Cyclone disrupts war against Covid

Shiv Kumar

Tribune News Service

Mumbai, June 2

Cyclone Nisarga, which is expected to make a landfall near Mumbai on Wednesday, has disrupted the functioning of the official machinery which was so far busy in arranging healthcare facilities for patients who tested positive for the Covid-19 virus.

At least two makeshift Covid-19 care centres in Mumbai’s low-lying areas have been shut down and patients moved elsewhere after disaster management officials warned of severe flooding.

“We have moved patients from the 1,000-bed hospital at Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) to the NSCI Sports Complex at Worli. Patients from the 200-bed hospital near Dharavi too have been relocated as these areas could get flooded,” a state government official said.

“As per Chief Minister’s directions, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is taking utmost care to protect Covid facility created at BKC. It can sustain wind velocity of 80-100 kmph only,” the MMRDA, which set up the facility, said in a post on Twitter.

According to the agency 150 patients were admitted at the facility.

The MMRDA added that it was putting up sand bags to strengthen the pillars of the facility. Besides, electricity, AC and oxygen facility will be turned off during the cyclone to prevent fire, according to the agency.

Residents of several fishing hamlets known as koliwadas which were declared containment zones are being moved to higher ground.