Mumbai schools, colleges shut today? BMC rubbishes viral post - 'Message is fake'

Mumbai rain

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has dismissed a viral social media post claiming that schools and colleges in Mumbai would be shut on Wednesday due to an alert for heavy rainfall. The civic body on Tuesday night clarified that the message going viral on WhatsApp groups and other platforms was fake and had not been issued by them.

“This message is fake. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has not issued any such notice through its official social media handles,” the BMC posted on X. The viral message, which was made to appear like an official communication from the BMC, stated that all educational institutions in Mumbai and its suburbs would remain closed on August 20.

The BMC explained that while the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has indeed issued weather alerts, the situation is different from what was being spread online. According to the civic body, an orange alert has been declared for Mumbai on August 20, which means heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in isolated areas of the city as well as neighboring Thane and Palghar districts. The red alert, they clarified, was for Raigad district, where more intense showers have been predicted.

The BMC also posted the copy of the fake message alongside its clarification so citizens could recognise it and avoid spreading false information.

Meanwhile, outside Mumbai city limits, some civic bodies have taken precautionary steps. The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) announced a holiday for all schools on August 20, citing the red alert. The Panvel Municipal Corporation also declared schools and colleges closed for the day. Similarly, the Thane Municipal Corporation ordered schools across the district to remain shut.

However, the BMC has not issued any closure orders for Mumbai schools and colleges.