Mumbai: Ban on passengers standing at the door with bags in Mumbai local trains Now, standing with bags has been banned in Mumbai local trains because earlier there was a collision between the passengers of Pacific Express and local trains in Mumbra and Diva and the accident happened due to the bag. 4 passengers died in this. Now, passengers standing at the door with bags has been banned. Additional railway forces have been deployed on the main railway platform to monitor this. Railways has taken this step to protect passengers from accidents in trains. Railway Police and Railways have also taken steps to control the crowd and crowd. Usually there is a crowd in the evening and morning, so orders have also been issued for special monitoring at railway stations. The railway administration has now decided to run trains with automatic doors. In this, the doors will remain closed and passengers will not be able to hang out. For this, a special design will be prepared and implemented.

Mumbai, June 2025 – In a major crackdown, Mumbai Crime Branch officials raided an illegal hookah parlour in Juhu late last night, detaining a total of 45 people—including five young women—and registering cases under multiple legal provisions.

Discovery and Arrests

At around 1 a.m., Mumbai Police’s Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) raided the rooftop lounge, where patrons were being served hookah. Officers found that at least 30 customers were partaking in tobacco-laced hookah smoking. The establishment was operating without any valid licence, in clear violation of city regulations instituted after the tragic 2017 Kamala Mills blaze.

A total of 45 individuals were taken into custody—comprising staff, management, and patrons. Among them, five were young women in their early twenties, all of whom now face charges. The CIU also seized hookah paraphernalia including pipes, charcoal, tobacco mixtures, and multiple flavouring agents.

Legal Action

The accused have been booked under:

• Various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC),
• The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA),
• The Disaster Management Act, which enforced the hookah ban post the Kamala Mills fire.

Officials emphasized that hookah parlours have been strictly proscribed within Mumbai’s municipal limits following the rooftop fire disaster in 2017, which claimed 14 lives.

Safety Concerns

Authorities expressed alarm over the use of charcoal heaters and enclosed space setups—both serious fire hazards. The rooftop venue lacked any proper fire safety certifications or equipment, prompting fears of repeat incidents. City regulations firmly prohibit unauthorized structures atop buildings, particularly due to their vulnerability to rapid fire spread .

Wider Context

Since the Kamala Mills tragedy, Mumbai Police have consistently targeted illegal hookah dens. Multiple establishments have been raided in Andheri, Bandra, and other suburbs since 2021. Notably, a similar rooftop operation in Andheri in February 2021 resulted in 42 people being booked under the same statutes.

What’s Next?

All 45 detainees have been charged and are undergoing legal proceedings. Investigators are examining the hookah lounge’s ownership chain, regulatory breaches, and whether its patrons posed broader public health or safety risks. Officials also plan to study fire safety compliance more rigorously to prevent any repeat of past tragedies.

Why It Matters

• Public Safety: Enclosed hookah parlours, especially without proper fire measures, are high-risk zones.
• Legal Enforcement: Despite bans, illicit hookah operations persist, highlighting gaps in oversight.
• Policy Reminder: The Kamala Mills fire remains a stark reminder of the need for vigilance in Mumbai’s nightlife spots.

Mumbai: Maharashtra Samajwadi Party leader and MLA Abu Asim Azmi has demanded the passing of the Anti-Religious Hatred Bill. Abu Asim Azmi has sent a letter and a draft to the Secretary of the State Assembly, demanding the passing of the Anti-Religious Hatred Bill, which prohibits religious hatred including insulting important persons, religious places, holy places and blasphemy and has demanded strict legal action and law against its perpetrators. He said that the Anti-Religious Hatred Bill should be passed in the monsoon assembly session so that strict action can be taken against those who spread religious hatred in the state. He has drawn attention in his letter that in the case of religious hatred and insulting important persons, attempts are also made to incite communal violence and spoil the atmosphere. In such a situation, the Anti-Religious Hatred Law and Bill should be passed and banned. Azmi has also sent a private draft to the Secretary, suggesting action against those who spread religious hatred and insult important persons. This bill was passed in the same session. Azmi has strongly demanded this.