As the 1,200-2,200 year old caves fall in the core area of the forest, electricity and water supply were not available but now power is supplied through solar energy sources…reports Asian Lite News
Mumbai’s ancient centre of learning, the Kanheri Caves – located on hills deep inside the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Borivali – will now come alive with a 3D virtual tour of its sprawling monastic complex along with an Interpretation Centre.
The newly-inaugurated Interpretation Centre will facilitate visitors’ engagement by highlighting the outstanding features and uniqueness of the principal caves with the help of 11 illustrative panels.
The trail map of Kanheri Caves, situated on several hills around 1,550 feet tall, will help visitors save time and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is finalising a 3D virtual tour of the entire complex.
Launching a host of tourist amenities here on Monday, Union Tourism Minister G. Kishan Reddy said Kanheri Caves are a part of our ancient heritage as they provide evidence of evolution and our past.
“It’s a privilege to inaugurate the works here on the occasion of Buddha Purnima today… Lord Buddha is relevant even today in addressing challenges such as conflict and climate change,” he said.
Stressing on the PPP model for protesting, preserving and propagating the heritage treasures for the future, he said that Indian Oil Foundation is providing the upgraded tourist facilities – a pavilion, a custodian quarter, booking office, landscaping, etc, here in collaboration with the ASI.
As the 1,200-2,200 year old caves fall in the core area of the forest, electricity and water supply were not available but now power is supplied through solar energy sources.
The Kanheri Caves, one of the major tourist attractions in the country’s commercial capital, are chiselled out of a massive basaltic rock outcrop and demonstrate Buddhist style of art and architecture in its sculptures, pillars, stupas, relief carvings, paintings and inscriptions.
Dating between 1st CE to 10th CE, the complex has around 109 caves, mostly monasteries, some chaityas and viharas, and flourished as a centre of learning under the Satavahana, Triakutakas, Vakatakas and Shilaharas rulers and donations by merchants of that region.
With back to back wickets and significant drop in the scoring rate, Mumbai were clawing their way back into the game. However, Dhawan decided to free his arms and hit Basil Thampi for six but the bowler had the last laugh.…reports Asian Lite News
A superb batting by Shikhar Dhawan and Mayank Agarwal followed by a brilliant bowling effort by Odean Smith (4/30) helped Punjab Kings beat Mumbai Indians by 12 runs in an IPL 2022 match at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, here on Wednesday.
It was the fifth-successive loss for the five times champions Mumbai Indians as they remain the only winless side in the ongoing IPL 2022 season.
Invited to bat first, brilliant fifties by Shikhar Dhawan (70 off 50) and Mayank Agarwal (52 off 32) powered Punjab Kings to 198/5 in 20 overs. Apart from Shikhar and Mayank’s superb hitting at the top, Jitesh Sharma (30 off 15) and Shahrukh Khan (15 not out off 6) gave late flourish to Punjab’s innings at lower down the order.
Chasing a big total, skipper Rohit Sharma gave Mumbai an aggressive start by hitting a few cracking boundaries. However, Kagiso Rabada got rid of Rohit, who departed for 28 off 17. Vaibhav Arora then dismissed Ishan Kishan (3) to put Mumbai in more trouble.
With 32-2 after 4.1 overs, Mumbai needed a big partnership and two youngsters — Tilak Varma and Dewald Brevis were in the middle. Brevis struggled to connect initially but in the 9th over of the chase, he found his touch and wreaked havoc, by hitting one four and four back-to-back sixes against India international Rahul Chahar while Tilak also continued his rich form as Mumbai raced to 105/2 at the end of the 10th over.
It was Odean Smith, who ensured that Brevis (49 off 25) did not get to his maiden IPL fifty, getting him out with a short delivery. Suryakumar, who came to bat next, hit over the fence for the first time in the 13th over off Arshdeep while Tilak (36 off 20) also fell in the same over – run-out at the non-striker’s end after a mix-up.
With Kieron Pollard (10) being run out while attempting a second, the pressure was on Mumbai as they needed 47 off 23 deliveries, with only Suryakumar being their last recognised batter. Suryakumar scored two successive sixes off Arora but Arshdeep bowled a fine 18th over under pressure, conceding only five runs.
The 19th over, bowled by Rabada, started with a boundary and Jaydev Unadkat sent Suryakumar back to the striker’s end when he wanted to take a single. Suryakumar (43 off 30) fell the very next ball, hitting a low full toss to Smith at long-on.
