Navi Mumbai: The Panvel City Traffic Police launched a crackdown against motorists on Thursday for not following traffic rules. In a special drive, a total of 1513 motorists were penalised under the Panvel traffic unit jurisdiction. The drive was carried out under the guidance of Tirupati Kakade, Deputy Commissioner of Police (traffic) by Senior Police Inspector Sanjay Nale of Panvel City Traffic Branch.

Motorsists penalised over multipole offences

Motorists were fined for not wearing seatbelts, using black glasses in the car, entering a no-entry zone and riding motorbikes without helmets.

The Panvel City traffic unit informed that a similar drive will be carried out in days to come and more motorists will be fined for violating the traffic rules.

“Wearing a helmet for people riding two-wheelers is mandatory. From time to time, public awareness is created,” said an official from the Panvel Traffic unit. He added that the majority of two-wheelers riders wear helmets.

Traffic official stresses on benefits of wearing helmet

However, the drive is concentrated on those who are intentionally not wearing helmets. “Wearing a helmet saves the motorbike rider. It often saves lives in accidents because the head is protected and does not get hit,” said the official.

In addition, using black glass, driving without a seatbelt, triple seats in two-wheelers, and driving in no-entry were fined during the drive. Sanjay Nale, senior police inspector from the Panvel City Traffic branch said that apart from the penalty, they also created awareness among motorists to prevent accidents.

After witnessing mostly sunny sky with a light rain shower on Friday morning, Mumbai is expected to witness similar weather conditions over the weekend. The IMD predicted partly cloudy sky with possibility of light rain in the city until Sunday. The weather agency hinted at Mumbai and its suburbs receiving drizzle particularly in the morning hours of Saturday and Sunday.

On May 27, Mumbai woke up to a pleasant temperature in the city as a major relief from scorching heat and sweat. With humidity at 69%, the overall temperature was recorded to be 31°C.

Furthermore, throwing light on the weather conditions in few other parts of Maharashtra, IMD stated in its report, “Light to moderate rain or thundershowers are likely to occur in South Konkan-Goa, South & North Madhya Maharashtra and Marathwada.

Mumbai AQI today

For the third day in a row, the city breathed better air with AQI being under the ‘good’ category. On Saturday, Mumbai marked a reading of 45 as per the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR).

For context, an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 to 100 is ‘satisfactory’, 101 to 200 is ‘moderate’, 201 to 300 ‘poor’, 301 to 400 ‘very poor’, and 401 to 500 ‘severe’.

AQI of different areas in Mumbai

BKC: 29 Good

Sion: 55 Satisfactory

Malad: 74 Satisfactory

Colaba: 113 Moderate

Kurla: 162 Moderate

At least 16 people have been confirmed wounded after a blast rocked Pul-e-Khumri city, the capital of Afghanistan’s northern Baghlan province, local media reported.

Quoting an anonymous source, private media outlet the Salam Watandar reported that at least 16 people had been taken to a hospital for medical treatment on Friday, news agency reported.

Eyewitnesses who declined to give their names told the news agency that security forces had cordoned off the area and ambulances were seen running around the city to transport the wounded.

The Taliban administration has yet to make a comment. No group or individual has claimed responsibility.