Mira Bhayandar: A shocking and infuriating incident has come to light at the Pandit Bhimsen Joshi Hospital in Mira Bhayandar, where an elderly woman in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) was reportedly bitten by a rat. The incident has raised serious questions regarding the lack of hygiene and security within the hospital’s most critical department.

The victim, 89-year-old Suhasini Mathekar, was admitted to the hospital on March 12 following health complaints. Due to her critical condition, she was placed on a ventilator in the ICU located on the fourth floor of the facility.

On the morning of March 13, family members visiting the ICU were horrified to discover that a rat had bitten the elderly woman’s hand. According to the family, the rodent scurried away only after they intervened.

The victim’s family has leveled serious allegations against the hospital staff. They have questioned how the doctors and nurses on night duty failed to notice the presence of a rat or the distress of a patient in such a sensitive environment.

“It is shocking that such an incident could occur in a supposedly sterile and highly monitored zone like the ICU,” a family member stated. Public outrage is mounting over the perceived administrative apathy, with many calling for a high-level inquiry into the hospital’s management.

The presence of rodents in an ICU points to a complete breakdown of sanitation and safety protocols. Such lapses not only affect individual patients but also pose a significant infection risk to everyone in the ward.

The family has officially demanded A thorough investigation into the conduct of the staff on duty. An immediate audit of the hospital’s cleanliness and pest control measures. And Strict action against those responsible for the lapse to ensure such a traumatic event never recurs.

A significant milestone in Mumbai’s large scale housing redevelopment effort was achieved as 864 families received keys to their new homes at the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar BDD Sankul in Naigaon. The handover forms part of the ongoing BDD Chawl Redevelopment Project aimed at providing modern housing and improved living conditions to long time residents of the city’s historic chawl settlements.

The moment marked a major step forward for families who have been waiting for upgraded housing through the redevelopment initiative.

The newly constructed homes are part of the Naigaon BDD Chawl redevelopment project and are intended to offer residents a more dignified and secure living environment. The housing complex has been designed with improved infrastructure and facilities to enhance the quality of life for the families moving into the new flats.

Officials stated that the redevelopment project reflects a broader effort to transform ageing residential structures in Mumbai into modern housing spaces while preserving community ties.

The redevelopment of the BDD Chawls has progressed in phases with the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority playing a key role in executing the project. The first phase of the initiative in Worli has already been completed, and the handover in Naigaon marks another important stage in the wider plan.

Authorities aim to provide new homes to all eligible residents under the BDD Chawl Redevelopment Project by the year 2029.

Alongside the BDD project, large scale redevelopment activities are underway across Mumbai. Nearly 1000 acres of redevelopment work is currently in progress in different parts of the city as authorities work to upgrade ageing neighbourhoods and provide better housing infrastructure.

The Naigaon milestone reflects the broader push to reshape residential areas across Mumbai with modern housing, improved facilities and better living conditions for thousands of residents.

Tehran, March 16: India has again warned its citizens in Iran not to attempt to cross any land border without prior and explicit coordination with the Embassy in Tehran.

In an advisory on Monday, the Indian Embassy in Tehran said, “In continuation/ reiteration of our advisory of March 9, all Indian nationals currently in Iran are strictly advised not to approach or attempt to cross any land border of Iran for onward travel without prior and explicit coordination with the Embassy of India, Tehran.”

The Embassy stated that it is in regular contact with members of the Indian community, and coordinated arrangements are being undertaken wherever necessary.

“Uncoordinated movement toward land borders is strongly discouraged,” it said.

Indian nationals who attempt to leave Iran via land borders without the knowledge and guidance of the Embassy, it said, are “highly likely to encounter serious logistical and immigration difficulties”.

“Please note that the Embassy will not be in a position to provide assistance once individuals move outside Iranian territory without prior coordination,” the advisory read.

“All Indian nationals in Iran are therefore urged to strictly follow Embassy advisories and remain in touch with official channels, and before undertaking any travel,” it added.

Meanwhile, the first batch of 70 Indian students evacuated from Iran via Armenia has safely landed in Delhi, the J&K Students Association (JKSA) announced on Sunday.

Nasir Khuehami, national convenor of the JKSA, said: “The first batch of more than 70 Indian students — the majority of them from Jammu and Kashmir, along with several pilgrims — who had been stranded in Iran amid the ongoing war-like situation in the region, safely arrived at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, on a commercial flight this morning as part of the initial phase of the evacuation process.

“The students returned to India via a connecting journey through Armenia and Dubai after undertaking a long and difficult land and air transit arranged in coordination with the concerned authorities.”

These students travelled from different cities in Iran by bus and crossed into Armenia, from where they boarded a Flydubai flight from Zvartnots International Airport in Yerevan to Dubai. From Dubai, the passengers boarded another connecting Flydubai flight that landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport at around 9.45 a.m. on Sunday.

The majority of the returning students had been studying at various universities across Iran, including Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, and other universities across the country. Many of them had earlier been relocated to safer locations by the Indian Embassy in Tehran amid the deteriorating security situation.

The Association expressed gratitude to the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Tehran for facilitating the safe evacuation and ensuring the students’ return to India during a challenging situation. This development has brought much-needed relief to students and families across Kashmir who had been deeply worried about the safety of their children in the conflict-affected region.