In another display of Mumbai’s indomitable spirit, the maximum city opened its heart and hearth for millions left high and dry following Tuesday’s deluge — the heaviest rainfall after 2005. Several thousands of individuals, social groups, housing societies, Parsi sanatoria, gurudwaras, temples, mosques and dargahs, churches and NGOs entered the fray as the extent of nature’s fury became clear.
Thousands trooped down to the main roads, highways and arterial roads inviting or offering people hot beverages and snacks, some giving their mobile phones or chargers to help the stranded to make calls to their anxious relatives.
Indian Navy personnel went about in trucks distributing foods packets, volunteers of Leo Clubs, Jain youth groups, Samast Mahajan and Dawoodi Bohra Jamaats were active all over the city helping people.
Cars being swept away in the Dahisar river in Mumbai on August 30, 2017.
Appeals started trickling on social media like WhatsApp, Twitter and Facebook. There were also SMSs asking people to move to the nearest place of shelter for a warm cuppa, snacks and even meals and a comfortable nest during the pouring evening on Tuesday. Rain water accumalated outside Marine lines station.
Many warmly welcomed absolute strangers into their homes in flats, chawls and high-rise apartments. Residents look at a car pileup at Borivli East in Mumbai on August 30, 2017, the day after rain ravaged the city.
Grounded by erratic flight operations, incoming and outgoing passengers armed with luggage slept blissfully on conveyor belts and on the floor at the airport though airport authorities had arranged shuttle buses to Andheri. Water level started receding on August 30, 2017 in Mithi river, which was flowing close to danger mark the day before.
In the city and suburbs, several restaurants and eateries earned praise when managers and waiters stood on the roads distributing water, tea and coffee as well as snacks to the people. Scores of Ganeshotsav associations (Mandals) similarly chipped in to shelter and feed those in need in their sprawling marquees. People walk through a partially flooded street at a residential area in Mumbai on Wednesday.
Railway terminals and major stations, BEST and State Transport depots and even Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport turned into resting grounds for thousands, scenes reminiscent of the great Mumbai floods of 2005 when the city notched a staggering 900 mm of rainfall on a single day. The passengers in Central Line of Mumbai local train were stranded for long, as trains were delayed. Here the passengers are trying board in a Kalyan bound train on Wednesday morning.
Right from Mantralaya and other offices, the Bombay High Court and other courts, the Indian Navy, private firms, corporates, factories, workshops and even neighbourhood shops turned into veritable refugee centres. Vehicles plying at a waterlogged road after heavy rains, in Mumbai on Wednesday.
A road covered with mud after the rainwater receded, in Mumbai on Wednesday.
The Thane bound train halted due to heavy rain at Currey Raod station, was not cleared till Wednseday morning. This remained an obstacle for many trains in Central Line.
Published - August 30, 2017 05:12 pm IST