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Maharashtra

Monsoon fury: Maha Assembly adjourned for the day; CM Fadnavis says govt on alert mode

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2 months ago

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The Maharashtra Legislative Assembly was adjourned for the day on Monday following an official statement by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis addressing the catastrophic rainfall gripping Mumbai and surrounding districts. The severe weather conditions, which have forced widespread infrastructure closures, triggered an immediate suspension of the legislative proceedings to allow the government and administration to focus fully on disaster management and relief operations.

Making a statement on the floor of the House before the adjournment, CM Fadnavis detailed the staggering scale of the natural crisis. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), alongside Thane, Raigad, Palghar, and parts of Pune and Nashik, have been battered by continuous, extremely heavy rainfall well above seasonal averages. “The state government has put all emergency apparatus on the highest level of alert,” Chief Minister Fadnavis informed the Assembly.

He stated that the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued absolute red alerts for multiple districts, tracking gusty wind speeds ranging between 70 and 90 km/hour that have already caused widespread destruction, including numerous tree collapses and severe structural damage.

In an unprecedented move to ensure public safety and streamline communication, the Chief Minister announced that the state’s automated systems are directly broadcasting emergency SMS alerts every three hours to residents trapped in the worst-hit zones.

“We are dealing with an intense and evolving natural emergency. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local civic bodies are deployed in full capacity. Our absolute priority right now is preventing loss of life and executing rescue operations,” said the Chief Minister.

CM Fadnavis provided a stark statistical contrast to underscore the severity of the current storm. “On average, Mumbai records about 800 tree-collapse incidents over the entire course of an annual monsoon season. However, yesterday alone, 350 trees fell in a single day. Today is turning out to be significantly more critical, which is why we have officially requested employers to grant Work From Home,” he added. The Chief Minister warned lawmakers and citizens that the metropolis is bracing for severe atmospheric conditions later in the day,” he said.

“Wind reaching speeds of 70 to 90 kilometres per hour is expected to lash the city after this afternoon. These powerful winds will pose an extreme threat to standing trees. It is absolutely vital that people remain highly alert and vigilant to this danger,” he stated.

Given the dual threat of continuous torrential downpours and high-velocity winds, the state government has issued a strict advisory to minimise vehicular and pedestrian movement on the streets. The Chief Minister outlined key safety instructions for residents. ”Citizens are strongly advised to cancel commutes and stay indoors unless an absolute emergency arises,” he said.

Directing a special appeal to the youth, the Chief Minister requested them to refrain from visiting beaches, promenades, and waterfalls. “Looking at the severity of the winds forecasted for today, I specifically urge the younger generation to completely avoid sightseeing and monsoon tourism,” he emphasised.

The state administration and civic bodies remain on high alert, with emergency response teams deployed across vulnerable pockets of the city to clear fallen trees and manage potential structural hazards as the storm peaks, he noted.

Before the House adjournment, the monsoon fury prompted political confrontation. Opposition MLAs staged a massive protest on the steps of the Vidhan Bhavan, raising slogans against the ruling government over its failure to handle the season’s first major downpour.

Holding placards, opposition leaders shouted slogans mocking the administration’s infrastructure claims, chanting: “The government that leaves citizens to die in manholes deserves condemnation!” and “Lost, lost, the ‘Infra-man’ is lost!” to protest Mumbai’s widespread water logging and civic mismanagement.

Following torrential rains in Mumbai and across Maharashtra, the opposition demanded a high-level probe and strict action against negligent officials over multiple rain-related casualties.

Speaking on the floor of the House as the monsoon session commenced, the Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar highlighted the loss of innocent lives in the state capital. Over the last two days alone, Mumbai has recorded 12 fatalities due to various rain-induced incidents, including citizens falling into open manholes, tree collapses, and a structural collapse in Mankhurd. “These tragic incidents raise serious questions about the administration’s monsoon preparedness and disaster management efficiency,” Wadettiwar stated.

He argued that timely pre-monsoon surveys of dilapidated buildings, tree trimming, securing manholes, and clear drainage planning could have easily prevented these casualties.

Wadettiwar and other opposition members also raised serious concerns over the infrastructure breakdown on major transit routes. A massive landslide near the ‘Missing Link’ project on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway brought traffic to a complete standstill. “This is the same project that recently faced criticism over severe potholes. Now, a major landslide has severely impacted traffic on the Expressway, the old Mumbai-Pune highway, and railway operations in the ghat sections, leaving thousands of commuters stranded for hours,” the Congress leader added.

The Opposition demanded that the state government immediately release an official statement outlining the ground reality, ongoing rescue operations, and future disaster mitigation plans. He insisted on a time-bound, high-level inquiry to fix administrative accountability and penalise negligent officers.

