THANE: Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad on Wednesday defended party corporator Ramesh Mhatre, saying that while assaulting a doctor is wrong, such incidents can occur in moments of anger.His remarks come amid outrage over allegations that Mhatre assaulted a woman doctor at a civic hospital in Dombivli, triggering protests by doctors and demands for his arrest.Speaking to the media, Sanjay Gaikwad said, “Anger arises when doctors have been negligent, haven’t provided treatment, when a patient is suffering in some way. In anger, some people raise their hands, some file complaints.”“What he did is wrong, but perhaps in anger it happened unintentionally. Maharashtra’s hospitals are in bad shape; the attitude toward patients is not right,” Gaikwad added further.Earlier in the day, Vishnu Nagar police arrested three people in connection with the alleged assault on doctors and hospital staff at Shastri Nagar Hospital. Mhatre, who has also been named in the FIR, has not yet been arrested.Police said the three arrested are supporters of Mhatre and are accused of attacking a doctor and nursing staff after a dispute over the treatment of a patient.Based on a complaint by doctor Vaibhav Salunkhe, police registered a case against four men, including Mhatre, and a woman under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Maharashtra Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage or Loss to Property) Act, 2010.Mhatre has denied assaulting the woman doctor, saying he only tried to take away her mobile phone while she was speaking on it because he wanted an update on the patient’s condition.“The lady doctor is like my daughter. It is not part of Shiv Sena’s values to raise a hand against a woman,” he said.The incident has sparked protests by doctors across Kalyan-Dombivli. Following a call by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), routine outpatient and non-emergency services remained suspended at several civic and private hospitals, while emergency and critical care services continued.Doctors have demanded the immediate arrest of all those named in the FIR, including Mhatre, and stricter enforcement of the Maharashtra Medicare Act, saying repeated attacks on healthcare workers are endangering medical professionals.The issue also reached the Maharashtra Assembly, where Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray condemned the alleged assault and demanded that Mhatre be removed from his post.

According to the police, the three arrested are supporters of Mhatre and are accused of assaulting a doctor and nursing staff following a dispute over the treatment of a patient at the civic hospital.

KALYAN: The Vishnu Nagar police have arrested three persons in connection with the assault on doctors and hospital staff at Shastri Nagar Hospital in Dombivli, while Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre, who has also been named in the FIR, is yet to be arrested.According to the police, the three arrested are supporters of Mhatre and are accused of assaulting a doctor and nursing staff following a dispute over the treatment of a patient at the civic hospital.Based on the complaint filed by doctor Vaibhav Salunkhe, the police had earlier registered a case against four men, including Mhatre, and a woman under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Maharashtra Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage or Loss to Property) Act, 2010.Earlier on Wednesday, Mhatre denied allegations that he had assaulted the woman doctor. He claimed that he had merely tried to snatch her mobile phone as she continued speaking on it while he was seeking information about the patient’s condition.“The lady doctor is like my daughter. It is not part of Shiv Sena’s values to raise a hand against a woman,” Mhatre said, rejecting the allegations against him.Meanwhile, doctors across Kalyan-Dombivli intensified their protest against the assault.Following a call by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), routine outpatient and non-emergency healthcare services remained suspended at civic hospitals, including Shastri Nagar, Rukminibai, Harkishan Das Hospital, Shaktidham Hospital and Vasant Valley Maternity Hospital, as well as several private hospitals. However, emergency and critical care services continued to function.Doctors demanded the immediate arrest of all those named in the case, including Mhatre, and sought strict action under the Maharashtra Medicare Act.They said attacks on healthcare workers were becoming increasingly frequent and warned that unless strong action was taken, such incidents would continue to undermine the safety of medical professionals while on duty.In the state assembly Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray criticises the assault on doctors in Kalyan. Demands that the Corporator be removed from his post

The incident took place at the Shastri Nagar Hospital, run by the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC), in Kalyan on Monday evening.

THANE: A case has been registered against Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre and five others for allegedly assaulting two doctors at a civic-run hospital in Maharashtra’s Thane district after the family of a newborn was advised to shift the baby to another facility, police said on Wednesday.The incident took place at the Shastri Nagar Hospital, run by the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC), in Kalyan on Monday evening.A video of the incident, purportedly showing the corporator assaulting the doctors, later went viral on social media.The FIR was registered on Tuesday night following outrage and pressure from the Indian Medical Association (IMA), which had threatened to shut clinics and hospitals in the area if immediate action was not taken.According to police, doctors Srishti Bawiskar and Vaibhav Salunkhe had advised the relatives of a newborn to shift the baby to another hospital due to a lack of space in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).Angered by the advice, the relatives contacted the corporator, who allegedly reached the hospital, abused and assaulted the doctors. Dr Salunkhe sustained injuries in the incident.KDMC medical health officer Dr Deepa Shukla and hospital staff approached the police late on Monday night, but a case was not registered at the time.The video of the alleged assault surfaced on social media on Tuesday afternoon, prompting criticism from the public and medical bodies, which accused the ruling Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena of shielding the corporator.Demanding the immediate arrest of Mhatre and his associates, hospital staff staged a “work-stop” protest on Tuesday.A delegation of IMA’s Kalyan and Dombivli units, along with leaders of the civic workers’ union, also met KDMC commissioner Abhinav Goyal.The IMA also threatened to shut all private clinics and hospitals in the region on Wednesday if an FIR was not registered. It also demanded the immediate arrest of the corporator and his supporters.Police subsequently booked the corporator, his four male supporters and a woman under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including those related to assault or criminal force against a public servant, voluntarily causing hurt, criminal intimidation, intentional insult, unlawful assembly and rioting.Assistant commissioner of police Suhas Nemade said an investigation is underway and no arrests have been made so far.(With inputs from PTI)

