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Maharashtra

Mumbai: Complaints related to potholes should be resolved within 24 hours, road blockages should be removed after concreting is completed: Municipal Commissioner

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The water level in the dams supplying water to Mumbai has reduced. The Meteorological Department has also predicted a delayed arrival of rains. In this context, all the wells in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region should be inspected immediately and their current condition should be assessed. The silt and garbage present in the wells should be removed and cleaned. A system for recharging rainwater should be established. Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide directed that in collaboration with local corporators, coordination should be established with housing societies in the area of ​​the wells and they should be encouraged to use water from these wells. The process of cleaning drains should continue even during the monsoon. Complaints regarding potholes should be remedied within 24 hours of receipt. Bhede also directed that radars, other materials and road blocks should be removed immediately after the completion of cement concreting of roads. The monthly review meeting of various departments of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation was held today (June 11, 2026) at the Municipal Corporation Headquarters. Additional Municipal Commissioner (Western Suburbs) Dr. Vipin Sharma, Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) Dr. Ashwini Joshi, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijeet Bangar, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Eastern Suburbs) Dr. Avinash Dhakane, Joint Commissioner (Vigilance) Dr. M. Devendra Singh, Joint Commissioner of Police (Transport) Mr. Satyanarayan Chaudhary, Deputy Commissioner (Municipal Commissioner Office) Mr. Prashant Gaikwad were present on the occasion. Apart from this, all the Joint Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, Assistant Commissioners, Heads of Departments were also present in this meeting.

Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide said that for proper management of water resources in Mumbai, it is necessary to restore traditional sources of water and use alternative sources. Due to increasing population and climate change, water management has become difficult. Latest information about all government, public and private wells and boreholes in Mumbai should be collected by the Assistant Commissioners of all administrative departments (wards). Their use should be ensured during the repair of wells. Private housing societies should take the initiative and use this water. Mrs. Bhide also said that the local corporator, administration and housing society should coordinate for this.

Necessary improvements should be made in engineering at accident-prone (black spot) places

All the concerned agencies should take special care that the traffic flow remains smooth and uninterrupted during the rainy season. Necessary planning and measures to avoid traffic congestion should be implemented in constant coordination with the traffic police. Accident prone (black spots) places should be identified and necessary engineering improvements should be made there immediately. Also, an effective action plan should be prepared to reduce the number and severity of accidents by determining priorities. It should be strictly implemented. Strict measures should be taken to prevent unauthorized parking on both sides of the roads. Public awareness and incentive activities should be implemented so that the public parking lots of the civic and residential municipal corporations are used to the maximum. A special campaign should be launched in collaboration with the traffic police and the transport department to remove abandoned and long-standing vehicles from the roads. Planned measures should be implemented according to the local situation to avoid traffic congestion around schools, hospitals and other important government institutions. Mrs. Ashwini Bhide directed that all the concerned departments should work in coordination to provide a safe, convenient and fast transport system to the citizens.

Planned and effective measures should be implemented to reduce flood points

Reviewing the river and drain cleaning works, Mrs. Ashwini Bhide said that 112 percent of the silt has been removed from major drains, 115 percent from small drains and about 84 percent from Mithi River as compared to the set targets. However, drain cleaning works are in progress at some places in Zone 5 and should be completed immediately. Assistant Commissioners of all administrative divisions should visit drains, storm water channels and flood-affected areas in their divisions and review the work regularly. The campaign to remove floating waste from drains should be continued without interruption and it should be ensured that the drain cleaning work continues continuously even during the rainy season. Planned and effective measures should be implemented in their respective departments to reduce ‘flood points’ (water accumulation areas). Effective coordination should be made with Metro, Railways and other concerned agencies to ensure that pre-monsoon preparations are completed in their areas of responsibility. Also, if new or artificial water storage areas have been created due to development works or other reasons, they should be removed immediately. Manhole covers on underground sewers and storm water channels should be thoroughly inspected and covers that are broken, loose or pose a threat to the safety of citizens should be replaced.

Crime

Fake social media account, Chat GPT used in Ketan Agarwal murder

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Pune, Sep 20: A fake account on social media platform Instagram, along with ChatGPT and murder films, was used by Siya Goyal and her co-accused in the alleged murder of her fiance Ketan Agarwal, reveals the charge sheet filed by the police in the sensational case.

The 5,053-page charge sheet, filed on Saturday, detailed the alleged conspiracy behind the death of the 26-year-old businessman at Lohagad Fort in Pune in June, NDTV reported.

Agarwal was allegedly pushed off the fort on June 18 by his fiancee Siya Goyal, who was assisted by her purported lover Chetan Chaudhary, and another accused, identified as Ritesh Hange. All three have been arrested by the police.

According to the charge sheet, the accused had initially discussed seriously injuring Agarwal and even explored the possibility of hiring someone from outside Maharashtra to carry out the attack.

Police claimed the plan was later dropped because they feared the hired assailant could expose the conspiracy or create problems for them. Investigators have mentioned that a person contacted during this stage has since become a witness, the media report said.

As per the charge sheet, the accused subsequently decided to kill Agarwal themselves and watched murder films and used ChatGPT for the purpose. They also listened to podcasts on how to avoid detection by police as part of their preparations.

