Monsoon’s parting shot proved somewhat destructive and the highest average rainfall for 24 hours stretch in September touched a new high and crossed 300 mm for this month alone. The deluge and the after effects were somewhat damaging as many as 100 flights were cancelled on this day to add salt to the destruction already caused. The fliers were forced to stay back at the airport as a SpiceJet flight carrying 183 passengers on board overshot a wet runaway and made the matter worse as the main runaway was shut for the best part of the day. Apart from this 3 people were washed away and as many as seven swimmers were missing. The roads witnessed traffic snarls and the jam on the road caused chaos. Potholes and crater created more problems to the road users and it was a day of floods and people wade through knee deep water in most of the places. The lashing also brought back nagging fears of a deluge and a lock down. It was once again a great escape as the rain wary Mumbaikars did not want to take chances and stayed back at home hoping for the worst to happen. The falsehood Whatsapp messages add to the misery. Monsoon’s parting shot created a stir just like the 26/7 deluge but the fury died down in the evening and it was a relief thereafter. It was indeed a better prepared after the August deluge but still there were loss of lives. City received more than 40% of season’s rain in just 6 days and the water position improved for full year supply.
Anandambal Subbu
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