A protest erupted at the hospital after staff suspended routine medical services due to an alleged assault incident (Representative image created using AI)

KALYAN: Routine medical services at the KDMC-run Shastrinagar Hospital in Dombivli remained suspended on Tuesday after doctors and nurses launched a protest against the alleged assault on hospital staff by relatives of a pregnant patient and Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre.Emergency services, however, continued uninterrupted.According to hospital officials, the incident occurred late on Monday night when 33-year-old Priyanka Ugmale, a resident of the Kopar Road area, was admitted to the hospital.The woman, who was nine months pregnant, was diagnosed with two loops of the umbilical cord around the foetus, following which doctors planned a lower segment caesarean section (LSCS).Hospital sources said doctors anticipated that the newborn might require admission to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) after delivery.However, as the hospital’s NICU was full, the medical team began exploring alternative arrangements for the baby.Meanwhile, the patient’s relatives allegedly contacted Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre, who arrived at the hospital and entered into an argument with the treating doctors over the delay in treatment.During the altercation, Mhatre allegedly assaulted nurses, a doctor and the attending gynaecologist.Doctors subsequently shifted the patient to KDMC-run Vasant Valley Maternity Hospital, where the caesarean section was performed and the newborn was admitted to the NICU for observation.Following the incident, doctors and nurses staged a work boycott on Tuesday morning, suspending routine outpatient and other non-emergency services.They demanded strict legal action against all those involved in the assault, including Mhatre, stating that violence against healthcare workers cannot be tolerated.The Indian Medical Association also condemned the attack and urged the authorities to take stringent action against the accused.Hospital staff alleged that Mhatre had earlier been involved in an assault on doctors at Shastrinagar Hospital and claimed that despite the latest incident, the hospital administration was considering registering a case only against the patient’s relatives.They demanded that Mhatre also be named as an accused in the FIR.As part of their protest, doctors and hospital staff have gathered at KDMC headquarter to met KDMC Commissioner Abhinav Goel, urging him to ensure that a case is registered against the corporator and that strict action is taken against everyone responsible for the assault.Shastrinagar Hospital’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Sadiya Pinjari, said that while routine services had been temporarily suspended as part of the staff protest, emergency medical services continued to function normally.She added that the matter will be reported to the police and further action would be taken following the investigation.

Thane recorded a season-high of 110 tree-fall incidents, 38 fallen tree branches, 14 dangerous trees, and six dangerous tree branches.

THANE: Two people, including a fireman, were injured in separate rain-related incidents as Thane witnessed the heaviest spell of the 2026 monsoon, recording 208 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours ending 8. 30am on July 6.Municipal commissioner Saurabh Rao instructed all concerned departments to remain on constant alert and take immediate preventive measures in areas prone to waterlogging.“The Corporation is continuously monitoring every rain-related situation, and all departments have been instructed to remain on high alert. We are appealing citizens to avoid stepping out unless absolutely necessary, refrain from believing or spreading rumours, and contact the Corporation’s emergency department at 022-25371010 during emergency,” said Rao.The incessant rain kept civic emergency teams on their toes, with the disaster management cell receiving 186 distress calls during the period. These included a season-high 110 tree-fall incidents, 38 fallen tree branches, 14 dangerous trees and six dangerous tree branches, even as the numbers threatened to increase by late Monday evening, among other complaints.A resident identified as Pandurang Bhuvad suffered serious injuries after a tree fell on him while he was standing near an autorickshaw on the Eastern Express Highway service road at Louiswadi. He was rushed to a nearby hospital by locals where he underwent surgery.In another incident, a 32-year-old fireman with the Thane Municipal Corporation suffered a serious leg injury after being struck by a cutting machine while removing a tree that had fallen on a residential building in Vrindavan. He was admitted to Kalwa Municipal Hospital.Speaking over the tree falls in the city, Rao said over 6,000 trees were pruned in the last four months using scientific methods. Incidents of trees and branches falling have increased in the last few days of heavy rains and wind but we have doubled our manpower and ensured quick response to such incidents. Responsibility for trees pruning lies within housing society premises but we undertake such works on requests.The administration has also initiated measures to address potholes on city roads using mastic technology.Meanwhile, the regional disaster management cell (RDMC) said the city recorded its most intense hourly spell of rain between 4.30 am and 5.30 am, with an average of 30 mm. The latest downpour pushed Thane’s cumulative seasonal rainfall to 1,157 mm, surpassing the 989 mm recorded during the corresponding period last year.In another rain-related incident, the retaining wall of a housing society collapsed at Gokul Nagar around 6 am on Monday. Strong winds also brought down a large hoarding structure on Pokhran Road No. 2, disrupting traffic for several hours. No injuries were reported in either incident.Following the hoarding collapse, the Thane Congress demanded a citywide structural audit of all hoardings and similar installations.Rao clarified that the structural audits of all hoardings in the city was completed before the monsoon. Nevertheless, following the Monday collapse, action will be initiated against the concerned agency.Meanwhile, though many office goers preferred to work from home or return early after the state declared holiday, commuters complained of inadequate modes as nearly 20% Thane municipal transport buses and several autos remained off the roads.

