Traffic cops get rain-ready

The Mumbai traffic police are pulling out all stops to ensure that this monsoon is accident-free.

The Mumbai traffic police are pulling out all stops to ensure that this monsoon is accident-free.

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The traffic police will issue a detailed advisory to motorists with information on how to handle emergency situations when it rains, along with a list of dos and don'ts.

The advisory was the result of a pre-monsoon meeting attended by traffic police officials where issues such as slippery roads, waterlogging and emergency services were discussed.

“We have emergency traffic diversion plans as well as emergency parking places to ensure that motorists are not affected. On days when its rains heavily and we are forced to divert traffic because of flooding, we will convey details to the citizens via radio station channels, our facebook page as well as other medium. Our SMS subscribers will also receive regular updates,” said Brijesh Singh, additional commissioner (traffic).

Emergency services, such as ambulances, will be kept on standby in flood-prone areas identified by the municipal corporation.

“We will also impose strict speed limits during the rains to prevent accidents,” said a traffic police official, on condition of anonymity.

The traffic police also procured a detailed report of rainfall predictions for all days of the season. Using this report, along with the list of high tide days, the traffic police have come up with a contingent plan.

"We have mapped out specific days and areas where emergency services are likely to be required during high tide days," said Singh.

The traffic police shared this information with other agencies to ensure that preventive steps are taken, such as road markings and pumping stations to remove excess rainwater.