State

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has decided to enhance the security of the state’s new Deputy Chief Minister, Sunetra Pawar, by granting her Z+ category protection. The Home Department has been issued the necessary instructions to implement this upgraded security arrangement. Previously, Sunetra Pawar, while serving as a Rajya Sabha MP, was provided X-category security. However, after taking charge as Deputy Chief Minister on 31 January 2026, and being assigned three key ministries along with the guardianship of politically significant districts Pune and Beed, additional security measures were deemed necessary. The office previously used by the late Ajit Pawar has also been allocated to her. Home Department Instructions:The government has clarified that Sunetra Pawar will now rece...

Mumbai/Pune: The massive traffic jam on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, caused by a gas tanker overturn near Khandala Ghat, left hundreds of vehicles stranded for over 30 hours. Commuters faced severe hardships with no access to food, water, or sanitation facilities as the jam stretched 20–22 kilometers. Among those trapped was industrialist and Pinnacle Group Chairman Dr. Sudhir Mehta, who was traveling to Pune. After being stuck for nearly eight hours, Dr. Mehta was safely airlifted by helicopter. Sharing his experience on social media platform X, Dr. Mehta highlighted the urgent need for better emergency planning on the expressway. He wrote that millions of people have been stuck due to the gas tanker incident over the past 18 hours and suggested creating multiple exit points along the h...

Pune/Baramati: In the wake of Ajit Pawar’s untimely death in a plane crash, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is navigating a challenging political and familial period. On Wednesday, NCP chief Sharad Pawar visited Ajit Pawar’s residence, now home to his daughter-in-law and Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, to pay his respects to his late nephew. The private visit saw Sharad Pawar offer a heartfelt tribute to Ajit Pawar in the presence of Sunetra Pawar, Ajit’s sons Parth and Jai Pawar, and close family members. Following this, Sharad Pawar also held a closed-door meeting at the Vidya Pratishthan in Baramati with Ajit Pawar’s sons and other party leaders, which reportedly lasted around 90 minutes. Sources suggest the discussions focused on a potential merger between the two NCP fact...

Mumbai/Pune: Chaos ensued on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway after a chemical-laden gas tanker overturned, causing a massive traffic jam. Authorities have now brought the situation largely under control, opening one lane for Mumbai-bound vehicles and diverting others to alternate routes. The incident occurred on February 3, 2026, around 5:00 PM near kilometer 41/200, close to the Adoshi Tunnel on the Borghat section. The tanker, carrying highly flammable propylene gas, overturned while traveling from Pune to Mumbai. Damage to three valves on the tanker led to gas leakage, creating a potentially hazardous situation for commuters. By February 4, a team of chemical experts managed to completely stop the leaks at two locations and significantly control the third. The transfer of gas from the ...

Mumbai: A shocking incident in Goregaon, Mumbai, has left residents shaken after gas-filled balloons exploded inside a lift, injuring three people, including a young woman. The entire incident was captured on the lift’s CCTV cameras. The blast occurred at Anmol Tower in Goregaon West during the afternoon. According to police reports, a young woman entered the lift with a small trolley bag, followed by a young man carrying a large polythene bag containing over a dozen balloons. A second man entered the lift behind them. Before the lift doors could close completely, the balloons exploded, engulfing the lift in flames. The woman and the two men sustained burn injuries and were rushed to a nearby hospital. Authorities suspect that the balloons may have been filled with hydrogen, a highly...

Mumbai: A tragic incident at the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay has left the campus and the city in shock. A 21-year-old student from Rajasthan allegedly took his own life by jumping off the hostel building early Wednesday morning. According to Pawai police officials, the incident occurred around 1:00 AM at Hostel Number 4 in the IIT Bombay campus located in Mumbai’s Pawai area. The deceased has been identified as Naman Agrawal, a second-year engineering student from Pilani, Rajasthan. The reasons behind this tragic decision are not yet known, and the police have registered a case of accidental death pending further investigation. This is not the first such incident at the institute; in August last year, a student named Rohit Sinha similarly took his life by ...

Mumbai: Comedian Kunal Kamra is facing escalating legal and political challenges. The Maharashtra Legislative Council’s Privileges Committee has summoned Kamra in connection with his controversial parody song and remarks targeting Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Alongside Kamra, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sushma Andhare has also been summoned. According to the committee, Kamra and Andhare are required to appear before it on Thursday in Mumbai. The committee, headed by BJP member Prasad Lad, had issued notices to both individuals 15 days ago. Prasad Lad added that if they fail to appear even after two summons, the committee may decide on further action against them. The notice was served following a complaint by BJP MLC Praveen Darekar, who accused Kamra and Andhare of making derogat...