Patil asks administration to stay alert to emergencies

Mumbai, June 25 (UNI) Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil today directed authorities in the Metropolis to stay alert to emergencies during heavy rains.

'' There are many occasions when the suburban railway trains are disrupted during monsoon. The BEST administration should ply additional buses at that time and also vehicular traffic from low lying areas should be diverted,''Mr Patil said while chairing a meeting to review the situation arising out of the heavy rains in different parts of the state in the last two days.

Except Gadchiroli, as compared to last year, the state has received rainfall, which is more than average till June 25 this year.

He said the kharif crop is likely to be affected due to the delay in the arrival of monsoon by 20 days.

DGP Dr P S Pasricha informed the meeting that state police have prepared an action plan to tackle emergencies during heavy rains.

BMC commissioner Jairaj Pathak said the weather forecast would be informed to Mumbaikars through the electronic media.

In the last three days, nearly 20 districts have received 150 mm of rain. Mr Patil directed the concerned authorities to conduct panchnamas of assessing the damage due to rains. In the next five days, few districts of Vidarbha are likely to receive very heavy rains and the district administrations have to be on alert, he added.

UNI