Tajinder Singh Tiwana Launches 24x7 Monsoon Disaster Control Room in Malad
On Sunday, local corporator Tajinder Singh Tiwana launched a dedicated 24x7 monsoon disaster control room near Maharana Pratap Garden beneath the Malad Link Road Metro Station in Malad (West) to monitor and respond to seasonal emergencies. The facility is the first of its kind for the area, aiming to tackle severe weather events during the upcoming monsoon.
The new control room is designed to track and address issues such as waterlogging, traffic congestion, fallen trees, short circuits, and other monsoon-related emergencies. It features live surveillance, a team of laborers, and a direct coordination mechanism with multiple civic agencies.
Tiwana, a BJP corporator who also serves as a member of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) standing committee, confirmed he secured prior permission from the civic body to set up the control room pandal on the public road. He is personally funding the laborers to ensure they remain available round-the-clock, particularly during night hours when extreme rain events can occur.
To handle immediate blockages and hazards, the emergency team has been equipped with drain cleaning equipment, tree trimming tools, and floats.
As part of the technological setup, Wi-Fi-enabled surveillance cameras have been installed at six flood-prone locations across the ward. The live feeds from these cameras will help the team monitor developing situations in real time. This allows them to quickly coordinate rescue and relief efforts with the BMC, the Fire Brigade, local police, disaster management authorities, and the electricity department.
Tiwana explained that the inspiration for the control room stemmed from a flooding incident in 2021 in Ram Nagar, a slum pocket in his ward, where a nearby nullah had aggravated the situation. At the time, his mother was serving as the local corporator, and Tiwana recalled having to personally carry a senior citizen out of the rising waters.
According to Tiwana, the civic body often faces immense pressure during heavy rain days, which can delay the arrival of emergency teams. He noted that conventional methods are no longer sufficient to deal with modern urban challenges, and that technology-driven monitoring will significantly reduce the time between reporting an incident and initiating action.
