NEW DELHI: The Indian government, following the tragic bus accident near Medina in Saudi Arabia that reportedly killed 42 passengers, has released emergency helpline numbers to assist families. The Consulate General of India in Jeddah has activated a 24×7 control room, with the following contact details: 8002440003 (toll free), 0122614093, 0126614276, 0556122301 (WhatsApp).The crash occurred around 1.30 am IST on Monday when the bus, travelling from Mecca to Medina, collided with a diesel tanker. Many of the victims are believed to be from Hyderabad, including 20 women and 11 children. Most passengers were asleep at the time of the collision. Local residents rushed to help rescue teams, while Saudi authorities have yet to issue an official casualty count.

Also read| Medina-bound bus collides with diesel tanker; majority of pilgrims from HyderabadMany of the victims are believed to be from Hyderabad, including 20 women and 11 children. Most passengers were asleep when the collision occurred. Local residents reportedly rushed to help rescue teams, while Saudi authorities have yet to issue an official casualty count.Following the tragedy, the Telangana government set up a control room at the state Secretariat. Chief minister Revanth Reddy directed top officials to gather full details, coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Saudi Embassy, and extend immediate support to affected families. The CMO said chief secretary Ramakrishna Rao also alerted the Resident Commissioner in Delhi to collect information about passengers from Telangana.Also read|Mecca-Medina bus crash: What we know so farExternal affairs minister S Jaishankar said on X that he was “deeply shocked” by the incident and added that the Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah were extending “fullest support” to affected Indian nationals. He offered condolences to the families of the deceased and wished a swift recovery to the injured.Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi was quoted by news agency ANI as saying that he had contacted two local travel agencies and forwarded passenger lists to the Indian Embassy in Riyadh. He also spoke with deputy chief of mission Abu Mathen George, who informed him that Saudi authorities were collecting further details.

MUMBAI: Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s family-run trust has expressed interest in taking over operations of the 580-bed medical college at Govandi’s newly built Shatabdi Hospital, according to tender documents. The move comes even after opposition to public-private partnership projects from unions, residents, and health activists in the area.The hospital, constructed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation at an estimated cost of Rs 500 crore over five years in one of Mumbai’s poorest areas, received three expressions of interest. One of the parties was rejected for failing to meet technical requirements.

Terna Public Charitable Trust, headed by Padmasinh Patil, half-brother of Sunetra Pawar (wife of Ajit Pawar), and whose trustee is Pawar’s nephew and BJP Tuljapur MLA Ranajagjitsinha Patil, is one of the two parties that will now participate in the bidding process. A Telangana-based group, Surabhi Educational Society, which runs the Surabhi Institute of Medical Sciences in Siddipet, has also expressed interest in operating the Shatabdi Hospital campus. Of its 580 proposed beds, only 264 would be reserved for BMC patients, defined in the expression-of-interest documents as only those who are residents of Mumbai and MMR who hold yellow or orange ration cards issued by the Maharashtra govt, effectively excluding everyone else.The second facility, which incidentally falls in the same M-East Ward as Shatabdi and is also set for privatisation, is the 480-bed Lallubhai Compound Hospital. The hospital is surrounded by rehabilitated slum dwellers, and only about 150 beds would be set aside for BMC patients.Dr Abhay Shukla, part of Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, the health advocacy group which has been opposing PPP, said, “There is a clear conflict of interest. When such decisions are taken, abuse of power cannot be ruled out. Operating a medical college is profitable; it also helps increase political influence. There is no way to ensure accountability if they (Terna) are selected to run the hospital.”BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani said, “Same rules and regulations will apply to Terna as other parties. It is open to all and they qualify to participate in the process.”The trust already operates a medical college in Navi Mumbai. “We tried a lot to find more private partners to run (Shatabdi Hospital) medical college, but there is very little interest shown. It is possible that up-front capital expenditure investment is one reason; medical colleges break even only after seven to eight years.”But many, like Dr Shukla, view such PPP models as the death knell to affordable healthcare in the first place. It is not an unreasonable fear. A study published in the Journal of Community System For Health in June mapped out 40 already existing public-private partnership projects between 2017 and 2023 in Pune and Mumbai. The data showed high disparity between PPP facilities rates versus the same rates at other public facilities, like the angioplasty rate in the PPP project was noted to be Rs 67,450 as opposed to the public hospital rate of Rs 3,500.“There is no denying there are issues with the current condition of public hospitals all across, but the solution is to address severe manpower problems,” said Dr Shukla.There have been several protests by locals in Govandi and Lallubhaui Compound, where these hospitals are based, but all have reached a dead end so far. “We are trying to make privatisation in health an issue based on which people will cast their vote in the upcoming elections. But political parties have shown little interest in taking it up,” said Shubham Kothari, with Aspatal Bachao, Nijikaran Hatao Andolan.Meanwhile, BMC has also received a sea of bids for their other hospital-based PPP projects for services like cardiology, blood banks, and radiology services. Some of the bidders have already worked with the BMC in the past; others have even had bad experiences. “This time around, there is no financial transaction with BMC. It is like they will provide the facility to us on rent, and we will provide concessional services to their patients,” said one of the bidders who runs one of the top hospitals in the city.

