Despite low-lying areas deep under water on first day of monsoon, corporation sees satisfied with its "measures taken"
The monsoon has merely begun and the country's financial capital has already come to a halt. Failing the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) tall claims, Mumbai was battered with rain in several intervals throughout Saturday, resulting many low lying areas to swamp. The civic body has, however, claimed on Saturday evening that not many areas were troubled and that it has taken best possible efforts to prevent flooding.
Unsurprisingly, locations vulnerable to flooding — Hindmata, Kings Circle, Parel TT, Dadar, Sion, Matunga, Byculla, Khar West, JVPD, Sewree, Kurla and others — were hit by severe water-logging. As a result, road traffic in and around these areas further inconvenienced commuters. Several flights were delayed and local trains were running at least 20 minutes behind schedule.
The BMC maintains that only Hindmata, Parel TT and Dharavi were flooded because they received 100 mm of rainfall and that no other areas in Mumbai were water-logged. 120 corrective measures taken to prevent water logging have worked, it said.
More than the corporation itself, social media seemed to have come to citizens' rescue, who expressed their anger against BMC's ill-preparedness, on Twitter and Facebook. Ali Asar, a resident of Kurla, tweeted to the BMC saying, "Why do we always have to suffer? Why can't we have a chance to enjoy rains without fear?" Images of stranded people and vehicles alike in knee-deep water were all over Twitter.
Kishore Kshirsagar, Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Disaster Management) said, "Hindmata had maximum 1.5 to 2 feet water logging which receded very soon. When we issued press release at 3 pm, none of the areas in Mumbai had water-logging and only at Hindmata and Parel there was water but below 1 feet. Also none of the subways in the city were flooded(sic)."
"In Kings Circle around 2 pm there was only 25 mm rainfall and six dewatering pumps were operational. Still there was water-logging for hours. Hindmata was flooding to the extent that we could not see roads, footpaths and flyover had gone down half underwater", said Nikhil Desai, a civic activist.
Despite 64 dewatering pumps being operational, many roads were diverted due to water-logging. Dr BA Road was diverted from Kings Circle and Hindmata, Bandra Linking Road, Sion Road number 24 and others.
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Unsurprisingly, locations vulnerable to flooding — Hindmata, Kings Circle, Parel TT, Dadar, Sion, Matunga, Byculla, Khar West, JVPD, Sewree, Kurla and others — were hit by severe water-logging. As a result, road traffic in and around these areas further inconvenienced commuters. Several flights were delayed and local trains were running at least 20 minutes behind schedule.
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