QMumbai: ‘1 Above’ Got Fire NOC Illegally; Man Jumps Off Sea Link
Resto-pub at Kamala Mills which caught fire was given fire NOC despite flouting norms.
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1. ‘1 Above’ Got Fire NOC Despite Violating Safety Norms: Probe
More skeletons are tumbling out of the closet in the Kamala Mills fire tragedy with investigations now revealing that the fire department had issued a No-objection Certificate (NOC) to 1Above just five days before the blaze despite violations of safety norms and illegal constructions.
Fire station officer RB Patil had inspected the resto-bar in early December, while the NOC was cleared by Assistant Divisional Fire Officer SS Shinde despite the fact that the BMC’s own G-South ward had issued notices to the restaurant for illegal constructions and serving hookah in violation of its licence conditions.
The irregularities have surfaced in a probe being conducted by the BMC. An official who is associated with the investigations further said that 1Above, housed in the Trade House building, was among the first restaurants in the city to apply to the civic body for permission to use its terrace for dining under the recently cleared rooftop policy.
(Source: Mumbai Mirror)
2. Kamala Mills Fire: Toilet In Which 14 Died Was Illegal, Owner To Cops
IN HIS statement to Mumbai Police, Kamala Mills owner Ramesh Gowani has claimed that the toilet in which the victims took refuge to escape the fire at 1Above resto-pub on December 29 was illegal and built without his knowledge by the pub owners.
The toilet became a death trap for 13 customers and one staff member who had taken refuge in it.
According to the police, Gowani, a Worli resident, said he had rented out space to Mojo’s Bistro six months ago, while 1Above was allotted the space a year ago.
He told the police the owners of the two outlets had approached him, seeking a place to open resto bars. “I told them they should follow all the norms and get permission from the fire department and BMC. It was after they agreed to it that we went ahead with the agreement and rented it out to them. I have done no wrong,” said an officer, quoting Gowani’s statement.
(Source: Indian Express)
3. Panicky Cops Stop Mevani, Umar Khalid From Attending Students’ Event
Juhu and Santacruz police stations on Thursday turned into sites of raucous students’ protest after cops used brute force to prevent Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mevani and JNU leader Umar Khalid from speaking at a national summit of students at Bhaidas Hall in Vile Parle.
Hundreds of students were arrested as they raised slogans questioning the police’s decision to deny Chhatra Bharti – a left-leaning students’ body – permission to hold a lecture series where Mevani, Khalid, former Allahabad University leader Richa Singh, and another JNU leader Pradeep Narwal were among the speakers.
Parallely, the cops spent the day hunting for Mevani and Khalid against whom an offence has been registered in Pune for delivering provocative speeches at Yelgar Parishad, an event commemorating the defeat of Peshwa forces by a British army unit comprising mainly Dalit soldiers.
(Source: Mumbai Mirror)
4. Man, Who Jumped Off Sea Link, Found Alive
Seven hours after he jumped off the Bandra-Worli Sea Link and was fished out barely alive from the sea near Chaityabhoomi in Shivaji Park, Nikhar Sahu’s condition is said to be stable and he is miraculously recovering at Sion Hospital.
On Thursday at around 11 am, Sahu reportedly hailed a taxi from Bandra and asked the driver to take the sea link. However, before reaching the bridge, the driver told the police Sahu appeared disturbed and unsure. He thrice made him take U-turns just before the toll booth at the Bandra end before making up his mind.
Once on the sea link, as they approached pole no 90, Sahu told the driver to stop the cab as he wanted to take some pictures. The driver obliged. As soon as the vehicle halted, Sahu got off, walked towards the railing, pretended to take a selfie, and jumped. The shocked driver immediately called up the police control room.
(Source: Mumbai Mirror)
5. 50 Doctors At Plush Hospital Haven’t Been Paid In Six Months
Denied salary for the past six months, 50 senior doctors of the reputable SevenHills Hospital in Marol have approached the police, asking them to take action against the management that is allegedly mounting pressure on them to quit.
These full-time consultants, who have been protesting in demand for their salaries since July last year, started an indefinite strike on December 28. They have stopped admitting new patients and also refused to cater to those at the out-patients department, leaving the healthcare facilities in the hands of 50-odd junior doctors. However, they have decided to only treat patients in the emergency ward.
At present, the 306-bed plush hospital in Andheri, which has been financially bleeding for some time now, has only 17 patients.
The doctors claimed that in the past six months, they have had several meetings with the management over their pending salaries. And each time, they were given false assurances that their salaries would be deposited soon in their accounts. But eventually, the word was never kept.
(Source: Mumbai Mirror)
6. Mumbai Bandh: Top Cop Helps 700 School Students Reach Home Safely During Dalit Protests
Walking in at the right time and helping citizens in crisis is what the Mumbai police are always expected to do. Finally, someone lived up to it, and that too on a day when it was required the most. Senior inspector Sanjay Hazare of Valiv police station turned out to be a saviour for over 700 students of Vidya Vikas High School, when the authorities reached out to the Palghar police and asked them to help to transport the kids safely to their homes. He acted promptly and along with a team of officers escorted the students to their homes.
Speaking to mid-day, Hazare said, "We received a call from the school around 11.30 am. The authorities sought help in sending the students home safely. We responded immediately and escorted the students, accommodated them in 21 school buses, and on bikes and in police vans. The students reside in Vasai West, Nalasopara, Tulinj and other areas."
When contacted, Dr Sanjay Manjalkar, vice-president of Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) for Vidya Vikas High School, said, "The students had reached school around 7.30 am. But when violence erupted across the city, we approached the Palghar police and sought help to send them home. We appreciate the quick response of Sanjay Hazare and are also thankful to the other officers of Palghar police."
(Source: Mid-Day)
7. 27-Yr-Old Conservancy Worker Kills Self In Mumbai: Police
A 27-year-old conservancy worker with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) allegedly committed suicide on Thursday, police said. She was allegedly out of work for over three months. Fellow conservancy workers took her body to the BMC headquarters to protest against “apathy of civic officials”.
Sumati Devendra, a single mother of an 11-year-old girl and contractual conservancy worker with the BMC, had alleged that she was neither being assigned any work for past three months, nor was she paid her dues for previous work done by her.
“She had requested the officials of K West ward (Andheri West, Juhu) to assign her work, however, her request was denied every time. Finally, she took this extreme step,” alleged Milind Ranade, general secretary of Kachra Vahtuk Shramik Sangh.
There are around 2,700 conservancy workers, who are hired by the civic body on contractual basis and paid between Rs 6,000 and Rs 9,000.
(Source: Indian Express)