Schools, Junior Colleges, Multiplexes, Single Screen Cinema Halls and even some shopping malls have been closed on a temporary basis to avoid the spread of the swine flue H1N1 virus. Schools, Junior colleges and even private coaching classes have been ordered to close down for a week. All Multiplexes and single screen cinema halls will remind closed for next three day.

Mumbai considered as the financial and commercial capital of the country has till now reported 3 deaths due to the deadly virus. The state of Maharashtra has had 11 deaths of the total 19 in the country. The state Chief Minister confirmed there is no state of panic and this step is only a prevention measure. He also said that this decision to shutdown after many residents and public bodies came back to the minister with the same suggestion. As per the minister this would only impact four working days the remaining three of the seven days are holidays.

Most of the people who have been confirmed as cases of swine flu have contracted the virus outside country.  As per the latest reports Bangalore reported its first swine flu death on 13th August. The death toll in the country due to the H1N1 has now increased to 21.

Two FBI officials have appeared before the special court in Mumbai to testify on the 26/11 attack. Three other FBI officials will provide evidence using a video conferencing facility. The attack happened last November on the city of Mumbai, terrorists had killed over 170 people in the horrific act. Six American citizens were also killed in the attack.

This is the first time a non Indian citizen is testifying in the 26/11 case. FBI officials have provided information on the communication equipment and other details relating to the case. A team of FBI officials had visited Mumbai to help the Mumbai police in the investigations post the attack.

Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab is the lone surviving attacker and faced 86 charges including charges of waging war on the nation, murder, possessing arms and explosives. Qasab initially denied the charges but later on confessed to his crime in the court. Six American citizens were also killed in the attack.

Although Pakistan had first denied that its citizens were involved in the 26/11 attack but had later accepted the involved of Pakistani citizens and also confirmed that Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab was a Pakistani citizen.

On Tuesday afternoon, two more cases of swine flu deaths have been reported from Gujarat and Maharashtra. The 63-year old elderly lady, Sayeeda Dorjeewala, a resident of Mumbra, in close by Thane district was admitted on 6th August to the Noor hospital in Mumbai, died after enduring major health complications subsequent to being tested affirmative for the H1N1 virus. Earlier, the 53-year old Famida Panwala was the earliest swine flu victim from Mumbai. This sums up the death toll in Maharashtra that has steadily increased to seven.

In Vadodara, Gujarat, a seven year old minor girl also died after succumbing to swine flu in Sir Sayajirao Gaekwad Hospital, a Government hospital. The seven year old girl identified as Arya Borde was admitted to the hospital in a precarious condition last Wednesday. Her swabs were sent for viral pneumonitis analysis to the National Center for Disease Control or NCDC located in Delhi that came out to be affirmative on 8th August.

Ravi Saxena, the Principal Secretary of Health said that the girl had been started on a dose of Tamiflu following her admission to the SSG hospital and was kept on ventilator support from 7th August. This morning her health deteriorated considerably and she died at close to 12:30 hours.

This ups the death count in Gujarat to two, with the first fatality being the 43-year old NRI, Praveen Patel who passed away on Sunday in a civil hospital.

The only surviving suspect Ajmal Kasab captured during the 26/11 terrorist assault on Mumbai has confessed his involvement in the attack. He took a U-turn on his stand and gave a full confession of how the act was planned and carried out. He also gave full details of who all from across the border in Pakistan were involved in planning and providing logistic supports to carry out the terror attack. Out of the 10 terrorists of Pakistani origin who carried out the attack 9 were killed by the armed forces.

Police sources confirmed that the terrorists had killed more then 160 people which also included many foreigners as targets were Taj Mahal Palace and Tower and Oberoi-Trident hotel, Mumbai’s historic CST train station and the Jewish cultural center, Chabad House. Police sources also confirmed that Ajmal Kasab, age 21, was trained in Pakistan by the banned terrorist outlet Lashkar-e-Tayyiba.

The Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam has provided all the evidence which also includes video footage from surveillance camera and 134 witnesses. Kasab was involved in the massacre at CST station and Cama hospital. He faces 86 criminal charges which also include murder, attempt to murder and waging war against India.

Today during the court proceeding when prosecution witness Constable Arun Jadhav stepped into the witness box, Kasab asked court permission for speaking to his lawyer Abbas Kazmi. After talking to him for 30 seconds, his lawyer confirmed to the court that Kasab wanted to confess. After that Kasab said in the court that “Mujhe mera gunha kabool hai (I plead guilty to my crime).”

