Nagpur

Auto Cluster in city a non-starter Local industries’ apathy may lead to cancellation

Even as governments continue to showcase Vidarbha as an emerging industrial destination through investment summits, defence corridors and logistics infrastructure, one of the region’s most significant MSME projects appears to be slipping away. The proposed Auto and Engineering Cluster at Hingna MIDC, sanctioned under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises’ (MSME) Cluster Development Programme, is now under cancellation, according to a written reply tabled in the Rajya Sabha on August ..

Ashram school snake-bite case
HM, Hostel Warden arrested; Ex-MP, son made co-accused

The Headmaster and male Warden of the ashram school in Japtalai, where three girl students had died following snake-bite, were arrested on Thursday. Both, Headmaster Prashant Tatpalliwar (51), and Warden Bhashkar Bhoyar (50), were produced before the court in Gadchiroli in the afternoon where they were remanded of them to magisterial custody of 15 days, informed Dhanora SDPO Pande, who is investigating the case. Meanwhile, former MP Marotrao Kowase, President of Kuparlingo Sanstha which runs the ashram ..

The ‘silent killer’ hiding in plain sight; Common Krait bites that can go unnoticed

It can kill without leaving behind the tell-tale signs of a snake-bite. The Common Krait (Bungarus caeruleus), known as ‘Manyaar’ in Marathi, is particularly deceptive because its bite can be extremely small, often leaving no prominent swelling, bleeding or discolouration. A victim may not even realise that a snake has bitten him/her, while doctors can also face difficulty suspecting envenomation when there is no obvious bite mark or history of a snake-bite. The danger is reflected in wider snake-bite ..

DRI, RPF seize Rs 2 cr gold in Howrah Duronto Exp

IN A fresh case of crackdown on gold smuggling, a joint team of sleuths of DRI and RPF, SECR, intercepted two couriers and seized smuggled gold of 1.242 kg valued at nearly Rs 2 crore on Thursday. The Raipur office of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) got a tip-off about an attempt to smuggle gold in Howrah-Mumbai Duronto Express. They got in touch with the Railway Protection Force (RPF), Nagpur Division, and decided to catch the persons smuggling gold. A search was initiated in Duronto Express ..

Nagpur’s bright nights proving fatal for insects

If you stand below a Metro station light or a high-mast lamp on a summer night and look closely, around the bright white glow, hundreds of insects can be seen circling endlessly. By morning, many of them lie dead on the ground. The sight is so common that it rarely attracts attention. But scientists say it could be a warning sign of an ecological problem unfolding in city. As Nagpur expands its Metro stations, flyovers, commercial hubs and LED streetlights, the city is becoming brighter after sunset ..

Window on vidarbha
600 students return home as ‘ghost’ rumour takes over ashram school

In a bizarre incident, some 600 odd students of an ashram school in district’s Melghat region left the school in a huff and returned to their homes following a rumour regarding presence of a ‘ghost’ in the school. Panic reigned supreme in the Government Adiwasi Ashram Shala at Doma and now, activists of the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (ANIS) have launched a counselling drive to bring the students back. It all started after some girl students at the residential school allegedly began ..

Birthday drive ends in horror; 2 Class 11 students killed in crash

The quiet Pavangaon-Bharatwada road was suddenly shaken by a loud crash on Wednesday at 5.30 am. A speeding SUV had slammed into the rear of a parked truck. The impact was massive. The front and side portion of Electric Vehicle Tata Curvv was crushed and badly mangled. Inside, three young friends were trapped in the wreckage. Two of them lay motionless. They had died on the spot. The third was seriously injured. Only minutes earlier, the three Class 11 students had been out for a birthday celebration. ..

Vidarbha Bhavan to come up in Navi Mumbai

Navi Mumbai’s Kharghar-Panvel area is set to get a dedicated Vidarbha Bhavan, with Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule directing officials to submit a proposal for two acres of land available at Kharghar. The initiative follows sustained efforts by BJP MLC Pravin Datke, who had raised the demand with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Bawankule during the Winter Session of the Maharashtra Legislature in 2026. Datke had sought Government allotment of two acres for the project and had also proposed ..

Pakhare had contact with 3 more girls through ‘discord’

The investigation into the Instagram kidnapping case has revealed that accused Nirmay Madhav Pakhare (19) was in contact with three more girls, who were friends of the 16-year-old victim, police said. Pakhare and the three girls communicated through ‘Discord’, a free platform for voice, video and text chats. Police said the girls initially spoke to Pakhare regularly. But they soon became frightened. Pakhare allegedly started giving them instructions. He also tried to control their activities, police ..

