Third 'sabotage' incident on railway tracks in 15 days
What's the story
In the third such incident in 15 days, a seven-foot-long metal piece of an overhead equipment mast was found on the tracks of the Panvel-JNPT line in Panvel. The motorman saw the obstruction and stopped the train in time. Disasters were averted on January 24 and February 6 when metal pieces were found on tracks. Sabotage is suspected. Tap in for more local news.
IIT-B
IIT-B plans courses in filmmaking, fine arts, humanities
IIT-Bombay is planning a wide makeover with new courses in fine-arts, filmmaking, humanities and social sciences. An undergraduate course in Economics will likely be launched this year. New hostels and upgradation of existing hostels are also being planned. Single rooms for students and accommodation-zones for married couples are the goals. Smaller classes and a better support system for the academically-weak are on the cards.
BMC Polls
2,276 candidates fight it out in the BMC polls
2,276 candidates will battle it out for 227 seats of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which is set to go to polls on February 21. Ward 164 has the highest number of candidates (31), and Wards 8 and 204 the lowest (5 each). A highlight was when the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance broke after 27 years. Votes will be counted on February 23.
Vile Parle
Seven friends killed in car crash on way to Goa
Seven Vile Parle youths died and one sustained severe injuries when the car they were travelling in crashed into a tree near Ratnagiri. Another friend had taken a train as there was no space in the car. All were members of Shiv Sena as well as volunteers at Lakshya Foundation. Cranes had to be brought to retrieve their bodies from the mangled wreckage.
Wildlife
TV actors arrested for posing with protected cobra
Actors Shruti Ulfat and Pearl Puri, and producers Utkarsh Bali and Nitin Solanki were arrested for posing with a spectacled cobra and posting photos on social media, in a violation under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The four claimed it was photoshopped, but action was initiated after verifying the snake was real. They will be produced in court on February 9.
Navy Nagar
Teen kills self after allegations of cyber bullying
16-year-old Poonam Yadav of Navy Nagar jumped to death from the 10th floor of a building after she was allegedly harassed by her classmate's parents over a fake Facebook profile. The parents of a classmate had accused Poonam and her brother of creating a fake Facebook profile and revealing their daughter's phone number etc. A case of abetment to suicide has been registered.
Public toilets
Seven have died in Mumbai's public toilets in 23 months
The Observer Research Foundation has found that seven people have died in Mumbai's public toilets in the last 23 months. It has also been found that annual revenue from 'pay and use' toilets is Rs 392 crore. A PIL has also been filed seeking urgent action and implementation of preventive measures.