Mumbai: In a tragic incident during heavy rains on September 25, a woman lost her life after falling into a rainwater drain in the Seepz area of Andheri (East). In response, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani has ordered a high-level inquiry into the matter.

A three-member committee has been appointed to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and submit a detailed report within three days.

The inquiry committee will be chaired by Deputy Commissioner of Circle 3, Devidas Kshirsagar, with Chief Fire Officer Ravindra Ambulgekar and Chief Engineer (Vigilance) Avinash Tambewagh as the other two members. The committee is tasked with conducting a thorough investigation into the fatal accident and identifying any lapses that may have contributed to the tragedy.

What Exactly Happened

In the aftermath of heavy rains in Mumbai on Wednesday night, a 45-year-old lady Vimal Gaikwad drowned in an open drain in the MIDC area of Andheri. She was rescued by the Mumbai fire brigade and sent to Cooper Hospital but was declared brought dead by doctors.

Apart from high-level inquiry by the municipal corporation in the incident, the Mumbai police have also registered an Accidental Death Report, Mangesh Shinde, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 12) said.

Mumbai: Amid heavy rainfall, the Mumbai Metro had an significant achievement. The Metro 2A and 7 Lines connecting Andheri to Dahisar surpassed highest daily ridership, reaching to 2,87,073 number of passengers the Maha Mumbai Metro Operations Corporation Limited (MMOCL) informed on Thursday.

“We are thrilled to share that Maha Mumbai Metro has proudly surpassed highest daily ridership, reaching an incredible 2,87,073 passengers on Mumbai Metro Line 2A & 7! Even amidst heavy rain, Maha Mumbai Metro remained your steadfast companion, ensuring seamless journeys for all.” the MMOCL posted on its official X handle.

MMOCL also said that it operated two extra services one each from Gundavali & Andheri West, whereas, Monorail operated six services to accommodate and effectively manage the surge in ridership.

However, the activist continue to highlight that the ridership of Mumbai Metro is at least 50 per cent less than planned and expected by the authorities.

In August this year, Mumbai’s first Metro line- the Ghatkopar-Andheri-Versova route achieved a record of carrying more thann 500,000 commuters in a single day. On August 13, 2024, Mumbai Metro One carried 500,385 commuters, surpassing the pre-covid ridership, the authorities informed.

“This is the first time ridership of Mumbai Metro One has crossed milestone figure of 500,000 without impact of external factors. There is only one occasion when ridership of Mumbai Metro One had crossed 5 lakh when BEST buses went on strike for 9 days (8 January to 16 January 2019)”, the Metro One had said in its press statement.

NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule on Wednesday responded to speculation about a possible merger between the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) and the Congress party, stating, “We feel closer to Congress ideologically.”

Sule made these remarks during her participation in the India Today Conclave. When host Rahul Kanwal asked her, “There is a lot of talk, Supriya Ji, that at some point in the near, medium, or long-term future, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP may merge with the Congress party. How do you see this?”

In response, Sule said, “I can’t speculate about what will happen, but we are very clear that our ideology aligns with Congress, and we feel closer to the Congress.”

During the event, Sule also reflected on the emotionally challenging Baramati Lok Sabha election, where she ran against her cousin Ajit Pawar’s wife, Sunetra Pawar. Sule denied claims that the NCP split after Ajit Pawar’s rebellion because her father, Sharad Pawar, had chosen her as his political successor.

“The Baramati elections were emotionally painful for me as relationships are beyond blood. Power and money come and go. What matters is relationships,” she said.

Supriya Sule defeated Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s wife, Sunetra Pawar, by over 1.58 lakh votes in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections. Reflecting on her decision to stand by her father, Sule remarked, “I decided to stand by an 83-year-old man. The journey was important, not the outcome.”

Ajit Pawar has publicly admitted on several occasions that fielding his wife against Sule was a mistake.

Sule reiterated that the party has a wealth of talent and emphasised that her father’s legacy could be passed to anyone deserving, adding that it will be the people who decide who carries it forward.