Connect with us
Tuesday,07-October-2025
Breaking News

National News

Congress launches campaign song for Delhi elections, targets AAP and BJP

Published

on

New Delhi, Jan 23: Ahead of the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, Congress party unveiled its new campaign song, “Har Jarurat Hogi Puri, Dilli Mein Congress Hai Jaruri,” during a press conference on Thursday.

The song, which serves as party’s ‘Delhi Congress Anthem,’ seeks to promote party’s vision for the city while also targeting both the rival parties – the ruling AAP and Opposition BJP.

The 2.48 minute anthem highlights the disillusionment of Delhi residents with the current AAP government, accusing them of broken promises.

Lyrics in the anthem address pressing local issues, including the pollution in the Yamuna and the poor quality of drinking water.

“Yamuna Saaf Nahi, Pani Na Saaf Hai,” the song boldly proclaims, echoing concerns about the city’s infrastructure under AAP rule.

Besides berating the AAP, the anthem also emphasizes party’s plans for Delhi, including promises of free electricity for households (up to 300 units), and the Pyari Didi Yojana, which would provide Rs 2,500 per month to women from low-income families. The anthem also touches safety concerns, claiming that despite AAP’s promises, women in Delhi continue to feel unsafe while the government focuses on issues like alcohol sales instead.

Delhi Congress Chief Devendra Yadav spoke to Media, explaining that the anthem reflects the growing frustration of the people of Delhi.

“Delhi is troubled, and the people’s expectations from the government have not been met. The Congress is the only party that can address the real issues of Delhi,” Yadav said.

“This anthem is not just a song, but a reflection of the hopes we have for the future of Delhi.”

Congress national spokesman Pawan Khera also weighed in, emphasising the energy that the anthem embodies.

“These songs capture our promises and the enthusiasm of the Congress party. Our connection with the people is stronger than ever, and this anthem is a reflection of that enthusiasm,” Khera remarked.

The release of the anthem comes on the heels of BJP’s campaign song, titled “Jo Ram Ko Lekar Aaye Unka Raj Hoga Dilli Mein,” timed with the first anniversary of the consecration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

With the Delhi Assembly elections set for February 5, and the results to be counted on February 8, both Congress and BJP are gearing up for a fierce battle. Over 1.5 crore voters will cast their ballots to decide the fate of the 70-member Delhi Assembly.

National News

Mumbai Accident: 29-Year-Old Drunk Driver Crashes Car On Coastal Road Bridge, Damages Public Property

Published

on

Mumbai: A case has been registered under Sections 281, 125, 324(3), 324(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) along with Section 185 of the Motor Vehicles Act against one Farshogar Darayush Battiwala (29) for reckless and drunken driving on the Coastal Road Northbound near Worli on October 6 late night.

According to the complaint lodged by Police Naik Mushir Rashid Tadvi (49), attached to the Worli Police Station, the incident took place around 10:57 p.m. near Naman Jana Building, opposite the bridge leading towards Prabhadevi.

Battiwala, who was driving an Ertiga car, allegedly drove the vehicle dangerously and negligently on a public road under the influence of alcohol, endangering his own life as well as that of others. During the incident, he crashed into the roadside railing, causing damage to public property and his vehicle. Following the incident, Worli Police registered an FIR under the aforementioned sections and initiated further investigation.

Continue Reading

National News

Mumbai Ailing Hospitals Part 11: Sion Hospital Struggles With Medicine Shortages, Overcrowding & Equipment Failures

Published

on

Mumbai: Danish Shaikh, a relative of a patient, shared a distressing experience involving his 67-yearold aunt, Noor Shaikh, who suffers from kidney disease. “We had to purchase medicines worth Rs7,000 from outside the hospital because they were unavailable there,” he said.

Visiting the hospital at night and lacking sufficient funds, Shaikh was forced to borrow money from fellow visitors, which he could return only the next day. “I was completely uncertain about what to do,” he added. Another patient, Manoj Singh, echoed similar frustrations: “Whatever medicines doctors prescribe are not available here. We are forced to buy expensive drugs from private medical shops. Getting treated in Sion Hospital now feels like going to a private hospital.”

Such incidents are becoming alarmingly common, as the hospital frequently runs out of essential medicines, compelling patients to buy costly drugs from outside. Such incidents are becoming increasingly common at the Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital (LTMGH), also known as Sion Hospital, the second-largest hospital run by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

The hospital is grappling with a deepening crisis that is severely affecting patient care. The hospital serves as a critical healthcare hub for millions, handling 22 lakh patients annually and 5,000 to 6,500 daily outpatient department (OPD) visits, peaking at 7,500 during monsoons. However, medicine shortages, overcrowded wards, equipment failures, and unhygienic conditions are pushing patients and their families to the brink.

