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Maharashtra

Mayor’s instructions to maintain water supply in Mumbai, focus on water management, alternative sources and solutions

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Mumbai: Taking note of the intense summer heat, increasing pressure on water resources and complaints received from citizens regarding water supply, Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde held detailed discussions with senior officers of the Municipal Corporation Water Department. The Mayor has directed to implement more effective measures to ensure uninterrupted and smooth water supply to the people of Mumbai while properly managing the currently available water resources. Mayor Ritu Tawde mentioned that the demand for water is continuously increasing due to the growing population in Mumbai. In the backdrop of climate change, it has become imperative to manage water supply in a more sustainable and multifaceted manner, keeping in mind the uncertainty of rainfall. In addition, in the current situation, the intensity of summer has also started increasing. In this regard, the Mayor has expressed the need to focus on revitalizing traditional water sources, exploring alternative water sources and making extensive efforts for water conservation and protection through active participation of citizens. In this context, Mayor Ritu Tawde has directed to immediately collect updated information about all government and private wells and boreholes in Mumbai and check their working condition. During the water shortage due to low rainfall in 2009, the Municipal Corporation had repaired wells for public consumption and provided water to the citizens. On this basis, the performance of all wells should be checked at present and necessary steps should be taken to immediately make these wells functional on priority basis. Mayor Tawde has also directed that the extent to which clean drinking water can be used from these wells should be studied on the basis of tests and its use should be planned accordingly instead of limiting it to gardening or cleaning. Meanwhile, given the increasing demand for water in Mumbai, it is important for private housing societies to actively participate in this process and cooperate with the administration. Housing societies should regularly maintain, repair and clean the wells and well pipes in their area and install necessary systems for water purification. Also, it is important to ensure that groundwater is extracted as per the rules and within sustainable limits. Rainwater harvesting is a very important measure to avoid water shortages in the future, and all housing societies should implement such a system in their area. This will help maintain the groundwater level and this measure will prove effective for long-term water security, Mayor Tawde has appealed. In Ghatkopar, where I live, a system of recharging rainwater, a system of purifying well water and supplying it to all the flats, all these have already been implemented. Others should follow suit. Efforts to ensure water supply should be comprehensive. For this, coordinated participation of citizens, housing societies and the industrial sector along with the administration is necessary. Mayor Ritu Tawde has also made a humble appeal that everyone should make a joint effort to avoid water wastage, increase recycling and adopt water conservation habits.

Maharashtra

Man Falls into Open Manhole in Sakinaka; Body Located During Search Operation

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Mumbai, July 2: A man reportedly fell into an open manhole at Khairani Road near Sanman Hotel, close to S.J. Studio in the Sakinaka area of Mumbai on Thursday afternoon, prompting an emergency search operation by civic and rescue authorities.

According to information received from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) Fire Brigade Control Room, the incident was reported at approximately 12:26 p.m. Initial information from officials at the scene indicated that three private contractual maintenance workers had removed a manhole cover to carry out maintenance work.

During the operation, a man who was reportedly talking on his mobile phone accidentally stepped into the uncovered manhole and fell inside. The workers immediately lowered a ladder into the manhole in an attempt to rescue him. However, they were able to recover only his umbrella and slippers.

Officials said the strong flow of water inside the drainage system made it difficult to determine the direction in which the man had been swept away. Fire Brigade personnel, along with other emergency responders, launched a search operation.

In an update received at around 2:15 p.m., authorities confirmed that the body of the victim had been located. Fire Brigade personnel were making efforts to retrieve the body from the drainage system.

The identity of the deceased had not been officially disclosed at the time of publication.

Police and civic authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. Further details are awaited.

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Crime

Ketan Agarwal murder case: Old video shows accused Siya Goyal abusing on phone at pub

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Pune, July 2: An old video purportedly showing Siya Goyal, the prime accused in the alleged murder of her fiancée Ketan Agarwal, abusing on the phone at a pub, has surfaced online, adding a fresh dimension to the high-profile case that has drawn nationwide attention.

