Maharashtra
Mumbai: BMC To Reassess Byculla Zoo Aquarium Project After MLA Rais Shaikh Raises Concerns Over Tender Process And Location

Mumbai: The BMC’s ambitious plan to build an aquarium at Byculla Zoo has once again encountered a setback. Following demands from Samajwadi Party’s MLA Rais Shaikh to cancel the tendering process, the civic authorities have decided to reassess the project.
In light of these concerns, they will now seek a detailed feasibility report from the consultant regarding the proposed location for the aquarium, which is intended to be situated near the penguin exhibit.
After struggling to find a new home for its extended family of penguins, the BMC plans to expand their enclosure at Byculla Zoo to accommodate 18 penguins. The civic body will also move forward with its earlier plan to construct a tunnel aquarium, with an estimated cost of Rs 65 crore.
However, Shaikh has written to the BMC commissioner, demanding the cancellation of the tender for the aquarium’s construction, citing concerns over fairness and transparency after only one bidder participated in the process.
“Given the lack of adequate space, the potential risks of stampedes and fire hazards, and the irregularities surrounding the tender—specifically the participation of a single bidder,” said Shaikh in his letter.
However, civic officials clarified that, “There were initially two bidders, but one became ineligible, leaving only one in the race. Additionally, the identified location near the penguin exhibit is one-way, which reduces the risk of stampedes or other incidents.”
Meanwhile, In response to concerns raised by MLA Shaikh, the BMC has decided to ask consultants to check on the feasibility of the location. The civic body has decided to build an aquarium with at least 46 different species of aquatic flora and fauna.
As per the plan, the aquarium will have a dome-shaped entrance and two acrylic walk-through tunnels. A -14 metre tunnel will be exclusively for coral fish, while another 36-metre-long tunnel will be reserved for deep ocean aquatic species. The plan to set up a world-class aqua gallery at the zoo was earlier scrapped when Aaditya Thackeray announced a mega aquarium at Worli during his stint as tourism minister in 2022.
Maharashtra
Dahi Handi 2025: One Injured After Falling From Govinda Pathak In Dadar

Mumbai: One person was injured after falling from the top of a human pyramid during Dahi Handi celebrations in Mumbai’s Dadar area on Saturday. The incident occurred as a group of Govindas attempted to break the handi by forming a human pyramid, a traditional highlight of the Janmashtami festival.
The injured participant received immediate medical attention and is reported to be in stable condition. The Dahi Handi celebration in Dadar draws massive crowds each year, and this year was no exception, with enthusiastic participation despite safety concerns.
11-Year-Old Boy Dies During Dahi Handi Practice In Dahisar; Pathak President Booked For Negligence
In another news story related to the Dahi Handi, a tragic incident unfolded in Hanuman Nagar, Ketkipada, Dahisar East, on Sunday, where an 11-year-old boy, Mahesh Jadhav, lost his life while practising for the upcoming Dahi Handi celebrations. Mahesh was a member of the Navtarun Govinda Pathak.
The Dahisar police registered an FIR on Monday against Balu Soornar, the President of the Navtarun Mitra Mandal Pathak, under Sections 106 (causing death by negligence) and 223 (disobedience to an order duly promulgated by a public servant) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Fall During Practice Turns Fatal
According to police reports, Mahesh was a resident of Dharkhadi, Dahisar East. His family comes from a modest background; his mother works as a domestic helper, his father is a labourer, and he has three younger brothers aged 8, 5, and 1. As the eldest child, Mahesh had taken part in the Dahi Handi practices held by his group.
In preparation for Gokulashtami, the Navtarun Govinda Pathak had been conducting practice sessions. However, reports suggest that no safety measures or protective equipment were provided to the participants. Being the smallest in the group, Mahesh was assigned the topmost position in the human pyramid. During Sunday night’s practice, he lost his balance while standing at the top and fell straight to the ground due to the absence of sufficient members below to cushion the fall.
He sustained critical injuries from the fall and was immediately taken to a multispeciality hospital in Dahisar East, where doctors declared him dead. His body was later transferred to Shatabdi Hospital for post-mortem examination.
Maharashtra
Mumbai: 32-Year-Old Dahi Handi Participant Dies In Mankhurd, 30 Injured Citywide

Mumbai witnessed tragedy during the Dahi Handi celebrations on Saturday when a 32-year-old participant from Bal Govinda Pathak in Maharashtra Nagar, Mankhurd, lost his life in an accident.
About The Incident
The incident was reported around 3 pm and confirmed by Shatabdi Hospital, Govandi.
The deceased, identified as Jagmohan Shivkiran Chaudhari, was tying the Dahi Handi rope from the first floor of a G+1 structure when he slipped inside the grill of the house. His family members rushed him to Shatabdi Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead.
Apart from this fatal mishap, several Govinda participants across the city sustained injuries while attempting human pyramids and other celebratory activities. By 3 pm, hospitals had reported a total of 30 injuries. Of these, 18 cases were reported at Cooper Hospital, where 12 people remained under treatment and six were discharged. At Sion Hospital, six injured Govindas were admitted, with three undergoing treatment and the rest sent home after primary care. Another six cases were recorded at Nair Hospital, with one person still under treatment and five discharged.
In all, 30 people were injured during the day’s festivities, 15 of whom continued to receive medical care while the other 15 were discharged after treatment. Civic authorities stated that apart from the Mankhurd incident, no other major untoward episode was reported in the city during the celebrations.
Maharashtra
‘Eknath Shinde Won Matka Not Lottery’: MP Sanjay Raut Takes Dig At Maharashtra Deputy CM; MNS-Sena Collaborate For BEST Patpedhi Elections

Mumbai: In numerous locations, employees from both parties are uniting and engaging in various activities. You inquired about the MNS alliance in the Municipal Corporations of Mumbai, Thane, and Kalyan, and I just provided an answer. The employees from both organizations are collaborating in the BEST Patpedhi elections.
A large march will occur in Nashik, where MNS will participate alongside Shiv Sena in this significant event. We are currently negotiating to contest the elections jointly. “Our focus is on Mumbai,” stated Sanjay Raut, an MP from the Thackeray group.
Sanjay Raut engaged with the journalists. On this occasion, Sanjay Raut stated that the focus of Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, and their business group is Mumbai. They aim to seize control of Mumbai, and the Thackeray brothers’ goal is to ensure that Mumbai is not given to the Gujaratis.
The position of Chief Minister is not a gamble; it’s a matka, stated BJP leader and minister Ganesh Naik regarding Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. When Sanjay Raut was asked for his thoughts on this, he mentioned that lottery is an esteemed term.
In the past, the government operated a lottery. However, matka is currently being played unlawfully in the state. Despite Devendra Fadnavis being the Chief Minister, the figures are being manipulated. Ganesh Naik referred to the term lottery; he made this indicative comment in Thane.
However, the term matka must have been on his mind. He must have intended to imply that there should have been a matka for the position of Chief Minister. However, matka numbers are unpredictable, and individuals participate in four or five matkas, stated Sanjay Raut.
In the meantime, fundamentally, Girish Mahajan is not Maharishi Vyas. He ought to notice what is igniting beneath him. He ought to consider what will occur for him on the day he is no longer in power, where he will find himself. “On the morrow, when the Thackeray brothers join forces politically, they will be aware.” Sanjay Raut criticized that the thieves and robbers surrounding Fadnavis will struggle to walk the streets when they are out of power.
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