Connect with us
हिंदी اردو
Thursday,30-January-2025
Breaking News

Maharashtra

Mumbai: Byculla zoo bids final farewell to its last elephant Anarkali

Published

1 month ago

on

Byculla lost its last elephant when the 59-year-old Anarkali passed away on November 10. With her death, there will be no more elephants at the iconic Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan, in compliance with a central government ban on the intake and housing of elephants. “Due to central government regulations, we cannot bring another elephant here,” confirmed an official from the  administration. As part of the ’s expansion plans, the enclosure that housed Anarkali will be repurposed for another species.

Rescued from a circus in 1977, Anarkali arrived at the Byculla  at the age of 12 along with several other elephants, including her long-time companion, Laxmi. The duo quickly got close, drawing countless visitors and schoolchildren eager to see their playful interactions. Anarkali and Laxmi were once used for joyrides at the  until protests by animal activists led to the practice being discontinued in 1992. “Anarkali remained very playful and responsive to her mahout and caretakers. She continued to be one of the crowd-pullers right up until her demise,” said Abhishek Satam,  biologist and education officer.

According to  officials, Anarkali died of old age complications. Sources at the  said that the post-mortem report revealed a stomach tumour, which likely contributed to her declining health. Despite her condition, she maintained a calm demeanour, said her caretakers. Anarkali’s passing follows the death of her companion Laxmi in 2020. Laxmi, believed to be around 64, died of a chronic heart failure brought on by old age. Their bond was so strong that Anarkali reportedly mourned deeply after Laxmi’s death, refusing food for days.

The story of elephants at Byculla  stretches back several decades. Five elephants initially lived at Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan, three female elephants named Radha, Laxmi, and Anarkali, a male elephant that was later transferred to Thiruvananthapuram after showing aggression, and there was another female elephant in the  at that time called Champakali.

Radha, died of tuberculosis in 2005, leaving Anarkali and Laxmi to form a close-knit pair until Laxmi died in 2020. “Usually, elephants in captivity have a lifespan of about 62 to 65 years,” said Dr Sanjay Tripathi, director of the Byculla. “Anarkali had a calm attitude and listened to her mahouts. She will be missed. She was buried in the  premises with all the rituals, near her old friend and companion Laxmi.”

Byculla zoo to remain open on Christmas: BMC

In a release issued on Monday, the civic body said the zoo is generally shut on Wednesdays but will remain open on the day this week to allow people to visit keeping in mind the Christmas holiday. “As per a resolution passed by the civic body earlier, if there is a public holiday on Wednesday, the zoo will remain open on the day and remain closed the next day. Therefore, the zoo will remain shut on Thursday,” the release informed. 

Post Views: 50,063
Related Tags:

Education

Don’t entertain hate-filled demands of burqa ban, SP MLA Rais Shaikh writes CM and Dy CMs, Edu Minister

Published

11 hours ago

on

January 30, 2025

By

Mumbai: A day after BJP Minister Nitesh Rane demanded a ban on the burqa in schools during exams, Samajwadi Party (SP) legislator Rais Shaikh on Thursday wrote to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, urging them not to entertain such regressive demands, which target only the Muslim community and could deprive Muslim students of their education.

In his letter to Fadnavis, Shinde, Pawar and Education Minister Dadaji Bhuse, Shaikh stated that for Muslims, wearing the burqa or headscarf is an act of worship. “The Preamble to the Constitution guarantees an individual’s liberty of faith and worship. Article 15 of the Constitution prohibits discrimination based on religion,” said Rais Shaikh, SP MLA.

Shaikh further argued that the demand to ban the burqa or headscarf in schools under the guise of exam regulations is nothing but an interference with religion. “This demand is unconstitutional and will not withstand any legal scrutiny. It targets the Muslim community at large, aiming to deprive minority students of their education. Entertaining such demands would only increase polarisation in the education sector,” Shaikh added.

Highlighting the government’s initiatives such as Ladki Bahin, Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, and women empowerment, Shaikh said, “While the government launches multiple initiatives to empower women, it now needs to walk the talk and not bow down to such hate-filled demands. This is an attempt to create an atmosphere of hate and fear.”

Shaikh further urged students and their parents not to panic and to focus on their studies for the upcoming exams. “This government will be responsible for jeopardising the careers of millions of students if it gives credence to such hate-filled demands,” he added.

