Coronavirus-Struck Mumbai Preps For Cyclone Nisarga

Mumbai, already stretched to its limits by the coronavirus pandemic, is preparing evacuation, rescue and relief plans as India’s financial capital braces for a cyclonic storm that’s expected to bring heavy downpour and high-speed winds.

“The low-pressure area over southeast and adjoining east central Arabian Sea and Lakshadweep area concentrated into a depression over east-central and adjoining southeast Arabian Sea,” the Indian Meteorological Department said in a statement. “It’s very likely to intensify into a deep depression during the next 12 hours and intensify further into a cyclonic storm over east-central Arabian Sea during the subsequent 24 hours.”

The cyclone is expected to make landfall near the Maharashtra-Gujarat border. The Met department predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in coastal areas of Maharashtra due to the cyclone Nisarga, including districts like Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri, Thane, Raigad, Mumbai and Palghar.

Flooding frequently occurs during southwest monsoon rains in Mumbai, submerging roads and rail lines. This year it’s battling the Covid-19 pandemic as well. The city has the highest number of coronavirus cases in India and its administrative and healthcare infrastructure is stretched.

The fire department and civic officials have drawn up rescue and relief plans.

“Nearly 11 flood-response teams have been stationed at various fire stations across Mumbai. These teams will respond in case of flooding in low-lying areas,” PS Rahangdale, chief fire officer of Mumbai, told BloombergQuint over the phone. Each team comprises four to five members, he said.

“We have stationed nearly 90 lifeguards with life-saving equipment at beaches in the city,” he said. Around 200 expert swimmers, trained for rescue and saving lives, will be on alert, Rahangdale said. The fire department is also ready for rescue operations if trees or structures collapse, he said.

Rahangdale advised people not to venture out in low lying areas and stay indoors as “very high speed wind is expected”.

BMC Issues Advisory

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Commsioner has asked all of its departments to remain vigilant and appealed to the citizens to maintain caution. It also urged fisherfolk to not venture into the sea or beaches.

BMC’s main control room as well as departmental control rooms have been equipped with adequate manpower, the civic body’s Commissioner Iqbal Chahal was quoted as saying in a statement. “Teams of Coast Guard, Navy, Mumbai Fire Brigade as well as National Disaster Response Force have also been alerted.”

All hospitals in Mumbai, the statement said, should ensure that their back-up generators are operational and that power supply shouldn’t be interrupted.

The statement said officers from all 24 wards in Mumbai have been instructed to identify potentially dangerous settlements in their wards as well as low-lying settlements and relocate citizens to nearby schools or safer places.

Citizens have also been requested to not stand under trees and poles, and stay inside their homes during the storm, the statement said, while urging them not to fall prey to rumours.

Large industrial establishments and petrochemical companies in Mumbai have been urged to take appropriate measures to keep their systems and materials safe, it said.

Also Read: ‘Maximum City’ Mumbai Braces For Maximum Economic Hit

The cyclone in the Arabian Sea on India’s west coast comes days after the super cyclonic storm Amphan teared into the country’s east coast, causing extensive damage in West Bengal and Odisha and forcing local administrations to evacuate hundreds of thousands of people living along the coastline.