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Thursday,16-April-2026
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Maharashtra

With 1,033 fresh Covid cases, India sees marginal decline

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India recorded 1,033 cases fresh cases in a span of 24 hours, a marginal decline against previous day’s count of 1,086, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Thursday.

In the same period, 43 Covid related fatalities have occurred across the country, taking the death toll to 5,21,530.

Following a continuous downward trend, the country’s active caseload has declined to 11,639. Active cases now constitute 0.03 per cent of the country’s total positive cases.

A total of 1,222 patients have recovered in the last 24 hours and the cumulative tally of recovered patients since the beginning of the pandemic is now at 4,24,98,789. Consequently, the country’s recovery rate stands at 98.76 per cent.

Also in the same period, a total of 4,82,039 tests were conducted across the country. India has so far conducted over 79.25 crore cumulative tests.

There has been a sustained fall in the weekly and daily positivity rates too. The weekly positivity rate in the country currently stands at 0.22 per cent, however the daily positivity rate is also reported to be 0.21 per cent.

On the vaccination front, COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 185.20 crore as per provisional reports till 7 a.m. on Thursday morning. This has been achieved through 2,22,20,478 sessions.

Over 2.04 crore adolescents have been administered with the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine since the beginning of vaccination drive for this age bracket.

More than 15.92 crore balance and unutilised Covid vaccine doses are still available with the states and UTs to be administered.

Maharashtra

Fire Breaks Out At Decoration Material Unit In Mumbai’s Goregaon; Shop Completely Gutted In Blaze

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Mumbai: A fire broke out at a decoration materials unit in Bangur Nagar area of Mumbai’s Goregaon West on Thursday morning, leading to a swift response from multiple emergency agencies. No injuries have been reported so far.

Visuals of the fire show massive flames and sparks coming out of the shop. The commercial unit can be seen completely gutted in the blaze. Traffic can be seen moving at a slow pace near the fire site.

According to the Mumbai Fire Brigade, the incident was reported at around 9:25 am at Nidhi Decorator, located in Motilal Nagar No. 2, opposite D-Mart. The blaze was classified as a Level I fire at 9:37 am, indicating a minor fire that was brought under control quickly.

Fire officials said the blaze was confined to decoration materials within the premises, preventing it from spreading to nearby structures. Firefighters were immediately dispatched to the spot and initiated containment operations.

Along with the fire brigade, teams from the police, electricity provider Adani, 108 ambulance services, and local ward staff were mobilised as a precautionary measure. Authorities ensured that the surrounding area was secured and any potential hazards were addressed immediately.

Officials confirmed that no injuries or casualties were reported in the incident. The quick response by emergency services played a key role in preventing escalation.

The cause of the fire is yet to be determined, and further investigation is underway.

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Maharashtra

BMC Shake-Up: Mumbai Civic Body Commissioner Ashwini Bhide Orders Key Transfers Within 15 Days Of Taking Charge

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Mumbai: In a swift administrative overhaul, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Commissioner Ashwini Bhide initiated a series of key transfers across the civic body within just 15 days of assuming office.

According to reports, several Assistant Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners and officers from the engineering cadre have been reassigned as part of the reshuffle aimed at streamlining governance and improving efficiency in Mumbai’s civic administration.

Among the key changes, Deputy Chief Engineer cadre officer Jitendra Ghorade has been appointed as the full-time Assistant Commissioner of the B Ward. Meanwhile, the current B Ward Assistant Commissioner, Yogesh Desai, has been transferred to the D Ward.

In another key move, Santosh Salunkhe, who was serving as Assistant Commissioner in the C Ward, has also been shifted to the D Ward. In addition to his new posting, he has been given charge of the city’s encroachment removal department, a critical portfolio in Mumbai’s urban management.

The reshuffle also includes the appointment of Alka Sasane, Assistant Commissioner from the market department, who has been assigned additional charge in the C Ward.

Officials noted that this is not the first round of transfers under Bhide’s leadership. Earlier, four Assistant Commissioners were reassigned soon after she took charge. The latest round further expands the scope of administrative changes within the civic body.

According to the report, quoting sources within the BMC, the transfers are part of a broader effort to strengthen accountability and ensure better coordination across departments. The changes come at a crucial time as the civic body prepares to tackle key urban challenges, including infrastructure projects, monsoon preparedness, and encroachment issues.

The rapid pace of these decisions signals a proactive approach by the new commissioner, with a focus on administrative efficiency and on-ground implementation. Such reshuffles are often seen as a way to bring fresh momentum to governance by placing officers in roles best suited to their experience and expertise.

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Crime

Amravati Sexual Abuse Case: Waris Pathan Refutes Mohammad Ayaz AIMIM Link, Says ‘Have No Connection With Him, But Cannot Run Bulldozer…’

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Mumbai: AIMIM leader Waris Pathan has issued a clarification that All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has no connection with the Amravati sexual abuse case accused, Mohammad Ayaz. Pathan’s statement came as Ayaz’s background came under scrutiny, as he was allegedly associated with the party in the past.

Social media posts showed Ayaz participating in political events and interacting with local leaders, including receiving a letter from party functionary Haji Irfan Khan. However, several such posts were deleted after the case surfaced.

Speaking on this, Waris Pathan said Ayaz had only a brief social media interaction years ago and denied any formal association. Pathan stressed that the accused must face strict legal action for the alleged crimes. “Why should he be connected to the party?” he questioned.

Though he called for strict action against the accused and said, “Such people should be put behind bars. You cannot insult a woman, and those who have done such a disgusting act, legal action should be taken against them.”

Ayaz, also known as Tanveer, has emerged as the prime accused in a disturbing case involving the alleged sexual exploitation of at least 180 minor girls in Amravati district. A resident of Paratwada city, Ayaz is accused of luring minor girls through a so-called ‘love trap,’ befriending them via social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Snapchat before allegedly exploiting them.

Authorities in Amravati district carried out a demolition drive at the residence of Mohammad Ayaz as part of an action against illegal construction linked to him. Pathan called the bulldozer action unconstitutional. Action must be taken against the accused and not his entire family. He added, “The Supreme Court has clearly said that bulldozer action without due process is unconstitutional. If there is any allegation of illegality, proper notice should be given, a reply should be taken, and only then action can be taken as per law. You cannot punish families in the name of action against one individual.”

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