It was just past midnight on 26/27 Jul 05. My daughter, who is studying at Asian Institute of Communication and Reseach Business School Neral (near Matheran)in Raigad Dist., called me from her mobile phone to inform me that their hostel has been cut off from the rest of the campus due to torrential rains and flooding of the Ulhas river. She informed me that the water had entered the ground floor and all the girl students were asked to move to the first floor. Soon the water level rose to the first floor level and the students were aske d to move up to the second floor. By now the rain was coming down qiute heavily and with no electricity, food or water their was anxiety and concern in the voice of the students and staff. with no communication possible with the outside world due to landline failures, the only saviour was my daughters mobile phone. My urgent and fervent requests to the Army, Navy and Air force officials was met with positive response. The Indian Navy responded from INS SHIVAJI at Lonavla and the students were rescued by daybreak. God Bless the Indian Armed Forces for their Disaster mangement/relief capabilities. India would be rudderless without them.
Hi!, Heavy rains lashed Mumbai on Tuesday. I work in Lower Parel and I live in Powai. I remember when I and my friend reached Lower Parel Station. I caught the 17.40(05.40)p.m. local to Borivali. The train was slow till Dadar. The train just halted between Lower Parel and Dadar. Then, I and Chitra were waiting for the train to move.Then we got out of the train and walked upto Dadar station. The announcement told there are no trains towards Dombivli and other places. But my parents live in Dombivli and were worried about my safety. They invited me for lunch and I managed to walk through the waters of Mumbai. Believe me, I left the office on Tuesday evening at 3 and I managed to reach home on Wednesday at 8 in the night.
I must appreaciate the efforts taken by only MUMBAI CIVILIANS and not Police and Fire Dept in helping the stranded people reach their destinations.
We must have seen many photos and many clips on new channels, we saw women, kids and even elderly people stranded.. Did we see any photo or clip of Mumbai Police or Fire Dept? NO, because they were not to be seen only when there were real crisis.
Was Mr. Vilasrao Desmukh not responsible enough to deploy Mumbai Police at the right place and not in the unwanted security of MP's and MLA's who had no bigger threat than the local people from the rains.
I request the editor to please publish this article in the news papers and enlighten the people that the PUBLIC has helped the PUBLIC and not the government.
I witnessed yet another face of Mumbai & its spirit. It was a Wonderful experience. The best thing that I witnessed while making my way from Sion to Chembur with 10000000000...'s of other Mumbaities was the huge Hoarding of Hindustan Times saying "See Mumbai in a New Light". This was so apt to the Situation..
Like Many other people my family was also stranded in this 'RAIN OF THE CENTURY', that hit Mumbai on 26th and 27th of July. My brother struggled his way back home, wading through waist deep water. He was saved by his friends when he fell knee deep in one of the potholes. The situation was so bad that it was difficult to know if they were walking on the pavement or into an open manhole. Both my father and brother reached home after 30 hours of grueling experience.
But once they reached home safely, they couldn't stop appreciating the spirit of the people around. There were so many people on the roads with biscuits, water, Tea, bananas and whatever they could manage to help the hungry and thirsty people stranded for hours. This was the touchiest part of the entire ordeal which brings our faith back in the camaraderie which all of us share towards each other. It would have been difficult to walk for kilometers, through gushing and deep water without the food provided by these people.
This experience has changed many of our lives and is the greatest learning experience for all of us. HATS OFF to all those people who were out there helping our loved ones.
We have all seen, heard and read lots about what's been happening in Mumbai in the last couple of days. I have been in touch with my friends who, by the grace of God, are all fine. Yet, the pain that I see people going through when I read all those entries in rediff or the sms-es flashed on NDTV is boundless!
I don't need to harp on it, we all know what's happening. What I do want to say is kudos to all you Mumbaikers - the ones who are staying brave in these difficult times and more so the ones who are helping the troubled fellows. When I read about hotels providing free food, strangers helping out each other regardless of anything, it brings tears to my eyes. My heart swells with pride to be part of a country where people still display so much compassion for each other!
I hope to never have to face such a situation in my life but if I ever do, I will not lose heart because I know that help is near! Thank you all for reassuring me that all is not lost between us fellow Indians and for keeping my faith in my country.
