05 Dec 2017 | 08:39 AM UTC
India: Cyclone Ochki causes school closures in Mumbai Dec. 5 /update 3
Schools across Mumbai to be closed December 5 due to flooding brought about by Cyclone Ochki
Event
The state government has announced that all schools and colleges in Mumbai will be closed on Tuesday, December 5, following forecasts of heavy rains and flooding brought by Cyclone Ochki as it approaches the city. Closure have been announced for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Sindhudurg, Thane, Raigad and Palghar districts. The India Meteorological Department has issued warnings for heavy rainfall in the north Konkan area and northern and central Maharashtra state. All coastal Gujarat districts have been put on high alert as cyclone Ochki is likely to make landfall in South Gujarat late at night on Tuesday, December 5. Cyclone Ochki is then predicted to weaken into a depression as it reaches Gujarat.
Transportation disruptions, including train cancelations and partial closures of the Mumbai-Pune expressway, have been reported in affected areas; additional transportation disruptions are likely in the coming hours.
Context
Cyclone Ockhi is currently making its way along the west coast of India. On November 30, Ockhi lashed Tamil Nadu and Kerala states with heavy rainfall and high winds, leaving at least eight people dead and causing electricity and communication outages in the two states.
The North Indian Ocean cyclone season typically lasts from April to December, with two peaks of cyclonic activity in May and November. Cyclones and tropical storms are common off the east coast of India and frequently result in damage to infrastructure and major travel disruptions.
Advice
Individuals present in the affected regions are advised to follow all instructions as issued by local authorities. Be prepared to leave immediately if an evacuation order is given. Monitor any relevant developments of the situation via local media, the authorities, and reliable weather reporting outlets. Remember that driving or walking through running water can be dangerous - 15 cm (6 in) of running water is enough to knock over an adult, and that floodwater may contain wastewater or chemical products; all items having come into contact with the water should be disinfected and all foodstuffs discarded.
