Mumbai rains: Maharashtra government shuts schools, colleges as Cyclone Ockhi threat looms

After Indian Meteorological Department's (IMD) forecast of "serious weather conditions" due to Cyclone Ockhi in Mumbai, the Devendra Fadnavis government has declared holidays for schools and colleges in the city and adjoining districts today.

Mumbai has already started receiving rains due to Cyclone Ockhi. The weather department has forecast intermittent rains in Mumbai and suburbs in the next 48 hours.

Some parts of the Munbai-Pune Expressway experienced a hailstorm early today, reported PTI quoting police sources.


"Precautionary holiday declared on 5/12/17 for schools and colleges in Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Sindhudurg, Thane, Raigad and Palghar Districts for the safety of the students due to the serious weather predictions on #CycloneOckhi #MumbaiRains," tweeted state Education Minister Vinod Tawde.

According to an IMD official, a warning of heavy rainfall was issued in north Konkan and north Madhya Maharashtra. A few spells of rain or thundershowers are likely to occur in the city in next 48 hours, the IMD said.



"Heavy rainfall is likely at a few places with squally wind speed reaching 50 to 60 kms per hour gusting to 70 kms per hour very likely along coastal area in next 24 hours," the IMD said in its report.

"The severe cyclonic storm Ockhi will move over east- central Arabian sea and move further north-northeastwards with a speed of 21 kmph and lay centred over east-central Arabian sea at latitude 17.5º N and Longitude 70.4º E, about 480 km southwest of Surat and 300 km west-southwest of Mumbai," said PTI in its report.

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has also issued an advisory warning people against visiting beaches in view of the high tide alert due to the cyclone.

It has been raining in Mumbai's Andheri since morning, reported ANI.

Indian Coast Guard has deployed 12 ships, three Dornier aircraft and three helicopters yesterday for providing critical assistance to the fishermen at sea.

(With PTI/ANI inputs)