Rotary Club of Nagpur to honour Miss Intl India Roosh Sindhu today

The Rotary Club of Nagpur will conduct a felicitation function of Roosh Sindhu, who recently crowned Miss International India, on August 13. The event will be led by Rotary Club of Nagpur President Gogi Bhasin, alongside a distinguished galaxy of Past Presidents of the club...

Orange City photographers club to host photo expo

Nagpur’s Orange City Photographers Club is celebrating its 30th anniversary and World Photography Day by hosting its 30th annual photography competition and exhibition. The event will take place from August 16 to 19, at the South Central Zone Cultural Centre, Civil Lines. The competition features three distinct categories: ‘Wildlife and Nature’, ‘Travel, Street and Event’, and ‘Mobile Photography’, offering total prizes worth Rs 1.35 lakh. The exhibition will be inaugurated on August 16 at 11 am by ..

Mah is home to 63 wild elephants: Study

Maharashtra’s wild elephant population has been estimated at 63, in which, 26 individuals are residing in Western Ghats and 37 in the Gadchiroli district of Vidarbha, revealed the country’s first-ever DNA-based Synchronous All-India Elephant Estimation (SAIEE) 2025 conducted by Wildlife Institute of India (WII) recently. The SAIEE-2025 puts India’s elephant population between 18,255 and 26,645, with an average of 22,446. Maharashtra has forested areas equivalent to 20.1 per cent (61,952 sq km) of ..

NMC eyes 2nd new admn building at Civil Lines, to tap PPP route

Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is all set to leverage its prime land in Civil Lines housing its headquarters to generate revenue for the cash-strapped civic body, though construction of a new multi-storeyed tower. The New Administrative Building is proposed to replace the existing building housing Bank of Maharashtra Branch, in front of old Nagpur Municipal Corporation building at its headquarters. As of now, the civic bosses are of the view to go for a commercial-cum-office building which would ..

Mule account racket Rs 100 crore trail leads to global online fraud network

A mule account racket with a suspected international cyber crime connection has opened up a Rs 100 crore plus online fraud network. Nagpur Cyber Police have arrested five more persons, including two young women, taking the total arrests to six. Police found that more than Rs 100 crore was routed through 104 bank accounts taken on rent and used to receive and transfer fraud money. Police have found that more than Rs 100 crore was routed through 104 bank accounts allegedly obtained and operated on rent. ..

Stop blame game, find solution to Somalwar water-logging: HC

Rainwater flooding around Somalwar School in Khamla has once again come under the High Court’s scanner. The Bombay High Court’s Nagpur Bench on Tuesday told the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and the Public Works Department (PWD) to stop blaming each other and find a practical solution. The Court directed both the departments to sit together and work out measures to prevent water-logging at the school and nearby areas. It also asked them to submit affidavits by Friday and explain the steps taken ..

Terrace opposite teen’s home was sexual assault spot

In Instagram kidnapping case, the terrace of a building opposite the teenage girl’s house allegedly became the scene of a sexual assault months before she was held captive. Hudkeshwar police investigating the case have uncovered disturbing details about accused Nirmay Madhav Pakhare (19), a resident of Thane. According to a police official, Pakhare went to the building at around 9 pm. He called the 16-year-old girl and asked her to come there. When she refused, he allegedly threatened her. He also ..

Out of 92 days of summer Nagpur breathed unsafe air for 46 days this year: CREA

rapidly growing on the infrastructure front, Nagpur witnessed higher particulate matter (PM10) during previous summer season. Nagpur choked on toxic air for half the summer, defeating both Mumbai and Pune to become one of the most polluted cities in Maharashtra revealed a study conducted by Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) recently. As per the data shared by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the PM10 levels of Nagpur city breached the national safety standards on 46 days from ..

Different contexts, common aspirations Rise of the ‘Degree-Plus’ generation

A degree once seemed to mark the end of formal preparation for a career. For a growing number of young people, it is beginning to look more like a starting point. As Youth Day is observed this year under the theme ‘Different Contexts, Common Aspirations’, an increasing number of students are finding themselves drawn towards the same idea: learning cannot stop with a graduation certificate. Short-term courses, specialised certifications, internships, and skills acquired independently are becoming additional ..

