Schools wear a deserted look after IMD warning

Schools across the city reported low attendance owing to the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD’s) warning of heavy rains lashing Mumbai for the next 48 hours. In some areas, schools remained closed due to the early morning downpour on Thursday, which led to water-logging.

According to a parent from a school in Bandra, the IMD warning led to many parents not sending their children to school on Thursday morning. “The heavy rain and lightning in the early hours of Thursday confirmed the IMD warning, which is why parents avoided sending their children to school,” said Naresh Singh, a parent.

Vinod Patil, another parent, from Dadar, said that the early morning downpour led to waterlogging in many areas, due to which some schools in Dadar remained closed for the day. Anil Garg of the School Bus Owners’ Association, too, confirmed that the turnout of students was low in most areas. “Some schools had decided to remain shut due to the IMD warning and waterlogging. Drivers of our buses too mentioned low turnout of students in many parts,” he said.

A teacher from a school in Andheri said that even staff members remained absent. “Teachers living beyond Dahisar in Vasai and Virar did not turn up and informed the school that due to heavy rains, they would not be able to report on duty. We had to call parents to help out,” said Umesh Narawade, the teacher concerned.

An official from the school education department of the BMC said that schools had the freedom to decide whether or not to keep the school functional in the event of inclement weather.