The Fury of the Monsoons

Aditya Govindaraj 04 September 2012

A first hand photo essay of the Mumbai rains which furiously lashed the city late evening on 3 September 2012.

As rains lashed Mumbai on 3rd August, I had my first ever experience of the legendary fury of the Mumbai Monsoon which bring this busy metropolis to a grinding halt at least once or twice every season. This time, it happened in as late as September – a record for Mumbai.

The intensity of the downpour was increasing from 3 pm and by 5 pm we began to get reports that the usual trouble spots of Milan Subway at Santacruz, Hindmata theatre at Dadar and other low lying areas were flooded. We were warned that the intensity of the rains would increase and sure enough it decided to hit Mumbaikars hard when they were returning home. In fact, it really intensified only after 6 pm as we trooped out of office.

The flooding of Mumbai has a lot to with the tides and the good news was that the 141.8 mm downpour did not coincide with high tide.

I got into a cab, and rain was pouring blindingly, I just got busy with my iPhone. The cab was crawling along slowly, but at least it was moving. Then suddenly I rolled down my window and realised that water had reached the door level and was slamming the car. On the one hand the cab seemed to float on water, on the other there was smoke curling out of the engine and it seemed ready to explode. I quickly paid off the taxi, rolled up my trousers and began to walk towards Bandra.

On reaching Bandra, I decided to go up to the Skywalk to get a view of the city struggling to cope with the fury of the rain gods! The city was busy and vibrant as usual.

After a while it seemed as though the intensity had reduced and I joined the long march of people wading to their homes even as the water was slowly draining off. While people kept moving, the cars weren’t all so lucky. I noticed a Honda Civic and a Toyota stranded in the middle of the road, adding to the chaos. They were towed away after the water flooding St Paul Road at Bandra had receded.

Three hours later… I was home, a distance that I usually cover in just over 30 minutes. It was a surreal experience and I couldn’t help but wonder what Mumbaikars must have gone through on 26th July 2005 when an intense cloudburst hit the city with deadly ferocity.

Comments

User

Johnson Creado

1 decade ago

Seven years back on that July evening, I was stuck in a BEST bus under the Kalanagar flyover at Bandra East. I, along with the other passengers, spent the night in the bus, which had water nearly up to the seat-level.
Passengers ventured out of the bus the next morning when the waters started receding. The WE Highway was full of stranded cars and people walking home. It was an experience to remember.