Hillary Clinton, slated for an imminent trip to India, post donning the role of Secretary Of State, inscribed a note exclusively to a famed Indian tabloid. She sounded optimistic regarding the steadily growing relationship between India and the US, at a time when headlines are most often gloomy. This boost in the relationship would benefit both the countries and the rest of the world.

She stated that the recent elections in both India and US have presented the newly elected governments with vivid prospects to expand their affiliation and face threatening global challenges head on. She mentioned that along with President Obama, she was totally dedicated towards pressing forward this goal during her visit to New Delhi and Mumbai.

She pointed out how both the countries were typically characterized by their democracy, demography and their diversity, with people from both countries having similar interests, values and wager in the 21st century.

Despite the global meltdown, India has shown a laudable 6% growth rate with bilateral trade and investment flows increasing two fold in the past five years. Mrs. Clinton also highlighted the fears of many Americans who are wary of the budding relationship with India might lay a toll on their jobs or earnings, but she believes that if matters are managed well, both the countries can gain from India’s economic progress.

She stated that the two nations should work in unison towards common challenges like security issues, climate changes and non-proliferation regime. Mrs. Clinton further added that Pakistan should be encouraged as it faces the challenge of fierce radicalism.

A mishap at the construction site of Mumbai Metro Line occurred at close to 11:30p.m where a metallic structure disintegrated. According to police officials, the debacle took place at the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar Metro Rail during the late hours of Monday night.

No fatalities have been reported in the episode that took place. The brawly winds accompanied with heavy rains that have continued since yesterday evening seem to have taken their toll on the metallic structure that had been erected to sustain the weight of the main concrete pillars of the Mumbai Metro Line finally gave way in the north-west Sakinaka suburb.

The Director of Mumbai Metro One, K. P. Maheshwari mentioned that the metallic structure that had caved in due to unruly winds was just a provisional gibbet that was constructed. The resultant wreckage had been effectively cleared in just two to three hours. He also stated that work has commenced once again at the site.

Mr. Maheshwari has stated that an in-depth inquiry to find out the reason for this mishap would be carried and a report of which will be ready.

The metro disaster is the second of its kind after Delhi has a construction over-bridge collapse just two days ago.

The rain gods seem to have opened their flood gates, as Mumbai has been facing heavy downpour along with brawly winds since the previous evening that had caused traffic jams at many places.

Mithi River crosses the danger mark at 2.7 metres, which had caused the Mumbai deluge on 26/11. The Andheri and Milan subway have been closed to traffic with the roads close to the airport been facing traffic snarls. Flood alert seems most probable with the next high tide scheduled at 4:15p.m. Low lying areas have been inundated. Significant apprehensions have surfaced with the possible situation of heavy rains coinciding with high tide that might cause further aggravation.

The heart line of Mumbai, the Railways has two of the three lines running late by half an hour, though still operational as the harbour line has been cancelled indefinitely. There has been constant incessant rainfall in the suburbs and island city. Traffic logging on the north bound routes while south bound routes are relatively clear. Suburbs of Kurla, Kalina and Vile Parle close to the Mithi river continue to remain water logged. In Currey road, the traffic snarl is quite high.

Big concern about flooding as several parts of Bombay Juhu, khar, Bandra, dadar, Parel, Sion, Hindmata, Sewri, Wadala, Parel are significantly inundated. Mumbai has had an exponential growth rate coupled with its typical topology and surfeit construction with the only route out is the river.

The Disaster control mechanism is in place with the main concern of Government officials and those in Mumbai’s Disaster Management Cell would be contemplating possible evacuation of people from the low lying areas close to Mithi River. Airport visibility is a mere 800feet, with many flights getting delayed.

Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail a.k.a  Azhar has formally bid adieu to his dilapidated shanty life at Garib Nagar. The deprived child along with his mother have recently, happily reallocated to their one-bedroom apartment in Santa Cruz(W), Mumbai.

The flat has been funded by the Jai Ho trust which was founded by Slumdog Millionaire director, Danny Boyle and producer Christian Colson who have shelled out $50,000 for the flat after Azhar and his family’s shanty was razed to the ground without prior notice in May. The apartment will be transferred to Azhar’s name once he becomes an adult.

The apartment is located on the ground floor and in close proximity to Azhar’s school. Azhar mother, Shameem was extremely grateful for this blessing. Azhar’s brother and his wife will be also living with them.

However, Azhar’s father has been denied permission to move into the new home as his wife alleges that he is into drugs. However, Azhar’s mother promises to pay regular visits to their old place. Azhar’s father is staying back in the old place, trying to strike a deal for some government land in barter system for the shanty.

Meanwhile, the trust is actively searching for a residence for Rubina Ali, the girl who played the infant Freida Pinto in the movie.