Mumbai: As incessant rainfall continues to lash the city and its neighbouring regions, authorities have declared a holiday for all private and government-run schools in Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, and Raigad. The decision comes as a precautionary measure in anticipation of the heavy downpour predicted for Thursday.
On Wednesday evening, Suraj Mandhare, the Commissioner of Education for Maharashtra, issued an order to all regional heads for school education, empowering them to decide on declaring a holiday for Thursday in consultation with local disaster management bodies. Following this directive, Rajesh Kankal, the education officer from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), swiftly issued a circular declaring a holiday for all schools in Mumbai.
Similar decisions were made by education officers in Thane and Raigad, who promptly declared Thursday a holiday for schools in their respective districts, aligning with the BMC's directive.
In light of the orange alert issued for various parts of the state, indicating heavy rainfall, the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) has taken the decision to postpone all papers scheduled for Thursday. This includes the ongoing supplementary examination for Secondary School Certificate (SSC) Class 10 and the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exams for Class 12.
Anurada Oak, the secretary of MSBSHSE, issued a notification stating, "Considering the indication of heavy rainfall on Thursday in some parts of the state, the timetable of the ongoing supplementary exam has been changed only for the date of July 20. The remaining timetable remains as it is."
As per the new schedule, SSC papers originally scheduled for Thursday will now take place on August 2, while HSC papers will be held on August 11. Candidates were reassured that only the date of their examinations had changed, and the exams would be held at the same centres and during the same sessions (morning or afternoon) as originally planned.
In addition to school closures and exam postponements, Mumbai University (MU) announced a re-examination for candidates who were unable to appear for Wednesday's papers due to heavy rainfall. The re-exam is scheduled to take place on July 22 at the same exam centres, but students who managed to sit for their papers on Wednesday will not be eligible for the re-examination.
Amid the ongoing heavy rains, the local administration and BMC have been working diligently to manage waterlogging issues in the city. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited the BMC disaster control room, where he commended the efforts put forth to prevent waterlogging in many areas, thanks to measures such as the installation of nearly 450 pumps. He noted that 110 spots in the city remained unaffected by waterlogging.
The Chief Minister has also urged citizens to refrain from venturing out unless absolutely necessary and advised tourists to avoid visiting beaches during this time. Additionally, areas like Raigad, Sindhudurg, and Ratnagiri districts have reported heavy rainfall.
The situation remains under close watch, and authorities are working tirelessly to ensure the safety and well-being of residents amidst the ongoing rainfall. Citizens are urged to stay updated with the latest advisories and follow the instructions issued by local authorities.
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