MUMBAI: Union Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Saturday that the first section of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project, connecting Surat and Bilimora, will be inaugurated in 2027. He added that nearly 80 per cent of India’s first high-speed rail corridor has already been completed, with the remaining sections set to open in phases.Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the start of commercial production at CG Semi’s OSAT facility in Gujarat’s Sanand, Vaishnaw said construction of the bullet train corridor was progressing rapidly.“The first section of the Bullet Train from Surat to Bilimora will be inaugurated in 2027. Thereafter, the Wapi-Surat section, followed by Wapi-Ahmedabad, Ahmedabad-Thane and finally Ahmedabad-Mumbai will be completed in phases. The work is progressing very fast,” minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said.The minister said around 80 per cent of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project had already been completed and expressed confidence that the work would be finished within the planned timeline.During the event, Vaishnaw also highlighted India’s progress in semiconductor manufacturing, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi would inaugurate the country’s third semiconductor plant later in the day. He described the development as a major achievement after decades of efforts to build the sector.“Today is a historic day as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to inaugurate the country’s third semiconductor plant. It is the result of India’s 60 years of perseverance and has become possible because of the Prime Minister’s vision,” minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said.Vaishnaw said semiconductor manufacturing had remained a national priority for the past six decades.“Finally, it was possible with the vision and execution of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” minister Ashwini Vaishnaw added.He pointed out that the first semiconductor plant was inaugurated in Sanand on February 28, the second on March 31, and the third was being inaugurated on July 4, reflecting the rapid pace of development in the sector.The Railway Minister also announced several infrastructure measures to improve transport and railway facilities in Ahmedabad following a meeting with local leaders.He said work on an underpass at Omnagar was underway and officials had been directed to complete it before Navratri. A new master plan has also been prepared for Asarwa station, under which the station will be redeveloped into a major terminal along with the construction of a new DRM office.Vaishnaw further said a second entry would be created at Ahmedabad railway station from the Sarangpur side to improve access and support development in the surrounding area. He added that Ahmedabad station was already being upgraded into a world-class railway station.To tackle traffic congestion, the minister said a proposed flyover from Shahpur was discussed with the Monument Authority. He added that he had spoken to Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who assured full cooperation in resolving the issue.Another proposal discussed was extending the station road from Sabarmati to Sabarmati railway station. Vaishnaw said a detailed master plan had already been prepared to improve connectivity and make access to the station easier for commuters.

Visitors watch waves crash against the Marine Drive promenade under dark monsoon skies Photograph by SL Shanth Kumar/TNN

MUMBAI: “Bro yeh har saal ka hai, Andheri subway shut hi hoga,” Mumbaikars barely flinch when the season’s first spell of heavy rain arrives. Social media fills up with memes about flooded roads, stranded commuters and delayed local trains.Office WhatsApp groups begin discussing work-from-home options. Navigation apps turn red. But beneath the humour lies an uncomfortable reality.

A man died after falling into an open manhole on Khairani Road in Sakinaka on Thursday (Image Credit Uma Kadam/TNN)

For Mumbai, the first major monsoon shower is not just a weather event; it has increasingly become an annual test of civic preparedness. Almost every year, the first intense spell of rain brings with it reports of trees crashing onto roads and vehicles, wall and balcony collapses, electrocution risks, open manholes, flooded subways and, tragically, loss of lives.This year has been no different.First heavy spell, first casualtiesWithin days of the season’s first widespread heavy rainfall, Mumbai witnessed multiple rain-related tragedies.An 11-year-old boy was killed after a tree collapsed in Chembur, triggering outrage over whether the tree had been identified as dangerous before the monsoon.

