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Monday,14-September-2026
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Mumbai Weather Update For Jan 7, 2026: Winter Chill Gives Way To Toxic Smog As City’s AQI Remains In Severe Category At 316

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Mumbai: woke up on Wednesday to a chill winter morning, with clear blue skies, cool breezes and a noticeable dip in temperatures, offering residents a fleeting sense of relief. The early hours felt fresh and pleasant, raising hopes of a comfortable day ahead. However, the respite was short-lived as a dense blanket of smog gradually engulfed the city, reducing visibility and once again highlighting Mumbai’s deepening air pollution crisis.

The IMD had predicted a bright and pleasant day, with minimum and maximum temperatures expected to hover between 19 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius. Despite favourable weather forecasts by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), air quality quickly emerged as the city’s biggest concern. By morning, several parts of Mumbai were shrouded in haze in the air.

According to data from air quality monitoring platform AQI.in, Mumbai’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) touched 316 during the early hours, placing it firmly in the ‘severe’ category. Health experts warned that such levels pose serious risks, especially to children, senior citizens and people suffering from respiratory or cardiac ailments. Residents were advised to avoid outdoor activities and limit exposure to polluted air.

The persistent poor air quality has largely been attributed to dust and fine particulate matter generated by the city’s relentless construction activity. Multiple large-scale infrastructure projects, including metro rail corridors, flyovers, coastal road extensions and road-widening works, are underway across Mumbai.

These, coupled with rapid private real estate development, continue to release major pollutants into the atmosphere. Vehicular emissions during peak traffic hours further worsen the situation, making effective air quality management a growing challenge for civic authorities.

Several areas across the city emerged as major pollution hotspots. Wadala East recorded a dangerously high AQI of 388, categorised as ‘severe’ and posing health risks even to healthy individuals. Chembur followed closely with an AQI of 370, while Colaba reported 338. Worli and Deonar also recorded alarming AQI levels of 334 each, placing them in the severe pollution bracket.

Suburban areas fared slightly better but remained far from safe. Kandivali East and Jogeshwari East reported AQI readings of 207 and 217 respectively, falling under the ‘unhealthy’ category. Borivali West recorded 223, Borivali East 263, and Powai 287, indicating that air pollution remains widespread across the city rather than confined to select pockets.

As per standard air quality classifications, AQI levels between 0 and 50 are considered ‘good’, 51 to 100 ‘moderate’, 101 to 200 ‘poor’, 201 to 300 ‘unhealthy’, while readings above 300 fall under the ‘severe’ or ‘hazardous’ category.

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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