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No external pressure to accelerate Covaxin development: Bharat Biotech

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 Vaccine-maker Bharat Biotech has denied that there was any external pressure to accelerate development of Covaxin, its vaccine for Covid-19.

“We condemn the targeted narrative against Covaxin put forth by a select few individuals and groups who have no expertise in vaccines or vaccinology. It is well known that they helped perpetuate misinformation and fake news throughout the pandemic. They are unable to comprehend global product development and licensure processes,” the Hyderabad-based company said in a statement on Thursday.

“The pressure was all internal to develop a safe, and effective vaccine for the Covid-19 pandemic, to save lives and livelihoods in India and globally,” it added.

The company claimed that Covaxin is one of the most highly studied covid-19 vaccines worldwide.

Covaxin was evaluated in about 20 preclinical studies, including three challenge trials and nine human clinical studies, more than any other Indian Covid-19 vaccine. These trials have clearly demonstrated safety and efficacy of Covaxin, Bharat Biotech said.

The vaccine-maker further claimed that with several hundred million doses administered worldwide, Covaxin has demonstrated an excellent safety record with minimal adverse events and no vaccine associated cases detected for myocarditis or thrombocytopenia.

“The entire product development and clinical studies were executed as per global guidelines and submitted worldwide. Data from Covaxin has resulted in more than 20 publications, documenting every aspect of its development.”

It termed as “incorrect and erroneous’ the recent media reports around the approvals for Covaxin.

“These few individuals and organizations were mostly involved in fake news and false information during the pandemic. They fail to understand product development and licensure pathways worldwide,” reads the statement.

It pointed out that the phase 1 study for Covaxin was one of the largest in the world, resulting in both the 3 and 6 mcg doses demonstrating safety and comparable immunogenicity.

The decision to proceed to phase III trials was taken based on data from phase I studies and results from successful animal challenge trials.

The phase II studies were designed to determine if the lower dose of 3 mcg would be effective, instead of the 6 mcg dose, which would have doubled our manufacturing capacity. In the interest of public health, it was decided to proceed with the 6 mcg dose for phase III clinical trials.

According to Bharat Biotech, vaccines against ebola and monkey pox, were approved by stringent regulatory agencies in developed countries based on phase I and II clinical data only and without phase III data.

“If such an approval was given by regulators in India, there would be an uproar, but the same people and organisations remain silent, demonstrating their hypocrisy.

“While these people and organizations were busy with false information and fake news during the pandemic, more than 1,000 personnel at Bharat Biotech across India were busy developing, testing, manufacturing and distributing Covaxin.

“Our diligent efforts have resulted in an universal Covid-19 vaccine for adults and children alike, which can be administered repeatedly as booster doses without safety concerns. The Bharat Biotech team is extremely proud of its efforts to develop a novel Covid-19 vaccine for India and the world. These efforts to discredit our work will not deter us,” it added.

Maharashtra

Mumbai Police Suspend Licences of 11 Dance Bars for One Month

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Mumbai, July 4: ( By Kamar Ansari ) In a major enforcement action, the Mumbai Police have suspended the licences of 11 dance bars across the city for a period of one month.

According to official information, the action was taken by the Licensing Department of the Mumbai Police following alleged violations of licence conditions and applicable regulations. During the suspension period, the establishments will not be permitted to operate.

The dance bars whose licences have been suspended are: Urvashi, Commando, Chiranjeevi, Senorita, Sapphire, Sunshine Punjab, Raj Palace, Blue Diamond, Sai Prasad, Swagatam, and Vikas Kuch Home.

Mumbai Police stated that the action forms part of ongoing efforts to ensure compliance with licensing rules and maintain regulatory standards. Authorities have also indicated that inspections and enforcement drives will continue, and strict action may be taken against establishments found violating licence conditions.

Further details regarding the specific violations in each case are expected to be released by the authorities.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai: Red alert issued for extremely heavy rainfall on Sunday; citizens advised to avoid stepping out unless necessary.

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Mumbai: In view of the ongoing heavy rains in Mumbai, the entire Mumbai Municipal Corporation system is working on a war footing. More than 10,000 officers and employees of the Municipal Corporation are deployed in various parts and are continuously monitoring the situation and taking necessary measures. Due to the continuous heavy rains, water has accumulated in some low-lying areas and traffic has been temporarily closed on some roads in view of the safety of the citizens. The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for heavy rains on Sunday, July 5, 2026 and the Burhan Mumbai Municipal Corporation administration is appealing to the citizens not to step out of their homes unnecessarily.