NEW DELHI: More than 40 Indian Umrah pilgrims are feared dead after a passenger bus collided with a diesel tanker in Saudi Arabia early Monday, according to initial reports from local sources. Many of the victims are believed to be from Hyderabad.

Meanwhile, Telangana Haj Committee said that, “42 pilgrims, lost their lives.”24×7 helpline number:8002440003 (Toll free), 0122614093, 0126614276, 0556122301 (WhatsApp)Also read |Indian pilgrims killed in Saudi bus crash: Owaisi requests govt to bring back bodies – What we know so far

Telangana chief minister Revanth Reddy said he was shocked to learn about the accident involving pilgrims from the state, with early information indicating that 42 people were on board the bus. He directed the chief secretary and director general of police to immediately gather complete details, including the number of passengers from Telangana.“He asked how many people lived in Telangana. He advised them to speak with officials from the Central Ministry of External Affairs and the Saudi Embassy. He ordered that, if necessary, they should immediately enter the field to provide appropriate relief efforts. With the CM’s orders, CS Ramakrishna Rao alerted the Resident Commissioner Gaurav Uppal, who is in Delhi. He ordered to collect details on how many people belonging to our state are in the accident and provide them immediately. A control room was set up in the Secretariat,” the CMO said.Also read | Mecca-Medina bus crash: Control room set up in Jeddah – here are the helpline numbers

The crash occurred around 1.30 am IST while the bus was travelling from Mecca to Medina. The pilgrims had completed their rituals in Mecca and were heading to Medina when the collision happened. Most passengers were reportedly asleep at the time. Preliminary information suggests the victims include 20 women and 11 children from Hyderabad.Local residents rushed to the spot to assist rescue teams. While Saudi authorities have yet to issue an official toll, on-ground sources said more than 40 people died on the spot. The bus is believed to have been carrying pilgrims from Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana.

The Telangana government has set up a control room at the state Secretariat to coordinate information and assist affected families. Officials have been instructed to remain in constant touch with the Ministry of External Affairs and Saudi authorities as the situation unfolds.Indian consulate in Jeddah opens 24×7 helplineIn view of the tragedy, the Consulate General of India in Jeddah has activated a 24×7 control room for assistance.Helpline number (toll free): 8002440003Asaduddin Owaisi says he contacted travel agencies, MEA officialsHyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi expressed grief over the incident. He told ANI that he had contacted two Hyderabad-based travel agencies and shared the list of passengers with the Indian Embassy in Riyadh. He also spoke to Abu Mathen George, deputy chief of Mission, who informed him that local authorities were gathering details and would update him soon.Meanwhile, EAM Jaishankar in a post on X said, “Deeply shocked at the accident involving Indian nationals in Medinah, Saudi Arabia. Our Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate in Jeddah are giving fullest support to Indian nationals and families affected by this accident. Sincere condolences to the bereaved families. Pray for the speedy recovery of those injured.”