A schoolgirl walks with her parent past workers trimming trees at the site of the recent school bus accident (Image by Sanjay Hadkar/TNN)

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) later suspended an official pending an inquiry into the incident.Another tragedy unfolded in Sakinaka, where a 55-year-old man fell into an open manhole hidden beneath rainwater and died. The civic body subsequently suspended four officials over alleged negligence.In Santacruz, eight people were injured when a tree unexpectedly crashed during an inspection by civic officials, highlighting the unpredictability—and danger—posed by ageing urban trees during heavy rainfall.‘Only good for people sipping coffee’Speaking to TOI, an aspiring actor from Versova said, “Bhai, mera audition miss ho gaya because of this rain. It feels nice at first, but then the infrastructure collapses and traffic jams take over. Mumbai rains are only good for people sipping coffee from their balconies.”The numbers tell the storyThe first few days of heavy rain generated an extraordinary number of emergency calls.Civic control rooms remained busy responding to emergencies across both the island city and suburbs.

2026

2026

2025The 2025 monsoon once again followed a familiar pattern of rain-related tragedies. A 13-year-old boy lost his life after falling into a rainwater-filled pit near the BKC Metro station and 25-year-old Tejas Naidu, a resident of Kannamwar Nagar in Vikhroli (East), was killed when a tree collapsed during heavy rainfall.In 2025 alone, BMC received 7,083 pothole complaints in just two months, with nearly 40% coming from three wards. The season also saw a fatal accident after a scooter hit a water-filled pothole in Powai.2024After the southwest monsoon arrived in Mumbai on June 9, 2024 the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) recorded 106 complaints of uprooted trees and falling branches between June 9 and June 22.2023The 2023 monsoon proved even deadlier.More than 450 trees had fallen in Mumbai after the monsoon’s onset, and four people lost their lives between June 29 and July 12 after being crushed by falling trees or branches, according to data.Familiar trouble spotsSome stretches across Mumbai have earned a reputation for monsoon chaos.

Earlier this year, the Maharashtra government said it was working on a permanent solution to the recurring waterlogging at the Andheri subway, one of Mumbai’s most flood-prone stretches during the monsoon.Responding to a calling attention motion in the Assembly in February, Minister of State for Urban Development Madhuri Misal said the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) was implementing multiple measures to tackle the problem. The issue was raised by MLA Murji Patel, who pointed out that the subway serves as a vital link between Andheri East and Andheri West and is frequently shut after heavy rainfall, causing massive traffic snarls.What is LiDAR technologyShiv Sena MLC Manisha Kayande urged authorities to adopt technology-driven solutions and strengthen environmental safeguards to protect the city’s trees.Kayande said excessive concretisation around tree trunks was preventing roots from growing properly, making trees more vulnerable to collapse during heavy rain and strong winds. Trees need sufficient open soil around their bases to develop healthy root systems, she told the House.

A person stands amid the waterlogged area near the Andheri subway after heavy rain, in Mumbai. (PTI Photo)

She also called on the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to expand its use of LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology, which creates detailed three-dimensional scans to assess a tree’s structural stability, root health and pruning needs. The technology, already being used by the civic body in parts of Mumbai, can help identify vulnerable trees before they collapse.Kayande further said many newly constructed buildings were failing to effectively implement mandatory rainwater harvesting systems despite existing regulations. She urged stricter enforcement of environmental norms and wider use of scientific tools to improve the city’s preparedness for the monsoon.A city that keeps movingYet, amid flooded roads, fallen trees and hours-long traffic snarls, Mumbai’s defining characteristic remains its refusal to stop. While heavy rainfall often disrupts road traffic, the city’s public transport system rarely comes to a complete standstill. BEST buses continue to ply on several routes, even if diversions are required, while Mumbai’s suburban railway network—the lifeline for over seven million commuters daily—usually operates with delays rather than complete suspension.“Yes, the infrastructure may collapse during the rains, but the city never stops. It always keeps moving,” said a resident of Bandra West. “You’ll still find packed local trains during peak hours. Even when they’re delayed, people adjust and carry on with their day. That’s Mumbai.”From office-goers wading through knee-deep water to make it to work, to dabbawalas navigating flooded streets to deliver lunchboxes, the city has built a reputation for adapting to the monsoon rather than waiting for it to pass. That resilience, however, also reflects necessity. For millions of Mumbaikars, missing work is not an option. So, even as the first major spell of rain exposes recurring weaknesses in the city’s infrastructure, the crowds return to railway platforms, buses fill up, and the familiar rush-hour hustle resumes—making the phrase “The Spirit of Mumbai” as much a reality as a yearly ritual.

