KALYAN: Stressing the urgent need for a robust disaster response system, Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) commissioner Abhinav Goel urged the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Kalyan, to work closely with civic authorities to develop a standard operating procedure (SOP) for medical emergencies.Speaking as the chief guest at the IMA Kalyan installation ceremony, Goel said the existing disaster management mechanism needs improvement, as patients are often shifted between multiple hospitals during disaster crises. He suggested that IMA and KDMC doctors jointly conduct workshops to design a clear SOP for situations such as building collapses and floods, ensuring coordinated and efficient medical care.Goel was speaking at the event of the appointment of the new IMA Kalyan executive committee, with noted orthopaedic surgeon Dr Rajesh Raghav Raju elected as the 46th president. Dr Himanshu Thakkar took charge as secretary and Dr Swati Shelar as treasurer.Mumbai Orthopaedic Society president Dr Gautam Zaveri, who was present at the event, spoke about the growing role of artificial intelligence in healthcare. He said that while AI can assist in treating diseases, it cannot replace doctors, who bring empathy and a human touch to patient care.Addressing the gathering, Dr Raju highlighted IMA Kalyan’s legacy of social service and announced plans to organise a mega health camp for residents with support from leading super-speciality hospitals.Former IMA president Dr Surekha Itkar, KDMC officials and several members of the medical fraternity and civic society attended the programme.

THANE: A 30-year-old man allegedly died by suicide after a quarrel with his family at his home in Thane’s Dombivli police said on Sunday. The incident took place around 12.30 am on Saturday at a chawl in Hetutne village.The man has been identified as Rajaram Ramdularam Bharti, had an argument with his family members. Following the dispute, he allegedly locked his wife and children inside a bedroom before hanging himself from the ceiling in the kitchen. Hearing the family’s cries, neighbours rushed in, broke open the locked room and rescued the woman and children. They then found the man hanging and immediately took him to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead by doctors. Police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) and sent the body for postmortem.

THANE: Deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde said the newly inducted AC double-decker electric bus will make travel more comfortable and pleasant for Thane commuters and urged citizens to take care of it as if it were their own vehicle.Shinde was speaking after officially inducting the bus into the Thane Municipal transport fleet in the presence of Mayor Sharmila Pimpalolkar, municipal commissioner Saurabh Rao and district collector Dr. Shrikrishna Panchal, TMT Manager Bhalchandra Behre among others.Shinde completed a short round trip in the double-decker bus from the Municipal Corporation headquarters to Louiswadi and back.“These buses will be introduced into Thane Transport under the GCC model, and no financial burden will fall on the transport service. The double-decker bus can seat 65 passengers at a time, while 33 passengers can travel standing. Currently, this bus will operate from Teen Haath Naka to Gaimukh,” Shinde said.Transport Manager Bhalchandra Behre added nine more buses will soon be added to the fleet. “The bus will offer an environmentally friendly mode of transport for Thane residents and also provide them with an enjoyable travel experience akin to tourism,” he said.

THANE: Deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde appealed to citizens to voluntarily participate in the self-enumeration process using the specially created QR code and cooperate with the administration. Shinde was speaking at the launch of the first phase of the Census 2027 “Self-Enumeration” process at the Thane Municipal Corporation headquarters on Friday morning, where a QR code was developed by the civic body for the exercise. Mayor Sharmila Pimpalolkar, Municipal Commissioner Saurabh Rao, District Collector Dr Shrikrishna Panchal and Deputy Mayor Krishna Patil, among others, were present at the event. The first phase of Census 2027, starting with the “Self-Enumeration” process, was launched on May 1, 2026, and will remain active until May 15, 2026, officials said. Shinde personally completed the self-enumeration using the QR code and encouraged those present to do the same, following which Deputy Director of the Census Directorate Ramesh Bhosale presented him with a memento. “The government is fully committed to the development and welfare of every individual in the state, and to achieve this, reliable and accurate data is the most effective tool,” he said. A selfie point created by the municipal corporation to raise awareness about the census was also inaugurated. To promote awareness, the Central Government has created mascots, “Vikas” (Development) and “Pragati” (Progress). Officials said a help desk has been set up at the Thane Municipal Corporation headquarters to assist citizens. “Citizens should cooperate with the enumerators who will be visiting households and provide accurate information. The data collected will be kept confidential,” said Municipal Commissioner Saurabh Rao.

