Maharashtra State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) on Monday issued a work from home (WFH) advisory for private offices in Mumbai, further observing that non-essential government offices will observe a half day amid heavy rains in the financial capital.
“In view of the current weather situation, SDMA has issued directions for Mumbai only: Private offices are advised to allow Work From Home wherever possible. Non-essential Government offices will observe a half-day,” SDMA said.
The WFH advisory for Mumbai comes soon after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a ‘red alert’ for the financial capital, warning of extremely heavy rainfall and gusty winds.
The SDMA has directed all employees in private offices in Mumbai to work from home, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said. “Additionally, a half-day holiday has been declared for government/semi-government (excluding essential services) employees after noon.”
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Authorities urge citizens to avoid unnecessary travel
Government authorities have urged citizens to avoid unnecessary travel, remain indoors unless essential, and follow official advisories as heavy rain continued to affect normal life in Mumbai and adjoining areas. Maharashtra Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan also urged Opposition parties to refrain from politicising the situation.”People should not venture out today at all. Please do not go out for tourism. We will soon announce the closure of offices, schools and colleges. Please do not venture out,” Mahajan told reporters at the Vidhan Bhavan premises, as quoted by PTI.
“We can do politics after two days. We want everyone to help and support the government,” he said when asked about the Opposition’s criticism over the situation following a landslide on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway’s Missing Link project.
The minister also informed that it would take another three to four days for the rainfall to significantly improve water levels in dams across Maharashtra, although the government remained hopeful of good showers in the catchment areas.
Amid the closure of the Mumbai Pune Expressway, authorities worked on clearing the accumulated water and debris from the road connecting the two cities to reopen it for vehicular traffic.
The water accumulated near the Pune Expressway and the debris that fell on the road due to landslides have been completely removed, after which the road has been opened again for vehicular traffic, a traffic police told ANI.
However, Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) said that efforts are still underway to restore the Mumbai–Pune National Highway as well as the Yashwantrao Chavan Mumbai–Pune Expressway.
“As soon as the route is restored and any decision regarding traffic is made, citizens will be immediately informed through official channels,” the government body said, urging citizens to avoid Mumbai–Pune / Pune–Mumbai travel if possible.
Karan Shikalgar, Police Sub-Inspector, Traffic Police Karan Shikalgar, as quoted by ANI, said that the vehicles are now being allowed to proceed from there. The traffic police are constantly trying to organise the vehicular movement. the Police said that if there is any obstacle on the new route, then we will divert the traffic to the old route.
Earlier, the Pune traffic authority closed all roads going from Pune to Mumbai due to landslides and waterlogging in various areas that happened because of relentless rains since the last 48 hours.
A landslide had occurred at Tunnel No. 40 (BB EMD) on the Mumbai-Pune railway route earlier on Monday, triggering railway authorities to carry out the debris removal work on a war footing.
However, Pune Traffic SP Shivaji Pawar appealed to the citizens to avoid travelling towards Mumbai through the old Mumbai-Pune Highway as well as the Expressway.
“The connecting link on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway is currently completely closed due to a landslide. The old expressway route is shut due to waterlogging, and a landslide has occurred on the old highway as well. The entire route from Pune to Mumbai is currently blocked. The Mumbai-to-Pune lane remains operational with no issues, although traffic is moving slowly. We appeal to everyone to postpone their journey from Pune to Mumbai. The administration will provide full details once the road is cleared. You should only set out for Pune from Mumbai if it is an emergency; that lane is operational,” he said.