With 22 required off the final over, Unadkat pulled Smith for a six and took a couple. But he fell off the third delivery and the bowler added the wickets of Jasprit Bumrah and Tymal Mills to his tally during the over, finishing with a career-best 4-30. Eventually, Mumbai Indians were restricted to 186-9 in 20 overs, losing by 12 runs.
Earlier, openers Mayank Agarwal and Shikhar Dhawan gave Punjab Kings a flying start, scoring 65/0 in the Powerplay. Both Mayank and Shikhar looked in fine touch, dealt in boundaries and were also helped by some wayward bowling by Mumbai bowlers.
Mayank, in particular was playing with a sense of adventure and targeted spinner Murugan Ashwin and scored his first half-century of the season. However, the Punjab skipper couldn’t continue his innings longer as Ashwin finally gave Mumbai their first breakthrough. Mayank went for a lofted drive but didn’t get to the pitch of the ball and Suryakumar Yadav took a good catch at long off as Punjab were 97-1 after 9.3 overs.
Once Mayank was dismissed, Dhawan took over the mantle of being the aggressor and completed his half-century in 37 balls. But, he didn’t get the required support from Jonny Bairstow (12) and Liam Livingstone (2), who came to bat next and couldn’t score big for Punjab. Bairstow was far from his best and was dismissed by Jaydev Unadkat while an excellent yorker from Jasprit Bumrah sent dangerous Livingstone back to the pavilion.
With back to back wickets and significant drop in the scoring rate, Mumbai were clawing their way back into the game. However, Dhawan decided to free his arms and hit Basil Thampi for six but the bowler had the last laugh. It was a length ball from Thampi and Dhawan hit it into the hands of the fielder at long-on.
From there on, it was the responsibility of Jitesh Sharma and Shahrukh Khan to finish big for Punjab and they didn’t disappoint their team. Jitesh played a blinder with a 15-ball 30 while Shahrukh in the final over smashed a couple of sixes and took Punjab Kings to 198/5 in 20 overs.
Brief scores: Punjab Kings 198/5 in 20 overs (Shikhar Dhawan 70, Mayank Agarwal 52; Basil Thampi (2/47) beat Mumbai Indians 186-9 in 20 overs (Dewald Brevis 49, Suryakumar Yadav 43; Odean Smith 4/30) by 12 runs.
Pat Cummins (2/49) was the most successful bowler for KKR while Umesh Yadav (1/25) and Varun Chakaravarthy (1/32) also chipped in with one wicket each…reports Asian Lite News
Kolkata Knight Riders thrashed Mumbai Indians by five wickets in an IPL 2022 match at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, here on Wednesday.
Earlier, a brilliant fifty from Suryakumar Yadav (52 off 36) helped Mumbai Indians post 161/4 in 20 overs. With 55 for 3 in 11 overs, Mumbai were in trouble but Suryakumar added 83 runs for the fourth wicket with Tilak Varma (38 off 27) to rescue his side.
Apart from Suryakumar and Varma, Dewald Brevis (29 off 19) also played an entertaining knock on his IPL debut while Kieron Pollard (22 off 5) gave the late flourish to Mumbai’s innings.
Pat Cummins (2/49) was the most successful bowler for KKR while Umesh Yadav (1/25) and Varun Chakaravarthy (1/32) also chipped in with one wicket each.
In reply, Kolkata Knight Riders kept losing wickets at the regular intervals but Venkatesh Iyer (50 off 41) stayed till the end and kept them in the game. But it was Pat Cummins, who played an attacking and record-breaking innings of 56 not out off 15 and powered KKR to win, with four overs to spare and five wickets in hand.
Murugan Ashwin was the most-successful bowler for Mumbai Indians with 2/25.
Brief scores:
Mumbai Indians: 161/4 in 20 overs (Suryakumar Yadav 52, Tilak Varma 38 not out; Pat Cummins 2/49) lost to Kolkata Knight Riders 162/5 in 16 overs (Pat Cummins 56 not out, Venkatesh Iyer 50 not out; Murugan Ashwin 2/25) by five wickets
Urging people to step out on the vehicles-free streets and do anything they desire on the free roads, Pandey said even the Mumbai Police band would be available to regale the citizens…reports Asian Lite News
At the crack of dawn on Sunday, a unique citizen-friendly initiative launched by Mumbai Police, is called ‘Sunday Streets’ inspired by Commissioner of Police Sanjay Pandey.