Drug safety watchdog runs on just two inspectors in district

Drug safety enforcement in Nagpur district is operating with just two Drug Inspectors, despite 10 posts sanctioned for Nagpur District and 17 total for Division exposing a severe manpower gap in the machinery responsible for regulating medicines and pharmaceutical establishments. The State reportedly has just 35 Drug Inspectors serving currently. The shortage has been compounded by uncertainty surrounding the latest recruitment. The Drug Inspector examination held in March 2026 was followed by the ..

Independent power supply planned for underpass pumps

Learning from the severe water-logging witnessed during the July 28 heavy rains, MahaMetro has decided to provide independent power supply to sludge pumps installed at key Railway underpasses across the city to ensure uninterrupted operations during heavy rainfall. The move comes after the Manish Nagar Railway Under Bridge (RuB), equipped with three 20 HP sludge pumps, was inundated and had to be closed to traffic despite assurances that it would remain functional throughout the monsoon. Explaining ..

‘Sense of belonging needed to curb existing conflict in world’

  Staff Reporter : RSS Chief Dr Mohan Bhagwat said Lord Ganesh is a source of energy and represents the true meaning of organisation. Everybody is subtly aware of this sense of belonging and feels connected. We are expressions of same energy &nb..

FDA seizes analogue paneer stock worth Rs 47 lakh in distt

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has intensified its enforcement drive against food products violating safety norms, seizing 23,965 kg of stock valued at Rs 47 lakh from two dairy establishments in Nagpur, with cheese analogue (paneer) forming the major focus of the action. Under the Safe Food, Safe Maharashtra campaign, FDA officials inspected Chandra Dairy at Pili Nadi, Wanjra, and Shivam Dairy Food Products at Ita Bhatti Chowk on August 6. Samples of curd, cheese analogue and skimmed milk ..

Nagpur police overhaul on cards

A major overhaul of the Nagpur police is on the cards, with the focus on tackling land mafias, crack down on Oyo hotels, strengthening CCTV surveillance and filling staff shortages. The police force will also get more vehicles, while steps will be taken to improve traffic management and strengthen the policing network. Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule issued a series of directions during a police review meeting at Police Bhavan on Monday. He ordered the formation of a Special Investigation ..

BJP, Oppn spar in NMC House over issue of increasing zones

General body meeting of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) witnessed unprecedented uproar on the question tabled by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) about increasing the number of administrative zones. The issue sparked charges from Congress plus AIMIM-IUML benches accusing BJP of trying to grab control of all zones in name of reorganisation citing administrative necessity. Treasury and Opposition benches traded barbs even as Leader of Opposition Sanjay Mahakalkar marshalled all non-BJP corporators and ..

Four from Nagpur booked in Rs 54 cr MD haul near H’bad

A major drug racket operated by a notorious criminal from Nagpur has been busted near Hyderabad in Telangana. A total of 27 kg of mephedrone (MD) drug, worth around Rs 54 crore was seized by the police along with 40 kg of acetone which is used in drug manufacturing. The MD was made at a laboratory in Kondamadugu in Telangnga and the consignment was then being taken to Nagpur. Investigators suspect the drug was to be distributed in Nagpur and other parts of Vidarbha. The accused have been identified ..

Window on vidarbha Three girls die after snake bites six at Ashramshala

Three girls died while three others are undergoing treatment after being bitten by a venomous snake at an ashramshala (residential school) of village Japatlai in Dhanora taluka. Of them, one girl has been airlifted to Nagpur for further treatment. The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday, when a snake bit six students sleeping in the ashramshala. Meanwhile, Kuparlingo Santha, who runs the said school, has suspended Bhagyashree Chilamwar, Warden of the hostel, for her negligence in duty...

Fly ash dumping by Mahagenco in Nandgaon contaminating Pench River

AN unchecked ecological crisis continues to unfold near Nandgaon village in Khaperkheda area as Maharashtra State Electricity Generation Company Limited’s (Mahagenco’s) Khaperkheda Thermal Power Station (KTPS) has been dumping fly ash for almost two months in a highly unscientific manner at the Nandgaon ash bund, directly violating environmental norms. Despite complaints to regulating authorities the dumping of fly ash is continue since June causing threat to water contamination in Pench River which ..

Cheating case accused dies after consuming poison while being taken into police custody

A man wanted in a cheating case in Yavatmal district died after consuming rat poison while police were picking him up from a petrol pump in Nagpur on Monday evening. The deceased has been identified as Anand Bhagat (30). He was wanted by the Kalamb police in connection with a cheating case of around Rs 5 lakh. According to police, Bhagat was working as a Manager at a petrol pump when he allegedly committed the fraud. The Kalamb police had been searching for him after registering the case...

