Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis asks Mumbaikars to step out only if needed

MUMBAI: As heavy monsoon rains hit Mumbai, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today appealed to residents to venture out only if required and asked people to stay away from seafronts during high tide slots as it can prove "fatal".

After taking stock of the situation at Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's ( BMC) disaster management cell, he also suggested to the public to refer to advisories being issued by the civic body on an hourly-basis before leaving home.

"The major challenge will be after 2:30 PM as the high tide will set in. And at that time, it will also be raining. So, there is a possibility of more water-logging in low-lying spots.

"So, we have advised people to not come out. If they want to come out, they should refer to advisories which we have given, which BMC is circulating every hour," he said.

He advised people to also keep away from seafronts as waves will be more than four-metre-high.

"They can prove fatal. So, we are appealing to people, especially the youth, to stay away from sea," Fadnavis said.

He expressed satisfaction over the functioning of the disaster management cell as well as that of senior civic officials, including Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta and additional municipal commissioners.

Fadnavis said that educational institutes were asked to be kept closed in view of the rainfall.

"BMC has installed 176 pumps to fetch water from water- logging spots. The BMC war room is functioning quite well. I have seen all the hotlines are functioning. They are responding to calls. There are certain calls about trees falls which are being addressed," he said and added efforts are being made to see local trains become operative (by draining water along tracks).

The Chief Minister said the situation is "under watch" and an advisory will be issued at 5:30 PM for tomorrow.