Mumbai: Mumbai welcomed December with a crisp, pleasant morning on Monday, as clear blue skies and a gentle winter breeze offered residents a refreshing start to the week. Yet beneath this perfect weather lay a worrying reality in the form of a persistent layer of haze and smog that reduced visibility and signalled a sharp deterioration in the city’s air quality.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasted clear skies throughout the day, with maximum temperatures around 31°C and minimum temperatures dipping to 15°C, conditions typical of Mumbai’s winter phase. While the cooler mornings brought some comfort, the reduced visibility and greyish skyline indicated that pollution levels had surged overnight.

This spike in pollution follows a brief period of relief. Heavy rainfall in October had washed away suspended particles and pollutants, offering Mumbaikars a short-lived window of cleaner air and improved horizons. However, once the showers stopped, pollutants quickly accumulated again, undoing the gains and dragging the city back into unhealthy air quality levels in November.

Data from AQI.in today morning pegged Mumbai’s overall Air Quality Index at 277, placing it in the unhealthy category. This marks a major drop from the moderate readings seen in early November. Residents across several pockets of the city reported eye irritation, a faint burning smell, and visibly hazy skylines, classic signs of heightened PM2.5 levels.

Some of the worst readings were reported from the city’s industrial and high-traffic zones. Wadala Truck Terminal topped the list with an alarming AQI of 387, entering the severe category. Chembur (335) and Bandra-Kurla Complex (320) also recorded severe levels, while Worli (314) and Deonar (312) continued to struggle with severe pollution conditions.

The suburbs, though relatively better, were still plagued with poor air quality. Govandi and Kandivali East logged AQI readings of 157, placing them in the poor bracket. Areas such as Mulund West (187), Bhandup West (190), and Borivali East (197) remained firmly in the poor category as well. Despite minor differences, most of Mumbai remained enveloped in a blanket of haze, indicating widespread pollution across the metropolitan region.

For context, AQI values from 0–50 are considered Good, 51–100 Moderate, 101–150 Poor, 151–200 Unhealthy, and anything above 200 is labeled Severe or Hazardous.

New Delhi, Nov 29: A special CBI court in Ahmedabad on Saturday sentenced former Senior Divisional Manager of Oriental Insurance Company Limited, Rajkot, Mahendra A. Loonker, to three years of rigorous imprisonment in a 13-year-old bribery case.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on the former official.

According to the CBI press note, the case was registered on July 11, 2012, following a complaint by a partner of a private firm.

Loonker, then serving as Senior Divisional Manager at the insurance company’s Rajkot office, had allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 15,000 to clear an accident insurance claim submitted by the complainant for an injured employee.

“CBI registered the instant case on July 11, 2012 against the accused person on allegations that accused Mahendra A Loonker, the then Sr. DM, Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd., Rajkot had demanded and accepted an illegal gratification of Rs 15,000 from the complainant, Partner of a private company in order to pass the Accident Insurance Claim filed by him regarding the accident and injury of his employee,” the CBI said.

CBI officials arrested Loonker the same day the FIR was filed, after he was found to have accepted the bribe.

Subsequent searches were carried out at his residence and office premises in Rajkot. Investigators later filed a chargesheet on December 3, 2012, against the accused for demanding and accepting illegal gratification and criminal misconduct committed by the accused public servant.

After examining the evidence and hearing arguments from both sides, the court held Loonker guilty and convicted him accordingly.

Meanwhile, the CBI Court in Vijayawada on Friday sentenced a former Railway official to one year of imprisonment in a nearly two-decade-old bribery case.

The court convicted Matta Dharma Rao, who was serving as Assistant Divisional Engineer with South Central Railway in Bhimavaram, West Godavari district, for demanding and accepting illegal gratification from a contractor.

Patna, Nov 29: A day after a purported video showed supporters using guns to fire in the air during the victory march of Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha in Lakhisarai, Superintendent of Police Ajay Kumar on Saturday clarified that “firecracker guns, not firearms” were used in the celebratory firing.

Vijay Kumar Sinha, who has been elected from Lakhisarai for the fifth time, was welcomed by supporters in a grand procession.

The video circulating on social media alleged that supporters used firearms, triggering sharp criticism. However, the police investigation found the claims to be misleading.

According to SP Ajay Kumar, the device seen in the video was seized and examined by an armourer.

The probe confirmed that it was not a real rifle but a firecracker gun, a device commonly used for fireworks, bird-scaring, and to chase away nilgai and boars that damage crops in the region.

“It poses no threat to life or property,” the SP said.

Locals said that such devices are traditionally used in weddings, festivals, and celebrations involving the fulfilment of vows. After verifying their statements, police released the two youths seen handling the device in the video.

The Superintendent of Police urged the public to verify the authenticity of any video or claim before sharing it online, cautioning against the spread of misinformation.

He reiterated that the firing involved only a firecracker containing gunpowder, not a live bullet.

Following the viral video, RJD leaders were quick to target the Deputy Chief Minister.

From the party’s official X handle, RJD posted, “Fire the bullet, show the double-barrelled gun, intimidate the public – the government of loud speeches has arrived. Now for five years, keep listening to sermons based on stories from 25–30 years ago, because this government is capable of nothing more than this.”

RJD spokesperson Ejaz Ahmed also criticised the administration, saying, “The gunfire that greeted Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sinha shows the true state of affairs in Bihar. While the Home Minister talks about expelling crime and criminals, the government must clarify what action will be taken against those who created fear among the public with such firing.”