The event was flaged-off by Commissioner of Police Sanjay Pandey who was in a t-shirt run by people at Nariman Point at 6.15 a.m., marking the arrival of ‘Sunday Streets’ concept for the country’s commercial capital.
The initiative envisages ‘handing’ over around half-a-dozen prominent roads in the city and suburbs to the people to bring them out of their homes and let them ‘chill in the streets’ without the fear of speeding vehicles or tiresome traffic jams.
These streets are Marine Drive, Bandra, Andheri, Goregaon, Vikhroli and Mulund – over which Mumbaikars ‘lord’ for 4 hours – started on March 27. The initiative look forward to Mumbaikars joining in large numbers,” said Pandey, who has been interacting directly with the citizens and social groups after he assumed charge of the coveted top police post this month.
During the time citizens could let their hair down on open roads, engage in activities like yoga, running, cycling, walking, skating, etc, without the fear of getting knocked down by zooming vehicles, or pesky hawkers and vendors creating hurdles.
” I am from the Powai batch, I enjoy running and finally got a platform. This is a great initiative by the Mumbai police as we can run every Sunday. It’s really great to get the feel of the streets after lockdown,” said Preeta, a participant at the event. The runners also thanked the officials for arranging an event that gave them an opportunity to be fit and closer to the streets after lockdown.
Around 8 years ago, a similar ‘Equal Streets’ movement had been launched by some social groups but it was limited to certain suburban areas and went on the ‘back-street’ during the two years of Covid-19 pandemic lockdown.
Urging people to step out on the vehicles-free streets and do anything they desire on the free roads, Pandey said even the Mumbai Police band would be available to regale the citizens.
Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjay Pandey taking the advantage of cultural activities including skating, cycling, badminton, jogging, cricket, yoga, and many more activities at IC Colony YMCA Garden Borivali that were organized as part of the ‘Sunday Street’ event launched by Mumbai Police. (Photos Credit: by Rakesh Londhe)Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjay Pandey taking the advantage of cultural activities including skating, cycling, badminton, jogging, cricket, yoga, and many more activities at IC Colony YMCA Garden Borivali that were organized as part of the ‘Sunday Street’ event launched by Mumbai Police. (Photos Credit: by Rakesh Londhe)Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjay Pandey taking the advantage of cultural activities including skating, cycling, badminton, jogging, cricket, yoga, and many more activities at IC Colony YMCA Garden Borivali that were organized as part of the ‘Sunday Street’ event launched by Mumbai Police. (Photos Credit: by Rakesh Londhe)
Citizens and groups have welcomed the Mumbai Police chief’s initiative and are demanding that more roads be converted into ‘Sunday Streets’ to enable people, especially women, children and seniors, to step out safely and move around freely, and there’s a buzz on social media.
People’s groups term it as a game changer for the city, pointing out how lakhs have fallen ill remaining cooped up in their homes, especially during the pandemic, and roads are out of bounds even on weekends when the traffic increased by nearly 50 per cent.
Citizens in some other areas like Lokhandwala, Charkop, Kandivali, Borivali, Dahisar, Powai and Dadar have also demanded similar ‘Sunday Streets’ in their respective localities and to make it a permanent feature of Mumbai’s weekend ‘outing’
He recalled the services of the police and security forces and the people of Mumbai for warding off the assault on the country’s commercial capital and recovering from its effects…reports Asian Lite News.
Mumbai on Friday remembered the Bravehearts and victims felled by bullets and others who saved lives on the 13th anniversary of the dastardly terror strikes by ten Pakistani terrorists who paralysed the city on November 26-29 2008.
Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari led the state by solemnly laying wreaths at the Martyrs’ Memorial erected inside the Mumbai Police Commissionerate premises near Crawford Market in south Mumbai.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, currently convalescing, saluted those who lost their lives during the terror strikes and expressed his gratitude to those who fought the terrorists, terming the attack “a cowardly act”.
He recalled the services of the police and security forces and the people of Mumbai for warding off the assault on the country’s commercial capital and recovering from its effects.
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil, Tourism Minister, Director-General of Police Sanjay Pandey, Police Commissioner Hemant Nagrale and other dignitaries also paid their respects at the martyrs’ memorial.
