Thane: In a major crackdown against wildlife trafficking, the Sakinaka Police successfully foiled an attempt to illegally smuggle two rare gibbon chicks on Sunday. Acting on a tip-off, the police team laid a trap and apprehended the accused while they were in possession of the endangered animals.

According to a social media X post by Mumbai Police, “Both the accused and the rescued animals have been handed over to the Forest Range Officer, Thane, for further action.”

The gibbon chicks were found unharmed and are now under proper care and rehabilitation by forest authorities. The accused are in police custody, with legal proceedings underway.

This incident follows recent seizures by Mumbai Airport Customs in August, where nearly 70 exotic wildlife animals smuggled from Bangkok were recovered in two separate cases.

Officials said some of these animals belong to endangered species protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

Two individuals involved in the trafficking were arrested, highlighting continued vigilance against illegal wildlife trade.

Mumbai: Mumbai began the week under heavy cloud cover on Monday morning, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a yellow alert for the city and its surrounding regions. After intermittent but intense showers over the past few days, weather officials have forecast widespread rainfall across Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai and other parts of the Konkan belt throughout the day.

According to the IMD, heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in several districts, including Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Palghar and Sindhudurg. The alert indicates the possibility of disruptions due to waterlogging in low-lying areas, traffic delays and interruptions to suburban rail services. Maximum and minimum temperatures in Mumbai are likely to hover around 29 and 25 degrees Celsius, respectively, keeping conditions cool but humid.

In Thane and Navi Mumbai, heavy showers are predicted to persist through the day. Heavy rain showers may lead to disruptions on the Central & Harbour Railway routes, which are often affected during prolonged spells of monsoon rain. Authorities have urged residents to exercise caution while stepping out, especially during peak rainfall hours.

Palghar district, which has already been receiving continuous rainfall over the past two to three days, remains under a yellow alert. While some parts are likely to see moderate rain, others may experience intense downpours accompanied by strong winds. The IMD has also cautioned about damp and humid conditions prevailing across the region.

The southern Konkan districts of Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg are also bracing for another day of heavy rain. These areas, which have been dealing with waterlogging and disruptions to daily life over the past week, are expected to face similar challenges again.

Mumbai: All newly manufactured local trains will be equipped with automatic door closing systems to enhance passenger safety, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Saturday in Mumbai.

The Minister was speaking to the media on the occasion of a breakthrough in a 4.8 km tunnel for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project.

Highlighting the importance of Mumbai’s suburban rail network, which is often referred to as the city’s lifeline, Vaishnaw said, “In view of passenger safety, we are working to install automatic door closers on all local trains.” He added that efforts are underway to retrofit existing local trains with the automatic door closing system.

“In the future, all newly built non-AC local trains will come with provisions for automatic door closers,” he confirmed. He also noted that all AC local trains already feature this system.

The Minister further stated that the tendering process to procure 238 new AC local trains for Mumbai has already been initiated. “Soon, the face of Mumbai’s suburban rail network will be completely transformed,” he said.

“The move is expected to significantly improve passenger safety and convenience, particularly during peak hours when overcrowding can lead to accidents related to open train doors” said an official.