MUMBAI — Severe cyclonic storm Ditwah is significantly impacting the southern state of Tamil Nadu, bringing torrential rainfall, high winds, and widespread disruptions to air travel.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red alerts for several districts in Tamil Nadu as the cyclone tracks closer to the coastline. Authorities are urging residents in coastal areas to remain indoors and take necessary precautions as conditions deteriorate.

The heavy rainfall has led to waterlogging in several major cities and towns, affecting daily life and causing traffic gridlock. Disaster response teams have been deployed to assist with any flood-related emergencies.

In Mumbai, officials are monitoring the situation in the south, although the immediate weather impact on Maharashtra is minimal. However, airlines operating out of Mumbai have confirmed numerous flight cancellations and delays for services bound for Chennai and other affected southern airports. Passengers are strongly advised to check with their respective airlines for the latest updates on flight status before traveling to the airport.

State disaster management units in Tamil Nadu remain on high alert, coordinating relief efforts and preparing for potential evacuation operations if the situation escalates further.

Mumbai: Mumbai welcomed December with a crisp, pleasant morning on Monday, as clear blue skies and a gentle winter breeze offered residents a refreshing start to the week. Yet beneath this perfect weather lay a worrying reality in the form of a persistent layer of haze and smog that reduced visibility and signalled a sharp deterioration in the city’s air quality.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasted clear skies throughout the day, with maximum temperatures around 31°C and minimum temperatures dipping to 15°C, conditions typical of Mumbai’s winter phase. While the cooler mornings brought some comfort, the reduced visibility and greyish skyline indicated that pollution levels had surged overnight.

This spike in pollution follows a brief period of relief. Heavy rainfall in October had washed away suspended particles and pollutants, offering Mumbaikars a short-lived window of cleaner air and improved horizons. However, once the showers stopped, pollutants quickly accumulated again, undoing the gains and dragging the city back into unhealthy air quality levels in November.

Data from AQI.in today morning pegged Mumbai’s overall Air Quality Index at 277, placing it in the unhealthy category. This marks a major drop from the moderate readings seen in early November. Residents across several pockets of the city reported eye irritation, a faint burning smell, and visibly hazy skylines, classic signs of heightened PM2.5 levels.

Some of the worst readings were reported from the city’s industrial and high-traffic zones. Wadala Truck Terminal topped the list with an alarming AQI of 387, entering the severe category. Chembur (335) and Bandra-Kurla Complex (320) also recorded severe levels, while Worli (314) and Deonar (312) continued to struggle with severe pollution conditions.

The suburbs, though relatively better, were still plagued with poor air quality. Govandi and Kandivali East logged AQI readings of 157, placing them in the poor bracket. Areas such as Mulund West (187), Bhandup West (190), and Borivali East (197) remained firmly in the poor category as well. Despite minor differences, most of Mumbai remained enveloped in a blanket of haze, indicating widespread pollution across the metropolitan region.

For context, AQI values from 0–50 are considered Good, 51–100 Moderate, 101–150 Poor, 151–200 Unhealthy, and anything above 200 is labeled Severe or Hazardous.

New Delhi, Nov 29: A special CBI court in Ahmedabad on Saturday sentenced former Senior Divisional Manager of Oriental Insurance Company Limited, Rajkot, Mahendra A. Loonker, to three years of rigorous imprisonment in a 13-year-old bribery case.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on the former official.

According to the CBI press note, the case was registered on July 11, 2012, following a complaint by a partner of a private firm.

Loonker, then serving as Senior Divisional Manager at the insurance company’s Rajkot office, had allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 15,000 to clear an accident insurance claim submitted by the complainant for an injured employee.

“CBI registered the instant case on July 11, 2012 against the accused person on allegations that accused Mahendra A Loonker, the then Sr. DM, Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd., Rajkot had demanded and accepted an illegal gratification of Rs 15,000 from the complainant, Partner of a private company in order to pass the Accident Insurance Claim filed by him regarding the accident and injury of his employee,” the CBI said.

CBI officials arrested Loonker the same day the FIR was filed, after he was found to have accepted the bribe.

Subsequent searches were carried out at his residence and office premises in Rajkot. Investigators later filed a chargesheet on December 3, 2012, against the accused for demanding and accepting illegal gratification and criminal misconduct committed by the accused public servant.

After examining the evidence and hearing arguments from both sides, the court held Loonker guilty and convicted him accordingly.

Meanwhile, the CBI Court in Vijayawada on Friday sentenced a former Railway official to one year of imprisonment in a nearly two-decade-old bribery case.

The court convicted Matta Dharma Rao, who was serving as Assistant Divisional Engineer with South Central Railway in Bhimavaram, West Godavari district, for demanding and accepting illegal gratification from a contractor.