A large number of police personnel turned up to pay homage to their colleagues who lost their lives while fighting the terrorists who struck at key locations in south Mumbai, with special memories for Tukaram G. Omble who sacrificed his life while pinning down Ajmal Amir Kasab, the sole terrorist nabbed alive in the early hours of November 27, 2008.
The still-grieving family members, relatives of the martyrs and several Bravehearts, as also ordinary people paid homage to the departed souls with folded hands, bowed heads, lighting candles, offering flowers or wreaths, at the Martyrs’ Memorial and other locations in the city.
They included the widows, mothers, sons, daughters, brothers or sisters, who stepped up to the memorial and offered their own personal tributes with flowers or tears for their departed near and beloved ones.
Similar memorials were held at some of the worst-hit targets like the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Hotel Taj Mahal Palace, Hotel Oberoi, the Chabad House, the Cama Hospital, and the Leopold Cafe, which bore the brunt of attackers leaving around 175 dead and over 300 injured.
The traditional and social media featured several remembrance ads, glowing and touching tributes and messages of the 60-hours that shook the world before the security forces won over the terrorists – eliminating 9 and taking one (Kasab) alive – to face the Indian law in an unprecedented ‘open trial’.
Fuel price hike continues for the sixth consecutive day
Petrol and diesel prices increased again on Monday, the sixth consecutive day of increase, as global oil prices failed to relent and continued to remain firm…reports Asian Lite News
Accordingly, the pump price of petrol in Delhi increased by 35 paise per litre to jump to Rs 109.69 a litre while diesel prices also increased by the same margin to reach Rs 98.42 a litre, according to a price notification of state-owned fuel retailers.
In the financial capital Mumbai, petrol prices have now risen to Rs 115.50 per litre while diesel to Rs 106.63 a litre, the highest among all metros.
Fuel price hike continues for the sixth consecutive day
Across the country as well petrol and diesel prices increased between 35-40 paise per litre, but their retail rates varied depending on the level of local taxes on petroleum products.
The fuel prices have now increased six consecutive days by 35 paise per litre. Before this after holding for a couple of days, fuel prices again had risen on previous five days by about 35 paise per litre.
Diesel prices have now increased on 30 out of the last 38 days taking up its retail price by Rs 9.90 per litre in Delhi.
With diesel prices rising sharply, the fuel is now available at over Rs 100 a litre in several parts of the country. It is very close to breaching the mark even in Delhi where it had rapidly climbed to Rs 98.42 a litre on Monday.
Petrol prices had maintained stability since September 5, but oil companies finally raised the pump prices last week and this week given a spurt in the product prices lately. Petrol prices have also risen on 27 of the previous 34 days taking up the pump price by Rs 8.50 per litre.
Crude price has been on a surge, rising over three year high level of over $ 85 a barrel now as global demand remains firm while OPEC+ continues to move slowly on increasing production. It has fallen a bit to around $84 a barrel after China released some oil from its reserve to address supply concerns.
Since September 5, when both petrol and diesel prices were revised, the price of petrol and diesel in the international market is higher by around $9-10 per barrel as compared to average prices during August.
NCB witness Prabhakar Sail’s statements have triggered a major political war with the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi allies Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress slamming the central agency and Wankhede…reports Asian Lite News.
Apparently rattled by the revelations of a witness in the raid on a cruise ship rave party, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede on Sunday sought police help to protect him from possible “legal action”.
In a letter to the Mumbai Commissioner of Police (Hemant Nagrale), Wankhede claimed that he has learnt of “some precipitate legal action” for framing him falsely, is being planned by some unknown persons concerning the raid on the cruiser on October 2.
Indirectly referring to a statement by Nationalist Congress Party national Spokesperson and Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik last week, the NCB chief wrote: “It is also brought to your notice that threat of jail and dismissal have been issued against the undersigned on public media by highly respectable public functionaries.”
In what is viewed as a pre-emptive move, the IRS officer also asked the Mumbai Police chief to “ensure that no such precipitate legal action” is carried out to frame and falsely implicate him with ulterior motives.
Wankhede – who had earlier complained to the city and state police alleging threats to life – reminded Nagrale that NCB Deputy Director-General, South West Region, Mutha Ashok Jain, has already referred the latest matter (the witness’ sensational revelations) to the NCB headquarters for necessary action.
NCB witness Prabhakar Sail’s statements have triggered a major political war with the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi allies Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress slamming the central agency and Wankhede.
