Thane: A major road accident was reported on Ghodbunder Road near Gaimukh Ghat in Thane on Friday morning, leading to severe traffic congestion on one of the city’s most crucial arterial routes. The accident, which occurred around 7 am on National Highway 48 (NH-48), involved multiple vehicles and caused major disruption to traffic movement towards Mira Road and Gujarat.

According to reports, at least five to six vehicles were involved in a chain collision at a sharp curve near Gaimukh Ghat. The vehicles reportedly rammed into each other head-on in quick succession, resulting in extensive damage. Visuals from the spot showed several cars badly mangled, with some vehicles almost completely crushed due to the impact.

The accident triggered long queues of vehicles on Ghodbunder Road, a key connector between Thane, Mumbai’s western suburbs and Gujarat. Traffic from Thane towards Mira Road and the Gujarat-bound route was particularly affected, with commuters facing long delays during peak morning hours.

Emergency response teams rushed to the site soon after the incident. Personnel from the Regional Disaster Management Cell (RDMC) and the Fire Brigade were deployed to carry out rescue operations and remove the damaged vehicles from the road. Traffic police also reached the spot to manage congestion and divert vehicles where possible, while clearance work continued to restore normal traffic flow.

Despite the severity of the crash and the extent of damage to the vehicles, an Media report quoting officials confirmed that there were no fatalities. Considering the violent nature of the collision, authorities initially feared the possibility of serious casualties. However, it was later confirmed that no lives were lost in the incident. A few commuters sustained minor injuries and were provided medical treatment at nearby hospitals.

The exact cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained. Initial indications suggest that poor visibility, high speed or misjudgment at the ghat curve may have contributed to the collision. A detailed investigation will be carried out to determine the precise sequence of events.

In the aftermath of the accident, commuters were advised to avoid or postpone travel towards Gaimukh Ghat until further updates are issued. Authorities warned that traffic congestion is likely to persist for some time as clearance operations continue and normal movement is gradually restored.

Ghodbunder Road is considered one of Thane’s most important traffic corridors, handling heavy daily vehicular movement. The incident once again sheds light on the need for cautious driving on ghat sections, especially during early morning hours. Further details are awaited as officials continue to assess the situation and ease traffic conditions.

Mumbai, Jan 9: In a scathing revelation during the second part of the joint interview in ‘Saamana’ with Uddhav Thackeray, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray on Friday alleged a deep-rooted “strategic plot” to strip Mumbai of its wealth and territory.

He warned that the threat to Mumbai’s autonomy is now greater than it was during the Samyukta Maharashtra movement of the 1950s.

Raj Thackeray noted a significant shift in the motives of those opposing Mumbai’s interests. While past conflicts were primarily about the city’s wealth, he claimed the current objective is to physically break off pieces of the city.

“During the Samyukta Maharashtra movement, a few non-Marathi wealthy elites wanted Mumbai to go to Gujarat. Today, those five people have grown into five hundred,” he stated. He emphasised that the manner in which the Central and state governments are coordinating projects suggests a level of danger never felt before.

Questioning the intent behind infrastructure projects in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), Raj Thackeray asked why airports are being planned adjacent to the Vadhavan Port near the Gujarat border. He suggested these are not just development projects but “strategic manoeuvres” to connect Maharashtra’s economic hubs more closely with Gujarat while hollowing out Mumbai’s core.

Raj Thackeray claimed that the development of the Navi Mumbai International Airport and the Vadhavan Port are part of a larger plan to vacate prime land in the heart of Mumbai. He alleged that the government has already begun the process of shifting cargo operations from Mumbai’s “rightful” airport to Navi Mumbai. He predicted that eventually, all domestic and international operations would be moved out.

“The current Mumbai airport area is so vast that at least 50 Shivaji Parks could fit inside it. The plan is to move all flights to Navi Mumbai and then put this massive tract of Mumbai’s land up for sale,” he claimed.

“The math is clear: they want the wealth of Mumbai to flow to a specific class and eventually to Gujarat, while the physical land of the city is carved up for real estate exploitation,” he said.

Thackeray framed this move not as urban development, but as a “strategic dismantling” of Mumbai’s assets. He suggested that by shifting the city’s core infrastructure, the administration is clearing the way for a specific class of developers and business interests to take over Mumbai’s most valuable real estate.

Mumbai, Jan 9: The Indian benchmark indices posted mild losses early on Friday amid rising geopolitical tensions and renewed threats of 500 per cent US tariffs on Indian goods under the provisions of the Russia Sanctioning Act.

As of 9.29 am, Sensex slipped 107 points, or 0.13 per cent to 84,073 and Nifty eased 26 points, or 0.10 per cent to 26,850.

Main broad cap indices posted stronger losses compared to benchmark indices, with the Nifty Midcap 100 down 0.29 per cent, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 lost 0.84 per cent.

ONGC and Bharat Electronics were among top gainers on the Nifty pack. Nifty realty and media were the top losers, down 2.14 per cent and 1.34 per cent, respectively. All sectoral indices were trading in red, except IT and PSU Bank.

Immediate support lies at 25,700–25,750 zone, and resistance placed at 26,150–26,200 zone, market watchers said.

After the sharp correction on Thursday triggered by the possibility of about a 500 per cent tariff on India under the provisions of the Russia Sanctioning Act approved by US President Donald Trump, the market will be focused on the verdict, expected from the US Supreme Court on the legality of Trump tariffs, analysts said.

On Thursday, Nifty extended its losing streak for a fourth consecutive session, falling 263 points to close at 25,876.

Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed in the morning session as investors parsed China’s inflation data which accelerated in December to the fastest pace in nearly three years.

In Asian markets, China’s Shanghai index gained 0.3 per cent, and Shenzhen added 0.57 per cent, Japan’s Nikkei advanced 1.14 per cent, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index dipped 0.07 per cent. South Korea’s Kospi advanced 0.69 per cent.

The US markets were mostly in the green zone overnight even as Nasdaq lost 0.44 per cent. The S&P 500 gained 0.01 per cent, and the Dow moved up 0.55 per cent.

On January 8, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold net equities worth Rs 3,367 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) were net buyers of equities worth Rs 3,701 crore.