July 26 this year was a complete contrast to that fateful day seven years ago when incessant rains and the consequent floods left a nightmarish memory in every Mumbaikar's mind. On July 26, 2005, the city received 944mm rainfall in 24 hours. This Thursday, Colaba got just 1.8mm and Santa Cruz, 0.9mm between 8.30am and 5.30pm.
The current rainfall situation appears grim for Mumbai. As of Thursday, the total rainfall for Colaba and Santa Cruz was 541mm and 887.6 mm, respectively. According to the meteorological department, Colaba faces a deficit of 632mm and Santa Cruz, 346mm.
"The offshore trough over the Konkan-to-Kerala coast has become very feeble, because of which rainfall activity over the Konkan coast has weakened," said V K Rajeev, director of weather forecast at the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Mumbai. "Rainfall activity has, however, picked up in Madhya Maharashtra and Marathwada since the past three to four days because a cyclonic system is active over these areas. But Mumbai, which falls in the north Konkan region, has not been receiving much rainfall."
In the 2005 deluge, more than 500 people were killed in the worst-ever floods to hit Mumbai, Konkan, Thane and Navi Mumbai. Most deaths —273—were reported from Mumbai alone. Infrastructure losses were estimated at Rs 1,000 crore, livestock at Rs 100 crore, housing at Rs 300 crore and crops at Rs 600 crore after the deluge.
Varsha Tawde, a social worker who had conducted several mental health camps post floods, said the fear of disaster persisted for long. "For the next twothree years after the 26/7 deluge, every time it rained heavily, it reminded people of the floods. In slum areas, which had lost the most number of lives, people were scared and depressed for months thereafter. The biggest problem later was the loss of important documents," she said.
Psychiatrist Dr Harish Shetty recalls having to counsel parents whose children had died in cars. "I had met three set of parents who had lost their children after being locked in cars. It took several sessions for the parents to come to terms with such a death," he said.
The situation, as of now, does not seem to be encouraging for the city, which may face major water cuts if monsoon does not buck up soon. "If a low pressure area forms over the Konkan area soon, the wind speed will start increasing, and that would bring good rainfall over the city. But, as of now, Mumbai is only likely to receive passing showers for the next two days," said Rajeev.  |
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