In view of the ongoing heavy rains in Mumbai, State Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan today visited the Emergency Control Room at the Municipal Corporation headquarters. He also reviewed the situation in Mumbai. Also, Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde visited the Emergency Control Room at the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Headquarters today (July 4, 2026) and reviewed the entire situation.
Meanwhile, Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide is continuously reviewing the situation from the Emergency Control Room at the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Headquarters. Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijeet Bangar, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Eastern Suburbs) Avinash Dhakne, Deputy Commissioner (Public Health) Sharad Uday, Director (Emergency Management) Mahesh Narvekar, Principal Officer (Emergency Management) Rashmi Lokhande and concerned officers are present.

Mumbai city and suburbs have been receiving heavy rain since the morning of July 4, 2026. As a precautionary measure for the safety of students, a holiday has been declared for the afternoon session in all private/government schools and colleges in Mumbai on July 4, 2026.

Due to heavy rains in the western suburbs, the Mogra Nallah is overflowing and the smaller drains connected to the Mogra Nallah system are also overflowing. Due to which some roads in the area are submerged in water and traffic is affected. The continuous rain is delaying the drainage of water. In this backdrop, Noor Elahi Seva Road in Chembur, Veera Desai Road in Andheri, Municipal Market Road, Swami Vivekananda Marg, Andheri Bhuvari Marg, Himamaal Junction in Vikhroli, Gandhi Nagar Junction and Parish Park Market roads were temporarily closed for traffic as a precautionary measure. An appeal was made to take alternative routes.

All Zonal Deputy Commissioners and all Assistant Commissioners (Ward Officers) along with concerned officers and employees are present in the office or in their actual work areas. The Deputy Commissioners should personally verify this, Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide has given clear instructions. As per these instructions, the entire Mumbai Municipal Corporation system is on alert, and officers and employees are working in their actual work areas to deal with any emergency. Heads of all departments, engineers, pump operators, health workers and emergency response teams have been deployed at various locations. Currently, 10,000 employees are working in the field, constantly monitoring the situation and taking necessary measures. Complaints received from citizens through the Municipal Corporation’s emergency control room are being recorded immediately and forwarded to the concerned departments for immediate action. Special attention has been paid to the performance of storm water systems, sewage systems and pumping stations and necessary measures are being taken on a war footing to ensure smooth drainage of rainwater. Officers and employees of the Solid Waste Management Department are working in the field, and health workers are providing continuous services at various locations to ensure that floating solid waste, tree branches and other waste flowing with rainwater do not get stuck in manholes or drains and obstruct the flow of water. The Mumbai Municipal Corporation is working round the clock to ensure that even during heavy rains, the area remains clean, there is no foul smell and Mumbaikars do not face any inconvenience, and all the concerned employees are taking necessary measures together.

In the backdrop of the ongoing monsoon situation, the Municipal Corporation administration has appealed to the citizens to take necessary precautions to avoid the disease of Leptospirosis. The field employees of the Municipal Corporation should also take Doxycycline 200 mg as a preventive medicine for Leptospirosis. These tablets are available from the Municipal Corporation dispensary/dispensary.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai bank accounts activated, cyber fraud company exposed, 6 arrested

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Mumbai: Crime Branch has claimed to have busted a gang that was providing bank accounts for cyber fraud. In this case, the police have arrested 6 accused. The Mumbai Crime Branch received information that bank accounts were being provided for cyber fraud through a fake company at Masjid Bandar and bank accounts were activated and money was deposited in the account under the knowledge of the same company. On this basis, the Crime Branch conducted a raid and exposed this racket. Accounts were opened in several banks in Mumbai and details of new current accounts were obtained. After activating the bank account with the SIM card, the above SIM card was sent to Dubai and from here this SIM card was used for cyber fraud. On this basis, Unit 2 Crime Branch raided and seized a total of 66 ATM cards of several banks, 12 mobile SIM cards, 15 passbooks of several banks, 122 cheque books of several banks, 2 pen drives, 68 stamps, bank account opening forms, electricity bills and other documents. The accused have been produced in court and sent to remand. This information was given here today by Mumbai Crime DCP Raj Tilak Roshan.

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