Cyclone Tauktae: 580 COVID-19 patients from Mumbai shifted to civic-run hospitals

The BMC on Saturday night shifted 580 patients from BKC (243), Dahisar (183) and Mulund (154) jumbo Covid-19 facilities to state and civic-run hospitals in Mumbai. The civic body had on Friday alerted the hospitals to avoid last-minute confusion over beds and availability of oxygen devices. The Mumbai Police is exploring the option of shutting down the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, as heavy rain and strong winds are expected to lash the city on Sunday and Monday. “Depending on the situation, following updates from the IMD, the decision to close traffic on the Bandra-Worli Sea Link on Sunday will be taken,” said a police officer. The suburban rail services will run on Sunday and Monday, said officials. The IMD on Saturday night said that cyclonic storm Tauktae, the first to hit the Indian Coast this year, has intensified into a “severe cyclonic storm” and is heading towards the coast of Gujarat and the Union Territory of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

The IMD has issued a yellow alert for Mumbai and Thane on Sunday with forecast of thunderstorms accompanied with lightning/gusty winds and heavy rain likely at isolated places. Heavy to very heavy rain is likely in Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg.The BMC on Saturday reviewed preparations of the jumbo Covid-19 hospitals and other agencies. It asked hospitals to keep generators and other alternative systems operational in case of a power outage. It instructed the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited, the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority and the coastal road department to barricade all areas where infrastructure works are in progress. It also identified low-lying areas where dewatering pumps have been set up. The BMC also instructed people not go out of their houses and near the beaches on Sunday and Monday. The fire brigade was asked to deploy rescue squads near six beaches. In 24 hours, BMC has pruned over 384 trees near jumbo or field hospitals. The IMD in a statement issued at 8.30 pm on Saturday said that the cyclonic storm is very likely to intensify further into a “very severe cyclonic storm” in the next 12 hours. The severe cyclonic storm will further intensify with wind speed of 115-125 kmph gusting up to 140 kmph likely by 5.30 am on Sunday, it added.