General
First batch of Haj pilgrims from Telangana departs
First batch of Haj pilgrims from Telangana left for the pilgrimage from Rajiv Gandhi International Airport here on Monday.
A total of 373 pilgrims left for Jeddah by a special flight of Saudi Airlines at 5.55 a.m., an official of Telangana State Haj Committee said.
Earlier, around midnight the buses carrying the pilgrims were flagged off by state home minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali and State Haj Committee chairman Mohammed Saleem at Haj House in the city.
The pilgrims began their journey with enthusiasm amid chanting of ‘Talbiyah’, a special prayer invoked during the Haj. Emotional scenes were witnessed at Haj House as scores of relatives, friends and well-wishers bid adieu to the pilgrims.
The first flight had 211 pilgrims from Hyderabad and the remaining were from seven other districts.
This is after a gap of two years that pilgrims from India are performing Haj. Saudi Arabia had not allowed pilgrims from other countries in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid-19 pandemic.
About 80,000 Indian pilgrims will be performing Haj this year. The Haj quota this year has been reduced in view of Covid protocol.
Telangana has been allocated a quota of 1,822. About 5,000 pilgrims from Telangana had performed Haj in 2019.
Officials said this year a total of 3,016 pilgrims including pilgrims from some districts of neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra would depart from Hyderabad through Saudi Airline flights.
Like in the previous years, Haj House was turned into embarkation point for the pilgrims. The Haj Committee made all the arrangements including food and accommodation for the pilgrims who had reached there from various districts of Telangana.
Various departments provided services like customs clearance, checking of baggage and provision of currency exchange under one roof.
One of the five pillars of Islam, Haj is annual pilgrimage to holiest city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Haj is mandatory for at least once in lifetime for all Muslims who are financially and physically capable of undertaking the journey.
Haj pilgrimage this year will commence on July 7 and continue through July 12, corresponding to the 10th of Dhulhijjah, the last month of Islamic calendar. The final date will be decided upon sighting of the new moon of Dhulhijjah,
Maharashtra
Action taken against Dhulia Muslim settlement is totally unjust, Abu Asim Azmi writes to Minority Commission requesting a stay on the action and notice

Mumbai: Maharashtra Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi has demanded a stay on the notice of illegal eviction of houses from Muslim settlements in Dhuleya and demolition action from Minorities Commission Chairman Pyare Khan. Anhusan said that it is completely unjust to evict 275 Muslims in Dhuleya, while the government had also issued a GR for their rehabilitation through the Prime Minister’s Awas Yojana. This family had been living in Dhuleya Lal Sardarnagar Ant Batti area for 40 to 50 years, but the administration has suddenly evicted them by taking demolition action. They were illegally served a notice on April 21. The state government had also prepared a plan for the rehabilitation of the residents under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana in connection with the GR of March 26, 2026. The sudden action of the administration is inhuman and illegal, therefore, the Minorities Commission is requested to impose a stay order on this illegal notice and provide justice to the residents. In this regard, Advocate Zubair of Dhule and the residents have requested that they get justice and a stay be imposed on the illegal demolition notice. Abu Asim Azmi has sent a letter to the Minorities Commission on the demand of the residents, demanding a stay and a stay on the action.
Maharashtra
Mumbai: Drug party at Hotel Lalit International, police investigation launched, no objectionable items recovered, investigation ordered

Mumbai: Police has started an inquiry after a video of a drugs party at Hotel Lalit International under the limits of Mumbai’s Sahar police station went viral. In the initial investigation, the police did not find any intoxicating substances or drugs during the search. The complainant had called the police control room three times. The police searched the Kitty Saw Club all three times, but no objectionable items were found from here. However, an inquiry into the matter is ongoing.
The complainant has made a video viral from outside and inside the club, in which it is stated that drugs are sold to youths in this club, but no drugs of any kind were found in the police operation. In the video, a youth is also shown running away during the search, while he was also searched, but no drugs of any kind were recovered. DCP Manish Kalwaniya has ordered an inquiry in this regard. The police are finding out whether the allegations made in the video are true or not. Along with this, the complainant has also entered the club several times and an investigation has also been started regarding the activities he has done here. However, no evidence of a drug party in the Cutty Sow Club in Hotel The Lalit has been found. The police are also examining the video footage and other documents. No case has been registered in this matter so far, but the police are conducting an inquiry.
Maharashtra
Concreting of roads, cleaning of drains should be continuously inspected till monsoon works are completed properly: Mayor Ritu Tawde

Mumbai: Pre-monsoon works are in full swing in Mumbai (Mumbai city and suburbs). However, until these works are completed properly and on time, we will continue to inspect concreting of roads, removal of silt from drains and other works, said Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde. At the same time, Mayor Tawde has directed the administration to work very diligently in relation to roads, drains and water. Along with the roads of Chembur, Mayor Ritu Tawde inspected the silt removal works in the drain and Mithi river this morning (May 2, 2026). M-West Ward Committee President Asha Marathe, L-Ward Committee President Vijayendra Shinde, F-South and F-North Ward Committee President Mansi Satmkar, Corporator Mrs.
Sakshi Kanojia, Corporator Kshish Phulwaria, Deputy Commissioner (Zone 5) Mrs. Scindia Nanded, Assistant Commissioner West, B-West Commissioner Scindia Shankar, Sakshi Kanojia. (L Division) Dhanji Harlekar, Chief Engineer (Roads) Mantaya Swamy, Deputy Chief Engineer (Storm Water Channels) Sunil Russell, Sunil Karjatkar and concerned officers were present.
Mayor Ritu Tawde initially inspected the works. The Mayor inspected Road No. 21 and 11 in Babasaheb Ambedkar Udyan area. The quality of road work, condition of various utility channels, trees along the road and water drainage system were inspected very closely. Besides, to check the quality of footpath construction, he has arranged a basic test to check the cement, concreting, iron used in it, nets etc.
Talking to the media during the visit, Mayor Tawde said that the Municipal Corporation has implemented the cement concreting project of roads in Mumbai as a long-term initiative. The road work is going on at a fast pace. The administration has been instructed to complete these works before the monsoon.
However, there should be no delay in the construction and maintenance of the quality of roads while increasing the pace of work. The completed roads and their water drainage pipes should be cleaned thoroughly. So that water does not get mixed in the cement and the pipes do not get blocked. Water should not be allowed to accumulate on the roadside. Along with this, Tawde directed that care should be taken that no tree is affected by cement concrete.
Meanwhile, while inspecting the roads in Chembur, the Mayor also interacted with the local citizens. The citizens expressed satisfaction with the road work and thanked the Mayor, public representatives and the administration.
After inspecting the roads, Mayor Tawde inspected the sludge removal works at three places – Mahol Nallah in ‘L’ section, JK Chemical Nallah in ‘F North’ section and Methi Nadi. Regarding the cleaning of drains, Mayor Tawde said that the target is to remove 8.28 lakh metric tonnes of sludge from drains before the monsoon this year. Out of this, about 45% or 3.76 lakh metric tonnes of sludge has been removed by May 1, 2026. The garbage removal work should be expedited and it should be ensured that all drains are free from sludge before the monsoon. Where necessary, protective walls should be constructed along the drains. CCTV monitoring facilities should be provided so that the administration and local public representatives can also see the actual status of the drain cleaning work. It should be ensured that the wheels of vehicles carrying silt are washed before plying on the roads. Tawde also gave instructions so that the roads do not become unsafe due to mud.
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