Click to play videoMumbai: On July 26, 2005, Pestom Sagar in the Eastern suburb of Chembur was submerged under five feet of water. Four people lost their lives and it was two full days before the authorities could reach this area.
"We wanted to help people who were stranded but we couldn’t,” said a resident of Pestom Sagar, Jyothi Balasubramanium.
Now, it is 2007 and this time around, residents of Pestom Sagar refuse to take chances and have taken the matter in their own hands.
Mock rescue drills are part of their plans to tackle any flooding. The motley group now has their own disaster management plan which is a first of its kind in the city.
"Citizens are all contributing here because just depending on municipal authorities is not fair,” said another resident of Pestom Sagar, Dr Nitin.
Armed with a Qualis, fire extinguishers, lifejackets, drain sweepers and even fogging machines, the disaster management plan was put together with donations from residents and a fund of Rs 25,000 now with training sessions from the Mumbai Municipal Corporation.
And a group of businessmen, doctors and executives can now double up as lifeguards and paramedics.
"With this we'll be prepared to save ourselves and others, incase of emergences or any calamity,” said another resident, Sanjay Ghasias.
While the civic body toils to finish pending road work, this neighbourhood has left nothing to chance and in fact insist that they are on call during the rains for any emergency . (Number: 25231588)
These residents now hope that other Mumbaikars take a cue and gear up for the rain fury this year.
(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter and Google+)
displayed with permission. Use of the CNN name and/or logo on or as part of CNN-IBN does not derogate from the intellectual property rights of Cable News Network in respect of them.