AC Short Circuit Sparks Blaze In Akola Hospital Akola: A major fire scare was reported at a private hospital in the Ramdaspeth area of Akola on Thursday after an air conditioner caught fire due to a short circuit, triggering a blaze in the critical care unit (CCU) and spreading smoke to the intensive care unit (ICU). The incident occurred around 1:10 p.m. when an AC unit in the CCU malfunctioned and ignited, engulfing the room where two patients were receiving treatment. Hospital staff acted swiftly to evacuate both patients immediately. The adjoining ICU was also affected as smoke spread through the facility, causing panic among patients and their families. With the help of locals and attendants, hospital authorities coordinated the transfer of all ICU patients to nearby hospitals using ambulances. Fire officials arrived at the scene within minutes of receiving the alert. Manish Kathale, chief of the fire department, stated, “We got a call at around 1:10 p.m. and reached the hospital within five minutes. Our first priority was to rescue patients from the affected CCU area, while another team simultaneously worked to douse the flames.” He emphasized that the fire was brought under control promptly, preventing it from spreading further. Patients in the ICU were also evacuated as a precautionary measure. Dr. Deepak Kelkar, the hospital director, explained that solar installation work was underway at the facility, and the main power line had been switched off. “We are investigating how power supply resumed and led to the short circuit. Our immediate focus was on ensuring patient safety. Thanks to our staff, fire brigade, and locals, all patients were safely evacuated,” he said. Police arrived at the scene to assess the situation, and no injuries or casualties were reported.#akola #ramdaspeth #akola_hospital #manish_kathale #dr_deepak_kelkar
Nagpur High Court Orders Removal of Non-Performing Staff from Anti-Encroachment Drive The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) to remove non-performing staff from the anti-encroachment squad, citing persistent failures in enforcement and ongoing encroachments in the city. The court’s intervention came after hearing two public interest litigation (PIL) petitions filed by the Dhantoli Nagrik Mandal, a local civic group. A division bench comprising Justices Anil Kilor and Raj Wakode expressed frustration over the NMC’s inability to address long-standing issues, despite repeated orders over the past 16 years. The court questioned the effectiveness of the NMC’s enforcement machinery, emphasizing that while anti-encroachment squads were reportedly functioning, no tangible action had been taken to curb illegal constructions. The bench directed the NMC to submit detailed records of actions taken, along with expenditures on salaries for personnel involved in the drive. The court highlighted that areas such as Dhantoli, Ramdaspeth, Khamla, and Umred Road remained plagued by encroachments, with permanent structures now occupying roads and footpaths. This, the court noted, indicated systemic lapses in enforcement. The bench criticized the prolonged inaction, stating that the case had been pending for over a decade without meaningful progress. “Every time, we are required to repeat the same orders,” the court remarked, underscoring the lack of compliance. The court also mandated that the NMC respond to recommendations from a committee formed to address the issues.#nagpur_municipal_corporation #ramdaspeth #dhantoli #nagpur_high_court #dhantoli_nagrik_mandal
Petrol supply stabilises, fuel crisis eases in city Nagpur: The fuel crisis that had gripped the city throughout the week showed signs of improvement on Friday, with panic-driven queues at petrol pumps diminishing. While most outlets were operating normally, a few in Wadi, Ganeshpeth, and Ramdaspeth remained closed due to stock shortages and delayed deliveries. Reporters visited multiple petrol stations across the city and observed that most were functioning without significant disruptions, with demand returning to regular levels. A pump operator in Wadi noted that the rush had largely subsided, stating, “Consumers are now purchasing fuel as per their usual needs.” However, the lingering effects of the surge in demand continued to impact some stations, leading to temporary closures. A senior district administration official confirmed that the situation had improved significantly, emphasizing that there was no need for panic buying. “Supplies are stabilising, and most petrol pumps are functioning normally,” the official said. They explained that the closures of select stations were due to two main factors: in some cases, stocks had been depleted by excessive demand, and replenishment was already underway. In other instances, delays were linked to recent credit-related changes by oil companies, which had delayed the arrival of fresh stock. Authorities assured that the affected pumps were expected to resume operations within a day or two. On the domestic LPG cylinder front, dealers reported that the situation remained challenging despite steady supply. The wait time for deliveries remained around eight days, with dealers citing a technical bottleneck as the primary issue. Bablu Tiwari, state president of the LPG Dealers Association of India, highlighted that the problem stemmed from a technical downtime of oil company servers.#nagpur #bablu_tiwari #ganeshpeth #ramdaspeth #wadi
Nag River’s crumbling walls on Canal Rd pose death trap Retaining walls along the Nag River on Canal Road in Nagpur have deteriorated to a dangerous state, prompting fears of a potential disaster among residents and commuters. Large sections of the walls, particularly in the Ramdaspeth area, are broken or missing, with the damage traced back to the severe flooding in September 2023. While the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) conducted partial repairs shortly after the deluge, work has since stalled, leaving stretches of the road exposed to the river. A visit by The Times of India revealed that the absence of railings or barricades has transformed the narrow road into a hazardous corridor for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists. The river flows directly alongside the carriageway with no buffer zone, meaning a minor misstep or skid could result in a fall into the water. Several sections show signs of prolonged neglect, including eroded edges, debris accumulation, and damaged stone pitching. In some areas, the riverbank has collapsed, further narrowing the gap between the road and the water. Residents have also raised concerns about the risks posed by vehicles parked along the embankment, particularly in the growing residential areas of Canal Road. Alisha Khobragade, a local resident, described the road as increasingly unsafe, noting that poor visibility at night exacerbates the danger. "At night, visibility is low, and with no proper wall or railing, anyone could accidentally fall into the river," she said. A senior official from the Dharampeth zone explained that the reconstruction of retaining walls is part of an Rs856 crore flood mitigation plan launched after the 2023 deluge.#times_of_india #nagpur_municipal_corporation #nag_river #canal_road #ramdaspeth
