Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said there is no shortage of LPG cylinders in the state and blamed the Congress for spreading panic that has led to long queues at distribution centres.

While addressing reporters in Chandrapur, the CM said, “The Opposition, especially the Congress, is creating panic among people, leading to unnecessary queues at LPG distribution centres. The Centre and gas companies have made it clear that there is no shortage of LPG. There is no need to fear or rush to outlets. People should make online bookings; the gas required by consumers is available.” “In our country, a sense of panic is being created by the Congress,” he added.

The CM’s statement came amid a time when visuals circulating on social media showed long queues of residents across Maharashtra, with people lining up as early as 3 am in the hope of securing LPG cylinders. The shortage has also led to the closure of many restaurants.

BMC canteen has come down to using more of electric stoves for cooking, while the IRCTC West Zone directed all catering licensees to immediately adopt alternative cooking methods, particularly electric-based operations such as microwaves and induction stoves across its network. The emergency measures specifically target static catering units, including Food Plazas, Refreshment Rooms, and Jan Ahaars.

In Navi Mumbai, residents in Sanpada queued up in crowds gathered outside a gas agency, carrying empty cylinders and forming long lines as they awaited deliveries amid fears of a shortage.

Earlier in the day, Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad also took to X (formerly Twitter), “There is a cylinder shortage. In the scorching heat, citizens are forced to queue for every single cylinder. Where are those who once thumped their 56-inch chests, claiming ‘Self-Reliant India’?” On the other hand, Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut slammed the Central and Maharashtra government, accusing them of spreading “a false narrative” and “engrossing” themselves in the election campaign rather than addressing the issue. Raut claimed that 40 per cent of the hotel industry has shut down due to the shortage, and people are queuing up while the government remains “silent”.

Mumbai: Multiple railway blocks will be carried out across the Mumbai suburban network this weekend on Western Railway and Central Railway to facilitate operational and maintenance work, which will disrupt several suburban and long-distance train services.

Western Railway will undertake a jumbo block on the UP and DOWN fast lines between Borivali and Bhayandar and a major block on all lines at Prabhadevi station during the night of Sunday, March 15, 2026 to carry out operational work and de-launching of a girder of the Prabhadevi Road Over Bridge.

The block between Borivali and Bhayandar will be carried out from 12:15 am to 3:45 am, while the major block at Prabhadevi station will be undertaken from 1:30 am to 6:00 am.

During the Borivali–Bhayandar block, all fast line trains will run on the slow line between Virar/Vasai Road and Borivali.

Meanwhile, during the block at Prabhadevi station, some suburban services will be cancelled, short-terminated, or reversed from Dadar and Bandra.

In addition, no suburban train services will run between Churchgate and Prabhadevi, and trains will also remain unavailable at Matunga Road and Mahim stations during the block period.

Due to the block, several Mail and Express trains will be regulated or rescheduled between Surat and Virar.

Western Railway has clarified that no daytime block will be taken on the suburban section on Sunday, March 15.

Meanwhile, Central Railway has announced a mega block on the Transharbour line on Sunday between Thane and Vashi/Nerul for maintenance work of railway tracks and signals.

The block will remain in effect from 11:10 am to 4:10 pm, during which all up and down local train services between Thane and Vashi/Nerul and between Thane and Panvel will remain cancelled.

Thane: Three persons have been arrested for allegedly breaking into a house and decamping with gold and silver jewellery worth Rs 36 lakh in Navi Mumbai, police said on Saturday.

The crime branch made the arrests on March 10 within 24 hours of the burglary that occurred at a residential building in the Kalamboli area, an official said.

According to the police, the accused broke into the flat on the evening of March 9 and stole gold and silver ornaments and cash worth about Rs 36 lakh.

A case of theft and break-in was registered, and following investigation, the crime branch zeroed in on the trio and apprehended them from Daighar village in Thane district, the official said.

The accused, Pawan Rohidas Jadhav (25), Sumit Rohidas Jadhav (22), and Shivaji Jagan Rathod (23), were caught with the stolen valuables, he said.