Helplines at receiving end as panic grips Mumbai……….Vinod Kumar Menon and Somita Pal
Bathed in anxiety after yesterday’s downpour, citizens dialled helpline numbers.
And in all that frenzy, they called up just about any helpline number that they could recall at that moment.
For instance, control rooms and the police helpline for senior citizens received calls regarding a range of topics — uprooting of trees, traffic jams, clogged streets and even weather forecasts for the day.
Is the traffic bad?
The BMC’s disaster cell received over 1,500 calls, most of them to enquire about the traffic situation.
The BMC’s disaster cell received over 1,500 calls, most of them to enquire about the traffic situation.
“We received several calls from motorists to ask what routes to take to avoid traffic jams. Callers also asked which roads to avoid,” said M Narvekar, chief officer of BMC’s Disaster Control. “We answered most calls as we were clued in about this information as we were guiding our de-water pump vehicles over phone,”
The Disaster Control room had deployed additional hands to cope with a rise in calls to the helpline.
The Disaster Control room had deployed additional hands to cope with a rise in calls to the helpline.
Fallen trees and clogged drains was another category of calls that staffers at the Disaster Control room fielded.
Over 140 trees have been uprooted during the last three days. “Till last noon, another 34 trees were uprooted,” said Narvekar.
Over 140 trees have been uprooted during the last three days. “Till last noon, another 34 trees were uprooted,” said Narvekar.
How’s the weather?
Several calls made to the police’s helpline for the elderly were not from senior citizens out on the streets on a rainy day, rather from anxious commuters seeking an update about the traffic system and train services.
Several calls made to the police’s helpline for the elderly were not from senior citizens out on the streets on a rainy day, rather from anxious commuters seeking an update about the traffic system and train services.
Yet others pestered helpline attendants about the day’s weather forecast.
“Instead of the senior citizens, most callers were officegoers and parents of school children,” said a call centre executive . “We assisted them with the police control room numbers.”
All emergency helpline numbers you need
BMC Disaster Management: 108, 22694725
Fire Brigade: 2307 6111/2
Railway Control Room: 2375 9283
RPF Control Room: 2307 5082
BEST (Power): 2285 6262/1244
Reliance Power: 30303030
MSEB-Bandra: 2647 2131
Ambulance Service: 102, 23079643
Mahanagar gas (Emergency): 2407 4748
Traffic Police: 24937747
Weather Bureau: 2215 0431
Fire Brigade: 2307 6111/2
Railway Control Room: 2375 9283
RPF Control Room: 2307 5082
BEST (Power): 2285 6262/1244
Reliance Power: 30303030
MSEB-Bandra: 2647 2131
Ambulance Service: 102, 23079643
Mahanagar gas (Emergency): 2407 4748
Traffic Police: 24937747
Weather Bureau: 2215 0431