Maharashtra
Monsoon fury: Maha Assembly adjourned for the day; CM Fadnavis says govt on alert mode
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.
Maharashtra
Mumbai: Online single window system launched for permission to build Ganesh Mandals, public can apply for one-year or five-year permission

To simplify the process of obtaining necessary permission for constructing Mumbai Mandap Marmiya, the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has once again made available an online single window system for public Ganesh Chaturthi Mandals in Mumbai. A computerised system has been enabled on the website of the Municipal Corporation for granting permission for construction of temporary
Mandap during the public Ganesh Chaturthi festival. The system has been made available for online use from Friday, August 14, 2026.
Moreover, since the hearing regarding public Ganesh Chaturthi is currently underway. The Mandals are bound by the orders passed by the court and the permission is being granted in compliance with these instructions.
Public Ganesh Chaturthi Mandals will have to submit their applications for permission for Mandap through the BMC website (https://portal.mcgm.gov.in) labeled ‘Mandap for Citizens (Public Ganesh Chaturthi/Other Festivals)’. The applications will be scrutinised by the concerned ward office on receipt. Thereafter, the process of obtaining ‘No Objection Certificates’ (NOCs) from the concerned local police and traffic police will be done through a computerised system. The entire process will be implemented under the guidance of the Divisional Assistant Commissioner and Zonal Deputy Commissioner.
Procedure for New Mandals
Mandals applying for the first time to construct a public Ganesh Chaturthi Mandap* (marquee) on government or private land will have to submit an online application through the website of the Municipal Corporation. After scrutiny of the application by the Divisional Office and obtaining NOC from the local and traffic police, the application will be submitted to the Zonal Deputy Commissioner for approval. Once the approval of the Deputy Commissioner is received and the Mandal pays a fee of Rs 100, the permission for the Mandap will be granted at the divisional level.
Renewal facility for Mandals with five-year permission Renewal of permissions for Mandals who had obtained permission for the first five years (on government or private land) will be processed through a computerized system. Ganeshotsav Mandals who had obtained permission for five years last year will have to submit an online application for renewal of their permission for the year 2026.
The Divisional Office will personally verify that the location and area of the site matches the permission already granted. After this, NOCs will be obtained from the local and traffic police through a computerized system. The permission for 2026 will be renewed after the Mandal pays a fee of ₹ 100.
Two options for Mandals One-year permission granted in 2025
An important facility has been made available this year for Ganeshotsav Mandals who were granted permission to construct a pavilion for only one year (on government or private land) in 2025. Such mandals can apply for the year 2026 only, or for a period of five years from 2026 to 2030. These applications will be scrutinised by the divisional office, and NOCs will be obtained from the local and traffic police through a computerised system. Thereafter, permission will be granted at the ward level on the basis of the application, on payment of a fee of Rs. 100.
Application period for permission for mandap
Applications for permission to construct mandap* (marquee) for public festivals can be submitted through the computerised system between 14 August 2026 and 13 September 2026. The permission for Ganeshotsav mandap is valid till 26 September 2026. 10 October 2026; The permission for mandap for Navratri has been extended till 21 October 2026.
Mandatory training for two volunteers
To ensure discipline at Ganesh Utsav Mandap sites, a one-day training workshop covering topics like crowd management, fire safety, and first aid will be organized at the ward office level. It is mandatory for two volunteers from each Awami Ganeshotsav Mandal (organizing committee) to attend this training.
Emphasis on construction of pothole-free Mandap
Putholes should not be dug in roads or footpaths for construction of Mandap. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has urged the organizers to use effective techniques that do not require digging of potholes. If potholes are dug on roads or footpaths for construction of Mandap, action will be taken as per the relevant circular.
Furthermore, Awami Ganeshotsav Mandals should strictly follow the conditions and regulations regarding advertisements as stipulated in the circular of the Licensing Department. Compliance with the necessary fire safety measures is also mandatory for the construction of the pavilion.
Maharashtra
Mumbai: 30 crores fraud in the name of a capital scheme across the state, 4 arrested, 12 lakhs seized, further investigation underway

Mumbai: Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has claimed to have arrested 4 fraudsters by exposing an illegal company called AI Origin and Digital Origin, which used to cheat people by fooling them in the name of high profits. Origin Mumbai EOW has taken major action against ‘AI Origin/Digital Origin’ The Mumbai Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has registered a case against the operators of the company ‘AI Origin/Digital Origin’ and other accused in connection with an alleged capital investment scam. According to the police, the company collected a huge amount of money from the public by running investment schemes without the required approval from the RBI or SEBI. During the operation, the authorities seized cash, bank passbooks, cars, and laptops/electronic devices worth over Rs 12 lakh. Several accused have been arrested in this case, and the investigation is underway by the Economic Offences Wing. More than 30 crores have been invested in this company. This company had also started its offices in Palghar, Pimpri Chinchwad, Sangli, Sitara, Kolhapur police stations. A case was also registered against this company in Ghatkopar Pantnagar, Mumbai. The EOW has arrested the company’s president Krishna Chavan, Ankush Shantaram, Dr. Swadesh Mohte and agent Subhash Pandre. Along with this, documents and other goods and cash have been seized by raiding the company’s office RA Palm. To entice people to invest in this company, they used to send them on picnics abroad. Not only this, the accused used to organize seminars and lure them in the seminars, along with this, they used to create an environment here that made so much profit on investment. The EOW monitored the investment for a month and after that the operation was carried out. DCP Sangram Nishandar said that the Intelligence Unit of EOW has started keeping an eye on such companies that run such schemes and fool people by posting advertisements on social media. Along with this, social media is also being monitored. This company had also lured people into investing by giving them attractive schemes on social media through new advertisements. He said that after the Torres scheme, the EOW has started monitoring the capital scheme and investigating such cases. Mumbai EOW has exposed a scam worth crores of rupees in its operation and arrested 4 accused.
Maharashtra
Mumbai: BMC and Crime Branch crackdown on fake jhula raid doctors, medicines and other items seized in Deonar and Bandra, case registered against five doctors

Mumbai: Crime Branch and BMC have conducted a joint operation against fake and sham doctors in Mumbai city. Unit 6 of Mumbai Crime Branch conducted a crackdown in Deonar and Bandra areas of Mumbai and found that they were practicing without any certificate. They also seized more than one lakh injection medicines from these clinics. These doctors were running clinics without certificates and were a threat to the lives of patients. Therefore, Mumbai Crime Branch has taken action on the instructions of Police Commissioner Devin Bharti and DCP Nanoth Dhole has led the operation here. In Deonar and Bandra, the licenses of Dr. Saghir Ahmed Abdul Majeed Hashmi, 39, of Dr. Saghir Clinic, Akhilesh Kumar Dubey, 47, of Gayatri Clinic, Muhammad Alam Muhammad Sharif Sheikh Ayesha Clinic, Keshav Prasad Patel Clinic and Aftab Khan Aftab Clinic have been suspended. A case has been registered against these doctors in Deonar and Nirmal Nagar police. The licenses of these bogus and fake doctors have also been suspended. During the action against the bogus doctors, it was found that they did not have any authentic documents.
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