Mumbai: A special POCSO court in Dindoshi sentenced a 50-year-old Malad businessman, who owns an imitation jewellery factory, to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for repeatedly sexually assaulting a minor girl from April 2021 to February 2023 on the promise of marriage.

Observation Made By The Court

The Dindoshi court, while convicting the businessman, held that, “it is indigestible that a married man who at the relevant time, which is, from 2021 to 2023, was the father of four children, still enticed the victim expressing his desire to marry with her. This itself goes to show that the accused not only had a culpable mental state of mind but also the accused committed the offence of rape, not on one occasion but repeatedly.”

The court noted that the accused exploited the victim’s minority and her family’s status as his tenants, with her mother working in his factory. “The victim was influenced by the accused to marry her once she attained majority. The innocence of the victim reflects from her understanding that she had no idea about the consequences that the accused is quite older than her, he is already married and has four children,” the court added, noting the victim’s lack of maturity and understanding of reality.

In a separate case, a Thane sessions court sentenced a 35-year-old man to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment, with a Rs 10,000 fine, for raping his 10-year-old stepdaughter in April 2019, along with a one-year sentence under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act and a Rs 1,000 fine.

Mumbai: A tragic landslide reported in the early hours of Saturday at Jankalyan Society in Varsha Nagar area of Mumbai’s Vikhroli (West), resulted in the death of two residents. The incident occurred at around 2:39 am when soil and stones loosened from a hilly patch amid heavy rains and collapsed onto a hut situated at the base of the slope. The Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB), which received the first report, immediately mobilised rescue teams along with local police and ward staff to the site.

2 Dead Among 4 Trapped In Debris

The hut, belonging to a family in the area, was badly crushed under the debris. Four members of the Mishra family were trapped and later rushed to Rajawadi Hospital by emergency responders. According to hospital authorities, two of the victims succumbed to their injuries before admission.

The deceased were identified as 19-year-old Shalu Mishra and 50-year-old Suresh Mishra. Two others, 45-year-old Aarti Mishra and 20-year-old Ruturaj Mishra, sustained serious injuries but were reported to be stable after being admitted to the trauma ward.

The tragic incident has once again brought focus on the vulnerability of informal settlements located at the base of hills and slopes across Mumbai, particularly during the monsoon season. Civic officials confirmed that the land where the incident occurred belongs to the collector and is classified as high-risk for landslides. Each year, warnings are issued for residents in these zones, but relocation remains a persistent challenge due to population density and housing shortages in the city.

Mumbai Lashed By Heavy Rains, Red Alert Issued

Meanwhile, heavy and relentless rainfall lashed Mumbai overnight and continued into the morning. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has sounded an red alert for Mumbai on August 16, forecasting heavy to very heavy showers at isolated places. The neighbouring Raigad district has also been placed under a red alert, with the possibility of extremely heavy rainfall in some areas.

As the city braced itself for a wet weekend, the overnight rain led to waterlogging in several low-lying areas, including Sion, Kings Circle, Bandra, Vile Parle and Andheri. However, train and road movement remained mostly functional with delays.

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.