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Monday,14-September-2026
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Mumbai Weather Update February 4, 2026: Thick Smog Blankets City As AQI Remains In Severe Category In Sewri, Wadala & Other Areas

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Mumbai: The city woke up to a hazy and unusually warm morning on February 4, but the brief respite did not last long. As the day progressed, a dense layer of smog settled over Mumbai’s skyline, significantly reducing visibility for early-morning commuters and once again spotlighting the persistent air pollution problem that continues to plague the city.

Meteorological data from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) indicate that Mumbai will witness partly cloudy skies accompanied by hazy conditions through the day. Temperatures are expected to hover between 21°C and 34°C, a range that signals the gradual transition towards peak summer. Despite the change in weather patterns, air quality levels have largely remained unchanged.

Mumbai’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 280 on Wednesday, categorised as ‘Unhealthy’, almost identical to Tuesday’s reading of 281. Over the past 24 hours, pollution levels fluctuated across the city, with the lowest AQI of 200, still within the ‘Poor’ category, recorded around 7 pm. Prolonged exposure to such conditions can impact even healthy individuals, leading to respiratory discomfort, eye irritation and an increased risk of long-term health complications.

Air quality remained a cause for concern in multiple parts of the city, with several areas reporting ‘Severe’ pollution levels. Sewri West emerged as the most polluted locality, recording an AQI of 368, close to the 400 mark. Other hotspots included Shell Colony (359), Cama Industrial Estate (356), Yagna Nagar (354) and Wadala Truck Terminal (342), reflecting consistently high pollution concentrations in industrial and traffic-heavy zones.

In contrast, relatively lower, though still worrying, AQI levels were observed in a few areas. Shiv Sagar Estate recorded the lowest AQI at 103, followed by Sarvodaya Nagar Station 1 (110), Ambivali (113), Maratha Colony (113) and Dhakoji Sethpada (120), all falling under the ‘Poor’ category.

This marks a reversal from recent trends, when select pockets of Mumbai had briefly reported better air quality. With most regions now slipping back into poor or worse categories, concerns are mounting over the effectiveness of pollution-control measures as the city heads into the hotter month

As per standard air quality classifications, AQI values between 0 and 50 are considered ‘good’, 51 to 100 ‘moderate’, 101 to 200 ‘poor’, 201 to 300 ‘unhealthy’ and levels above 300 are classified as ‘severe’ or ‘hazardous’.

Crime

‘Felt unsafe’: Woman biker alleges car attack after asking occupants to maintain distance in Gurugram

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Gurugram, Sep 14: A woman biker in Haryana’s Gurugram has alleged that a car repeatedly followed her before hitting her motorcycle and fleeing the spot, leaving her shaken and raising concerns over road safety in the city.

“I have nothing to say, but today I felt unsafe on Gurugram roads. People like these aren’t afraid of hitting people and running away,” the woman said after the incident.

The rider, who identifies herself as Sia and operates the Instagram page ‘rebelwheels_sia_’, uploaded footage of the incident on social media and described what she said happened before the collision.

According to Sia, the incident occurred on Sunday while she was riding her Aprilia RS 457 sports bike along Golf Course Road with members of her biking group.

In the video, she alleged that the occupants of a car had been following her from the beginning of the ride. She claimed that the people inside the vehicle behaved aggressively and attempted to get close to her motorcycle.

Sia said she asked the occupants to maintain a safe distance, but instead, they allegedly asked her to stop. She also claimed that the men appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.

The rider said she continued moving ahead in an attempt to prevent the car from cutting her off. A friend riding behind her also tried to intervene by positioning his motorcycle in a way that prevented the car from repeatedly coming alongside her.

Despite this, Sia alleged, the car continued following her. She claimed that at one point, the driver attempted to cut across the path of her motorcycle, resulting in a collision.

The impact knocked Sia off her bike, while her motorcycle was dragged several metres along the road. The car then reportedly left the area.

The incident was captured on an action camera fitted to Sia’s motorcycle.

She further alleged that one of her friends pursued the car and attempted to stop the driver. The vehicle eventually halted at a traffic signal, where the friend confronted the driver and allegedly told him that he was responsible for the collision.

However, according to Sia, the driver denied causing the accident and subsequently drove away from the traffic signal.

In a social media post, Sia appealed to the Gurugram Police to take action against motorists who allegedly put other road users at risk and flee after causing accidents.

She also shared the vehicle’s registration number and identified the registered owner mentioned in the vehicle’s registration certificate.