The MVA partners have demanded a suo moto investigation by the Mumbai Police, setting up of a Special Investigation Team to probe the NCB affairs, intervention of the Supreme Court, etc.
“In the past 15 years, we have rescued and reunited around 12,750 kids, most aged between 8-16 years, a majority being girls, but we even get 5-6 years old children or 17-20-year old teens,” Jadhav said…reports Quaid Najmi.
This week, Mumbaikars were shocked to learn of a school topper girl, who – lured by a glamour career – ran away to Telangana, but was safely rescued by Mumbai Police and brought back to her family. She is among the one crore kids, mostly girls, who run away from home, often on flimsiest grounds, and end up in strange states, cities or in deep trouble, every year, as per NCRB data.
A lucky few catch the eyes of Samatol Foundation, Mumbai, a NGO founded in 2006 by Vijay Jadhav, which specialises in ‘catching’ such runaway or trafficked kids all over the country. “In the past 15 years, we have rescued and reunited around 12,750 kids, most aged between 8-16 years, a majority being girls, but we even get 5-6 years old children or 17-20-year old teens,” Jadhav said.
It all started around 2006, when he espied a kid loitering on Mumbai streets, apparently lost and baffled, and took his charge. “He was a very bright child of Muslim parents from Hyderabad who pressurised him for academic excellence, so he just hopped into a train and reached Mumbai. As he refused to speak, his family, school authorities and Hyderabad Police came here and arrested me, believing I was a kidnapper,” chuckled Jadhav.
As an activist with the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA), Jadhav attended many of rallies and protests in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, etc., and between 1997-2000, came across hundreds of kids either lost, abandoned, runaway or trafficked and decided to do something for them, by working with YUVA, a NGO, till 2004.
“My inaugural case was a 12-year-old boy, son of a Parbhani village Sarpanch, who ran away just because his dad refused to buy him a bicycle till he turned 18..! The grateful villagers invited and felicitated me. That sowed the seeds for launching Samatol Foundation,” Jadhav recalled. Over the past 15 years, the Samatol Foundation has helped ‘catch’ and reunite nearly 13K kids, working 24×7, with over 5,000 volunteers keeping an eye for such children at railway stations, bus depots, near eateries, etc. “I personally met over a 1,000-families all over India reunited with their kids. Their joy was overwhelming and they celebrated as if it was an off-season Diwali. Our efforts are worth it,” he said.
Jadhav said that of the 10-million kids who ‘run away’ or ‘disappear’ annually, the maximum or more than one million, land up in Mumbai alone, a favourite destination of many. The reasons often are as ‘childish’ as the children. A 14-year-old girl decamped from Jalandhar to meet her idol Salman Khan, a 16-year-old wrote her SSC exams and directly caught a train from Allahabad for Mumbai, dreaming of a heroine’s role opposite Shah Rukh Khan.
Tourism Minister Aaditya Thackeray, who is Mumbai Suburban Guardian Minister, said the situation is being closely monitored…reports Asian Lite News.
Massive rains pounded Mumbai — in many places measuring over 20 cms (200 mm), paralysing road and rail traffic, all through the night, officials said here on Sunday.
The Western Railway suburban services were stopped completely due to flooding on tracks at most places in the city and surrounding and many outstation trains were stuck at various locations.
There was waist-deep water in some parts with water entering ground floor homes or buildings in many low-lying areas.
The downpour, which started after midnight, continued virtually non-stop and led to waterlogging or flooding in most parts of the city and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
The BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation said its rain guages recorded over a staggering 157mm (15.7 cms) in the south Mumbai, 14 cms in eastern suburbs and 13 cms in western suburbs.
The Maharashtra government, BMC and the coastal Konkan districts of Ratnagiri, Raigad, Palghar, Thane and Raigad are on high alert with the Disaster Management Units in readiness for any eventuality.
Tourism Minister Aaditya Thackeray, who is Mumbai Suburban Guardian Minister, said the situation is being closely monitored.
“As of 3 a.m., rainfall measured by IMD. Some places have crossed 200 mm now.A Mumbai has faced an extremely intense system of precipitation accompanied by thundering. The BMC pumps are operational and officers are on ground,” Thackeray said.
According to KS Hosalikar, Head SID, Climate & Research Services, Pune, said: “Extremely Heavy rainfall realized so far and severe floodings observed due to very very intense spell in a very short time.”
The IMD has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall in Mumbai during the day.
