Mumbai: The ‘maximum city’ is experiencing intense rainfall from the night of August 15 into the early hours of August 16, marking one of the heaviest monsoon spells this season.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that rainfall exceeded 200mm in several regions, with Vikhroli receiving the highest at 248.5 mm, followed by Santacruz with 232.5 mm and Sion at 221 mm.

Other areas such as Juhu, Bandra, and Byculla also recorded significant amounts. Civic authorities compiled rainfall data showing averages of 99.61 mm in the city division, 142.80 mm in eastern suburbs, and 144.57 mm in western suburbs between 8 am on August 15 and 4 am on August 16. Some areas experienced extreme rainfall intensity, with Ghatkopar’s Ramabai Municipal School recording 49 mm in just one hour.

Visuals: Waterlogging In City

Despite the heavy downpour, Mumbai’s suburban train services remained largely operational with minimal delays, and road traffic disruptions were manageable, although waterlogging affected low-lying areas like Sion and Andheri.

The Mumbai police advised residents to avoid non-essential travel due to waterlogging and poor visibility, ensuring citizens could reach emergency services if needed. With more rain expected, officials warned residents, particularly in flood-prone zones, to remain vigilant as the city prepared for ongoing wet weather conditions.

IMD Issues Red Alert

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for Ratnagiri, Raigad, Mumbai City, Mumbai Suburban, Thane, and Palghar, forecasting moderate to intense rain for the next three to four hours. Heavy rainfall led to severe waterlogging in parts of Mumbai, notably Gandhi Nagar, Kings Circle, and Sion Railway Station.

Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani directed BMC officials to coordinate emergency measures. A landslide in Vikhroli resulted in two fatalities and two injuries. In Himachal Pradesh, the monsoon death toll has reached 257, with 133 rain-related deaths. Many roads remain blocked, and numerous electricity and water supply services are disrupted due to weather conditions.

Mumbai, Aug 14: In a multi-city crackdown against a Cyprus-based illegal online betting platform, the ED has frozen Rs 110 crore parked in mule bank accounts as part of a Rs 3,000 crore fraud, an official said on Thursday.

Celebrities Linked to Promotion

Cricket stars Sunil Narine and Nicholas Pooran, a Bollywood actress and an Indian rap star were among the brand ambassadors of the platform Parimatch.

The ED initiated an investigation on the basis of an FIR registered by the Cyber Police Station, Mumbai, against Parimatch.com on complaints that it defrauded investors by luring them with high returns, generating over Rs 3,000 crore in a year.

Rejected Payment Aggregators Aided Transactions

The probe also uncovered that payment companies whose applications for Payment Aggregator licenses were rejected by the RBI, offered their services to Parimatch in the garb of technology service providers (TSPs) and offered their API (Application Programming Interface) to facilitate user fund collections, said an ED statement.

ED Seizes Evidence Across Multiple Cities

During the multicity searches, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Mumbai Zonal Office, seized incriminating documents and digital devices on Tuesday under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 from 17 locations in Mumbai, Delhi, Noida, Jaipur, Surat, Madurai, Kanpur and Hyderabad.

The probe against Parimatch revealed that the platform gained visibility through aggressive marketing, including sponsorship of sports tournaments and partnerships with well-known celebrities

The ED said the platform also set up Indian entities to run surrogate advertisements under the names “Parimatch Sports” and “Parimatch News”. Payments to these agencies were made via foreign inward remittances.

Searches revealed that Parimatch routed users’ funds through mule accounts using different strategies across the country.

Complex Money Laundering Network Exposed

In one case, funds deposited by users into mule accounts were withdrawn in cash in a specific locality in Tamil Nadu. This cash was handed over to hawala operators, who used it to recharge virtual wallets of a UK-based company.

These wallets were then used to buy USDT cryptocurrency in the name of mule crypto accounts, operated by Parimatch agents.

Mumbai: Municipal corporations across Maharashtra, including Kalyan-Dombivli, Nagpur, Nashik, Malegaon, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, have ordered the closure of slaughterhouses and meat shops on August 15. These closures are part of a broader restriction that encompasses certain Hindu and Jain festivals. In Kalyan, heightened security has been implemented in response to potential protests from political parties and butcher associations against these local orders.

Reports and detail that officials are on alert due to warnings of agitation, including the possibility of setting up meat stalls and organizing gatherings near the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC). Deputy Commissioner of Police, Atul Zende, mentioned that those engaging in such activities will be served notices, with prohibitory orders possibly issued to maintain public order.

The KDMC’s directive mandates all licensed slaughterhouses and butchers to remain closed from midnight on August 14 to midnight on August 15, under threat of legal action per the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act, 1949. In response to criticisms, KDMC Commissioner Abhinav Goel noted that such restrictions are not new, having been in place annually since 1988, and apply to other significant days, including Gandhi Jayanti and Mahavir Jayanti, based on recommendations by health officials.

Political responses have varied, with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, expressing disagreement with the closures. The BJP, part of the ruling coalition, has supported the directives referencing a 1988 state government resolution that empowers local bodies to enforce these restrictions. Questions have emerged regarding the historical context, as the initial implementation of the policy dates back to when NCP leader Sharad Pawar was chief minister.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis asserted that the government is not concerned with regulating dietary choices, labeling the controversy unnecessary. Conversely, Pawar deemed the bans inappropriate and highlighted that such restrictions typically arise from religious sensitivities. Former Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray argued for the commissioner’s suspension, advocating against dietary regulations imposed by local authorities.

Opposition parties have criticized the Mahayuti government for creating distractions with “nonsensical” issues while neglecting more pressing matters. Allegations have surfaced that the BJP incites caste and communal tensions as a political strategy.

NCP (SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad announced he would host a mutton party on August 15 to showcase personal dietary freedoms. AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi has contended that the municipal orders are unconstitutional, questioning the connection between meat consumption and Independence Day observances.