BMC: Prepared for rains; NDRF, army, navy to stand guard in city

The BMC Thursday said it is prepared for the upcoming rains as all premonsoon works, including desilting and tree trimming, have been completed.

- Richa Pinto

Mumbai: With the state government already warning of extreme rain events owing to climate change, the BMC said, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel, as well as army and navy teams will be prepositioned in the city for rescue and relief operations. In a first for Mumbai, five columns of army personnel will be on standby. Each column comprises around 100 personnel. Moreover, a team of 206 fire officers and personnel have already been placed at fire stations located near low-lying, flood-prone areas of the city.

During a meeting on monsoon preparedness with ward officials and members of various agencies, including India Meteorological Department (IMD), army and navy, at the BMC headquarters on Thursday, additional municipal commissioner P Velrasu said that five NDRF teams have been prepositioned in the city-three will be in Andheri and two will be stationed at the ward level. These personnel will be equipped with flood rescue, collapsed structure and search-and-rescue equipment.