NEW DELHI: NCP leader Zeeshan Siddique criticised the fire department’s inadequate response to the blaze at the Croma showroom in Link Square Mall, Bandra on Tuesday. The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday at the Croma showroom, situated in the basement of Link Square Mall on Linking Road, Bandra West, Mumbai. Officials reported that the fire began at 4.11 am, and the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) elevated it to a Level-III fire by 4.49 am, signifying its severity. In his statement to the press, Siddique said, “We have been here since 4am. The fire department has failed to control the fire… It could have easily been controlled initially, but the fire officers were ill-equipped. There was just a small spark in the basement of the Croma store, and it could have been easily controlled if action had been taken in time. However, the fire officers were not properly equipped, and even when they had the necessary equipment, they didn’t use it correctly.”
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Siddique expressed concern about the initial response to the fire, which started as a minor incident around 4 am but escalated due to ineffective handling. He elaborated, “We kept requesting them to supply more water, but nothing was done. Even when some parts of the store were still burning, they were unable to handle the situation. When we arrived at 4am, no one from the fire brigade or police was there. I had to call the Special Commissioner at 6am before anything happened. I warned them that there were gas cylinders in the restaurants above and that this could lead to a massive explosion. Still, no one took it seriously. It’s really unfortunate. Many officers in the Mumbai Fire Brigade are capable, but without proper equipment or training, their efforts are wasted. If there were 100 people inside that building, many lives could have been lost. We have videos showing how poorly the situation was handled. This is a very serious issue, and the officer in charge must be held responsible for the damage caused.” Siddique highlighted the absence of emergency responders upon his arrival and emphasised the potential risks posed by gas cylinders in the restaurants above the fire location. The fire, which started in a showroom, subsequently spread throughout the mall.
Swami Poornamrithanandapuri, general secretary of Matha Amrithanandamayi Math, inaugurated the ‘Amrita Centre for Oncogenetics’ at the ‘Amrita Kripa’ Speciality Clinic, a subsidiary of the Amrita Hospital in Kochi, at Vellimadukunnu in Kozhikode on Tuesday (April 29).
The centre aims to identify cancer in advance, using modern technology, including genetic testing, and provide suitable treatment in time. A panel of experts from the Kochi and Faridabad campuses of Amrita Hospital will be available in the Departments of Oncology and Genetics. The consultation is completely free at the Centre.
HYDERABAD: Is the United States’ loss turning into New Zealand’s gain? City-based consultancies certainly think so. According to them, the island nation has seen a sharp 300% rise in enquiries from local students seeking overseas higher education opportunities-a surge linked largely to recent changes in US immigration norms. Breaking from tradition, many Hyderabad students are now considering courses in dairy and agricultural sciences in New Zealand, in addition to the usual tech-related programmes, consultancies said. ‘No mood for risks’ “This shift is primarily due to the changing situation in the US, as well as in Canada and the UK. Students are in no mood to take any risks by heading to these countries and are exploring safer options like New Zealand, Australia, and Germany,” said Ajaya Kumar Vemulapati, who runs an overseas education consultancy in the city. Ajaya Kumar noted that enquiries for New Zealand have jumped from about four or five per year to 35-40 this year alone. Subhakar Alapati, founder-director of Global Tree, echoed this trend: “Many are showing interest in courses such as food technology and dairy science-both at the undergraduate and master’s levels.” New Zealand’s appeal extends beyond acaemics. Faster visa processing, a post-study work visa for up to three years, and a clear pathway to permanent residency are major draws for students. “I did not want to go to the US because of the changing immigration rules, long visa wait times, and political uncertainties,” said Chavva Prasanth, who plans to pursue a master’s degree in food technology from Auckland. “Canada too has become less attractive because of the recent cap on international student intake, rising cost of living, and new financial requirements for visas. So, I felt New Zealand was the better option.” Paladugu Saketh, who will be heading to New Zealand’s North Island in July, shared a similar view. “There is a shortage of skilled food technologists in New Zealand,” he said. “Also, these roles are on New Zealand’s Green List (formerly the Skill Shortage List), making it easier to obtain permanent residency.”
Shinjini Kulkarni (L) and Ayana Mukherjee share how their art has given them a voice
On International Dance Day, dancers from across Delhi – each devoted to preserving and celebrating diverse dance forms – pose for us at Delhi’s iconic heritage sites. Through stories woven with rhythm and passion, they share how their art has given them a voice and charted a path for expressing emotions. Kathak has taught me restraint, and that things take their own time to reach perfection: Shinjini Kulkarni Kathak is one of the fundamental relationships I have made as a human being. It has taught me restraint — every time I felt I was not reaching up to the point of perfection, despite doing the same routine in riyaaz, I learnt that things take their own time. It has taught me how one has no control over what they think they’re most prepared for. All my emotions have been mirrored in my dance productions, I sometimes go back to older projects to understand how I felt or used to emote them.
Kathak dancer Shinjini Kulkarni strikes a powerful pose against the Bada Gumbad at Lodhi Garden
I’ve realised that I can express some of the deepest emotions through Kathak, even before addressing or understanding them completely. It allows me to look at my own emotions from a third-person perspective.
‘I can express some of the deepest emotions through Kathak’
Dance is a language through which I process & express: Ayana Mukherjee For me, dance is no longer just movements – it’s the language through which I process, question, and express the world around me. Over the years, it has grown into my most honest form of communication, especially when words fall short. Whether I’m embodying mythological women whose stories have been forgotten, or choreographing moments, where a mother like Yashoda grieves for all the children lost in war, I find myself speaking truths through my body.
Kuchipudi dancer Ayana Mukherjee strikes a graceful pose at the Mehrauli Archaeological Park
In every slow unfolding of a gesture, in every repeated attempt to perfect a movement, I’ve learned that mastery is not immediate – it’s earned over time, through showing up again and again. There are days when the body resists, or the expression feels out of reach, but Kuchipudi teaches me to stay with it. To breathe through the struggle.
‘Dance is how I remember, resist, and reimagine’
The rootedness of Kuchipudi – both in tradition and in storytelling – keeps me connected to something larger than myself. Dance is how I remember, resist, and reimagine. Ballet keeps me balanced: Mario Fernando Augilera Dance allows artists to express emotions and ideas beyond the scope of words, utilising movement, space, and time as a language. I believe that the practice of ballet and teaching the dance form are very therapeutic. It keeps me balanced and centred, and without it, I would not be able to get through the week.
Ballet dancer and teacher Mario Fernando Augilera showcases some ballet poses in the Qutub complex
Dance is raw, honest language that allows us to express exactly how I feel: Team Hashtag As artistes, we’re privileged to experience a deeper and wider range of emotions than others. These emotions naturally flow into our body and movement, allowing us to express what words often can’t. Dance has no barriers — it’s a raw, honest language where we can move freely and express exactly how we feel.
Jahnvi Rao, Rubani Manaktala, Manas Yellapantula, Divyata Anand, Shivek Singhal show us some slick moves at Central Park in Connaught Place
As dancers, our body language speaks louder than words. When we dance, we don’t feel the need to align words with thoughts because the body interprets it better when I move. We can fall short of words but can never fall short of expressing through movement
Team Hashtag
Dance is raw, honest language that allows us to express exactly how I feel: Team Hashtag
Hip hop dancers from Hashtag show off some dance moves
