44-Year-Old Man Dies, 7 Injured After Swarm Of Bees Attacks Tourists In Karnala Bird Sanctuary.

The Incident

In a rare and tragic incident, a 44-year-old man lost his life while seven others were injured after a swarm of bees attacked a group of tourists at Karnala Bird Sanctuary on Saturday morning.

The deceased, Sandeep Purohit, a resident of Koparkhairane, had visited the sanctuary with his wife, son, and family friends for a trek to Karnala Fort. Around 11 AM, forest officials received a distress call and rushed to the location with a rescue team. Upon arrival, they found the tourists attempting to escape the bee stings, while Purohit lay unconscious after tripping and injuring his head.

The injured were taken to Panvel Sub-District Hospital, where Purohit was declared dead on arrival. Senior police inspector Gajanan Ghadge stated that an accidental death report has been filed, and investigations are underway to determine what triggered the bee attack.

Hospital superintendent Dr. Ashok Gite mentioned that while Purohit had minor forehead injuries, the cause of death will be confirmed after a histopathology examination. He noted that multiple bee stings can sometimes cause fatal allergic reactions, leading to cardiac arrest.

Among the injured were students from VJTI Engineering College, identified as Rudrapratap Sahu (20), Chirag Patil (19), Anish Salvi (19), Rishikesh Navghare (20), Vansh Wagh (19), and Vansh Pajay (19), along with Ilmurugan Sankaran (55) from Khanda Colony.

Authorities are now investigating the incident while urging visitors to exercise caution in the sanctuary.

Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation Wins Smart Governance Award.

The Award

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has been honored with the prestigious Smart Governance Award for its outstanding performance in digital governance at the West Tech Symposium, organized by Adhikari Brothers’ Governance Now Prakashan.

The award was presented to Additional Commissioner Sunil Pawar by film producer Kanchan Adhikari and actor Mahesh Thakur at a special ceremony in Mumbai. Deputy Commissioner of Administration Sharad Pawar was also present at the event, which focused on sustainable urban development and integrating technology with environmental responsibility.

Under the leadership of NMMC Commissioner Dr. Kailas Shinde, the corporation has successfully implemented various digital initiatives, significantly improving efficiency, transparency, and public service delivery. The introduction of e-office systems has reduced paperwork, improved data security, and expedited governance processes while promoting environmental sustainability.

NMMC has also deployed an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, ensuring seamless interconnectivity between departments. A Unified Dashboard provides real-time monitoring of municipal activities, enhancing administrative efficiency. Currently, 90 key services, including birth, death, and marriage registrations, water supply applications, and property tax payments, are available online, with 15 more in development.

To boost citizen engagement, NMMC launched a grievance redressal system and the ‘Majhi Navi Mumbai – My NMMC’ mobile app, allowing residents to submit complaints, track service requests, and access municipal services digitally.

Commissioner Dr. Kailas Shinde has urged citizens to utilize NMMC’s digital platforms, ensuring easy access to essential services without the need for physical visits.

Dy RTO begins certification of auto rickshaw and taxi meters in Navi Mumbai.

The Fare

The Regional Transport Office (RTO) has officially implemented revised fare rates for auto rickshaws, effective from February 1. Under the new structure, the base fare for the first leg of the journey has increased from Rs23 to Rs26. The changes have led to widespread confusion among both rickshaw drivers and passengers.

Passengers will now be charged per kilometer after the initial fare. However, discrepancies have arisen as some rickshaws still operate on old fare meters, leading to conflicts between drivers and commuters. While some auto drivers have started charging according to the updated rates, others are awaiting meter recalibration, resulting in fare inconsistencies.

The process of updating the fare meters began on Saturday, February 15. With Navi Mumbai housing over 36,000 auto rickshaws, the transition has not been seamless. Several passengers, unaware of the revised fares, have protested against drivers demanding higher charges, causing disputes at various rickshaw stands.

To address the issue, the transport department has initiated software updates for fare meters. Deputy Regional Transport Officer Gajanan Gawande assured that modifications will be completed soon, ensuring all rickshaws reflect the correct fare.

As the recalibration progresses, passengers are advised to verify the fare structure and cooperate with rickshaw drivers. The RTO has urged rickshaw operators to comply with the updated rates while ensuring a hassle-free commute for passengers.