Mumbai: Opposition in Mumbai has slammed the BJP-led Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and questioned the monsoon preparedness after brief pre-monsoon showers flooded the Andheri Subway, causing temporary traffic disruption during peak commuting hours.

Congress leader Varsha Gaikwad took to social media and questioned the city’s monsoon preparedness and alleged that the BMC’s claims of drain cleaning had failed. She said that even before the monsoon had fully arrived, a few showers were enough to flood the Andheri subway.

Taking to X, she questioned, “The BMC, which claims to have spent crores of rupees, has been exposed in the very first rain. If such a light shower causes this mess, what will happen to Mumbaikars in a downpour? The empty claims of drain cleaning and the administration’s inaction have once again come to light! This is the state of monsoon preparedness in Mumbai this year.”

Congress leader Sachin Sawant also criticised the civic body and questioned the ‘sewer cleaning’ work. He further claimed that if light showers could cause waterlogging, the situation could become worse during heavy monsoon rains.

“What will the state be like when the real rain comes?” he questioned. Additionally, Sawant also warned Mumbaikars who are desperately waiting for the monsoon after the scorching summer heat. “From the summer fire, you’re definitely heading into the BJP-created flood during the rains!” he added.

This comes at a time when the BMC has been undertaking several monsoon preparedness measures, including desilting and cleaning major nullahs, clearing garbage, and carrying out road concretisation works.

Notably, in the BMC Elections 2026, the BJP had emerged as the single largest party, winning 89 of the 227 seats, enabling the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance to control the civic body. Earlier in April, when Mumbai’s Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide took charge as the first woman chief of the BMC, she had assured residents that the city would not face waterlogging problems during this monsoon season.

Navi Mumbai: The Navi Mumbai Police on June 3 detained Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar (NCP–SP) leader Rohit Pawar, along with other party leaders, who were protesting against the recent hikes in petrol, diesel, and LPG prices.

Visuals shared online showed several NCP-SP leaders present at the protest site, including Supriya Sule, Shashikant Shinde, Jitendra Awhad, Sakshan Salgar, Mangesh Aamle, and Amol Matare, along with other prominent office-bearers, workers, and citizens.

Taking to his official handle on X, NCP-SP leader Rohit Pawar said that the protest was held to awaken the sleeping government as unemployment and inflation have made the life of the common man difficult.

Pawar said that they symbolically lit a stove on the street in Navi Mumbai to protest and drew the government’s attention to the daily struggles of the common man for survival.

Mumbai: In a major crackdown on the illegal transportation of banned tobacco products through railway premises, the Western Railway Vigilance Team seized gutkha, tobacco and pan masala products worth over Rs 3.25 lakh from a train at Vasai Road railway station and apprehended two persons involved in the operation.

The seizure was made during a vigilance check conducted in Train No. 06282 Mysuru Special Fare Express at Vasai Road railway station (BSR) on June 2. The operation was carried out jointly by the Western Railway Vigilance Team along with personnel from the Railway Protection Force (RPF), Government Railway Police (GRP) and commercial department officials.

During the inspection of the SLRD coach, railway authorities detected the illegal transportation of tobacco, pan masala and gutka products packed in multiple bags. Two individuals, identified as Rohit Mishra and Pankaj Sahu, were found allegedly transporting the contraband.

Officials recovered a total of 1,771 packets of tobacco and gutka products belonging to various brands from eight PVC bags. The seized consignment was valued at approximately Rs 3,25,678 based on the maximum retail price (MRP).

According to railway officials, both accused were travelling without valid tickets or journey authority. Following the recovery, a detailed panchnama and inventory of the seized material were prepared at Vasai Road station in the presence of independent witnesses and railway officials.

The recovered goods, along with the apprehended individuals and relevant documents, were subsequently handed over to the Government Railway Police for further investigation and legal action.

Based on the complaint and evidence collected during the operation, the accused were booked under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Railways Act, 1989.

An FIR (No. 0245) was registered on June 3, 2026. The charges include Sections 223, 275 and 3(5) of the BNS, Sections 30(2)(a), 58 and 59 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, and Sections 147, 155 and 162 of the Railways Act. Further investigation is underway.