Pune: This monsoon, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) disaster management will have to face the challenge of floods as well as the coronavirus.
As part of its pre-monsoon preparedness, the civic body is focusing on floods during the monsoon. The flash floods last year had devastated the western parts of the city.
In September, Katraj, Kondhwa, Sahakarnagar, Dhankawadi saw flash floods which left 25 people dead. The PMC had evacuated over 3,500 people and shifted them to nearby schools. According to the PMC Disaster Management Department’s smart rain tracker system, around 100-mm rainfall registered in one-and-a-half hours. Those areas saw persistent heavy rains within a few hours. Over 25 people had lost lives and a huge amount of property was damaged.
This year, besides any natural calamity, the threat of the coronavirus spread is looming large. As per medical experts and civic officials, the virus spread will prevail throughout the year. The PMC has to be ready to tackle the epidemic during the rainy season and make necessary arrangements.
Municipal Commissioner Shekhar Gaikwad said, "The situation is very unpredictable when we talk about the Coronavirus. No one knows when it will stop spreading or will come under control completely. Therefore, we have to always be prepared to tackle its spread. This year, we have to face two challenges during the monsoon -- floods and the Coronavirus. There are speculations that the virus spread will peak during July, August or September."
PMC disaster management cell head Ganesh Sonawane said, "Currently, we are focusing on heavy rainfall, river flooding, fire, landslides, buildings or wadas collapse as part of our pre-monsoon work as possible disasters when one considers Pune. Now, we have included the Coronavirus in the plan. We have made necessary arrangements for isolating patients. Normally, we shift people affected by floods to PMC schools and provide them with shelter and food."
"During the Coronavirus epidemic, we have to make arrangements for isolation centres and provide medical facilities, along with food. We also have to increase awareness and provide information on arrangements and rescue plan," he added.
