From Asanas to Awareness, Nagpur Strikes a Pose on Yoga Day Nagpur: Thousands of residents rolled out their yoga mats across Nagpur on Sunday as the city celebrated the 12th International Day of Yoga with mass sessions, acrobatic demonstrations, environmental initiatives and an anti-drug awareness campaign. The city's main Yoga Day event was held at Yeshwant Stadium, jointly organised by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and the district administration. From Surya Namaskars to human pyramids and tree plantation pledges, the celebrations reflected this year's theme, "Yoga for Healthy Aging." Mayor Neeta Thakre inaugurated the event by lighting the ceremonial lamp in the presence of deputy mayor Leela Hathibed, standing committee chairperson Shivani Dani-Wakhare, municipal commissioner Vip, and several other dignitaries. Citizen Krushna Bhende, a long-time yoga practitioner, praised the event's collaborative effort between the Janardan Swami Yogabhyasi Mandal and the NMC. He emphasized the importance of integrating yoga into school curriculums to instill health and tradition. Another participant shared how the event alleviated her fears about performing yoga. "I was worried I wouldn't be able to do the asanas, but they were not complex. I understood the instructions and performed each with ease," she said. Gorakhnath Sunil Sirsikar, a member of the Janardan Swami Yogabhyasi Mandal, noted that the event has been held annually for 12 years, attracting around 5,000 participants. A highlight of the day was a spectacular display by the Nagpur District Yoga Association, where young participants, guided by Anil Mohgaonkar, showcased advanced techniques and formed a human pyramid.#nagpur #nagpur_municipal_corporation #nmc #yeshwant_stadium #janardan_swami_yogabhyasi_mandal
City deluged in ’23, river walls collapsing, funds released now Nagpur: After years of delays, the Maharashtra government finally released Rs70.76 crore on March 31, 2026, to the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) for post-Sept 2023 flood restoration works. The funds, part of a pending Rs72 crore allocation from the state, were intended to address critical infrastructure damage along the Nag River and its tributaries. However, civic officials admitted the money would primarily be used to clear outstanding contractor bills, raising concerns about the prioritization of urgent repairs. The NMC initially sought Rs204.71 crore for restoration efforts after the 2023 floods devastated large sections of roads, drainage systems, and retaining walls along the Nag, Pili, and Pora rivers. The state later revised the project cost to around Rs158 crore, with Rs86.5 crore already released earlier in the financial year. The latest allocation of Rs70.76 crore was critical to prevent a payment crisis for the municipal body as the financial year drew to a close. Despite the funding, the city remains vulnerable to another major flood. Recent months have seen several retaining walls along the Nag River collapse, exposing residential areas, schools, and commercial zones to potential disaster. Notable incidents include the caving of protective walls near Yeshwant Stadium in Sangam Chawl and damage reported near Panchsheel Square. Residents along the riverbanks have repeatedly complained about the lack of immediate repairs, with erosion continuing in some areas due to delayed action. Civic officials acknowledged that work on the most vulnerable stretches of the river will likely commence in the coming weeks.#maharashtra_government #nagpur_municipal_corporation #nag_river #panchsheel_square #yeshwant_stadium
