In Thane, countless individuals united despite torrential rains to express their objections to infrastructure developments jeopardizing Sanjay Gandhi National Park

Thane: Hundreds of citizens, trekkers and environmentalists came together Sunday morning expressing their solidarity to protect the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) and the surrounding forest area from the onslaught of several infrastructure projects which they feared could adversely impact its natural and rich ecosystem.The protestors who assembled near the Chitalsar Manpada Entry point despite the heavy rains responding to an online viral campaign appealing support to the Mission Save SGNP saw the motley group of residents carrying posters and messages resonating their resolve to save the forest and displaying their resistance to any form of man-made development.“One of our prominent demands is to stop the Thane Municipal Corporation plans to convert a part of this ecologically sensitive forest into a man-made ‘Biodiversity Park’, disregarding its already thriving natural ecosystem. The eco-sensitive zone is already facing pressure from development projects like the Borivali tunnel project, Foothill road connecting Gaimukh with Mulund, several illegal structures including bungalows and resorts which can irreversibly damage its ecosystem. We are demanding this entire stretch be left untouched,” said Nishant Bangera, a participating activist.Sashi Kumar Nair from Kokanipada said the area was once considered ‘the Kashmir of Thane’ as the temperature here would be nearly 2-3 degrees less than the city due to its proximity to the SGNP.“We shudder to think the fate of this area once so many concrete structures replace the green cover and are supporting the mission to save SGNP for our future generations,” he said.Nitin Singh from a Manpada high-rise said many residents purchased flats here to enjoy the silence and stay away from the urban din but are now considering relocation fearing the congestion and strain on the existing infra.“A huge swathe of trees has already been cleared for works making the area like a barren concrete zone already,” he said.The assembled members said their intent was to convey to the state that they are not opposed to any project but want environmental conservation above any form of development.

Thane district administration has announced a holiday for all schools and anganwadis on Monday, July 6

THANE: The Thane district administration has declared a holiday for all anganwadis, primary and secondary schools across the district on Monday, July 6, following the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) forecast of heavy to very heavy rainfall and the possibility of flash floods.Monday is the second holiday announced for schools in Thane city due to heavy rains in the region since last week.While the Thane district administration had declared a holiday on Friday also, Thane city schools however remained operational while few other corporations in the district announced a holiday.The order was issued by Collector Dr. Shrikrishna Panchal, who also heads the District Disaster Management Authority, after review of the IMD’s latest weather forecast.The administration noted that continuous heavy rain over the last few days, coupled with the forecast of intense rain could lead to waterlogging in low-lying areas creating potentially risky conditions for students to travel.

The complainant, a 36-year-old divorcee, lives with her child in the Kalyan East area of Thane district (Representative Image)

THANE: A 38-year-old man from Maharashtra’s Nandurbar district has been booked for allegedly raping a woman and cheating her of Rs 41.25 lakh after posing as a wealthy businessman on a matrimonial website, police said on Sunday. The complainant, a 36-year-old divorcee, lives with her child in the Kalyan East area of Thane district, an official from Kolsewadi police station said according to news agency PTI. According to police, the accused created a fake profile on the matrimonial platform, portraying himself as a millionaire hotelier and civil engineer. He allegedly gained the woman’s trust by promising to marry her and assuring her that he would accept her child. Police said the man allegedly sexually assaulted the woman multiple times at hotels in Panvel, Navi Mumbai, and at her residence in Kalyan.“The accused swindled Rs 41.25 lakh from her, forged documents to sell one of her cars, and unauthorisedly seized another vehicle,” a police official said, citing the FIR. Investigators suspect the accused may have targeted other women using a similar method. Efforts are underway to locate and apprehend him, police said.