The video, believed to have been recorded in December 2025, allegedly captures Siya inside a pub while holding what appears to be a beer bottle and talking on the phone.

During the conversation, she is heard using abusive language and saying, “First he cheats on me, then he calls me.”

The clip has since gone viral across social media platforms, prompting renewed public interest in the investigation.

Apart from this video, several older photographs and clips featuring Siya and co-accused Chetan Chaudhary have also resurfaced online.

One such video reportedly shows the two attending a cricket league match together months before the alleged crime. Investigators, however, have not officially linked these videos to the murder case.

The case pertains to the death of 26-year-old Pune-based real estate businessman Ketan Agarwal, who allegedly died after being pushed from a cliff at Lohagad Fort in Pune district on June 18. Ketan and Siya were engaged and were reportedly planning to get married in November this year.

According to the Pune Rural Police, Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary are accused of conspiring to murder Ketan. Both were arrested following the incident and remain in police custody until July 3 as investigators continue to gather evidence and verify multiple aspects of the case.

Meanwhile, investigators have also focussed on Ketan’s mobile phone during the course of the probe. Police have confirmed that the victim’s phone remained in Siya’s possession for some time after his death before it was eventually handed over to Ketan’s family.

However, officials have not disclosed whether any data on the device was accessed, altered or deleted during that period. Authorities have also not confirmed whether either of the accused attempted to tamper with the phone or its contents.

As part of the ongoing investigation, Pune Rural Police on Wednesday recreated the alleged crime scene at Lohagad Fort. During the exercise, officials used a fibre dummy matching Ketan’s approximate height and weight and dropped it into a gorge estimated to be over 300 feet deep to understand the sequence of events surrounding the incident.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (Lonavala Division) Gajanan Tompe said the reconstruction was carried out in accordance with the details gathered during the investigation.

“Today, we took the accused to Lohagad and conducted a reconstruction of the crime scene. The exercise was performed based on the facts available in the investigation. The probe is still underway, and all relevant findings will be placed before the court. We are also recording statements of everyone connected with the case and will continue to do so,” he said.

Earlier this week, police also carried out a gait analysis of co-accused Chetan Chaudhary to assist the investigation.

On Monday, the Vadgaon Maval court extended the police custody of Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary by five days after investigators sought additional time to examine evidence, question witnesses and complete pending forensic procedures in the alleged murder case.

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Crime

BJP protests over admission to Rohingyas; Hyderabad college files police complaint

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Hyderabad, July 2: Management of a private junior college in Hyderabad’s Old City area has lodged a police complaint against a BJP leader and his supporters for barging into the college and threatening staff to show records, alleging that children of Rohingya Muslims were studying there.

According to the complaint lodged by the principal of Nooria Cooperative Junior College with Santosh Nagar police station, 30-40 workers led by a BJP leader from Maheshawaram, Andela Sriramulu Yadav, entered the college, threatened the staff, demanding them to show the record of the students.

The incident, which occurred at the college in the Edi Bazar area on Wednesday, created fear among staff and students, said the college principal Mohammed Ghaziuddin.

He sought action against the people involved in the incident. The principal denied allegations that the college has given admission to children of illegal migrants.

Huzaifa, a lecturer at the college, clarified that admissions are given as per the Board of Intermediate norms. He said admissions are given based on valid refugee cards.

Earlier, Sriramulu Yadav alleged that several children of illegal migrants were studying at the college. He said they came to know that one student of a Rohingya was studying at the college, and when they came to check this, they found children of several foreigners studying there.

The BJP leader alleged that All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) is supporting the college to give admissions to Rohingyas.

He claimed that the college authorities showed us admission records for students reported to be Rohingya, along with Class 10 bona fide certificates and other identity documents submitted during the admission process.

He demanded that the college be derecognised by the state government for giving admissions to children of illegal migrants.

Sriramulu Yadav wanted to know if AIMIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi was opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls to shield the illegal migrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh.

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