The CM and other ministers urged the opposition to cooperate during a humanitarian crisis rather than weaponising natural disasters for political leverage. Following the Chief Minister’s statement, the Speaker, Rahul Narwekar, announced that the House will be adjourned for the day, saying that the present situation can be handled collectively.

Mumbai Congress President Varsha Gaikwad targeted the ruling Mahayuti government, pointing out that newly inaugurated infrastructure projects — such as the multi-crore connecting road link — have quickly developed dangerous potholes and structural erosion within days of heavy rain.

Meanwhile, the scale of the disaster grew starker on Sunday night when a tragic three-story chawl collapse in Mumbai’s Mankhurd area claimed the lives of six individuals, including five children.

The relentless downpour has successfully paralysed the state’s primary economic arteries. Traffic on both the critical Pune-Mumbai Expressway and the old highway has been entirely suspended following a massive landslide near the Khopoli-Kusgaon ‘Missing Link’ project, where boulders partially buried the carriageway.

Local suburban rail networks and long-distance trains linking Mumbai to Pune have suffered major halts due to heavily flooded tracks in low-lying stations like Sion and Raigad sectors.

Educational institutions, including all government and private schools across Mumbai, Thane, and Palghar, remained shut. Furthermore, the University of Mumbai postponed all examinations scheduled for July 6, citing the safety of commuting students.

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Maharashtra

Political rift deepens over Ajit Pawar plane crash probe as Rohit Pawar targets NCP MLAs over ‘self respect’

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17 hours ago

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September 4, 2026

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Mumbai, Sep 4: The political crossfire surrounding the probe into former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s fatal plane crash intensified on Friday, as Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) MLA Rohit Pawar launched a sharp attack on the ruling MahaYuti government and targeted the 40 MLAs belonging to the rival NCP faction.

Questioning the political leverage and intent of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction within the MahaYuti coalition government, Rohit Pawar criticised their inability to secure a formal investigation despite writing to their own administration.

“40 MLAs from Ajit Pawar’s party (NCP) had demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the crash, and they even had to send a reminder letter for it. It is unfortunate that even after sending a reminder to your own government, it gets thrown into the dustbin,” the NCP-SP MLA said while addressing the media.

“If these people had any self-respect, they would have walked out of power immediately. Not everyone possesses self-respect; you have to struggle to maintain it, and that is precisely what we are doing.”

The fresh barrage comes a day after current Deputy Chief Minister and NCP President Sunetra Pawar responded to concerns raised by NCP-SP MP Supriya Sule over the non-registration of a formal First Information Report (FIR).

Sunetra Pawar had cautioned against politicising the tragedy, saying that the Pawar family and the NCP-SP maintained “full faith in the investigating agencies”.

Sule had earlier mounted a scathing attack on the state government over official apathy, contrasting the swift law-and-order actions taken against political leaders like Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena Chief Amit Thackeray, with the lack of progress in registering an FIR for her late brother’s fatal crash.

Reiterating his family and personal ties to the late NCP leader Ajit Pawar, Rohit Pawar emphasised that his demand for a rigorous inquiry was rooted in both family duty and public interest.

NCP-SP MLA Rohit Pawar said, “I am a member of the Pawar family. My surname is Pawar, and the person who passed away was my uncle. As a nephew, it is my effort to see that justice is served to him.

“When a major leader of the state dies under such circumstances, millions of people across Maharashtra, including myself, want a proper investigation. Unfortunately, those in the (MahaYuti) government who called (Ajit Pawar) ‘Dada’ their friend have still failed to deliver justice.”

He also accused the state administration of ignoring their repeated efforts to register a case locally.

“We visited three different places in the state to file an FIR regarding the accident, but no attention was paid to us,” he alleged, warning that “if an FIR in this matter ends up being registered in Karnataka instead, the state (Maharashtra) government should feel ashamed”.

While Rohit Pawar said that he postponed a scheduled press conference where he intended to present new evidence due to additional incoming details, his remarks underscore a growing verbal feud between the rival factions of the Pawar family and the MahaYuti coalition government.

With opposition leaders pledging to take the fight forward independently, the political manoeuvering over the investigation shows no signs of abating.

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Business

Pune poised to become India GCC capital, says Maha CM

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17 hours ago

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September 4, 2026

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Pune, Sep 4: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said Pune is rapidly emerging as the country’s leading hub for Global Capability Centres (GCCs), with more than 130 centres currently operational and the number expected to cross 800 in the coming years.

He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to positioning Pune as the preferred destination for GCC investments in India. The Chief Minister was speaking at the inauguration of Magnum Ice Cream Company’s Global Business Solutions Centre.

Highlighting that Maharashtra has emerged as the preferred investment hub for Global Capability Centers in India, CM Fadnavis noted that the enthusiastic response from multinational corporations establishing global business centers in Pune is a testament to the city’s business-friendly environment and skilled talent pool.