NEW DELHI: More than 40 Indian Umrah pilgrims are feared dead after a passenger bus collided with a diesel tanker in Saudi Arabia early Monday, according to initial reports from local sources. Many of the victims are believed to be from Hyderabad.

Meanwhile, Telangana Haj Committee said that, “42 pilgrims, lost their lives.”24×7 helpline number:8002440003 (Toll free), 0122614093, 0126614276, 0556122301 (WhatsApp)Also read |Indian pilgrims killed in Saudi bus crash: Owaisi requests govt to bring back bodies – What we know so far

Telangana chief minister Revanth Reddy said he was shocked to learn about the accident involving pilgrims from the state, with early information indicating that 42 people were on board the bus. He directed the chief secretary and director general of police to immediately gather complete details, including the number of passengers from Telangana.“He asked how many people lived in Telangana. He advised them to speak with officials from the Central Ministry of External Affairs and the Saudi Embassy. He ordered that, if necessary, they should immediately enter the field to provide appropriate relief efforts. With the CM’s orders, CS Ramakrishna Rao alerted the Resident Commissioner Gaurav Uppal, who is in Delhi. He ordered to collect details on how many people belonging to our state are in the accident and provide them immediately. A control room was set up in the Secretariat,” the CMO said.Also read | Mecca-Medina bus crash: Control room set up in Jeddah – here are the helpline numbers

The crash occurred around 1.30 am IST while the bus was travelling from Mecca to Medina. The pilgrims had completed their rituals in Mecca and were heading to Medina when the collision happened. Most passengers were reportedly asleep at the time. Preliminary information suggests the victims include 20 women and 11 children from Hyderabad.Local residents rushed to the spot to assist rescue teams. While Saudi authorities have yet to issue an official toll, on-ground sources said more than 40 people died on the spot. The bus is believed to have been carrying pilgrims from Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana.

The Telangana government has set up a control room at the state Secretariat to coordinate information and assist affected families. Officials have been instructed to remain in constant touch with the Ministry of External Affairs and Saudi authorities as the situation unfolds.Indian consulate in Jeddah opens 24×7 helplineIn view of the tragedy, the Consulate General of India in Jeddah has activated a 24×7 control room for assistance.Helpline number (toll free): 8002440003Asaduddin Owaisi says he contacted travel agencies, MEA officialsHyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi expressed grief over the incident. He told ANI that he had contacted two Hyderabad-based travel agencies and shared the list of passengers with the Indian Embassy in Riyadh. He also spoke to Abu Mathen George, deputy chief of Mission, who informed him that local authorities were gathering details and would update him soon.Meanwhile, EAM Jaishankar in a post on X said, “Deeply shocked at the accident involving Indian nationals in Medinah, Saudi Arabia. Our Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate in Jeddah are giving fullest support to Indian nationals and families affected by this accident. Sincere condolences to the bereaved families. Pray for the speedy recovery of those injured.”

BADLAPUR: On the second-last day of filing nominations for the Badlapur Municipal Council elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) displayed a major show of strength as its President (Mayoral) candidate, Ruchita Ghorpade, submitted her nomination form. The event witnessed an impressive turnout of party workers and leaders.With the Mahayuti alliance failed to materialize between the BJP and Shiv Sena in Badlapur, the upcoming election is expected to see a direct contest between the two parties. Meanwhile, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has yet to finalize its candidate for the President post.For the Badlapur Municipal Council polls, the BJP has formed an alliance with the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) and the RPI. The Ajit Pawar-led NCP is set to field nine candidates in this election of which eight filed nomination on Sunday with Ghorpade. On Sunday, several prominent leaders were present for Ghorpade’s nomination filing, including former Union Minister Kapil Patil, MLA Kishan Kathore, and Ashish Damle, Chairman of the Parshuram Economic Development Corporation (PEDC).Badlapur, once considered a BJP stronghold, has seen Shiv Sena’s Waman Mhatre win the President post for the last two consecutive terms. This time, Shiv Sena may field his wife, Veena Mhatre, and the party is confident of retaining the seat.Speaking at the nomination event, former Union Minister Kapil Patil said, “Badlapur has elected a BJP mayor twice in the past. In keeping with the spirit of the city’s name, Badlapur, this election will definitely bring a change, and we are confident the BJP will reclaim the President’s post.”Local BJP MLA Kishan Kathore has also been actively working to ensure that the BJP secures the President position this time.