Two passersby, identified as Noori Sheikh (M/ 65) and Suresh Thapa (M/ 36), sustained injuries

THANE: Two persons were injured and two houses suffered damages in various rain related incidents reported in the city Sunday morning, officials said.Two passersby, identified as Noori Sheikh (M/ 65) and Suresh Thapa (M/ 36), sustained injuries after a portion of a gallery of a first floor flat at the 45-year-old two-storey Tiwari Bhawan building at Kisan Nagar in Wagle Estate area collapsed Saturday night. Sheikh suffered head and shoulder injuries and was rushed to a local hospital where he is currently undergoing treatment, Yasin Tadvi, in-charge of Thane Regional Disaster Management Cell (RDMC) said.“Following the incident, the entire building was evacuated as a safety precaution due to the dangerous condition of the remaining gallery structure,” Tadvi said.In another incident reported Sunday morning, a tree fell on two houses in the Panchpakhadi area damaging the roofs of both structures. The incident was reported around 9 am. A conservancy staff passing the stretch narrowly escaped being hit by the falling tree, a local said. No injuries were reported in the incident.Three rooms of the Shantabai Gotawale chawl on Ambedkar road were also evacuated after a portion of the balcony collapsed Saturday evening forcing evacuation of three rooms in the structure.Meanwhile, the city recorded 184 mm rainfall in the 24 hours ending 8:30 am on Sunday disrupting normal life with around 55 complaints related to tree and branch collapse and around 24 stretches water-logged and eight wall collapses.

Thane Crime Branch arrests 3 in contractor extortion case (Representative image).

KALYAN: Three persons have been arrested by the Kalyan unit of the Thane Crime Branch for allegedly demanding Rs 15 lakh from a contractor executing a major civic project in Dombivli by threatening to repeatedly file complaints and stall the work. Police said the complainant, Harshal Kene (24), works as a supervisor with Ajwani-Metacon Joint Venture, which is executing drain and sewer construction works for the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) in Dombivli. The project is valued at around Rs 188 crore. According to investigators, the accused had obtained documents related to the project through the Right to Information (RTI) Act and subsequently submitted a written complaint to the MIDC Executive Engineer, alleging that the company was carrying out the work using inferior-quality materials and demanding action against the contractor. Police said the accused then allegedly approached the company and offered to stop pursuing the complaints in exchange for money. They allegedly demanded 1% of the total contract value and threatened to repeatedly file complaints with MIDC and disrupt the execution of the project if the payment was not made. During negotiations, the alleged demand was later reduced to Rs 15 lakh. Fed up with the alleged harassment, the company approached the Kalyan Crime Branch, following which senior police inspector Ajit Shinde formed a special team and laid a trap. During the operation, the police caught Dipesh Gautam Lokhande, 34 while he was allegedly accepting Rs 15 lakh on behalf of the other accused. Based on his interrogation, two more accused were arrested. The arrested accused have been identified as Dipesh Gautam Lokhande (31), Rahul Sudhakar Mukadam (30) and Vishal Gangaram Janakar (31). Police are searching for another accused, Naresh Rajendra Suryavanshi (29). A case of extortion, criminal intimidation and other relevant offences has been registered. Crime Branch officials are now probing whether the accused are part of an organised extortion racket targeting contractors executing government infrastructure projects and whether they have similarly extorted money from other contractors in the past.

Ulhasnagar civic chief inspects drain-cleaning after complaints.

ULHASNAGAR: Amid incessant rainfall and complaints from residents over inadequate desilting of drains at several locations, Ulhasnagar Municipal Commissioner Manisha Awhale conducted an on-site inspection of ongoing drain-cleaning works across the city to ensure effective storm water management during the monsoon.Accompanied by Assistant Public Health Officer Manish Hivre and Chief Sanitation Inspector Eknath Pawar, the commissioner inspected desilting works at Khanna Compound Bridge, the Waldhuni river near Bharat Nagar and Kansai Road in Ulhasnagar-5, Chandramani Buddha Vihar drain, the major drain at Jijamata Colony in Ulhasnagar-4, and several other major and minor stormwater drains.Public Relation Officer Prajakta Kulkarni said, “During the inspection, the Commissioner directed civic officials to ensure complete removal of silt and immediate disposal of the excavated material. She also instructed officials to clear all garbage and obstructions from drains and complete the remaining desilting work on priority while maintaining quality standards”.The commissioner further directed all departments to work in coordination to prevent waterlogging and flooding during the ongoing monsoon.Residents said they were hopeful that the commissioner’s surprise inspection, prompted by complaints over incomplete cleaning at several spots, would ensure better execution of the works and minimise inconvenience during the rainy season.