The Chief Minister explained that Magnum’s Pune centre will generate more than 1,000 direct job opportunities alongside boosting indirect employment. To optimise the company’s global business operations, the facility will integrate artificial intelligence, automated technologies, logistics, and other advanced solutions to streamline manufacturing, distribution, and customer experience operations.

“When the government and the industry collaborate, it creates a robust ecosystem that accelerates investment, job creation, and overall economic growth. The state government remains committed to providing all necessary support and a conducive climate for businesses investing in Maharashtra,” he stated.

He further added that this Global Business Solutions Centre in Pune, operating alongside the regional headquarters in Mumbai, will chart a new direction for Magnum’s expansion in Maharashtra. Active measures are being taken to strengthen physical infrastructure across Pune’s industrial sectors — with a special focus on resolving IT infrastructure challenges in Hinjawadi — to make the region an even more attractive destination for GCCs.

Industry department principal secretary Dr P. Anbalagan noted that Global Capability Centres are not merely office spaces, but crucial engines driving the nation’s economic momentum. India has established itself as a global leader in the GCC space, with Maharashtra and Pune playing a pivotal role in this expansion. In Pune alone, demand for commercial office space by GCCs reached approximately 6 million square feet over the past 15 months, while 130 new or expanded GCC units were set up across the state over the last 18 months.

He added that the state government has set a target of hosting 400 GCC companies and over 700 units in the coming period. Currently, Pune hosts operations from companies representing over 30 countries across 20 sectors, employing nearly 10,000 professionals.

Investment and Policy Advisor to the CM, Kaustubh Dhavse, remarked that the relationship between Magnum Ice Cream Company and the Government of Maharashtra is built on trust, reliability, and mutual respect. He added that the Indian-origin executive leadership steering the company globally brings inspiring experience.

In his opening address, Abhijit Bhattacharya, CFO of Magnum Ice Cream Company, credited the state government’s rapid decision-making process for making the global business centre a reality in a short time frame.

He cited Maharashtra’s robust industrial ecosystem, superior connectivity, and proactive administration as key factors in selecting Pune.

Bhattacharya commended CM Fadnavis’s vision to make Maharashtra a premier hub for global business centres and expressed the company’s intent to collaborate with the state on sustainable dairy systems, while also bringing the global ice cream brand ‘Ben & Jerry’s’ to India.

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Maharashtra

Five arrested for tampering with taxi and auto-rickshaw fare meters in Mumbai, cheating passengers financially and installing fake technical devices in the meters.

Published

19 hours ago

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September 4, 2026

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Mumbai: On September 2, around 8 am, Police Constable Nilesh Salunke received information from his informant that many rickshaw and taxi drivers in Dahisar area were using a device in their meters to artificially increase the fares and were robbing passengers. The information was passed on to the seniors who confirmed the matter and ordered further action.

To verify this, on September 1, a fake passenger was sent for a journey in taxi number MH 01 CJ 6487. The taxi driver concerned had covered his fare meter. And due to his suspicious activities, the taxi driver was detained along with the taxi and after writing to the Regional Transport Department, Borivali Kandivali, Dahisar East Mumbai, the said taxi was examined by them and it was found that the electronic running circuit device in the taxi fare meter was illegally tampered with by connecting wires and through this, the common passengers were cheated by increasing the artificial fare. In this regard, when further investigation was done, it was installed in taxi number MH 01 CJ 6487 by Islam Nama Amin Ramzan Pathan, age 31 years, profession – Rickshaw Driver / Electrician. When he was taken into confidence and questioned, it was found that the electronic running circuit device in the fare meter in 04 more taxis / rickshaws was illegally tampered with by connecting wires. In this regard, a case has been registered at Dahisar Police Station under Section 1293/26, Section 318 (4) of the Indian Penal Code – 2023 and Sections 33, 35 and Section 145 (a) of the MV Act. Here near Gokul Anand Hotel, Ashok One, Dahisar East, Mumbai Taxi/Rickshaw seized for tampering with fare meter Maruti Suzuki Company black yellow taxi number MH01CJ6487 Bajaj Company black yellow rickshaw number MH02DU0777 Bajaj Company black yellow rickshaw number MH03BY4268 Maruti Suzuki Company black yellow taxi number MH02BQ7392, Maruti Artica Cool Cab MH-01-EM-604 Seized goods
(Used for tampering with fare meter) Electronic running circuit along with it of accused
1) Zaheb Altaf Deshmukh Age – 32 years
2) Amin Ramzan Pathan Age – 31 years
3) Riaz Abdul Ghani Sheikh Age – 45 years
4) Nazir Ibrahim Patel Age – 57 years
5) Anand Kumar Nanak Prasad Rai Age – 60 years Action taken against Along with this, the accused have been arrested and further investigation is underway.

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