NEW DELHI: The govt’s unified digital platform, e-Jagriti, which enables consumers to file and track grievances with all consumer commissions, has garnered over 2.7 lakh registered users, including 1,388 NRIs, since its launch on Jan 1.In a statement, the consumer affairs department said on Sunday that as of Nov 13, the unified portal has facilitated over 1.3 lakh case filings and ensured the disposal of more than 1.27 lakh cases. “This year, 466 complaints by NRIs have been filed through the platform, with major participation from countries such as the US (146), UK (52), the UAE (47), Canada (39), Australia (26) and Germany (18),” it said.The e-Jagriti platform integrates legacy systems and portals into a single seamless interface. It streamlines procedures for citizens by reducing paperwork, minimising travel and eliminating physical documentation. It also strengthens access for NRIs by removing geographical barriers and allowing them to assert their consumer rights from abroad.The department said with its OTP-based registration, e-Jagriti enables people, including NRIs, to file complaints, make digital or offline fee payments, participate in virtual hearings, exchange documents online and track cases in real time. It is operational at the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) and in all states and UTs“NRIs and citizens can file and manage cases from any location, with secure end-to-end encryption and role-based permissions. Automated workflows, real-time updates via SMS/email, and virtual hearings have contributed to disposal rates exceeding 100% in 10 states and in the NCDRC recently. Features such as multilingual interfaces and accessibility tools make it user-friendly for diverse demographics, while integration with Bharat Kosh and PayGov gateways ensures hassle-free fee payments,” an official said.The department said the platform has recorded an increase in disposal efficiency this year. Between July-Aug, 27,545 cases were disposed of against 27,080 filed, and in Sept-Oct, 24,504 cases were disposed of against 21,592 filed — both surpassing the 2024 performance and demonstrating faster resolution of complaints.

NEW DELHI: RJD leader Rohini Acharya’s announcement that she is quitting politics, along with emotional allegations of humiliation and abuse by her own family, drew sympathy from Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan, who referenced his own experiences with personal crises while responding to the matter.On Saturday, Rohini declared that she was separating from both her family and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). A day later, she escalated her allegations, accusing her brother Tejashwi Yadav of humiliating and abusing her, claiming that the situation deteriorated to the point where “a slipper was raised to hit her.”

Also read | Lalu pari-war: After Rohini, 3 more daughters walk out of Patna homeIn a post on X, she wrote, “Yesterday, a daughter, a sister, a married woman, a mother was humiliated, abuses were hurled, shoes were raised to kill her… I didn’t compromise on my self-respect, didn’t give up on truth… just because of this, I had to face insults. Yesterday, a daughter left her crying parents and siblings due to helplessness… she was forced to leave her parental home… she was made an orphan… I pray that none of you ever have to walk my path, and no house should have a daughter-sister like Rohini.“Speaking to reporters Sunday, Chirag Paswan said, “I will not make any comments on this because I can understand the mental status when a family goes through such a difficult situation. I have also been through this.”Paswan added that political differences have never affected his personal warmth toward Lalu Prasad Yadav’s children. “We might have had political differences but I have always considered Lalu ji’s family my own. Be it Tejashwi, Tej, Misa or Rohini, I have considered them my siblings,” he said, as quoted by ANI. “I pray that this family dispute is resolved at the earliest. If there is unity in the family, a person can fight tough situations outside. The family must be going through a tough situation,” he added.Rohini’s public fallout comes on the heels of the RJD’s dramatic electoral collapse, with the Tejashwi-led party winning just 25 of 143 seats- a loss of more than 100 seats.Also read | ‘Will bury those who attack family’: Tej Pratap says insult to Rohini ‘unbearable’Her brother Tej Pratap Yadav, who himself was expelled from both the Yadav family and the RJD a few months earlier, also reacted to the developments, warning those he called “traitors” and issuing an emotional appeal to his father, Lalu Prasad Yadav.

