Heavy rains throw Mumbai out of gear

Shoaib Ahmed , CNN-IBN
Posted on Jul 04, 2009 at 22:08

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Mumbai: After a night of rains Mumbai woke up to a very wet Saturday. Despite claims by city authorities that they were prepared for monsoon, Mumbaikars seem to be facing pretty much the same problems.

Following heavy rains, there was heavy traffic jams across Mumbai and commuters had to wade through water logged roads.

The harrowed commuters vent their anger on the civic authorities.

"This happens every year. The BMC does nothing. They just claim they are at work," said a commuter.

Mumbai woke up to heavy showers on Saturday morning. While Colaba recorded a mere 4.2mm rainfall from 0830 hrs IST to 1130 hrs IST in Saturday morning; western suburbs had to cope with 38.8mm rainfall during the same time, which was enough to disrupt life in water-logging prone areas of Hindmata, Parel and Lalbag in Central Mumbai.

The Hindmata Junction was completely flooded due to incessant rains with no traffic plying on the road and at some places the water was waist deep.

However, for some people, rains spelt relief.

"It's nice. It is raining it is not as bad as last time. BMC seems to have done a better job this time," said a Mumbaikar.

Mumbai's lifeline the local trains, though slightly delayed in the morning, remained unaffected.

But commuters on the roads suffered due to congestion caused by several incomplete road projects leading to traffic snarls.

With monsoon finally making its presence felt in Mumbai, it now remains to be seen how Mumbaikars fare in the long season ahead.

(With inputs from Yogita Limaye)

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