By IANS
Mumbai : With memories of the 2005 deluge still fresh, Mumbai is gearing up for another monsoon season. Drains are being cleaned, rain gauges checked and potholes are getting covers.
The rainy season has not been easy on Mumbaikars, especially in the last two years.
The heavy floods in July 2005 were triggered by record rainfall in a span of 24 hours. Last year, there were three to four major disruptions in Mumbai and neighbouring Thane district.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the city's civic body, is furiously cleaning up big and small drains besides filling of potholes on roads.
Over the last fortnight, all the 27 rain gauges in the city were tested. BMC has installed 24 rain gauges in 24 municipal ward offices.
These gauges, connected with the disaster management cell in the head office, will provide rainfall updates every 15 minutes.
"For the first time, the longitudes and latitudes of the rain gauges were considered and recorded to the accuracy of plus or minus four metres. All these instruments will now be connected to a computer and live data will be monitored at the disaster management cell's control room," the official added.
The Central and Western Railway have also swung into action. Culverts over which the tracks pass are being cleared to ensure the flow of water is not disrupted.
The 2005 deluge had submerged train tracks and damaged engines, halting train services for over two days.