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Mumbai told to stay indoors as heavy rainfall expected

Last updated on: August 29, 2017 23:55 IST

IMAGE: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis at Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Disaster Control Room on Tuesday. Photograph: Sahil Salvi

With the India Meteorological Department forecasting an "extremely heavy rainfall" in the next 24 to 48 hours, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday urged the people to stay indoors.

 

He added that only those government employees, who handled critical departments and essential services, would be on duty on Wednesday.

"In the wake of the warnings issued by the IMD, those in Mumbai and surrounding areas are advised to stay home, unless there is an emergency," Fadnavis said.

According to the MeT forecast, the Mumbai region, Southern Gujarat, North-Central Maharashtra and Goa may receive a heavy rainfall over the next 48 hours.

The IMD said the low pressure over these regions might be upgraded to a "depression", which would mean more rainfall.

IMAGE: People walk through flooded street during heavy rain showers in Mumbai. Photograph: Shashank Parade/PTI Photo

The western coast of Maharashtra, including Mumbai, may receive up to 250 mm of rainfall in the next 48 hours.

Earlier, Fadnavis had visited the State Disaster Management Control room in Mumbai and took stock of the situation arising out of the heavy rainfall that has crippled transport services and thrown the normal life out of gear in the metropolis.

"I chaired a review meeting of officials in the disaster management unit to ascertain the situation that has arisen from the heavily rainfall in Mumbai," Fadnavis said.

"I have spoken to BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) officials. The civic body has received several complaints related to tree falling and some related to waterlogging," he said, adding the BMC is looking into these complaints.

The chief minister said he spoke to the Mumbai Police Commissioner and was informed that traffic has been diverted at 25 places due to waterlogging.

"We have advised (private) offices to allow their employees to leave for their homes early today. We have issued similar orders for government employees," Fadnavis said.

He said as Mumbai was under CCTV surveillance, vehicular movement can be monitored from the traffic control room and the police commissioner's office.

 

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