Goyal and her co-accused also researched last year’s Meghalaya honeymoon murder case where Indore resident Raja Raghuvanshi was allegedly killed by his wife, Sonam, during the couple’s honeymoon in the state’s East Khasi Hills district.

Moreover, investigators stated that a fake Instagram account named ‘Mahi’ was created using the photograph of a woman known to the accused in order to “lure” Agarwal to the fort.

Subsequently, messages from the account encouraged the victim to visit the spot on June 18 for a surprise birthday plan for Goyal.

According to the chargesheet, the fake account was part of a plan devised by Ritesh Hange to bring Agarwal to the fort. The account was deleted after the incident.

Further, the charge sheet also revealed that the accused conducted a recce of locations around Lonavala before selecting Lohagad Fort.

According to investigators, Goyal and Chaudhary visited Tiger Point and other locations in search of an isolated spot.

Police said that Lohagad was eventually selected because of a death at the fort in March last year. The accused thought they could make Agarwal’s death appear like an accidental fall at the spot.

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Crime

Stall operator booked after two die of electrocution in Mumbai Lalbaug Ganesh pandal

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Mumbai, Sep 20: An FIR has been filed following a tragic electrocution incident near a Ganesh festival pandal in Mumbai Lalbaug area early on Sunday, which resulted in the deaths of two people, including an 8-year-old girl.

Two people, including an eight-year-old girl, died and four others were seriously injured after receiving electric shocks from a loose wire at a Pepsi-Cola stall near Aastha Hospital on Dattaram Lad Marg in Kalachowki, Mumbai, early Sunday.

Police have registered an FIR against nearby stall operator Kamal Shetty under Sections 106(1) and 125(b) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, alleging negligence, and have begun an investigation.

According to information from the fire brigade, the incident occurred at around 2 a.m. on Sunday when devotees were present near the pandal.

Two boys and three girls, aged between 8 and 20, reportedly came into contact with the electrical current and suffered burn injuries.

Following the incident, all five victims were rushed to Masina Hospital in Byculla for treatment. Doctors declared the 8-year-old girl Raghni Ghanshyam Yadav dead upon arrival.

Meanwhile, a second victim, a woman who was admitted to Global Hospital in Parel, later succumbed to her injuries. Her identity was yet to be ascertained.

Kiran Akbar Naik, 19, Tanvi Narsh Hande, 19, Sahil Sandip Tare, 19, and Ruhi Singh, 12, were undergoing treatment for injuries sustained in the incident.

Among the injured, one girl was reportedly in critical condition and was shifted to Global Hospital in Parel for further treatment. The remaining three injured victims are undergoing treatment at Masina Hospital and have been admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), where their condition remains serious.

According to the FIR filed at Kalachowki Police Station, the wire allegedly came into contact with the girl, Raghni, and others nearby.

The girl was declared dead at Masina Hospital, while another woman, identified as 33-year-old Sujata Thorati, died at Global Hospital. Four injured persons were admitted for treatment.

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Maharashtra

17-year-old among three killed in Mumbai high-end car accident (Lead)

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Mumbai, Sep 20: A 17-year-old was among the three people who were killed in a serious accident involving a high-end car on the Mumbai Coastal Road early on Sunday, officials said.

Another person is critically injured and is currently receiving treatment.

According to information received from the Coastal Road Control Room, the accident occurred at around 5.20 a.m. near Lotus Jetty, opposite Lala College.

The car was travelling from Marine Drive towards Haji Ali when the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle due to overspeeding.

The speeding vehicle crashed onto the Coastal Road and hit a boundary wall. It fell off the bridge into an area where construction work was underway.

The severity of the accident was evident from the extent of the damage to the car.

The vehicle tore off through the signboard hanging from the bridge. The roof of the car was pushed inwards, the windshield was shattered, and the bonnet was completely destroyed.

Following the accident, all four occupants of the car were rushed to Nair Hospital, where emergency medical teams assessed their condition.

According to an update issued by the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Nair Hospital at around 8.40 a.m., three of the occupants were declared brought dead by doctors.

Two of the deceased have been identified as 21-year-old Shanay Gajjal and 17-year-old Dhirya Seth. The identity of the third deceased is yet to be ascertained.

The injured has been identified as 23-year-old Aditya Oswal.

Speaking about the incident to media, Senior Police Inspector Meena Jagtap said: “At around 5:20 a.m., a black BMW was travelling from Marine Drive towards Haji Ali in the northbound direction when it fell from the Coastal Road. There were four people in the car. Three people died, while Aditya is currently at Nair Hospital.”

She said that it is yet to be ascertained whether the occupants of the car were in an intoxicated state when the accident occurred.

Police are investigating the case.

Further details are awaited.

On September 3, several people were booked after Mumbai Police took cognisance of a viral video showing luxury and high-performance cars speeding and racing dangerously inside the Marine Drive-Southbound Coastal Road tunnel.

Meanwhile, earlier this week, three people were critically injured after a speeding off-road SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) hit them near PKC Hospital in Vashi, Navi Mumbai.

The driver fled the spot after the crash instead of helping the injured.

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