Inside NMMC's disaster control room: The team managing Navi Mumbai's monsoon emergencies

The disaster management control room at the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation headquarters in CBD Belapur

Inside the disaster management control room at the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) headquarters in CBD Belapur, the emergency hotlines never stop ringing. As citizens panic over sudden waterlogging and uprooted trees, the frontline staff are pushed to their limits, often returning to their families with their lunch tiffins completely untouched.

In a conversation with mid-day, NMMC Deputy Municipal Commissioner of Disaster Management Cell Smita Kale lifted the veil on the stress her department faces daily. Operating in 24/7 shifts, a core team of just six to seven individuals coordinates a massive rescue network.

They monitor live rainfall dashboards and track water levels at the Morbe dam, acting as the nerve centre for every distress call pouring in from municipal wards such as Belapur and Vashi. "The pressure is unimaginable, and our staff works tirelessly," Kale stated.

The department removed 104 dead trees before the monsoon

Operational structure

Each ward office houses its own dedicated disaster response unit, working in tandem with executive engineers, sanitary inspectors, and garden superintendents. Specialised fire station teams remain on high alert, rushing to clear fallen branches or handle water surges.

No respite

Field workers, tasked with navigating treacherous conditions with heavy equipment, frequently sacrifice their meals. Kale painted a picture of tired workers finally opening their tiffins, only to be interrupted by another emergency call that sends them back into the torrential downpour.

Public hostility

Kale cited a recent incident in Vashi, where a private developer's reckless excavation compromised nearby tree roots, causing a collapse. Despite the builder's negligence, the resulting public ire and the highly dangerous cleanup fell squarely on the NMMC crew.

Preemptive effort

Before the monsoon even hit, the department proactively pruned exactly 7036 trees and removed 104 dead ones to minimise risks. They also compile city-wide crisis data every day at 8.30 am to strategise their daily response.

Kale's appeal

As the control room braces for the next downpour, Kale urges citizens to remember the dedicated lot on the other end of the line - the unseen heroes routinely sacrificing their meals and braving violent storms to keep the city afloat.

[popcorn number="7036" desc="No of trees pruned by NMMC before rainy season" class="Default"]