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Friday,30-January-2026
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Maharashtra

Curb ‘crowded fests’ to avoid Covid spike: Centre tells Maharashtra

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Dadar-market

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has urged the Maharashtra government to impose and enforce ‘restrictions’ to prevent the spread of Covid-19, officials said here on Saturday.

The directive from the Centre came late on Friday through Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan — barely five days after the Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray announced a near-total ban on the upcoming ‘Dahi-Handi’ celebrations starting Sunday.

Referring to the Centre’s earlier guidelines on ‘focused containment measures’, Bhushan advised the state government to consider imposing and enforcing local restrictions for the people.

Citing the concerns of the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) and National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) of such mass-gathering fests turning into ‘super-spreader events’, thereby resulting in a spike in Covid cases, Bhushan said the same was communicated to the states on July 20.

“This is particularly important in view of circulation of more transmissible variants of concern being reported by various states, including Maharashtra,” said Bhushan, hinting at the recent increase in Delta Plus cases which have already claimed 5 lives in the state.

However, the state Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Ram Kadam has slammed the state government’s move to impose “a blanket ban” on celebrating ‘Dahi-Handi’ and demanded that festivities at local levels should be permitted with full Covid restrictions.

The state Health Minister Rajesh Tope has warned that the possible ‘third wave’ could be a ‘Tsunami’ of over 6-million cases in the state, which could be triple of the 2-million recorded in the ‘first-wave’ in 2020 and much higher than the 4-million notched in the ‘second-wave’ this year.

The MoHFW has cautioned that “any laxity” in ensuring strict adherence to the five-fold strategy of ‘Test-Track-Treat-Vaccinate-Ensuring Covid Appropriate Behaviour’ may result in losing the impetus that Maharashtra and the country has gained so far in managing the pandemic.

Crime

Mumbai Crime: One Critical Among 5 Injured After Violent Group Clash Breaks Out In Nagpada, 13 Detained

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Mumbai: A violent confrontation between two groups erupted in South Mumbai’s Nagpada area late Thursday night, leaving several people injured and sparking a massive police response. Authorities have confirmed that one individual remains in critical condition following the brawl, which has once again put the spotlight on the volatile security situation in the densely populated area.

According to the Mumbai Police, the altercation broke out between two local groups over a financial dispute that escalated rapidly. What reportedly began as a verbal spat soon turned into a physical battle.

A video of the clash has surfaced on the internet shows the exact moments of the violent situation. Two men can be seen lying on the road, probably unconsious after participating in the brawl. Five to six other men can be seen weilding rods and sticks engaged in a fight, in full public view.

The violence resulted in five to six individuals sustaining serious injuries. They were rushed to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment. Medical officials confirmed this morning that while most are stable, one victim is currently in critical condition and is battling for life in the intensive care unit.

The Nagpada Police arrived at the scene shortly after the violence peaked to disperse the crowd and restore order. Heavy police deployment remained in the area throughout the night to prevent any retaliatory attacks or further communal or localised tension.

In a swift crackdown following the incident, the Mumbai Police have detained 13 individuals suspected of involvement in the clash. The police have officially registered a case against the accused parties under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including Section 109 and Section 191.

As of Friday morning, the situation in Nagpada is reported to be under control, though an uneasy calm prevails. Security has been beefed up at key intersections, and patrolling has been intensified.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai: Ajit Pawar’s plane crash investigation handed over to central agency, inquiry started after state government’s recommendation, agency in possession of black box

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Mumbai: The investigation into the plane crash of the state’s Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar (Ajit Pawar Baramati plane crash) will now be conducted by a central agency. The Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has started an investigation into the accident and after receiving its report, it will be sent to the state government. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had written a letter to Union Aviation Minister Kanjrapu Ram Mohan Naidu requesting an investigation into the accident. After this, the Union Minister gave this information in a letter written to the Chief Minister.

The Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has started an investigation. The black box of the aircraft has been seized. An investigation has been started as per the Aircraft Accident and Incident Rules. This will be done in a transparent and time-bound manner.

All the technical records, operational details, facts available at the accident site are being investigated. The Ministry has taken note of our request to control such incidents in future and steps will be taken in this regard as soon as the investigation report comes. The cooperation of the Maharashtra government in this investigation will also be valuable for us. The local administration will help in this. We will also give this complete investigation report to the state government.

A very senior leader like Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash. Along with him, 4 others have also lost their lives in it. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had demanded that the exact reasons for this accident should be investigated. He also demanded in the letter that immediate steps be taken to ensure that such accidents do not happen in the future.

Ajit Pawar’s last rites
The last rites of the state’s Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar were performed in a mournful atmosphere in Baramati. Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash in Baramati yesterday. After which the entire state is in mourning. Ajit Pawar’s last rites were performed at the Vidya Pratishthan Ground in Baramati in the presence of lakhs of fans, supporters and leaders of all parties.

The untimely death of Ajit Pawar has shocked the entire state. Senior leaders of all parties including senior leader Sharad Pawar, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, MNS President Raj Thackeray and others were present at the Vidya Pratishthan. Amidst the slogans of Ajit Dada Amar Rahe, Partha Pawar and Jay Pawar performed the last rites of Dada with tearful eyes. It seems that Dada’s departure has created a big void in the politics of the state.

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Maharashtra

Three-day mourning on Ajit Pawar’s death, no order to close schools, tricolour to be hoisted from government offices

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Mumbai: State Deputy Chief Minister and NCP chief Ajit Dada Pawar died in a plane crash in Baramati yesterday morning. After this, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced a three-day mourning. Due to this, a debate has started on whether there will be a three-day holiday in government, private and other schools in the state. After the state government announced mourning on the death of Ajit Pawar, the tricolor has been lowered on other government institutions including Mantralaya. The government has denied the closure of schools. The state government has given a clarification in this regard. According to the government, a holiday was announced for schools only on January 28. While schools will remain open as usual on January 29 and 30. There will be no holiday in schools.

One-day holiday
The state government has given a clarification in this regard. Accordingly, following the order of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, government offices and schools were given a holiday on January 28. After this, there is no order to keep schools closed on January 29 and 30, nor has any holiday order been issued. Parents and students have been appealed to contact the school administration. The decision of the school administration at the local level will also be important. Therefore, parents have been appealed to contact the school and teachers to get information about this.

Three-day political mourning
After the death of Ajit Pawar, the Maharashtra government has announced a three-day political mourning in the state. During this, all government offices in the state will remain closed on January 30. But schools and other educational institutions will function smoothly. Schools and institutions will function as usual. No government order has been given to grant them a holiday.

The state government has issued an official notification. Accordingly, the state’s Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar passed away on January 28, 2026. A three-day political mourning has been declared across Maharashtra in honour of the late leader. According to the notice, as per the instructions of the Maharashtra government, wherever the national flag is regularly hoisted in the state, it should be lowered. No official programme will be held during this period.

This rule is applicable to all districts of the state. Yesterday, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was coming from Mumbai to Baramati for the Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti election campaign and four meetings. His plane met with a major accident before landing on the runway of the Baramati airport. The plane crashed in a nearby field. Six people including him were killed in it. Due to which an atmosphere of mourning has spread in the state.

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