The Maharashtra State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) on Monday advised private offices in Mumbai to allow employees to work from home wherever possible, while directing non-essential government and semi-government offices to observe only a half-day, as extremely heavy rainfall continued to batter the city.
The advisory followed the India Meteorological Department's decision to issue a "red alert" for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region for the third consecutive day, forecasting extremely heavy rain accompanied by gusty winds of 80-90 kmph across Mumbai, Thane and Raigad. "In view of the current weather situation... Private offices are advised to allow Work From Home wherever possible. Non-essential Government offices will observe a half-day," the SDMA said.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) also verified the advisory, stating that all private offices in Mumbai have been instructed to permit employees to work remotely.
The SDMA has also issued a red/orange alert for parts of the Konkan coast until July 7 and advised residents to avoid unnecessary travel, waterlogged roads, waterfalls and ghat sections.
Emergency Helplines:
112 – Emergency Response Support System
1070 – State Emergency Operations Centre
1077 – District Disaster Control Room
Schools and colleges across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region remained closed, while Mumbai University postponed Monday's exams. The Bombay High Court also said staff unable to reach office due to the rains would not be marked absent.