The video subsequently gained significant attention online, with social media users expressing support for the rider and calling for action against the alleged driver. Several users tagged the Delhi Police, Gurugram Police, Gurugram Traffic Police and Haryana Police, urging authorities to investigate the incident.

Some users also called for an FIR to be registered, while others highlighted concerns over rash driving and the safety of motorists, particularly on busy roads in Gurugram.

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National News

BJP chief Nitin Nabin urges people to light ‘Aashirvaad ka diya’ on PM Modi birthday

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New Delhi, Sep 14: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nitin Nabin has urged people to light an ‘Aashirvaad ka diya (lamp of blessings)’ at their homes on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday on September 17, calling for prayers for his long life and good health and highlighting his 25-year journey in public service and nation-building.

In a post on X, Nabin said that “Public Service for National Service” has been the core motto of PM Modi’s life, describing the Prime Minister’s 25-year journey dedicated to public service and nation-building as unprecedented.

“‘Public Service for National Service’ has been the core motto of the life of the Honourable Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji. As the head of the government, his 25-year journey dedicated to the resolve of public service and nation-building has been unprecedented,” Nabin said.

He said PM Modi’s “visionary leadership” had given the country a new direction and strength, adding that India was moving rapidly towards the goal of “Developed India @ 2047” as a result of the collective resolve provided by the Prime Minister.

“To express our best wishes for the country’s progressive journey and for PM Modi ji’s illustrious leadership, let us light the ‘Aashirvaad ka diya’ (lamp of blessings) in our respective homes between 6 and 7 pm on the auspicious occasion of the Prime Minister’s birthday on September 17, and offer our blessings while praying for his long life and good health,” Nabin said.

In a video message, Nabin also highlighted what he described as the challenges facing the country when PM Modi began guiding its leadership.

“When he started guiding the country’s leadership, the situation was not easy. He introduced new schemes, new plans and a new vision, and gave hope to the nation’s youth that challenges can be turned into opportunities,” Nabin said.

He also cited the government’s initiatives for women, particularly the Lakhpati Didi programme, saying it was helping women become financially self-reliant and contribute to India’s development.

“Through Lakhpati Didi, our nation’s women are becoming self-dependent and contributing to the nation’s development. We believe PM Modi’s leadership will take women forward and strengthen their confidence,” he said.

Nabin further highlighted the issue of Naxalism, saying the Prime Minister had made its elimination a key resolve of his government.

“Our country had Naxalism for a long period of time. PM Modi included it in his resolve, and Naxalism has been abolished at the root. In 2026, India is Naxal-free,” Nabin said.

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Crime

Hyderabad horror: Minor girl sexually assaulted by 9 people, all booked under POCSO Act

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Hyderabad, Sep 14: A minor girl was drugged, abducted and sexually assaulted by nine people over a span of three days in Medchal Malkajgiri district near Hyderabad.

All the accused were booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and arrested after the victim escaped from their clutches and lodged a complaint at Alwal Police Station under Malkajgiri Police Commissionerate.

The 16-year-old girl, a Class 11 student, was sexually assaulted on various occasions by the accused including those known to her, at different places including in a car, during a train journey and in a hotel room.

According to police, the victim came in contact with one J. Varun when she was in 10th class. A few months ago, the accused sexually assaulted her in his car after giving her a chocolate laced with sedatives. Another youth Romala Varun, who was introduced to her by J. Varun, also sexually assaulted her after making her a cigarette, liquor and Ganja addict.

Preliminary investigation by police revealed that the victim had earlier came in touch with one David Varun through Instagram. The accused had made her consume liquor and misbehaved with her.

Suspicious over her behavior, the girl’s father admonished her on September 9. Angry over this, the girl left the house and reached Bollarum Railway Station, where a person Neeraj met her. He called his friend Vicky and they sexually assaulted the victim after giving her some intoxicated substances.

Later, Vicky along with another friend Nikhil took the girl to a OYO room in Dulapally. Vicky and Nikhil along with two others sexually assaulted her. On the night of September 9, Vicky brought her his house in Bollarum and confined her here.

The next day she managed to escape and reached Bollarum Railway Station. Vicky along with his friend Ganesh reached there and forcibly drugged her. They took her to Medchal Railway Station. From there, they took her to Malkajgiri and on the way sexually assaulted her in the train. After reaching Malkajgiri, they boarded an autorickshaw. However, she managed to escape and reached her house and with the help of family members approached police.

On a complaint by the victim, police registered cases under POCSO Act and various sections of BNS against the accused.

The police have also arrested manager and owner of OYO hotel for admitting the minor and allotting a room without proper verification.

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