Mumbai: The Sir JJ Marg Police have arrested a 21-year-old man for allegedly forging examination documents and illegally staying at the Old Boys’ Hostel of Sir JJ Hospital by posing as a first-year MBBS student.

The accused, Faisal Amiruddin Shaikh, 21, from Uttar Pradesh, resided in the hostel for one month using fake documents, including a bogus NEET result. He actually scored 90 marks but fabricated 514 marks to claim admission eligibility. The complaint was filed by warden Rewat Tukaram Kaninde, 37, a medical officer posted there for seven years.

The hostel is for first-year MBBS students. On December 12, during a routine inspection at 10:30am, the warden found Faisal in Room No. 144 not attending classes. Faisal claimed his admission was upgraded to RML College, Lucknow. When asked for documents, he said they were with his father. A phone call raised suspicions as the father initially denied having a son, later clarifying no upgrade occurred.

College checks confirmed Faisal had no roll number or enrollment. His submitted documents were forged. Faisal confessed to lying to his parents about securing MBBS admission and forging papers to enter the hostel. His father, a tailor in Dubai, and family wanted him to become a doctor, allegedly motivating the fraud.

Mumbai: woke up on Tuesday to what initially appeared to be a textbook winter morning, marked by clear blue skies, mild winds and a sharp chill in the air. However, the pleasant conditions were short-lived as a dense layer of smog soon settled over the city, reducing visibility and once again highlighting Mumbai’s worsening air pollution crisis.

Despite favourable weather conditions, air quality emerged as the city’s biggest concern. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the day was expected to remain bright and comfortable, with temperatures ranging between 18°C and 34°C. Yet, early morning commuters, walkers and schoolchildren encountered hazy surroundings and an acrid smell, particularly in low-lying and traffic-heavy zones.

Data from air quality monitoring platform AQI.in showed Mumbai’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 163 during the early hours, placing it firmly in the ‘poor’ category. While this marks a slight improvement from the severe pollution levels recorded late last month, experts warn that the air remains unhealthy, especially for vulnerable groups such as children, senior citizens and those with respiratory or cardiac conditions.

The persistent pollution has largely been attributed to dust and fine particulate matter generated by the city’s continuous construction activity. Massive government-led infrastructure projects, including metro rail corridors, flyovers, coastal road extensions and extensive road-widening works, combined with a surge in private real estate development, continue to release pollutants into the atmosphere. Vehicular emissions during peak hours further compound the problem.

Several locations emerged as pollution hotspots. The Wadala Truck Terminal recorded a worrying AQI of 335, categorised as ‘severe’, posing serious health risks even to healthy individuals. Chembur and Powai followed with AQI levels of 263 and 210 respectively, both falling in the ‘unhealthy’ range. Deonar reported an AQI of 203, while the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), one of the city’s busiest commercial hubs, registered a poor reading of 190.

Suburban areas fared relatively better but were not entirely spared. Charkop recorded an AQI of 85, while Parel-Bhoiwada stood at 82, both classified as ‘moderate’. However, Mulund West (110), Borivali West (123) and Kandivali East (127) slipped back into the ‘poor’ category, reflecting the widespread nature of the pollution.

For context, AQI levels between 0–50 are considered good, 51–100 moderate, 101–150 poor, 151–200 unhealthy and anything above 200 hazardous. With large parts of Mumbai hovering close to or exceeding unhealthy thresholds, concerns continue to mount over the long-term health implications as winter progresses.

Mumbai, Dec 15: In a major step towards strengthening digital public healthcare, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Monday launched a health chatbot aimed at improving accessibility, transparency, and efficiency of healthcare services for citizens.

The digital service was inaugurated by State Minister for Information Technology and Cultural Affairs and Mumbai Suburban District Guardian Minister Ashish Shelar. The initiative marks another milestone in BMC’s ongoing efforts to integrate technology with civic health services.

As part of its digital transformation drive, the health chatbot will provide citizens with easy access to verified health-related information, including disease awareness, preventive care, public health campaigns, and details of nearby healthcare facilities. The chatbot is available on the mobile number 9892993368.

BMC Commissioner and Administrator Bhushan Gagrani said the initiative aligns with the civic body’s vision of making public health information easily accessible through digital platforms. Technology-driven services, he noted, will save citizens’ time and play a crucial role during healthcare emergencies.

Through the chatbot, citizens can access information on online OPD appointment registration, health certificates, licensing procedures, birth and death certificates, marriage registration, disability certificates, and maternity home licences. An online registration facility for health centres is expected to significantly reduce waiting times and improve convenience.

In the coming months, the chatbot will also provide details of state and central government health schemes. The BMC further plans to launch a dedicated healthcare website, along with OPD and bed-availability dashboards, to simplify access to health services and real-time information for Mumbai’s residents.