Cyclone Tauktae: 580 Covid-19 patients shifted from 3 Mumbai jumbo centres

Patients being shifted on Saturday morning. Pic/Rajesh Gupta

With Cyclone Tauktae expected to hit parts of the western coast of Maharashtra today, including Mumbai, the BMC as precaution measure, shifted 580 patients admitted to temporary structures at the Dahisar, Mulund and BKC jumbo centres, to other centres across the city. The decision was taken late on Saturday evening, and the operation was carried out in the night. Earlier in the day, 30 patients were shifted out of the Mulund jumbo centre.

"We don't want to take any risk. People on ventilator/ICU can't move by themselves, so we have decided to transfer them to a safer place. Even people on oxygen may be shifted to other centres," said Mahesh Narvekar, officer on special duty, Disaster Management department of the BMC.

Suresh Kakani, additional commissioner of the BMC, said, "We decided to shift all the patients from the BKC (242) and Dahisar (184) and 154 patients from Mulund jumbo centres. Mulund also has a permanent structure for ICU patients and 22 patients will not need transfer."

Most of the patients from Dahisar and BKC will be shifted to NESCO and Seven Hills. Patients from Mulund were taken to the Mithagar Road Covid centre, Bhabha Hospital, and other peripheral hospitals. "We have shifted patients from the hangar area, as it's a makeshift structure," said Dr Pradeep Angre, dean of Mulund Jumbo Covid centre.

Also Read: Cyclone Tauktae: Jumbo Covid-19 centres in Mumbai put on standby, says Mayor Kishori Pednekar

When contacted, Dr Rajesh Dere, chief of BKC jumbo Covid centre told mid-day, "The ambulances were kept ready in the evening, and the transfer operation started immediately after the instruction."

‘Don't leave your homes today'

The humid weather that the city has been experiencing is a result of the cyclone. "Mumbai, Thane and Palghar districts will experience rain on May 16 and 17. This will be combined with winds blowing 60-70 kmph per hour," shared Shubhangi Bhute, scientist at IMD Mumbai. BMC appealed to the citizens to avoid leaving their homes on Sunday, and to stay away from beaches. Temporary shelters have already been set up in case coastal and low-lying residents need to be relocated.