An anonymous official from the civic administration admitted that the BMC has not yet received new medicine stocks, forcing the hospital to manage with dwindling supplies. “The hospital is somehow managing with the old stock and distributing whatever is available,” the official said, adding that fresh supplies are expected soon. However, the delay continues to leave patients in distress. Sion Hospital’s challenges extend beyond medicine shortages.

Overcrowding is a persistent issue, with its 1,900 beds insufficient to accommodate the massive patient load. In medicine wards 6, 7, and 20, designated for male and female patients, two patients often share a single bed, while others are accommodated on mattresses laid out on the floor. On one occasion, a ward designed for 40–50 patients housed 105, making proper sanitation nearly impossible.

Sumit Dhar, a relative of a patient, said, “My relative feels very uncomfortable. I can barely reach the bedside — there’s hardly any space to walk between the beds.” Dirty beds, soiled linen, and insufficiently cleaned toilets and common areas further exacerbate hygiene concerns, raising the risk of infections. As a tertiary care centre, Sion Hospital attracts patients from Mumbai’s densely populated areas like Kurla, Chembur, Dharavi, Dadar, Matunga, Bandra, Ghatkopar, Mulund, and Govandi, as well as from surrounding districts like Thane, Navi Mumbai, and Raigad.

An administrative official, speaking anonymously, noted that despite Thane having its own chief minister for over two years, public hospitals there remain underdeveloped, funneling patients to Sion Hospital for specialized care. “The hospital has specialised medical care, advanced treatment facilities, and experienced doctors,” the official said, underscoring its critical role. Yet, patients report a starkly different experience.

Equipment failures add to the hospital’s woes. One of its two MRI machines is non-functional, leaving a single machine to handle both admitted and emergency cases. Patients face appointment delays of two to three months, with some redirected to Eknath Gaikwad Hospital in Dharavi, known as “Chhota Sion.”

Dr. Mohan Joshi, the hospital’s dean, claimed that all MRI machines are currently functional, but patients continue to face delays. CT scans, outsourced, require patients to queue early in the morning for appointment dates, adding to their inconvenience. The hospital’s blood bank has also drawn criticism. Previously fined for failing to update its stock on the SBTC website, it struggles to provide blood for nearly 280 thalassemia patients who require regular transfusions.

“There is a perennial shortage of blood, even though the hospital has a dedicated thalassemia unit… Private blood banks also refuse to provide blood free of cost, in violation of government policy,” said a health activist.

Despite increasing blood collection over the past three years, mismanagement persists. The hospital’s basement, filled with trash, discarded medical materials, and broken furniture, poses a serious safety hazard. Blocked pathways and flammable materials could hinder emergency evacuations, highlighting administrative negligence.

Despite these challenges, Sion Hospital remains a vital healthcare provider, performing 400 surgeries, 100 endoscopies, and 10 angiographies daily. Its OPD, operating from 8.30 am to 12.30 pm, serves a wide range of specialities, but the strain on resources demands urgent reform to restore its ability to deliver quality care.

Continue Reading

Maharashtra

Mumbai Accident: 1 Killed, 6 Others Injured As Speeding Tempo Traveller Crashes Into BEST Bus In Dadar

Published

on

Mumbai: A speeding tempo traveller crashed into a BEST bus and two other vehicles in Dadar late Sunday night, killing one and injuring six, including three brothers. The victim was identified as Shahabuddin Zainulabdeen Shaikh, 37, a clothes vendor, said the Shivaji Park police, adding that medical examination confirmed that the driver, Sandesh Kumbhar, 27, was driving under the influence of alcohol.

Preliminary investigation revealed that Kumbhar, a resident of Wadala, was driving in a rash and negligent manner. According to BEST, the fatal mishap occurred around 11.30 pm near the Dadar Plaza bus stop, when a tempo traveller, heading towards Shivaji Park, lost control. It collided with the front right side of a BEST bus that was en route to Pratiksha Nagar from the Worli depot.

After crashing into the bus, the tempo traveller also struck a taxi and another tourist vehicle, damaging both. “The impact caused the bus to veer left, hitting pedestrians and passengers waiting at the stop. Shahabuddin, a pedestrian, died on the spot,” said an official.

Those injured were identified as brothers Rahul Padale, 30, Rohit Padale, 33, and Akshay Padale, 25. The remaining three are Vidya Mote, 30, Abhishek Rautkar, 24, and Abdul Nadir, 23. While Nadir is from Wadala, the rest are from Sion. They were immediately rushed to Sion Hospital with the help of the bus conductor and local police personnel. The police have registered a case of accidental death against Kumbhar.

Continue Reading

Trending