Citizens laud cops’ efforts in distress

Most Mumbaikars who experienced last year’s deluge complained about the absence of any state officials or police to help out distressed citizens. This year, the story has a refreshing change.

Manda Patil a resident of Dahanukar Wadi in Kandivali gave full marks to Mumbai’s police for helping and guiding citizens.

“For the first time, we saw police officers stopping people from going to flooded areas and diverting people and traffic to safer places. Last year, people lost their lives because the local police were not there. But, this time they have saved our lives and vehicles,” Patil said.

The roads were dotted with policemen patrolling the streets round-the-clock and directing traffic to safer areas.

There were traffic jams in many parts of the Western Express Highway in Malad between Jogeshwari and Bandra. Traffic in Haji Ali and Marine Drive were also diverted due to waterlogging.

“I saw two police officers near Deepak cinema giving people a lift in their police vehicles, helping them to cross the heavily waterlogged area. I felt proud to see them perform this humanitarian duty,” said a mill worker who was helped by the police officers.

Tony Mascarenhas thinks of the policemen as Samaritans who lend a helping hand to stranded people.

He recalled seeing Santacruz policemen and officers helping women and children stranded at the junction of Linking road and Juhu-Tara Road, which was flooded with knee-deep water.

“Throughout the day, the policemen kept one jeep only to help the women and children who were stranded. For a moment, I wondered if these were the same policemen whom we fear talking to otherwise, but they were good samaritans during such an emergency” Mascarenhas said.