National News
Mumbai: BMC Removes 10,000 Kg Of Dead Fish & Waste From Banganga Tank After Pitru Paksha Rituals
Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has removed nearly 10,000 kg of dead fish and ritual waste from the historic Banganga Tank at Malabar Hill following the conclusion of Pitru Paksha rituals, officials confirmed on Tuesday.
The mass fish deaths were first noticed on Sunday, September 21, when devotees began offering flowers, food and other items as part of the fortnight-long ritual. Civic authorities said that the immersion of floral and organic material reduced oxygen levels in the water, leading to large-scale fish mortality.
“We collected over 6,000 kg of waste on Sunday itself, followed by 2,000 kg each on Monday and Tuesday. The material included dead fish, floral offerings, plastic, and other organic waste,” a senior BMC official confirmed. Waste was hauled away in seven dumper trucks. Water samples have been sent for laboratory testing to rule out any chemical contamination.
To address the immediate crisis, BMC has installed aerators and dewatering pumps to infuse oxygen and pump fresh water into the tank. “The steps are precautionary, aimed at stabilising water quality and preventing further deaths,” the official added. Officials from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), Fisheries Department and Taraporewala Aquarium also inspected the site on Tuesday.
Banganga Tank, a 12th-century fresh-water stepped reservoir, is a heritage site managed by the GSB Temple Trust and home to more than 220 species of fish. However, mass fish deaths during religious immersions have become a recurring issue.
Following the mass death of fish at the historic Banganga tank in Walkeshwar during Pitru Paksha rituals, activists have urged the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to adopt preventive measures, including the creation of artificial ponds, to ensure the ecological survival of the water body.
Sneha Visariya, founder trustee of Just Smile Charitable Trust, strongly voiced the need for change. “The puja materials should be banned from entering the water and should be immersed in artificial ponds, from which only the water can be released into the tank. This will also give devotees a sense of ritualistic fulfilment. We are killing living beings in the name of religion, and this should be stopped,” she said.
Visariya also recalled her past efforts after a similar incident in 2022. She had taken samples of dead fish to Parel Veterinary Hospital for post-mortem. The hospital’s report, she claimed, confirmed contaminated water as the cause of death, strengthening the case for immediate intervention.
International News
EAM Jaishankar and US counterpart Rubio discuss advancing ties, regional developments

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar held a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Mumbai on Tuesday, with discussions focusing on further advancing bilateral ties.
During the meeting, the two ministers exchanged views on regional developments. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor and other officials were also present at the meeting.
“Pleased to meet US Marco Rubio in Mumbai today. We shared views on further advancement of our ties, focusing on trade, energy, technology, defence and people-to-people ties. Also exchanged views on regional developments,” EAM Jaishankar stated on X after the meting.
Rubio said that he and EAM Jaishankar discussed energy security and defence cooperation.
“In Mumbai, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and I discussed energy security and defense cooperation while reaffirming the importance of advancing the U.S.-India strategic partnership,” the US Secretary of State posted on X.
Earlier, EAM Jaishankar, Marco Rubio and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan held a meeting in Mumbai, with discussions held on regional energy security and advancing shared economic priorities.
“It was great to meet with Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss regional energy security and advance our shared economic priorities,” Rubio stated on X after the meeting.
Following the meeting, Ambassador Gor also took to X and wrote: “The US, India, and UAE have real opportunities to advance cooperation on energy, trade, technology, and regional connectivity. Marco Rubio, S Jaishankar, and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Mumbai for a discussion on turning our close ties into concrete results!”
Earlier in the day, Marco Rubio arrived in Mumbai for an official visit to India. For his visit to Mumbai, Rubio is accompanied by his wife, Jeanette Rubio and US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) extended a warm welcome to Rubio as he arrived in Mumbai for his second visit to India, noting that it provides an opportunity to further advance cooperation across various pillars of the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.
“Welcome to Mumbai, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on your second visit to India! He was received by Shri Ashish Shelar, Minister of Culture, Electronics, IT and AI, Government of Maharashtra at the airport. The visit provides an opportunity to further advance cooperation across the various pillars of the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership,” the MEA posted on X.
After concluding his engagements in Mumbai, Rubio will travel to Gujarat’s Jamnagar for talks that will include “enhanced energy cooperation”, the US State Department said.
Crime
Model Shraddha Dubey, wanted in businessman Shiva Sharma death case, arrested in Nagpur

Model Shraddha Dubey, a key accused in the death of Lucknow-based businessman Shiva Sharma, has been arrested in Nagpur along with her sister Rashmi Dubey and driver Danish, Uttar Pradesh Police said on Tuesday.
The three accused, who had been absconding since the registration of the case, were apprehended by the Lucknow Police and the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) with the assistance of Nagpur Police on Tuesday.
A reward of Rs 50,000 each had been announced for information leading to their arrest.
Following her arrest, Shraddha Dubey has been brought to Bell Road Police Station on Wardha Road in Nagpur, where she is currently being questioned.
Officials of the Uttar Pradesh STF and Nagpur Police are present at the police station and are jointly questioning her.
According to the police, a case under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) was registered at the Hazratganj Police Station on October 9 on the basis of a written complaint filed by Ranjana Sharma.
The accused are being taken through the necessary legal formalities before being brought to Lucknow for further investigation into Sharma’s death.
Meanwhile, fresh details have emerged about Dubey’s movements during her absconding period.
According to media reports, she stayed for nearly 24 hours at a hotel in Taj Nagari Phase-I in Agra.
The reports claimed that CCTV footage showed a vehicle allegedly linked to Dubey arriving at the hotel at 6:33 a.m. on October 17. Around 20 minutes later, at 6.53 a.m., a woman identified as Dubey reportedly entered the premises. The vehicle’s registration number was reported to be UP32RT8043.
During her absconding period, Dubey had released a video appealing against linking her name with influential individuals.
An earlier viral audio recording, purportedly featuring her threatening Sharma, had also surfaced, in which she was allegedly heard referring to complaining about him to a ‘sir’.
National News
CJP leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka to approach Delhi HC seeking release

Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka are set to move the Delhi High Court seeking their release, challenging the Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court’s order extending their judicial custody in connection with the Jantar Mantar trespassing case.
The move comes a day after the SEM court extended the judicial custody of the two till October 21, observing that their conduct “shows no respect for law” and reflects their “habitualness in calling protest at de-notified areas”.
The two CJP leaders were sent to judicial custody till October 21 by SEM Ritu Raj at Mandir Marg police station after their earlier five-day judicial custody ended on Monday.
In its order, the SEM court said the investigating officer had placed substantial material on record, raising concerns over the likelihood of a breach of peace and disturbance of public tranquillity.
It also recorded that the two leaders had allegedly breached the bonds furnished by them before the SEM, South-West District, on October 11 and subsequently committed a breach of peace in the present case.
The court further observed that their assurance that they would not repeat the alleged offence did not inspire confidence in view of their past conduct and the material placed on record by the investigating officer.
Das and Ranka, along with party member Ajinkya Shinde, were among 14 people detained on October 13 after they entered Jantar Mantar through private premises and obstructed police personnel from discharging their official duties.
The CJP members were protesting against alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and had raised slogans against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
Delhi Police had justified their continued custody, citing repeated violations of law and apprehensions that their release could lead to further violations and instigation of others.
The SEM court had also found the sureties furnished on behalf of the two leaders unfit following an inquiry, citing discrepancies in identity documents and their inability to provide basic details about the persons for whom they stood surety. It directed them to furnish fresh sureties.
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