Mumbai And Gujarat On High Alert As Cyclone Ockhi Nears

Representational Image. (Express Photo/Ganesh Tendulkar)

An unwelcome guest comes knocking on our doors and drizzling outside our windows, yet again. After witnessing massive floods in the city on August 29, the Indian Met Department has now issued cyclone warnings for Mumbai and South Gujarat. Cyclone Ockhi that has already terrorized Lakshadweep, claiming 19 lives in Kerala, is now moving northwards at the rate of 16km/hour and both Mumbai and Surat are on high alert from the 4th night to 6th December

The two states are set to experience gusty winds with a speed of almost 60 km/h. According to a Times Of India report: “Officials said the rainfall was due to a depression over south-east and adjoining east-central Arabian Sea moving towards the north-west. It intensified into a deep depression and lay centered on Tuesday morning, about 470 km west of Mangalore and southwest of Goa and 700 km south-southwest of Mumbai.”

The IMD has also issued statements regarding the condition of the sea which is going to remain rough along the coasts of North Maharashtra and Gujarat. Fishermen have been warned to stay off the sea.

The worst affected in Mumbai city will be the low lying areas, many of which are situated in South Bombay. While the heavy rains predicted may flood the ground floors of buildings, the brunt of the accompanying winds would have to be borne by upper and lower floors alike. Stay indoors and keep an emergency kit handy. Stack up on extra food that can be eaten with minimal cooking or preparation. Stay alert and a keep a tab on news on the radio, turn off all electric appliances and avoid standing under bridges, trees, sign boards, kerosene cans or faulty wire lines. Shelter stray animals, if possible.

For more details to ensure your safety during the cyclones and evacuation, click here.

It is not a panic situation, but if you do face an emergency of any sort, the BMC control room is active and responding to all concerns related to the rains, flooding or the city in general. The following helplines will come in handy, during this onslaught of rain:

BMC (For Flooding, Water Logging, Potholes, General Aid Around The City)