THANE: The Thane Crime Branch has solved a 12-year-old murder case, arresting construction contractor and “reel star” Surendra Patil (55) for allegedly abducting and killing a Dombivli resident over a property dispute and dumping his body in a forest near Murbad in 2014.Police said victim Karan Bagul, who owned around ten guntha of land in Dombivli, had entered into a development agreement with Patil in 2014. A dispute over the project arose, after which Bagul was allegedly abducted on October 4, 2014 and taken to Patil’s office in Dawdi, where he was fatally assaulted with an iron rod.Investigators said Patil allegedly roped in two workers, Chandrakant Gaykar (39) and Suresh Degawat (32), to dispose of the body in a remote forested area in Murbad. The victim’s face was severely disfigured, making identification difficult when the body was recovered by Murbad police following a local alert. With no leads at the time, it was registered as an accidental death.Bagul was meanwhile shown as missing in Manpada police records for years, until Patil’s recent arrest in an arms case led investigators to reopen the probe and establish the identity of the victim and the alleged conspiracy.DCP (Crime) Amar Sinh Jadhav said the rod used in the assault has been recovered and all three accused have been remanded to police custody till May 2.The police said Patil is a habitual offender with multiple serious cases registered across Thane district. Patil was in the news las month after a midnight raid at his Dawdi residence led the police to uncover a staggering arsenal of illegal weaponry stocked and concealed within a hidden compartment of a shoe rack in his house.

BADLAPUR: In a significant development for Kulgaon-Badlapur, municipal council president Ruchita Rajendra Ghorpade has been unanimously elected as the president of the Maharashtra State Nagaradhyaksha Mahasangh, marking a proud moment for the city.The decision was taken at a meeting held at the headquarters of the All India Institute of Local Self-Government in Andheri (East), Mumbai. The meeting was convened by the institute’s president and Mahasangh working president Ranjit Chavan, along with secretary Laxmanrao Latke.The Mahasangh represents elected heads of 393 municipal councils and nagar panchayats across Maharashtra, including presidents, deputy presidents, and councillors. Established in 2008, the body plays a crucial role in advocating urban local body issues before the state government and strengthening grassroots governance.Ghorpade received unanimous support from municipal council presidents across the state, reflecting strong confidence in her leadership. Alongside her, Arun Dhote was elected vice-president. Tejashree Karanjule Patil and Mohan Gadge are among 20 members appointed to the executive committee.After her election, Ghorpade emphasized enhancing the powers of municipal council presidents, ensuring better financial assistance, and accelerating urban development. She also stressed improving governance, ensuring administrative accountability, and raising the overall quality of life for citizens.Notably, this is the first time in the Mahasangh’s 18-year history that Kulgaon-Badlapur has secured the top post. Ghorpade will serve a five-year term, marking a milestone for the city’s growing political significance.

KALYAN: A 40-year-old man has been arrested by Kalyan Taluka police for allegedly murdering his friend during a picnic outing near the Khadavli river and dumping the body in a secluded area, police said.The accused, identified as Yogesh Eknath Rane, was arrested and produced before a Kalyan court, which remanded him to police custody till May 2.According to investigators, the victim, identified as Raju Prabhulkar, had gone to the Khadavli river along with Rane on April 20. The spot is frequented by locals for bathing and summer picnics.Police said that after bathing, Rane had handed over his money to Prabhulkar for safekeeping while they washed their clothes. However, when Rane later asked for his money back, Prabhulkar allegedly refused and attempted to leave, leading to a heated argument between the two.In a fit of rage, Rane allegedly picked up a stone and repeatedly struck Prabhulkar on the head, killing him on the spot. To destroy evidence, he later transported the body and dumped it in a remote area within the limits of Ju village in Khadavli.The case came to light after locals spotted the body and alerted police. Kalyan Taluka police registered a murder case and launched an investigation. Mukesh Dhage, senior police inspector of Kalyan Taluka police station said, “Despite having no immediate leads, our team relied on CCTV footage and technical surveillance to trace the accused’s movements. Rane was eventually tracked to the Parel–Nagpada area in Mumbai, from where he was apprehended”.Police said the accused is a native of Waklghar in Shrivardhan taluka and has previous serious offences registered against him at Raigad’s Dighi coastal and Navghar police stations.Further investigation is underway.