Schools, offices get ready for high-tide hoopla

The weather bureau may have gone wrong in its rain predictions with unerring regularity, but the corporate world and educational institutions are taking the predictions very seriously.

This is especially true for the high tide days of July 24 and 25.
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"Mumbai could face a reenactment of the catastrophe of July 2005.

While the severity of the flooding would probably be unabated, it would certainly help us overcome the crisis if we are better prepared," said Manju Sood, executive director of the Bombay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI).
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BCCI and the BMC, in association with Mahindra Special Services Group, conducted a training session for corporate heads at the Taj in Colaba on July 16.

The unanimous opinion was that a holiday would be declared or staff would be allowed to come in late or leave early on such days.

There will be another meeting on July 21, two days before the possible danger dates. The training will be free of charge.

Among educational institutions, King George School, Dadar, has taken the BMC's high tide alert seriously and has declared a holiday.
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"We have rescheduled our exams," said honorary secretary of IES, Amol Dhamdhere. The Cathedral and John Connon School and J B Petit School among others have decided to be alert, but will not be declaring a holiday.
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Neville Unwala, committee member of Cathedral School said, "Our school buses are well prepared to handle disasters."

Corporate houses driving the training sessions include Hindustan Unilever, Mahindra and Mahindra, Leela Hotel and ICICI Ltd.