Mumbai: Mumbai and its metropolitan region woke up to clear blue skies, with noticeably improved air quality across the city on Saturday morning. Though the temperature remained at 28 degrees Celsius at 9 am, however, heat and humid conditions persisted.

The Regional Meteorological Centre, Mumbai, has predicted dry weather in the cities of Mumbai, Thane, and Palghar today. Though there are no heatwave-like conditions predicted today, Google Weather has issued a severe weather alert stating that excessive heat is expected, with temperatures reaching up to 37 degrees Celsius.

Overall AQI In Moderate Range

Data from AQI monitoring platforms showed the city’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 83 at 9.30 am, placing it in the ‘moderate’ category. This marks a major improvement compared to previous weeks, when dust and particulate matter had pushed pollution levels higher. In Navi Mumbai, the AQI remained in the ‘poor’ category at 113 with the current temperature at 30 degrees Celsius, with humidity at 70 per cent.

Dry Weather To Prevail Till March 31

According to RMC Mumbai, the dry weather is very likely to be dry in Palghar, Thane and Mumbai. Not just in Mumbai and MMR, the dry weather is also very likely in Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Dhule, Jalgaon, Nashik, Pune, and Satara, among cities in Maharashtra.

Meanwhile, hospitals in Mumbai are witnessing a sharp rise in cases of heatstroke, dehydration, and heat-related neurological complications. Medical experts warn that the ongoing heatwave is not only straining physical health but also posing serious risks to brain function.

Doctors have identified several high-risk groups, including children, senior citizens, and individuals with pre-existing neurological or cardiovascular conditions. Outdoor workers such as construction labourers, traffic police personnel, and delivery workers are particularly vulnerable due to prolonged exposure to direct sunlight and high humidity levels.

As per the IMD’s Hot Weather Outlook for March to May 2026, Maharashtra is likely to witness more frequent heatwave events in the coming months, particularly in April and May. With temperatures already climbing, the early onset of such conditions signals a potentially harsh summer for the region.

Mumbai: In a special ticket-checking ‘fortress’ drive conducted by the Central Railway during the peak morning hours at Byculla Railway Station, authorities caught over 400 ticketless passengers, collecting a whopping fine of over Rs 1.20 lakh.

According to the update shared by DRM Central Railway, the drive was held on Saturday, March 28, during the morning peak hours. During the intensive checking operation, “511 ticketless passengers were caught, and a Rs 126220/- penalty was imposed.”

Social Media Reaction

Users on social media reacted by calling for more frequent and stricter ticket checks, especially in first-class compartments. Many said inspections are too rare, allowing people to avoid buying tickets and only pay occasional fines. Some suggested deploying more ticket checkers at major stations and increasing penalties to discourage ticketless travel.

“Pls have such drives conducted regularly in first-class compartments,” a user said.

Some other user said, “Regular and sustained checking is needed to instil fear in the minds of commuters. People find it cheaper to pay a fine once in 4-5 months than buy a ticket daily..on harbour line I have not seen a checking-in running train for the last 3-4 years.”

“Good one, I feel that every major railway station should deploy 2 TC now. A lot of people are travelling with FC and AC tickets. They should increase the penalty to 2000 Rs. So that people should have in mind before travelling without tickets,” a commuter said.

Another user questioned why checking is labelled “special” instead of being a regular practice and said,” checking? Why don’t we check regularly? Especially in first class compartments, TC’s never check.’

Mumbai: The Mumbai Municipal Corporation and the state government are committed to working together to ensure that every citizen of Mumbai has access to quality healthcare facilities in the coming times. The Chief Minister stressed that joint efforts are being made through the health system to create a free and quality healthcare system. He was addressing a program organized on the occasion of laying the foundation stone of the building under the redevelopment phase-2 of the Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Corporation General Hospital of Mumbai Municipal Corporation in Sain. The hospital will have a main building, cancer, emergency services and outpatient departments. It will cost Rs 2500 crore and the construction will be completed by November 2030. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that he is committed to providing free and quality healthcare to every citizen of Mumbai through the state government and the Mumbai Municipal Corporation. On this occasion, MLA Kalidas Kolambkar, Captain R. Tamil Selvan, Sunil Shinde, Prasad Lad, Mayor Ritu Tawde, Deputy Mayor Sanjay Gadi, Leader of the House Ganesh Khankar, Leader of the Opposition Kishori Pednekar, Chairperson of the Education Committee Rajeshree Shravadkar, Chairperson of the BEST Committee Trishna Vishwasrao, Chairperson of the Construction Committee (Suburbs) Sangeeta Sharma, Chairperson of the Women and Child Welfare Committee Smt. Manal Tarde, Health Committee Chairperson Harish Bhanderge, All Party Corporators, Municipal Corporation Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, Additional Municipal Corporation Commissioner (Western Suburbs) Vipin Sharma, Deputy Commissioner (Public Health) Sharad Uday, Director (Medical Education and Major Hospitals) Dr. Shailesh Bawra, Dr. Shailesh Bhakre, Dr. Shailesh Bhakre and others were also present. Trauma Care Hospital Dr. Dev Shetty and other dignitaries were also present.

Chief Minister Mr. Fadnavis said that Mumbai is the financial capital of the country. The new Shiv Hospital will help reduce the pressure on the health system due to patients coming from different parts of Mumbai as well as from every corner of the country and abroad. The government intends to provide health facilities free of cost and through a quality system. The modern and newly expanded building will double the capacity of the hospital. A total of 3286 beds will be available under various health facilities in the four buildings of the hospital. The construction of such a hospital equipped with various facilities including the latest equipment will be done in two phases. In view of the increasing incidence of cancer, the cancer treatment building being built in the hospital will help reduce the pressure on Tata Cancer Hospital. We intend to provide the benefits of various health schemes of the state and central governments to the common patients. The state government is also trying to ensure that medical treatment facilities are provided up to at least Rs. 5 lakh is available to every person, Mr. Fadnavis said.

Mayor Smt. Ritu Tawde said that by standing on the historic ground of Shiv Hospital, we are not just inaugurating the reconstruction of a building, but we are also presenting a resolution to take Mumbai’s health system into a new era. Through the concept of ‘One City, One Health System’, we will all try to ensure that every patient of Mumbai gets easy, convenient and integrated services in any municipal hospital. The patient does not need to undergo repeated examinations, the patient should get timely service here, should get clear information, and should be treated with respect, this is also a measure of quality and hence special emphasis will be laid on sensitivity and communication in the health service of the Municipal Corporation here, said Mayor Mrs. Ritu Tawde on this occasion.

The new hospital will provide more facilities to patients coming from Shiv as well as Dharavi, Chembur, Wadala, Mumbai and different parts of the country. Local MLA Captain R. Tamil Selvan expressed his belief that the increase in the capacity of the new building will be beneficial in reducing the current pressure on the hospital system for treatment.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also inaugurated the ‘e-ambulance’ at the Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Corporation General Hospital on this occasion.

The program was introduced by Dr. Pramod Angale, Dean, Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Corporation General Hospital. The program was directed by Smt.