Cyclone Ockhi: Rain spoils Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar followers visit

The sudden rains in the city due to Ockhi cyclone approaching Maharashtra coast has resulted as a spoiler for the Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar followers who have started camping at Dadar-Shivaji Park since Monday evening.

To pay tribute to Ambedkar, lakhs of people across the state gather at Chaityabhoomi in Dadar on every December 6 and the civic body erects pandals at Shivaji Park for the visitors. However, the sudden rains from Monday evening destroyed the pandals at Shivaji Park and water and mud also have messed up the ground. 

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Monday evening arranged temporary accommodation for the Ambedkar followers in BMC schools in G-North civic ward (comprises Dadar-Shivaji Park, Mahim) and has also released a list of around 186 private schools where the visitors can be accommodated. 

BMC's spokesperson Vijay Khabale Patil informed that the civic body has made all necessary arrangements especially food and water at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus for Ambedkar followers who are coming to Mumbai from long distance from Monday evening. 

Due to continuous showers in Mumbai, this years booklet on Bharatnatna Dr Ambedkar Jayanti was released in Mayor's bungalow instead of Shivaji Park ground where it was originally planned to be released. The booklet was released by Mayor of Mumbai Vishwanath Mahadeshwar in his bungalow in Shivaji Park.