Mumbai News: Man Threatens Self-Immolation Outside CM Fadnavis' Residence
A 39-year-old man was detained by the police after he threatened to set himself ablaze outside the official residence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in south Mumbai. The man, identified as Ajit Maidagi, a resident of Solapur district, reached the CM’s residence, known as 'Varsha,' on Wednesday and made the threat. He was promptly apprehended by the authorities before he could carry out his plan.
The official statement revealed that Maidagi was upset because he had approached the Mantralaya (state secretariat) for some work, but it remained pending. The details of the work and the reasons for the delay were not elaborated upon.
In a related development, a red alert has been issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Maharashtra. This alert was triggered by the incessant rains that have caused significant waterlogging and flooding in multiple cities across the state. The red alert specifically covers Ratnagiri and Palghar districts, while a yellow alert has been issued for Mumbai and Thane. The Southwest Monsoon has advanced into the region earlier than usual, marking the earliest recorded onset in at least 75 years. The weather bureau has warned that heavy rainfall, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds, may continue in isolated pockets of the city until Thursday morning.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has also taken action against four mini pumping stations for failing to clear water accumulated at key junctions in Mumbai during the heavy rainfall. The BMC imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh on these stations due to their failure to install and operate pumps effectively. This led to significant waterlogging in areas such as King’s Circle, Mantralaya, Dadar TT East, Parel TT, Kalachowki, Wadala, Hindmata, Kemps Corner, Churchgate, Chinchpokli, and Dadar. On May 26, Mumbai experienced record rainfall, with several areas receiving up to 250 mm of rain within 13 hours. Despite this, the pumping stations in low-lying areas failed to clear the streets, exacerbating the situation.
The ongoing rainfall and associated issues have caused considerable disruption to daily life in Mumbai, affecting vehicular traffic and posing challenges to residents. The BMC and other authorities are working to mitigate the effects of the heavy rains and ensure the safety and well-being of the city’s inhabitants.
