With most parts of the country set to experience rainfall, it’s that time of the year when the umbrellas and the raincoats become accessories of the season. While the rains bring a much-needed relief from the harsh summers, they also bring along safety risks and challenges. Lightening, thunderstorms and heavy rains may result in flooding.
A monsoon safety checklist acts as a guide that helps people prepare for and stay safe during this time of the year.
Make your home rain-proof
- Check for all wall seepages in the house and get them repaired. If unattended, water during heavy rains can seep inside the walls causing extensive damage to both the walls, structure of the house and your health. Also, if you notice fungal growth or insects on the wall during the rains because of damped walls, get them treated at the earliest to avoid any kind of health infection
- Check for all plumbing leakages and get them fixed.
- Check all the electrical sockets and switches in the house. Ensure that there is no unattended wire that is hanging outside or inside the house that may pose a danger. Do not leave the bulb sockets/tube light empty. Also, service the geysers in the house so that they work properly and their electrical connections are fine. In a place that experiences voltage fluctuation, install a voltage regulator so that short-circuits can be avoided. Also, places where there may be regular power cuts, especially during the rains, it’s recommended to get an inverter installed.
See also: How inverter works: A complete guide
- Rainy season is when things get jammed, that can be a potential threat. Check whether the doors and the windows at home can be easily closed. Metal doors may show signs of rust during the monsoons and wooden doors swell during monsoons. Adding a rubber lining may help in easy movement and prevent rainwater from entering the house.
- Secure the pots in your balcony so that they don’t accidentally fall outside. Also, ensure you do not keep any plates below the pots to collect extra water as these can be breeding grounds for insects like mosquitoes.
- Because of the moisture in the air, clothes do not dry faster during the rains and can result in giving out a musty smell. Use camphor balls or neem leaves to safeguard your cupboard from the must. Also, ensure that important documents like property documents are kept safely so that they are not destroyed by the rain water or the damp.
- Keep essentials like candles, milk, bread, few vegetables and fruits always in your house. Also, keep stock of all emergency medicines.
No renovation
Do not engage in any breakage or renovation work during the monsoon season.
Be informed
Keep yourself updated on the latest weather forecasts through reliable sources. Pay heed to advisories that are related to heavy rainfall, thunderstorms or potential flooding. In 2023, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will be sending rain updates through SMS to citizens of Mumbai.
Travel with care
Exercise caution if you have travel plans during the monsoons. Before proceeding, check the condition of the road and the intensity of the rain expected. Do not drive through or walk in areas reported with water logging. There may be unsafe conditions like open drains or open electrical wires that may be life-threatening. Also, these waters are contaminated and may be carriers of diseases.
Flood protection
If your house is in an area that is prone to flooding, invest in flood barriers or sand bags that may help in diverting the flooded water from your property. Move all valuables to the upper floor of the house. In case of any hanging electrical wire in your vicinity, inform your local authority to mend it immediately. Likewise, if you see loosely hanging branches of the tree, inform authorities to get it trimmed at the earliest.
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