Monsoon fury in and around Mumbai continues

THANE: The 35-year-old son of a former deputy mayor died after a coconut tree fell on him while he was riding a motorcycle amid heavy rain and strong winds in Mira-Bhayandar city of Maharashtra’s Thane district, officials said on Friday.The deceased, Rahul Ashok Patil, a resident of Murdhagaon and son of a former deputy mayor of the Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC), succumbed to his injuries at a hospital two days after the incident, which occurred on Wednesday, officials said.According to district authorities, Patil was riding his motorcycle in the Sadanand Nagar area on Wednesday evening when a coconut tree, uprooted amid heavy rain and gusty winds, fell on the vehicle.Patil sustained serious injuries and was admitted to a nearby hospital in a critical condition. He died after battling for his life for two days, officials said.The incident has been recorded as the first rain-related death in the city this monsoon, they added.(With inputs from PTI)

42-year-old woman lose her life after allegedly receiving a fatal electric shock from a waterlogged road during heavy rain

KALYAN: A 42-year-old woman died after allegedly coming into contact with an electrified, waterlogged road while stepping out to buy snacks for her children during heavy rain in Dombivli on Wednesday, police said.The deceased, identified as Shashi Rahul Chakra, a resident of Hanuman Nagar, had left her house amid the downpour when she reportedly suffered a fatal electric shock after electricity spread through rainwater due to an exposed or damaged power line.Local residents rushed to her aid, but she had already died by the time help arrived. The incident left the neighbourhood in shock.Angry residents blamed the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL), alleging negligence in maintaining electrical infrastructure during the monsoon. They claimed exposed wires and damaged cables pose a serious risk to public safety, particularly during heavy rainfall.Shashi is survived by her husband Rahul Chakra and their two children.The Tilaknagar police have registered an accidental death report and are probing the circumstances that led to the electrocution, including possible lapses in the maintenance of power lines.

Aliya Mohammad Sajid Chandiwala (in picture) came into contact with electricity that had leaked into the waterlogged area near the building’s iron gate.

THANE: A 17-year-old girl died after suffering electric shock in a waterlogged area outside her residential building in Mumbra on Wednesday night. Police have registered an FIR against officials of Torrent Power Limited for alleged negligence.The victim, Aliya Mohammad Sajid Chandiwala, was stepping out of Yasmin Apartment in Kausa at around 8. 30pm amid heavy rain when she allegedly came into contact with electricity that had leaked into the waterlogged area near the building’s iron gate.She was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared her dead.In his complaint, her father alleged that residents had reported recurring voltage fluctuation issues to Torrent Power on June 15 through the company’s official WhatsApp helpline, but no corrective action was taken.Based on the complaint, Mumbra Police have registered an FIR and launched an investigation.The incident came a day after a 26-year-old worker at a sweet shop was electrocuted after coming into contact with a live wire in Bhiwandi.The incident occurred on Wednesday in the Teen Batti locality. The deceased was identified as Mustafa Shaikh, who was married and is survived by his wife and a child.According to police, Shaikh had gone to a nearby temple to collect a metal container.While returning, he allegedly came into contact with a live wire and suffered a severe electric shock. He was rushed to a local hospital, where doctors declared him dead.Following the incident, family members and local residents gathered at the hospital and staged a protest, alleging gross negligence on the part of the temple management and the power utility.Protesters alleged that soon after the accident, personnel from the power company rushed to the spot and attempted to conceal the exposed wiring. The situation was brought under control after the intervention of a local social worker.Police have registered an accidental death report (ADR) and are investigating the case.

Thane Municipal Corporation workers clear clogged stormwater drains amid heavy monsoon rainfall. (PTI)

THANE: Thane mayor Sharmila Pimpolkar on Wednesday held an urgent meeting of the Tree Authority Department and ordered a comprehensive survey of dangerous trees across the city.The move comes a day after a tree fell on a school bus in Mumbai, killing a student, and another incident in Thane left a 52-year-old man injured after a tree-related mishap.“Special inspection of trees in schools, colleges, housing societies, hospitals, major traffic roads, public places and areas with high citizen movement should be carried out across the city. Also, a re-survey should be conducted at places where tree branches were pruned earlier to ensure that the condition of the trees remains safe,” the mayor told officials.The mayor directed officials to immediately identify dangerous, dead or leaning trees, as well as large branches that could pose a risk, and take priority action to prevent possible accidents.“Pruned branches lying along roads should be removed immediately as they obstruct traffic movement and increase the risk of accidents,” Pimpolkar said.The mayor also urged citizens to immediately inform the Corporation about trees found in dangerous conditions.