A content creator dressed as Spiderman assisted stranded commuters on Bhiwandi’s flooded streets.

BHIWANDI: As heavy rain inundated several parts of Bhiwandi over the past four days, an unlikely volunteer dressed as Spiderman emerged on the city’s waterlogged streets, helping stranded motorists and pedestrians navigate flooded roads while drawing both admiration and debate on social media.The man behind the costume is Shadab Momin, a Bhiwandi resident and social media content creator who regularly uploads videos in the superhero avatar. However, during the ongoing spell of heavy rain, Momin traded comedy for community service, spending hours on inundated roads assisting commuters.With several low-lying areas submerged and potholes concealed beneath murky floodwater, Momin was seen directing traffic, warning motorists about deep craters, pushing stranded two-wheelers and four-wheelers, and helping pedestrians cross flooded stretches safely. Videos of his efforts quickly went viral, earning lakhs of views and widespread appreciation from social media users.Momin, who describes himself as a comedian on Instagram and has built a large online following, said his intention was not only to help residents but also to draw attention to recurring civic issues.Speaking in one of his videos, he questioned why roads continue to get waterlogged after every spell of heavy rain despite crores of rupees being spent annually on road repairs and desilting of drains.“Every year the same roads get flooded and dangerous potholes remain hidden under water. Will the administration act only after an innocent person loses their life?” he asked.However, he said he was saddened to see his city in such a state, with roads getting waterlogged every time it rains.According to him, vehicles routinely get stranded in flooded stretches and are often damaged after hitting potholes hidden beneath the water.He said it is the responsibility of the civic authorities to repair roads and prevent waterlogging, but despite projects worth crores of rupees being sanctioned every year, residents’ grievances continue to fall on deaf ears.His videos have triggered mixed reactions online. While many users praised him for stepping in when commuters needed assistance the most, others questioned whether the act was intended to create social media content.Despite the differing opinions, residents who witnessed Momin helping people on flooded roads said his presence prevented several minor accidents by alerting motorists to submerged potholes and assisting vehicles that had become stranded.With Bhiwandi continuing to witness heavy rainfall and recurring waterlogging in several low-lying areas, Momin’s “real-life Spiderman” act has become a talking point, highlighting both individual acts of public service and persistent concerns over the city’s monsoon preparedness.

In Thane and Palghar, torrential rains unleashed chaos

THANE: Torrential rain unleashed a series of deadly incidents across Maharashtra’s Thane and Palghar districts on Sunday, leaving two people dead and several others injured as a teenager drowned in a swollen river, a man was killed in a balcony collapse, and multiple rain-triggered structural failures kept emergency teams on high alert.The relentless downpour triggered building collapses, tree falls and flooding across several areas, prompting rescue operations by civic authorities and disaster response teams.In Navi Mumbai’s Vashi Sector 11, a concrete slab from the second-floor balcony of the Ram Niwas Building crashed onto three people standing below. Rajesh Shetty (35) succumbed to his injuries, while two women sustained injuries and are undergoing treatment at a hospital.Rescue personnel and civic officials rushed to the spot, secured the area and cleared the debris.In another incident, a 17-year-old boy drowned in the swollen Kamvari River in Bhiwandi on Sunday evening. The teenager, a resident of Gaibi Nagar, had gone to the riverbank with friends to catch crabs when he was swept away by the strong current. A search operation is underway to recover his body, officials said.Meanwhile, in Thane’s Diva area, five residents were rescued after the concrete slab of a staircase in a two-storey building collapsed, blocking the only exit.Fire brigade personnel safely evacuated Pradeep Malusare (50), Prajakta Malusare (42), Chetan Malusare (21), Ganesh Rane (48) and 14-year-old Aroshi Kumdekar before removing the unstable debris.Earlier in the day, a large tree crashed onto two houses in Yashoda Niwas Society in Pachpakhadi, Thane West, damaging the roof of the structures.“Work is underway to cut and remove the tree. No one was injured at the scene,” said Yasin Tadvi, Chief of the Regional Disaster Management Cell (RDMC).An eyewitness said a civic worker had a narrow escape when the tree suddenly collapsed.In neighbouring Palghar district, heavy rain also caused the compound wall of an under-construction housing complex in Vasai to collapse onto an adjoining residential area, crushing 15 parked motorcycles.Firefighters from the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC) cleared the debris, while authorities continued to monitor rain-related incidents across the region.(With PTI inputs)