Post Views: 48,939
Continue Reading

Maharashtra

Mumbai: Traffic Advisory For India Vs England 5th T20I Match At Wankhede Stadium On Feb 2; Check Details

Published

11 hours ago

on

January 30, 2025

By

Mumbai, 30 January 2025: The Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Traffic (Mumbai) has issued a temporary notification to manage traffic movement during the 5th T20I cricket match between India and England at Wankhede Stadium on Sunday, February 2. The traffic arrangements will be in place from 12:00 hrs to 23:55 hrs to ensure smooth vehicular movement and prevent congestion.

Key Traffic Arrangements:

1. No Parking Facility at Wankhede Stadium

Spectators are advised to use public transport, including trains and local transport, as no parking facilities will be available at the stadium and in the vicinity.

2. Parking Restrictions:

Vehicles will not be allowed to park on the following roads:

C Road (North side) from its junction at N.S. Road up to “E” Road.

D Road from N.S. Road junction up to “E” Road.

E Road from “P” Road junction up to “C” Road.

F Road from N.S. Road to “E” Cross Road.

G Road from N.S. Road to “E” Cross Road.

N.S. Road (South and North Bound) from Mafatlal Bath Signal to Air India Junction.

Veer Nariman Road (South and North Bound) from Churchgate Junction to Sundarmal Junction.

Note: Vehicles parked in restricted areas will be subject to e-challan and towing.

3. Changes in Routine Traffic Pattern:

D Road will be one-way (from West to East) for vehicular traffic from its junction at N.S. Road (Marine Drive) towards “E” Road.

E Road will be one-way (South Bound) for all types of vehicular traffic from the junction at D Road towards the junction at C Road.

4. Instructions for Spectators for Easier Access to the Stadium:

Gate 01, 02 & 07 Ticket Holders: Alight at Churchgate Station and walk towards D Road.

Gate 04 & 05A Ticket Holders: Alight at Marine Lines Station and walk towards F Road.

Gate 03 Ticket Holders: Alight at Churchgate Station and walk towards N.S. Road Footpath.

All spectators coming via N.S. Road (Marine Drive) should use the footpath and not walk on the road.

Spectators arriving by car must alight at designated drop points marked on N.S. Road.

To avoid inconvenience, the Mumbai Traffic Police urges spectators to use public transport and follow the designated walking routes to access the stadium. The temporary traffic restrictions and diversions are aimed at ensuring a smooth traffic flow and preventing congestion in the surrounding areas.

The advisory has been issued under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and will be strictly enforced on match day. For real-time traffic updates, commuters can follow @MTPTrafficUpdates on social media or contact the Mumbai Traffic Police helpline.

Post Views: 48,860
Continue Reading

Education

Maharashtra LLB CET 2025 Marking Scheme Revised: Total Marks Reduced To 120 For 3-Year & 5-Year Law Courses

Published

12 hours ago

on

January 30, 2025

By

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Law Common Entrance Test (LLB CET) 2025 marking structure has undergone an important change. The total marks have now been reduced from 150 to 120 marks for both 3-year and 5-year law courses by the CET Cell, effective for the 2025-26 academic session, as part of the government amendment to the policy of State Common Entrance Examination.

Direct Link of the notice

The total marks for the exam are adjusted; the test time still remains 120 minutes. Nothing has been done to alter the syllabus and topic weightage. The same examination is taken online in English and Marathi languages.

3-year LLB CET 2025

For the 3-year LLB CET 2025, the examination pattern is divided into four major sections. Legal Aptitude and Legal Reasoning consist of 24 questions, and General Knowledge with Current Affairs carries 32 questions. The section of Logical and Analytical Reasoning consists of 24 questions, and that of English is 40. Each question has one mark; therefore, a total of 120 marks carry this examination pattern.

5-year LLB CET 2025

This 5-year LLB CET 2025 has a different distribution over five sections. It comprises 32 questions in Legal Aptitude and Legal Reasoning, 24 questions in General Knowledge with Current Affairs, and 32 questions in Logical and Analytical Reasoning.  The English section comprises 24 questions, while there is an additional Basic Mathematics section of 8 questions. Like the 3-year program, every question carries one mark, adding up to 120 marks.

Both modes have multiple-choice questions with options to choose between four. Negative marking is absent for wrong attempts. The length of the exam remains two hours, and this is an online test.

For this, students should change their strategy of preparing. For up-to-date details and notifications from the examination centre, candidates may log on regularly to the website of CET.

Post Views: 48,956
Continue Reading

Trending