We asked readers about how they coped with the torrential rain in Mumbai and this is what the responses said, verbatim:
As am going through all the horrifying experience, which Mumbai people are going through right now, am a bit scared and sceptical also. Scared, because my in-laws, who are travelling to Mumbai and supposed to reach home today early in the morning, still out some where, miles away from this watery grave (they are a elderly couple). Sceptical, because am sitting in the world's largest metropolitan City, Tokyo, which is also seeing heavy rainy reason right now, but without a single drop of water 15 min after rain stops. No traffic snarls, no power cuts, no telephone network jams. That's called "planning', if our esteemed politicians/BMC people ever heard of that word!
This is also an island city! In an island country! I wonder, how these people plan such thing for a city which has a population of 3 crore? You will not find any chaos be it traffic, rain or come what ever it may be. Should I tell my Japanese friends over here that one of the most advanced (?) cities in India is cut off from rest of the world for the past two days? I'm embarrassed. Should I tell them that phones/trains/road even airports are closed down in a city which pays 40% of entire India's tax revenue? Am ashamed. This coming from a country, which says it wants permanent seat in UN and also a growing power and an IT superpower? I cannot stop myself to be self critical and abusive. Yes, Mumbai, it is we, who are to blame for this shoddy condition of our city ( am a Mumbaikar). We have allowed power-that-be in our city to fool us and allowed them to take us for granted for so many years. Come-on lets take revenge and make sure that people who made our life miserable, people who made fools of us, people who are sitting some where in cool and dry confine, do no return back to power again. Lets make a pledge today.
Wish all the best to My in-laws. May they come safely to Mumbai. And wish all the best to Mumbai, which still keeps mum despite being raped and mauled by its own people.
Rajesh Jain
Many people are stuck at every railway stations and many ST bus stands, many of them are women and girls too. What about their food and water after spending all money they have. Social organisations should take initiative to help these people and I am sure there wont be any help from Govt and Navy etc etc , choppers just can't fly and without choppers how can they rescue, this is the stupid govt we have.
Sachin Nate
I am currently located in Toronto, Canada but my heart has always belonged to Mumbai. I have lived there all my life and today, I feel the pain most Mumbaikars are feeling - even though I am many a continent away. Today is a dark day for Mumbai - her oil fields are under fire and the water to quench this flame has mispositioned itself over the great megalopolis. I am experiencing the familiar night-time chill that greets us during times of floods.
Rains are not a new phenomenon in Mumbai. Even the occasional flood has never surprised me. What epitomises Mumbai is her "never stop, never say die" spirit! I am confident that Mumbai will be back, with a bang at that! I can already sense the optimism from most of the messages posted here.
I pray for the loved ones of those of you who are stranded far away from home. I must add - I am appalled by some of the comments broadcasted on this board. This is not the time to blame politicians and the emergency services. Calamities demand greater maturity from the people. The denizens of Mumbai have proved their gusto in the past. We handled a terrorist attack on our great city better than the Londoners - and our calamity then was of a much greater intensity. I urge the people to be patient and co-operate with the relief work to their fullest capacity. Do not venture out of your homes unless it is an emergency. Things will improve. My heart and prayers are with you!
Vikram
I am located in Mannheim, Germany. I have been keeping track at the numerous tales shared by your viewers. My sympathy to all Mumbaikars and prayers for normality to return soon.
Why blame politicians? What baffles me is the sheer thought that educated men are still blaming the governing body. Is it not the common man with the right to vote responsible for all this. After all we elect our representatives. Many would tell that they exercise their right to vote to the best of the rotten eggs. If so is the case, why not anybody taking the torch in his/her own hands.
Why blame the civic authority ? 660 mm of rainfall poured in mumbai during the last few days is not a quantity that can be neglected. Im sure that even the best of the administration will be helpless.
An example given by a co reader about the Tokyo administration is not justifiable. God forsake but being a person having travelled thoughout Europe I think even Tokyo will not be able to bear nature's fury.
To all proud Mumbaikars who claim that they contribute to 40% of the tax revenue and are getting no attention-- Accepted Mumbai is the economic nerve but this does not jeopardise the fact that Mumbai is not the sole producer and the consumer. The consumers are seated not in Mumbai but in Bihar, Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and other non urban locations. So my dear friends instead of fighting with regionalism, should we not concentrate on the channels for solution. Were the commoners from all parts of mother India not contributing (without any regionalistic ideology) with open hearts to the drastic Maharashtra earthquake, Gujarath earthquake and Tsunami.
In a nation that has a police/fire service personnel to people ratio of 1:10000 (approx), is it feasible for the handful of dedicated men with limited resources in hand to help everyone. This would be the extreme of expectation. Even someone questioned about the shutting down of the street lamp. Is it fair that to show somebody way to home others be put at the risk of life. Even the best of isolating material/protection will fail in such an adverse condition.
As rediff has highlighted that it is the "people to people to help" that's the solution. Many stories of unsung heroes are evident. Well these were handful of kind hearted men/women. But I'm questioning others who were seated at home/office and could have contributed their part in rescue operations. I am not asking the disabled or elderly but im calling the youths who constitute 60% of indian population.
Last but not the least as was rightly said "Discipline is self imposed", it holds rightly for "Help" as well. Why are we not able to help ourself and crying at others. Most of the developed nations have a compulsory military training. Why not in India ? , the land which is the favourite target of mother nature. I neednt explore the benefit of military training to you but the point is - it can serve to bring up a self solution to all problems.......
Dhiraj Kumar