Mumbai: city and its suburbs have been receiving heavy rains for the past few hours, with more than 300 mm of rainfall recorded in several areas. In this backdrop, the Mumbai Municipal Corporation’s emergency system is working at full capacity and more than 7,000 officers and employees have been deployed at various locations.

Although the incessant rain has caused waterlogging in low-lying areas, the municipal corporation has activated the water extraction pumps, rainwater harvesting stations and flood control systems. Due to which the accumulated water is being drained quickly and traffic is also moving.

The municipal corporation’s disaster management department is continuously monitoring the low-lying areas, railway stations, important roads, bridges and coastal areas. Engineers, staff and control rooms of the concerned departments are working round the clock and immediate action is being taken on the complaints received from the citizens.

Regular inspection of drain cleaning, storm drains and water drainage systems is being carried out and additional manpower and machinery is being sent to the spot as per the requirement. In addition, fire brigade, disaster management teams and other related systems have been kept ready to deal with tree fall, short circuit, waterlogging or other emergencies.

Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide has appealed to the citizens to follow the instructions of the Meteorological Department and contact the Municipal Corporation control room in case of any emergency.

Meanwhile, keeping in mind the possibility of continued heavy rain, all departments have been instructed to remain alert and the situation is being continuously monitored. Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide has said that the Municipal Corporation is taking all necessary measures to protect the citizens.

Mumbai, June 24: Mumbai Customs on Wednesday arrested a 28-year-old man for allegedly smuggling hydroponic weed worth Rs 2.05 crore into the country through Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA).

According to Mumbai Customs, officials intercepted a passenger identified as A.D. Rajani, a resident of Jamnagar, Gujarat, based on specific suspicion that he might be carrying contraband items after arriving at CSMIA from Bangkok.

Following the interception, a detailed search of the passenger’s baggage was conducted. During the examination, officials found his trolley bag stuffed with 14 packets. Upon opening the packets, they were found to contain the fruiting and flowering tops of a plant suspected to be hydroponic weed (cannabis).

Customs officials recovered a total net weight of 5,869 grams of hydroponic weed, with an estimated value of approximately Rs 2.05 crore in the illicit market. Further investigation into the case is underway.

The latest seizure comes amid a series of recent crackdowns on drug smuggling through Indian airports.

On June 22, Customs officials at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in New Delhi seized hydroponic weed worth around Rs 4.80 crore from an Indian passenger arriving from Bangkok. The passenger had arrived on Air India flight AI 2335 on June 21 and was intercepted after crossing the Green Channel based on profiling. A detailed examination of his baggage led to the recovery of approximately 13.84 kg of hydroponic weed.

Earlier this month, on June 12, the Customs Department arrested a 28-year-old woman at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport for allegedly attempting to smuggle more than 11 kg of hydroponic weed into the country. The seized contraband was estimated to be worth Rs 11.82 crore in the international market.

Hydroponic weed is a high-potency form of cannabis cultivated using water-based nutrient solutions instead of soil. Due to its higher concentration of psychoactive compounds and superior quality, it often commands a significantly higher price in the illegal drug market.

Mumbai, June 24: In a significant administrative overhaul, the Maharashtra state government on Tuesday ordered a major reshuffle within its police force. A senior IPS officer, Vishwas Nangre Patil—widely recognised as Mumbai’s “Singham” for his tough stance on crime—has been appointed as the new Police Commissioner of Nagpur, the state’s second capital.

Nangre Patil, who was previously serving as the Additional Director General of Police (ADG) in the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), replaces the outgoing chief, IPS Singhal, who has been moved to the ACB as ADG.

In another notable shift, senior IPS officer Archana Tyagi, frequently referred to as the “Lady Singham,” has also been reassigned in this round of postings.

The reshuffle involves a direct swap of roles and promotions among several Director General (DG) and Inspector General (IG) level officers.

IPS Vishwas Nangre Patil transferred from ADG (Anti-Corruption Bureau) to Police Commissioner, Nagpur City. IPS Sanjay Verma transferred from Director General (Judicial and Technical) to Director General, Police Housing and Welfare Corporation. IPS Archana Tyagi shifted from Director General (Police Housing and Welfare Corporation) to Director General, Judicial and Technical.

IPS Dattatray Shinde was promoted as Inspector General. He was transferred as Additional Police Commissioner (Mira-Bhayander-Vasai-Virar) to the State Crime Record Department (CID), Pune, as the Inspector General of police.

IPS Sanjay Shintre transferred from Deputy Inspector General (Cyber Mumbai) to Additional Police Commissioner, Mira-Bhayander-Vasai-Virar.

The restructuring also impacts several Superintendents of Police (SP) and Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCP) across key districts.

The government has transferred Nitesh Rohan, Superintendent of Police (SP) of Hingoli, to Nanded SP, Abhishek Kumar, SP Nanded to DCP Pune city, Shrimant Lad, Additional SP, Khamgaon (Buldhana), to SP, Hingoli. Rupali Ambure, DCP, Dial 112 (Navi Mumbai), transferred to SP, Maharashtra State Security Corporation, Shashikant Satav, DCP, Nagpur City, to DCP, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Ramesh Dhumal, DCP Amravati City, to DCP, Nagpur City, Prashant Mohite, DCP Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, to DCP Dial 112 (Navi Mumbai).

Piyush Jagtap, Commandant, SRPF Group 17 (Chandrapur), was transferred as Additional SP, Khamgaon (Buldhana), Narayan Shirgaonkar, Commandant, SRPF Group 13 (Gadchiroli), to Commandant, SRPF Group 19 (Ahilyanagar). Pranjali Sonawane, SP, Crime Investigation Department (CID) Amravati, to DCP, Amravati City.

The government sources said that the administrative shake-up comes as an effort to streamline law enforcement, strengthen urban policing, and bring seasoned officers into critical operational and administrative roles ahead of upcoming state challenges.