Crime curve bends down in Nagpur Rural; murders plunge 55%, road deaths 23%

Nagpur Rural Police has made a strong mark in crime control, road safety and use of technology. Murder cases have dropped by over 54 per cent and road accident deaths by 23 per cent in the first seven months of 2026. Drug seizures have also jumped sharply. Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule reviewed the performance of Nagpur Rural Police and festival security arrangements at Police Bhavan on Monday. He praised the force for its work and asked officers to maintain the same pace. Senior SP Dr ..

Opposition parties must remain united to defeat BJP: Chavan

“If the BJP is to be defeated, Opposition parties must remain together and consolidate the public anger against the ruling dispensation,” said Prithviraj Chavan, senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister of the state, ehile speaking to the media at Ravi Bhavan on Monday. Prafulla Gudadhe, City Congress President; Atul Londhe, spokesperson; and Rajendra Mulak, senior Congress leader were also present for the press conference. Chavan, in his address, asserted that Opposition unity was essential ..

Government committed to empowering Divyangjan with education, health, employment: CM Fadnavis

Reaffirming the State’s dedication to providing dignity and independence to persons with disabilities, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that the State Government and Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) remain committed to supplying necessary education, healthcare facilities, and employment opportunities to Divyangjan across Nagpur district. He was addressing at the valedictory ceremony of the four-day Jaipur Foot and Assistive Devices Camp held at Kavivarya Suresh Bhat Auditorium, on Monday. ..

Raunak crowned champion Nagpur GM wins Scheldemond International Chess Tournament

NAGPUR’S very own Grandmaster Raunak Sadhwani has been crowned champion at Scheldemond International Chess Tournament that was held in Vlissingen, Netherlands, from August 1 to 8. Raunak produced a strong and consistent performance by remaining unbeaten throughout the nine-round international open tournament, finishing with an impressive 7.5 points out of 9. Raunak’s road to the title was marked by extraordinary resilience and fighting spirit. One of the biggest tests came in a gruelling 5.5-hour ..

Suspend officials who fail to restore dug-up roads, instructs Gadkari

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Sunday directed the administration to suspend officials responsible for failing to restore roads after excavation and blacklist contractors who do not properly restore them. The directions were issued at a meeting held at Gadkari’s Mahal office to review the proposed Nag River project and rehabilitation of settlements along the river. Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Guardian Minister; Neeta Thakre, Mayor; Leela Hathibed, Deputy Mayor; MLAs ..

Instagram kidnapping case ‘Dark psychology’ fascination? Police dig into Pakhare’s behaviour

Investigators probing the kidnapping and sexual assault of a 16-year-old girl are closely studying the behaviour and mindset of accused Nirmay Madhav Pakhare (19), a resident of Thane. Police suspect that Pakhare may have developed an interest in ‘dark psychology’. However, investigators have not reached any final conclusion so far. A senior police official explained that the term ‘dark psychology’ is generally used to describe manipulative or harmful behaviour. It may involve deception, fear, emotional ..

New Bhandewadi dog shelter to have triple NMC’s holding capacity

Nagpur’s dog shelter capacity is set to more than triple, with a new facility coming up at Bhandewadi that will accommodate 280 dogs, compared to around 80 at the existing shelter nearby. Construction of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) shelter began in the summer of 2025 and is expected to be completed by October 31, 2026, according to the deadline given by the contractor. Three of the five planned sheds have been completed, while work on the remaining two is underway. The project has been ..

BRICS leaders experience magic of BharatiyaGPT

In a landmark intersection of civilisation, culture and cutting-edge technology, the 3rd BRICS Meeting placed India’s extraordinary civilisational knowledge and heritage in the global spotlight, showcasing how Artificial Intelligence can transform the way centuries-old manuscripts, traditions and intellectual achievements are preserved, explored and experienced by the world. Bringing together ministers and leaders from 14 countries, including 10 BRICS Member States and 4 Partner Countries, the internationa..

New Mohpa Police Station inaugurated

The new Mohpa Police Station in Kalmeshwar tehsil was formally inaugurated on Saturday by Guardian Minister and Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule. The police station was sanctioned under Nagpur Rural Police. It had already started functioning on June 13, 2026. Its formal inauguration was held on August 8. MP Shyamkumar Barve, MLC Dr Rajiv Potdar, MLA Ashish Deshmukh and Mohpa Municipal Council president Madhav Charjan attended the event. Special Inspector General of Police, Nagpur Range, Sandeep ..

