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Friday, July 24, 2009

Breaking News : Mumbai prepares for highest tide in 100 years

New Delhi, India (CNN) -- India's financial capital of Mumbai was put on a high-tide alert with officalsexpecting a water rise of up to 197 inches (5 meters).


Sea tides are expected to rise 5 metersFriday, 4.9 meters Saturday and 4.7 meters Sunday, according to a bulletin by the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai.

"We have installed water pumps along the coast and advise the people to avoid beaches," said Jagtab, an official at the disastermanagement control room.

Floodgates may also be closed in case the threat mounts, he added.

High tides are also forecast from August 19 to 23.

Flooding has affected more than 1.5 million people in parts of India, according to the disaster management division of the federal home ministry.

The country's main weather office has warned of heavy rains in western and central parts of India.