Live Updates: Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray reviews flood situation in Kolhapur

The Maharashtra police have arrested 105 persons and registered 213 cases in connection with creation and circulation of child pornography on the internet in the last 18 months, a senior police official said on Friday.The cases were registered based on the "tipline reports" shared by the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) in the last 18 months, said Sanjay Shintre, superintendent of police (SP) Maharashtra Cyber. Full story here

The twin cities of Kalyan and Dombivli in Maharashtra's Thane district have been witnessing a steady graph of Covid-19 cases for the past few weeks.On Friday, the cities reported 73 new cases of coronavirus, as per the latest data provided by the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC).Also, two more persons succumbed to the infection in the civic body limits.Of the 73 fresh cases, the maximum of 27 were reported from Kalyan west, followed by 22 in Dombivli east. Nine persons each tested positive in Kalyan east and Dombivli west.The Manda-Titwala area saw two cases and four persons came out positive in Mohna. Full report here

Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday visited flood-affected Kolhapur and said that the rehabilitation plan for the residents of flood-prone and landslide-prone areas has to be made. "The residents are fed up with the difficulties they face every year due to floods. We have to undertake the task to rehabilitate them in coming years," said Thackeray. Full story here

"I spoke to Sharad Pawar. The visit was successful. We met for political purpose. Democracy must go on. Our slogan is 'save democracy save country'. We support farmers' issues too," Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee told reporters post meeting with NCP chief Sharad Pawar.

On Friday, several bedridden inmates at Dr Niranjan Wagh’s home for the aged in Jogeshwari were administered their vaccine doses. Among those vaccinated were people above the age of 75 years, and at least three were above the age of 95. Most people haven’t met their families and loved ones in more than a year. Read story here

To carry out maintenance work of tracks, signalling and overhead equipment, a Jumbo Block of three hours will be taken on UP and DOWN Slow lines between Bandra and Andheri stations during night from 01.15 hrs to 04.15 hrs on Sunday, August 1, 2021. Therefore, there will be no block in day time over Western Railway Suburban Section on this Sunday. According to a press release issued by Sumit Thakur- Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, during the block period, all UP and DOWN Slow line suburban services will run on Harbour lines between Andheri and Bandra stations.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday visited the flood-affected area of Nrusinhawadi, Shirol in Kolhapur. According to the information of the State Emergency Operation Centre, 213 people died due to floods and heavy rainfall in various places across the state. Read story here

Teams from BMC and Project Mumbai reach Dr Niranjan Wagh’s Home for the Aged in Jogeshwari to vaccinate 14 bedridden inmates. Most are above the age of 75 years. At least three are above 95 years old and haven’t met their family and loved ones in more than a year. BMC has started the pilot project of door-to-door vaccination from Friday.

The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) recently stopped the power supply to the Thane mental hospital over pending bills worth Rs 28 lakhs. However, the electricity was restored after the intervention of local BJP MLA Sanjay Kelkar and other party workers. It led to panic among patients as well as the staff members. Read full story here

Police have arrested a man at Bhiwandi in Maharashtra's Thane district for allegedly raping a woman on the false promise of job and marriage, a senior official said on Friday.The 35-year-old victim lodged a complaint against the accused, Manohar Vishe, in this connection at Narpoli police station, he said. Full story here

Police have arrested a woman and three others in Thane city of Maharashtra for allegedly threatening and molesting a female artist by promising to give a role to her in a Hindi film, an official said on Friday.The 24-year-old victim lodged a complaint at Kasarvadavali police station, where an offence was registered against the accused on Thursday night, he said. Full story here

The Bombay High Court on Friday directed the Union government to approve the proposed plan of action of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to re-vaccinate those citizens, who had fallen victim to several fake anti-coronavirus vaccination camps in different parts of the city a few months ago.A bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice G S Kulkarni directed the Centre to approve the Mumbai civic body's plan of action, "with or without modifications, within seven days" from now.The directions came after senior counsel Anil Sakhre, who appeared for the BMC, told the HC that it had re-vaccinated 161 of the 2,053 people, who had fallen victim to such fake camps.

BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said there was a need to undertake a project for diverting rainwater from flood-prone areas to drought-hit regions to address the issue of constant flooding in parts of Maharashtra. On Friday, he tweeted a video of him visiting Narasimhawadi in Kolhapur district to see the damages and meet flood-hit people. "Look at the waterlogging," his tweet read with a video of him wading through floodwaters. Watch video here

The BMC has finally abandoned its plan to buy Sputnik V vaccines for the city. After rejecting all nine bids for its global Expression of Interest (EOI) and closing it in June without any success, the BMC had reached out to Dr Reddy’s Laboratories to buy Sputnik V vaccines on an experimental basis. But the civic body decided to give up the idea as the company was unable to commit enough doses within a specified timeline. Full story here

As authorities took to repairing potholes on the Mumbra bypass road, heavy vehicles were diverted resulting into traffic congestion at Majiwada junction towards Ghodbunder road, and on the Bhiwandi bypass road. TOI photo: Anil Shinde

Oil marketing companies (OMC) continued to pause fuel price revision for the 13th consecutive day on Friday, the longest period in weeks, as wait and watch continued amid rising global crude prices. In Mumbai, petrol continues to be sold at Rs 107.83 per litre and diesel at Rs 97.45, both the highest in the country.

The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation has incurred a loss of over Rs 10 crore due to flooding of its depots, offices and loss in bus transport business in the past one week. “This is mainly due to heavy rains and floods in Ratnagiri, Kolhapur, Sangli Satara, Raigad and several other districts of the state. The corporation plans to restore and increase services from next week to ensure its daily revenue through ticket sales is back from Rs 7.5 crore to Rs 9 crore,” an official said.