Maharashtra reports 4,654 new Covid-19 cases, 170 deaths

The disclosure was made through a written reply given to local activist Siddhesh Desai by the Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) Ltd that is executing the Kalwa-Airoli elevated rail link and laying the 5-6th additional tracks on the Thane Diva segment.

Maharashtra will pay compensation to flood-affected people at a higher rate as per the 2019 revised formula even though the Union government refused to change its norms, an official release said on Friday. "The state had requested the Union government to increase the compensation amount prescribed under its 2015 norms. But the Union government did not agree so the state has decided to apply 2019 norms for flood-relief and give higher compensation (on its part)," the release said. (PTI)

The Ovala-Majiwada MLA said that health camps will be conducted in his constituency. "I have also set up an oxygen plant wherein residents from my constituency will be provided a free uninterrupted supply of oxygen. I have also flagged off a mobile blood collection van along with cardiac ambulances," he said.

Maharashtra reported 4,654 new coronavirus cases and 170 fresh deaths on Friday, taking the infection tally to 64,47,442 and the toll to 1,36,900, a state health department official said. The official said 3,301 patients were discharged from hospitals across the state in the last 24 hours, taking the cumulative number of recovered cases to 62,55,451. Maharashtra now has 51,574 active cases.

A youth has been arrested for allegedly damaging the windscreens of 17 cars and stealing two laptops and other material from them in the Vedant Nagar area of Aurangabad on Friday, police said. The incident happened at around 2 am after which a probe zeroed in on 20-year-old Ashish Bhorge, a Vedant Nagar police station official said.

Nagpur: Four more stormwater drain covers were found missing from Mount Road, Sadar, on Friday. Three were found stolen by an unidentified gang of thieves on Thursday. Assistant municipal commissioner from NMC’s Dharampeth zone Prakash Warade has filed an FIR with Sadar police station against the unidentified thieves.

"We have instructed our Police officials to talk with the local groups, seeking their cooperation for whatever decision the government takes."

With the possibility of India hurtling towards a Covid-19 "third wave", the Maharashtra government on Friday cautioned that the state could witness around 60 lakh cases in such a situation.Health Minister Rajesh Tope said that while around 20 lakh were affected in the first wave followed by 40 lakh in the second, the dreaded next wave may lead to over 60 lakh cases."Of these, nearly 12 per cent would require oxygen support during treatment... We are trying to achieve 100 percent vaccination as soon as possible," he said. (IANS)

Nagpur: Standing committee on Friday directed the civic administration to appoint 100 firemen on a contract basis. Standing committee members expressed concern over the fact that only 45 firemen have been working at nine fire stations against the sanctioned posts of 287 for the entire city.

Union minister Narayan Rane criticised Shiv Sena leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut, saying he speaks without any sense. "Vinayak and Sanjay Raut will lead to the fall of Shiv Sena." According to ANI, Rane also said that the distance between Konkan and Kashmir represents the difference between Mamata Banerjee and her becoming the PM.

Three persons were arrested for alleged possession of over 8.9 kg of charas worth more than Rs 26 lakh in Maharashtra's Palghar district, police said on Friday. Based on a tip-off about sale of narcotics, a police team from Vasai laid a trap at a petrol pump on Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway and intercepted a car with three occupants late on Thursday night, an official said.

The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) has said that 8.79 lakh domestic power consumers in Kalyan zone, which includes some areas in Thane and Palghar districts, have pending dues worth Rs 391 crore. MSEDCL's Kalyan zone chief engineer Dhananjay Oundekar, who has taken over recently, has appealed to the defaulting power consumers to pay up their dues as the company was facing financial problems.

The BJP Mahila Morcha's state general secretary Savita Kulkarni alleged that crimes against women are on a rise in Maharashtra. "The government has been in power for the last 18 months. But still it has kept the post of chairman of the Maharashtra State Commission for Women vacant," the BJP leader said, demanding that the government must expedite the appointment of other members of the commission as well. (PTI)

RATNAGIRI: Union minister Narayan Rane questioned what the Maharashtra government had achieved by arresting him as though he were a gangster. "This is not legal. I committed no crime. This was only a show of power. In the future we too shall be in power," he said. Rane addressed a series of press conferences in Ratnagiri where he resumed his 'Jan Ashirwad Yatra' on Friday which had been interrupted by his arrest and subsequent release early this week.

Central Railway will run 63 more additional special trains to cater to the extra rush of passengers towards Konkan area due to Ganpati festival. This is in addition to 112 special trains already announced to run during Ganpati festival 2021. Bookings for above additional special trains on special charges will commence from August 29 at all computerised reservation centres .