In the wake of Cyclone Ockhi, as a precautionary measure, the state government has decided to declare holiday for all the schools and colleges in Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Sindhudurg, Thane, Raigad and Palghar districts.
Minister Vinod Tawde has tweeted that this precautionary holiday is being declared for the safety of the students due to serious weather predictions owing to cyclone Ockhi by the IMD.
He wrote: “Precautionary holiday declared on 5/12/17 for schools and colleges in Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Sindhudurga, Thane, Raigad and Palghar Districts for the safety of the students due to the serious weather predictions on #CycloneOckhi #MumbaiRains.”
Howevver, Mumbai University and affiliated colleges will not be closed tomorrow and all exam schedules to go on as announced earlier.
India's Metrological Department said light rains are likely to occur over north Konkan and Goa including Mumbai tonight. Several districts in Gujarat will also receive "light rains with increased intensity", the weather forecaster said, adding, that sea conditions will become rough over north Maharashtra and Gujarat coast.
The IMD has warned fishermen in the Maharashtra and Gujarat area not to venture into the sea. India's defence forces are continuing efforts to airlift fishermen in the area who have been caught in the cyclone.
India has deployed ten Naval ships and eight aircrafts to assist in rescue and relief effort. The cyclone has claimed 14 lives in Kerala and Tamil Nadu with several fishermen still missing.