A study by Tata Memorial Hospital evaluated 219 patients who developed low platelet counts during chemotherapy

Mumbai: For years, cancer patients at Tata Memorial Hospital had been consuming papaya leaf extract during chemotherapy cycles without their doctor’s approval. A few years ago, the hospital embarked on a study to find answers regarding its true effectiveness. The results are finally out: While raw papaya leaf extract can cause gastrointestinal issues, a standardised tablet form can support patients by restoring their platelet counts.A normal platelet count ranges from 1,50,000 to 4,50,000 per microlitre of blood. Chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia, where the platelet count falls as low as 50,000-1,00,000, is a common side effect of cancer treatment. It increases the risk of bleeding and frequently forces oncologists to delay treatment or reduce chemotherapy doses.The routine solution to this problem is a drug called romiplostim, which helps the body produce blood platelets by mimicking a natural hormone. “It is effective but is expensive and comes with side effects,” said Dr Vikas Ostwal, professor of medical oncology at the hospital and principal investigator of the study.The expenses can reach up to Rs 15,000 per week, and the time it takes to bring platelets back to normal can spill over to three weeks, resulting in treatment delays.Conversely, according to Dr Ostwal, the papaya leaf extract pills offer rapid platelet recovery at a dose of three tablets per day, costing Rs 300 in total for a 10-day course. He noted that this remedy was already in use as a supportive treatment for dengue patients.The phase-3 results of the study were published in JCO Global Oncology, the international journal of American Society of Clinical Oncology. The study evaluated 219 patients with solid tumours who developed low platelet counts during chemotherapy. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either papaya leaf extract pills or a placebo in addition to standard care.The researchers found that patients receiving the papaya leaf extract pills recovered their platelet counts significantly faster, experienced fewer chemotherapy delays and dose reductions, and were more likely to continue treatment on schedule. “Our researchers have generated evidence that could benefit cancer patients not only in India but also across the world,” said Dr Sudeep Gupta, director of Tata Memorial Hospital.

Thane: The Thane Crime Branch Unit-3 (Kalyan) arrested a habitual offender with 33 prior cases to his name, cracking 21 housebreaking and theft cases spread across Thane, Navi Mumbai, Palghar and Thane Rural, police said.The breakthrough came while the team was probing a housebreaking case registered at Vishnu Nagar police station in Dombivli West. Through technical analysis, CCTV footage examination and intelligence from informers, police identified the suspect as Rajesh Arvind Rajbhar, 30, a resident of Dombivli originally from Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh. A team tracked him down to Azamgarh, where he was taken into custody, said Amar Singh Jadhav, DCP Crime.During interrogation, Rajbhar confessed to committing multiple burglaries across the region and revealed he stashed stolen gold and silver jewellery, along with cash, with his wife and brother, Rakesh Arvind Rajbhar, 32. Police recovered stolen ornaments and cash valued at ₹38,50,000.The 21 solved cases span several police stations, including Vishnu Nagar, Manpada, Tilak Nagar, Nalasopara, Kalsewadi, Narpali, Naupada, Kopri, Kalwa, Mumbra, Khadakpada, Badlapur East, Uran and Kalyan Taluka.Rajbhar’s criminal history revealed 33 prior cases registered against him across Thane Commissionerate, Thane Rural and Raigad regions, making him a notorious repeat offender.The operation was conducted under the guidance of Police Commissioner Ashutosh Dumbre. Further investigation is under way.