Gold smuggling explodes Post duty hike 150 kg seized since May 13

 By Dheeraj Fartode : GOLD smuggling has risen sharply after the customs duty on gold was increased from 6 per cent to 15 per cent on May 13. More than 150 kg of smuggled gold was seized across India in just three months after the hike. In compa..

11 unauthorised schools identified in Nagpur division, five shut: RTI

   Staff Reporter : The Directorate of Education, Government of Maharashtra launched a major crackdown against institutions operating without mandatory Government recognition in 2025-26. During the period, the Directorate identified 11..

With remote work here to stay, cafes emerging as new workplaces

   By Reema Mewar : The COVID-19 pandemic changed more than where people worked -- it changed what they considered a workplace. Remote work proved that productivity was not tied to an office, and while many initially embraced the freed..

DRI seizes smuggled gold worth Rs 3.09 cr at Nagpur Rly Station

   Staff Reporter : The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Nagpur, seized 2.165 kg of foreign-origin smuggled gold worth around Rs 3.09 crore from a passenger at Nagpur Railway Station. DRI officials said they had received spe..

Pakhare discharged from hospital, shifted to Nagpur Central Jail

   Staff Reporter :  Nirmay Madhav Pakhare (19), accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl, was discharged from the hospital and taken to the Central Jail on Friday. The court had earlier ordered that he be sent..

NMC to demolish or seal 100 structuresin a month for violating building rules

   Staff Reporter : The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has planned a crackdown against unauthorised constructions, illegal changes of land use, and buildings with fire safety non-compliance. As per the plan, the Nagpur Municipal Co..

15.9% rise in dog-bite cases in six months

   Staff Reporter : While citizens continue to grapple with the looming danger of dog-bites, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s (NMC) Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme remains in limbo. From January 2026 to June 2026, NMC has..

8 sharp weapons seized from Pakhare’s Thane home

   Staff Reporter :  Hudkeshwar Police have seized eight types of sharp weapons, a laptop and a large quantity of contraceptives from the residence of rape and kidnapping accused Nirmay Madhav Pakhare (19) in Thane. The seizure has giv..

Resident doctors call off Statewide indefinite strike

The Central Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (Central MARD) on Thursday announced withdrawal of the Statewide indefinite strike following directions from the Bombay High Court, while maintaining that none of its key demands have been accepted by the Government. The agitation, launched against the proposed implementation of the BHMS–CCMP framework without what the Association termed an adequate legal and regulatory mechanism, has been withdrawn solely in compliance with the High Court’s ..

Ambazari lake weed cleaning
NMC plans custom conveyor belt system

Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is working on a plan to design and deploy an automated weed-removal system to combat rampant growth of water hyacinth (Eichhornia) at Ambazari Lake. The proposed machinery will operate on a mechanism similar to airport baggage conveyor belts, extracting floating weed mass and dumping it directly into waiting disposal trucks. According to Yogesh Pachpor, Corporator of Prabhag 13 (A), civic engineers are refining the technical specifications and material requirements ..

TATR signs MoU with Airbnb to promote homestays in buffer

In a significant step towards promoting sustainable community-based ecotourism, Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) and Airbnb signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the International Tiger Day celebrations held at Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Nagpur recently. The MoU aims to improve digital readiness, visibility, and market accessibility of homestay owners, enabling them to attract a wider range of domestic and international visitors...

Five special courts to speed up cases under Atrocity Act

TO speed up cases registered under the Atrocity Act, the Maharashtra Government has decided to set up five special courts, which would include one at Yavatmal. These courts are designated as Exclusive Special Courts, means they would hear only cases related to alleged atrocity against Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes. These courts would conduct trials under SC/ST Rules, 1989, which were further revised in 2015. The other Exclusive Special Courts are going to be opened at Ahmednagar, Parbhani, Solapur ..

Instagram kidnapping case
Accused Nirmay Pakhare in hospital due to chest pain

The 19-year-old accused in the kidnapping and sexual assault of a 16-year-old girl was admitted to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) on Wednesday night after complaining of chest pain during a routine medical examination. According to Hudkeshwar Police, the accused, Nirmay Madhav Pakhare, a resident of Thane, complained of chest pain during his check-up. Doctors advised his admission to GMCH for treatment and observation. His police custody remand ended on Thursday. The court granted ..