City: Mumbai

Mumbai's summer heat: Traffic officials aged 55 and above asked to stay indoors in afternoon Mumbai is currently facing higher temperatures than previous summers, and as a precautionary measure, traffic police officers who are 55 years old and above have been advised to avoid being outside between 12 pm and 5 pm to prevent heatstroke. A circular was issued on April 26th to all 50 traffic chowkis in the city to convey the same. Senior officers are responsible for ensuring that on duty traffic police officials have access to clean drinking water and wear caps during the afternoon hours. On…

For the first time in Mumbai, an entire stretch of highway has been reserved exclusively for runners and cyclists. The service lane stretch of the Eastern Express Highway between Ghatkopar and its connector to the Airoli bridge, will be barricaded and closed for vehicular traffic between 5 - 7.30 am so that walkers, runners and cyclists can train safely.  The traffic police implemented this measure following a plea from the Eastern Express Highway Runners group. The joint commissioner of police (traffic) Pravin Padwal told The Times of India that the idea was to mitigate risk of vehicular mishaps for fitness enthusiasts…

Ramesh, a vegetable vendor in Mumbai is a resident of Uttar Pradesh where his family lives while he is here in the city, earning his living. For over a decade, Ramesh works for 10 to 12 hours a day, on the streets selling perishable vegetables and fruits. Working in the adverse climatic conditions of heat, monsoon and mild winter is part of his occupation. “Garmi ka toh kuch kar nahi sakte, paise toh kamaane hi hai,” (We cannot do much about the heat when the question is about our livelihood)” he says with a smile, when asked about the current…

When presented with the factual inevitability of the climate crises, youth across circumstances struggle to cope, join the climate justice movement, and ultimately, create an impact. These struggles are not limited to young adults aged 18 to 30—as most constituencies describe youth—but also children and adolescents. Children and adolescents are often amongst the most affected, due to factors such as dependence and other vulnerabilities, and their rights and such are just as often central to climate discourse. Everyone talks about the next generation and preserving the earth well for our children. Whether children are actually a part of these conversations…

Sunstroke deaths in Kharghar at Maharashtra government event At least 14 people died on Sunday from sunstroke during the Maharashtra Bhushan award ceremony held in Kharghar, which is located in the Raigad district neighbouring Mumbai. The event was organised by the Maharashtra government, and the chief guest was Home Minister Amit Shah. The cause of death has been confirmed by health officials after port-morterm. It was also found that two of the deceased also suffered from co-morbidities. The award ceremony was held in an open ground and attended by several lakh people, most of them followers of spiritual leader Appasaheb…

It is a Sunday morning in December and I am at the entrance of Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), a protected forest located within the limits of Mumbai city. There are long queues of families who have turned up to enjoy the cool winter morning, stretching way beyond the entry gate of the park. While I wait for Dinesh Barap — who belongs to the Warli tribe, indigenous to the forest — I can hear people, restless with excitement, talking about the journey ahead as they move forward in the queues to deposit the entry fee for exploring the park…

Trupti and Pravin travelled from Nagpur to Mumbai a day before April 14th. Having not visited Chaityabhoomi for five years, Trupti wanted to pay her respects at the place Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar was cremated before it became crowded with devotees from across the country the next day. It was his 132nd birth anniversary the next day. "We've travelled all day to get here. Please let us in," Trupti pleaded with the security guard of the sanctum sanctorum, who had closed the gate for visitors at around 10:30 pm. Twice a year, on April 14th and December 6th, which marks the…

Potholes on roads are a menace for every Mumbaikar – car drivers, bikers and pedestrians. Every year, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) claims to fill hundreds of potholes during monsoons, yet they seem to crop up the following season and continue to be a safety hazard. In addition to slowing down traffic, the poor quality of roads is also responsible for several accidents and even deaths. Last monsoon, two deaths were reported within two weeks due to accidents caused by potholes. These daunting numbers call for immediate attention. To address the issue, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra recently re-invited bids…

Fishy investigation in IIT suicide case: Father says caste issue sidelined, raises question on authenticity of note found Ramesh Solanki, father of Darshan Solanki, an IIT Bombay student who died by suicide in February, wrote a letter to the special investigation team (SIT) expressing his concern that the police may have overlooked the possibility of "caste discrimination" playing a role in his son's death. He also questioned the findings of handwriting experts which concluded that the "suicide note" found at the scene was written by his son. The father has also expressed concerns regarding the SIT investigation, which implicated another…

Mumbai was once known for local tournaments of games such as Wrestling, Kabaddi and Kho kho, which required minimal infrastructure and were popular among city's youth. They provided opportunities for the players to succeed at state, national level as well. Lack of open spaces has many repercussions. Particularly worrying is shrinkage of spaces that are dedicated for playing - playing any sports such as Football, Cricket, Hockey, Kho kho. Playgrounds help the younger generations stay fit, active, build team spirit and channelise their boundless energy positively. Organisations and people have dedicated themselves to save the green cover, preserve mangroves and…