Ockhi brings high vegetable prices, 80,000kg of waste to Mumbai
Cyclone Ockhi's effects are being felt in Mumbai in several ways. For one, prices of vegetables and foodgrains, which are already under strain, are set to rise even more by up to 15%. The untimely rainfall has damaged several perishable crops like onions, coriander, tomatoes, spinach and more. Ockhi has also dumped over 80,000kg of waste on the city's beaches. Here's more.
Veggie prices set to rise by 10-15%
Yesterday, the wholesale price of onions in Nashik was Rs. 35/kg. Today, it reached Rs. 40-45/kg, said Ashok Walunje, former director of the Vashi Agricultural Produce Market Committee. Apart from vegetables, rabi crops including wheat, mustard and peas have also been damaged. "Once supply dries up, rates will go up," Walunje added. Such trends are likely to continue for over 10 days.
Versova and Juhu saw the most amount of dumped waste
Ockhi dumped large amounts of waste on Versova (15,000kg) and Juhu (10,000kg), but also some on Marine Drive, Dadar Chowpatty, Nariman Point and Madh Island the night before yesterday. "The waste that was floating in the middle of the ocean has got dumped on our beaches because of intense wave action," said a BMC official. The cleanup will go on for three-four days.
Relief for Gujarat as Ockhi misses landfall
Meanwhile, the death toll of Ockhi in Kerala rose to 36 as three more bodies were recovered this morning along the coast. Facing flak, CM Pinarayi Vijayan has increased compensation to the kin of the deceased to Rs. 20L. Rescue operations are on in full swing. Gujarat heaved a sigh of relief when Ockhi weakened before hitting Surat. Light to moderate rain is predicted.