The data for this weather forecast has been sourced from AQI.in, providing residents with comprehensive information to plan their daily activities and weekly schedules accordingly.Mumbai is experiencing a bright and sunny day on November 17, 2025, with comfortable temperatures ranging from 22°C to 29.1°C, making it ideal for outdoor activities despite yesterday’s ‘Poor’ air quality with an AQI of 158, primarily due to elevated PM2.5, PM10, and carbon monoxide levels, prompting advice for mask usage, while the week ahead promises consistently pleasant weather with clear skies and no rain.Mumbai wakes up to a bright and sunny morning today, November 17, 2025. Clear skies are dominating the day.The forecast promises a comfortable high of 29.1°C. A refreshing low of 22°C is also expected.The day kicks off with a cool morning. This is perfect for a jog or a stroll along Marine Drive.As the sun climbs higher, temperatures will peak at 29.1°C by the afternoon. The humidity remains low at 41%, ensuring a comfortable experience.A gentle breeze of 15.8 km/h will keep the air feeling fresh. Excellent visibility of 10 km is reported.There are zero chances of rain today. This makes it a great day for both work and leisure.The evening will cool down gradually. Temperatures will drop to 22°C after sunset.This makes the evening pleasant for outdoor dinners. It is also suitable for a late-night walk.

Air Quality Concerns

Yesterday, Mumbai’s air quality was classified as ‘Poor’. It registered an AQI of 158.This air quality might still linger in certain traffic-heavy areas.The primary pollutants were PM2.5 at 77 µg/m³ and PM10 at 102 µg/m³. Both of these exceeded safe limits.Carbon monoxide levels were also elevated at 258 µg/m³. This was likely due to increased vehicular traffic and industrial emissions.

Health and Safety Advice

For those planning to step out, carrying a mask is a good idea. This is especially true during peak hours when vehicular emissions are higher.While the sunny weather today might help disperse some pollutants, sensitive individuals should remain cautious. This particularly applies to those with respiratory issues.Masking up in crowded areas is advisable. Staying hydrated is also recommended.

Outdoor Activities and Precautions

With sunny skies and a gentle breeze, today is perfect for outdoor plans.Early risers can enjoy the crisp morning air.Late afternoons are ideal for a trip to the beach or a park.However, given yesterday’s lingering pollution, it is wise to avoid heavily congested areas. This applies during peak traffic hours.Those commuting by bike or on foot should consider wearing sunglasses and a mask. This helps protect against dust and emissions.For a stress-free evening, opting for open-air spaces like cafes with outdoor seating is suggested.

The Week Ahead

The coming week in Mumbai looks consistently pleasant. Little change in weather patterns is expected.Temperatures will hover between 22°C and 30.5°C. This maintains a comfortable range.The skies will remain clear. No rain is expected over the next seven days.November 21, a Friday, will be the warmest day. Highs of 30.5°C are predicted for this day.November 23, a Sunday, will see slightly higher humidity. It is expected to reach 49%.If planning outdoor activities, Tuesday, November 18, and Wednesday, November 19, are particularly favourable. These days offer clear skies and moderate temperatures.

“Interestingly, yesterday’s AQI of 158 was among the highest this month, reflecting the impact of increased pollution post-Diwali.”

“However, the consistent sunny weather over the coming week should help improve air quality gradually.”

“Data referenced in this article is taken from AQI.in.”