Mumbai. Aug. 02, 2005
NRI press
NRIs (non-resident Indians) all over
the world who traveled to Mumbai, after Aug. 25
were trapped in Mumbai or other cities of India because
most of the flight diverted or canceled. Large parts
of the city have been paralyzed after 944 millimeters
(37.1 inches) of rain fell on 26 July. Rainfall in
the city over the past week have left nearly 1,000
people dead and shut banks, offices and schools
There would be heavy to very heavy rainfall in the
next 24 hours accompanied by strong gusty winds. Hundreds
of houses in the suburban areas including Andheri,
Santa Cruz, Bandra, Marol, Saki Naka, Wadala, Kurla,
Chuna Bhatti and Chembur.
Mumbai
is still in deep water
Worst-affected
areas were the Air-India Colony,
Indian Airlines Colony,
Kranti Nagar, Kunje Karve, Shastri Nagar in Kalina
and LBS Marg
MUMBAI, AUGUST 02, 2005
TNN
When residents of the Air-India Colony in Kalina
awoke on Monday to find army and navy boats bobbing
in their compound, some were amused at the absurdity.
By afternoon, the smiles had sunk without a trace.
The weather bureau's warning of very heavy rain was
spot on. The rains showed no sign of mercy, trains
began to slow down, and even SUVs began to disappear
under water.
After a whole week of being battered by rain and
wild rumours, death, landslides and life without power
and proper water supply, a weary Mumbai found that
it had not yet turned the corner.
The Indian Meteorological Department has predicted
heavy to very heavy rain for Tuesday. On Sunday, the
met department recorded 270 mm of rainfall and 164
mm on Monday.
One indicator of the seriousness of the situation
was Unicef 's announcement that it was rushing in
medical aid of one million chlorine tablets to purify
water, three lakh ORS (oral rehydration salt) packets
and 5000 IV fluids. Air force helicopters have already
dropped over 10,000 kg of food packets in Kalyan,
Ulhasnagar, Ambarnath, Mu-mbra and Badlapur.
Several buildings in Dombivli have started sinking
and the authorities have begun evacuating residents.
The three lakes in Mumbai— Powai, Vihar and
Tulsi— are already overflowing.
About 7,000 people have been evacuated from low-lying
areas in Andheri, Santa Cruz, Malad, Goregaon, Dahisar
and Ghatkopar. Worried civic officials said that
if heavy rain on Tuesday persisted, there could be
cause for concern.
Normally the excess rain water is collected in catchment
areas, and is then channelled into the Mithi and Dahisar
rivers. But with massive encroachments and dumping,
the Mithi is little more than a constipated nullah,
and the Dahisar is in spate, leaving the water nowhere
to go except into the low-lying or saucer areas.
On Monday, the worst-affected areas were the Air-India
Colony, Indian Airlines Colony, Kranti Nagar, Kunje
Karve, Shastri Nagar in Kalina and LBS Marg near the
Kurla depot where water swept into theground-floor
houses.
The city was much better prepared for its second
round—with the chief minister declaring a holiday
for schools, colleges and banks, the streets were
empty and no fresh casualties were reported.
The airport closed in the morning but trains continued,
if fitfully, throughout the day.
