Why you shouldn't panic about rains, floods, high tide

Administrators have been toiling day and night to protect you from any calamity; BMC cancels leaves for employees, traffic police goes out of the way

Administrators have been toiling day and night to protect you from any calamity; BMC cancels leaves for employees, traffic police goes out of the way

It's a test not only for Mumbaikars but also for theu00a0 city's administrators. With today and tomorrow touted as the days when the city will experience the highest tides, nobody wants to take any chances.

While Mumbaikars hope and pray that there is no repeat of July 26, 2005, administrators say they are ready to tackle any calamity.

BMC on its toes

BAY WATCH: Police are all well-equipped with tyres, ropes and a first-aid kit to rescue people in case of heavy flooding tomorrow. (Right) Satellite image of cloud on the MET website.

The civic body has cancelled leaves for all employees. The BMC's 1,19,000 officials, including firemen, will be on their toes to offer help to citizens in trouble.

It has kept the Navy on standby at all flood-prone areas and put up temporary shelters. The BMC has warned citizens not to wander close to the beaches.

"We are encouraging people to go to offices, but not to the beaches. We have posted 32 lifeguards on the sea fronts," said a BMC disaster management officer.
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Cops get tyres

The Mumbai Traffic Police has bought approximately 75 tyres, costing Rs 350 each, to save human lives. "The tyres are easily available and good for temporary use.
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We bought them from garages. All traffic chowkies will have three to four tyres with them," said a traffic police officer.

A G Manjurdekar, PI traffic police in Chembur, said, "The tyres will help rescue people in case of heavy flooding. Our staff will also carry ropes, hammers, cutters, and a first aid box. We won't depend on other rescue teams."

MET prediction

However, the MET department says it is unlikely that the city will experience heavy showers or a repeat of 26/7.

Dr R V Sharma, deputy director, general meteorology, said, "Monsoon continues to be active, but chances of extreme rainfall in the next 48 hours is very less.

The city is likely to experience rainfall of seven to 12 cm, not above 25 cm. There will heavy rains with strong gusty winds in the next 48 hours."

But the India Meteorological Department website tells a different story. It shows a heavy cloud cover in the Konkan area.

"There is nothing to worry about, as the satellite image only shows the upper cloud layer and only gives a general idea. The rainfall depends on the embedded clouds under this layer," added Dr Sharma.

994 mm
Rainfall in the city on July 26, 2005

Did you know?
A tide of 5.13 metres on January 23 went unnoticed because it wasn't raining