Cops SMS forecast, fare better this time

Brickbats from residents for the poor handling of the crisis after last Tuesday set things moving after the Met Department forecast heavy (70-120 mm) and very heavy rains (above 120 mm) for the next 48 hours.

The police sent text messages to subscribers of several mobile networks requesting them to stay indoors. Police Commissioner A N Roy came on television to convey the same message. And additional traffic policemen were despatched to divert traffic from waterlogged areas like Dadar, Matunga, King’s Circle and Andheri.

The Police Commissioner said, ‘‘Traffic was diverted in some areas today to avoid a situation where thousands of vehicles get stuck in jams.’’

Following the downpour on Sunday, the state government called for 11 teams of six Navy divers each to assist the Mumbai Police in rescue operations. ‘‘They will be taking orders from the police directly and are positioned at Crawford Market, Bandra Kurla Complex and Ulhasnagar,’’ said Defence spokesman Captain Abhay Lambhate. The teams are equipped with three inflatable boats and necessary rescue equipment.

For many troubled areas in the city and the suburbs—Kurla, Kalina, Sakinaka, Ambernath and Kalyan—getting basic things running is proving to be difficult. In suburbs like Thane, Kalyan, Badlapur and Ambernath, getting the streets swept clean of debris and mounds of garbage remains an uphill task.

Nandkumar Patkar, chairman of Badlapur Municipal Council, admitted that the council had received help—26 dumpers and nine loaders—for garbage management only on Sunday. ‘‘The work will start now. We also need medical supplies,’’ he said.

Prime Minister steps in

NEW DELHI: PM Manmohan Singh today offered all assistance to Maharashtra for emergency relief and asked the armed forces to provide boats for movement in flood-hit areas. Singh spoke to Home Minister Shivraj Patil and CM Vilasrao Deshmukh and spent most part of Sunday monitoring the situation in the state.