New Delhi, Aug. 19 -- The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has declared a holiday today, August 19, for all government and semi-government offices in Mumbai, excluding essential and emergency services due to rains that have constantly battered Mumbai and the surrounding areas. Private offices and establishments have been requested to instruct their employees to work from home, depending on the nature of their work.

The holiday to all government and semi-government offices in BMC jurisdiction has been declared after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a Red Alert for extremely heavy rainfall across Mumbai city and suburbs.

"Except for essential services, all government, semi-government offices, and Brihanmumbai Munic...