Mum educational institutions, offices asked to shut down

Mumbai, Nov 11 (PTI) With cyclonic storm `Phyan'
menacingly approaching north Maharashtra and south Gujarat in
west India, government has asked all educational institutions
and offices in the city to close down this afternoon.

"All schools and offices have been advised to close
down for the day in view of the inclement weather that is
likely to worsen," BMC Additional Commissioner A Maheshkar
told reporters.
While the schools have been asked to shut down at 1
pm, offices have been advised to close by 2 pm IST, Maheshkar
said after a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Secretary
Johny Joseph at Mantralaya.
She said the BMC was arranging for buses at
Chhatrapati Shivaji and Churchgate terminus to ferry people
back home.
All 24 control rooms of the BMC have been activated,
she said, adding many trees maybe uprooted as the city and its
adjoining areas were expected to experience high-speed winds
reaching upto 90 KM per hour.
The machinery has been geared up to promptly clear the
streets of the trees and people cautioned against taking
shelter under them.
Asked if the advisory for closure of educational
institutions and offices would be in force even on Thursday,
she said no such decision had been taken as yet. PTI SK
SDE