2012.

While criticising the developed countries for their parsimony in funding development around the world, he also said, “Sustainable development mandates the efficient use of available natural resources. We have to be much more frugal in the way we use natural resources.”

While the UN was working on its ambitious 2030 Sustainable Development Goals that was adopted in 2015 after he left office, Singh emphasised that it should provide funding for developing countries and technology transfer.

In 2013 in his last address to the UN General Assembly, he said, “The problems of over a billion people living in abject poverty around the world need to be attacked more directly. Poverty remains a major political and economic challenge and its eradication requires special attention and a new collective thrust.”

“It is, therefore, important that the UN set clear and concise goals (for its sustainable development agenda) and provide practical and well-defined means of implementation, including the adequate flow of resources and transfer of technology, taking the views of developing countries fully into account,” he added.