Waking up early in the morning was never my cup of tea.26th July 2005 was no different.Somehow I got up quite early as I my mom reminded me that I had to visit my University by afternoon to get some documents.With a packed day in mind i got up reluctantly and looked out.It was a beautiful morning with clouds showing all the flavors of the monsoons.It wasn't raining or a matter of fact even drizzling. But who cares, we the people of Mumbai are so used to monsoons and rains, our life never stops.We not only move on, we walk we run and we don't stop.This city of dreams on the West coast of India over looking the Arabian sea is a paradise for every loyal mumbaikar as we say. Little did I know,in less than 12 hours the face of my city will change forever.Not even in my wildest dreams I would have thought the devastation and havoc the Rain God would have showered on us in a single day.
Everything was planned for the day.From the suburbs of Malad where I stayed I had to visit the Mumbai University in Santacruz, collect my eligibility certificate and then head back home.Sometimes the best of the plans is shaken by some divine intervention.It was one such day.As a young boy who had just passed out of high school, public transport was my luxury and also the most dependable friend for travel in mumbai. I catch a bus to local suburban station and wow I see no rush at the ticket counter.I thanked god.For those of you who don't know, Mumbai was one of the most densely populated cities of the world and I was actually attempting to go towards the downtown side in peak morning office hours. Empty ticket window was first welcome sign.I quickly buy my ticket and move to platform 2.Here again I was second time lucky, a starting train from Malad is a very rare occurrence.I just grabbed the opportunity and hopped on to the train and thanked God for being generous once again.I booked my slot in the train which would make the best position for alighting once I am in Santacruz station.Anyone who has travelled in local trains in mumbai knows which side of the coach or the door you need to stand to make your exit as smooth as possible.In no time the train was filled with a army of people,but I was still doing good.I reached santacruz station,boarded a bus to university and I reached my final destination in record time.Wow ! There is no bigger pleasure in mumbai if you successfully reach your destination in record time after juggling through multiple public transports.
My next surprise was waiting for me in University.The last time I had visited the university I had to spend almost 3 hours for a 5 minutes job.Certainly i was not having very nostalgic memories in my second trip, I just prayed I am done here fast and run away back home.By now I could see thick clouds hovering above me and it had started to drizzle.But what else do you expect in a monsoon season of July, I had my umbrella anyways.I went in the campus and showed my receipt to a clerk and in 2 minutes i got the certificate in my hand.I signed a register and in 5 minutes i completed my business in university.I was not only shocked but happily surprised on the fact that how on earth was it possible for me to sort my business in 5 minutes.Has the productivity of the employees improved overnight ? This was the same place where i had spent hours a day before for the very same task.I just couldn't thank god for all the positive surprises in store for me that day.I somehow started feeling his presence,I know he existed.
The time was 11.15 am.It had started to drizzle by then.I took refuge in my umbrella and started to walk towards the bus stop where I would be getting my bus headed to Santacruz station.Meanwhile the drizzle just got converted to a proper south west monsoon rain that Mumbai is famous for and in any rainy season it was difficult getting a public transport to take you back home.I realized my day has finally started.Somehow I got the Bus I was looking for.It went on its route inviting passengers and taking them to their destination.While the rains just didn't stop, I could see the usual municipal corporation's claim of being "Monsoon ready" just wash down the drain.By now the suburbs were already in 2-3 feet of water but as I said we are so used to it.I took 45 minutes more than usual time in my bus journey to station and I was expecting it.However I convinced myself knowing that the drainage system of Indian railways were far better than the roadways and no one in earth could stop me from reaching malad. Overconfidence as I say had always put me in tricky situations before.
I had taken a return ticket to Malad which means I didn't need to stand in any line.It was already 12.30 PM and I had started to get hungry.I started to plan and my calculations told me that even if I get a train at 12.40 PM I would reach Malad by 1.10 or so and can quickly eat something from the station. Little did I know that this calculation of mine would soon be washed off like a tide of waves.Unaware of what was to happen,I waited for my train. Luck was still on my side and I got my train to Borivili at dot 12.40 PM.From there started my never ending journey.
The distance between Malad and Santacruz was 14 kms and it passed through total 6 stations including both the end points.The next scheduled stop was at Vile-Parle.Things were looking good inside the train.Outside it was monsoon as usual and incessant rains.After Vile-Parle the train stopped in a signal just 4 minutes before reaching Andheri. A routine stop as I believed but somehow the train refused to move even after halting for 20 minutes.By now I was not getting good vibes about situation outside but certainly Monsoon as the trouble maker was never in my mind.When I looked outside the window I saw people walking on the tracks towards both sides.Funny did it seem,I wondered what made them so adventurous to walk on the track when they could be safe from the rain inside the train.My fun didn't last long though, when i suddenly realized the sound of the electric locomotive coach i was in suddenly parked to rest.There was no usual noise and I realized,in last 10 minutes no train has either overtaken us nor has gone in opposite direction.Meanwhile the count of people outside the train seemed increasingly getting more as compared to inside.It was then I realized that there is no point staying inside and waiting, rather why not have a walk in the monsoon.I still had only fun in mind.
By now the time was 1.20 pm and I already exceeded my calculations with still 12 kms of my journey left.I joined millions of people in tracks and started to walk.It was only then that i realized, there were numerous trains ahead of us who had to halt because of the tracks being submerged beyond operational levels.I wondered what lies next for me.I also started to walk with my umbrella in hand and guess what.The rains still haven't stopped.It took 45minutes for me to reach the next station i.e Andheri station.I walked on to the platform to rest a bit.The time was 2.10 PM.Even then I had not estimated the magnitude of rains.Meanwhile I had change of plans.I thought of taking Bus to Malad instead of train.When I walked on to the platform I just could not recognize where was the track and where was the platform.Water was already flowing at Knee level.Still I somehow managed my way out of the station.What I saw outside was my first checkpoint of reality and reality bites.All the traffic was halted and people had either abandoned their cars or were simply stuck where they were.Water gushing out of everywhere and entering all the parking lots and shops in vicinity.It was a Mayhem outside.I realized this decision of mine would backfire and traveling via road was a bad option indeed.I returned back to Andheri station.The time was 3PM by now.
The year was 2005 and telecom revolution had still not spread so widespread as it is today.I was just a student who passed out of school.Certainly i was not armed with a cellphone or any other mode of communication I could use to ring back home.I tried my luck outside Andheri station but all shops were either shut or telephone lines disconnected.People didn't have power forget landline.I could no way tell my parents back home that I would be reaching late.Meanwhile at Andheri station the water had reached above knee level and I decided before it crosses waist height I must walk.My strategy was to take decision's one station at a time and contemplating my future course of action after i reached Jogeshwari the next station.I started my journey once again.The walk began over the tracks.One thing you can be sure of walking on a track is that you would never find potholes or unnecessary craters where you can fall or get injured.This was for obvious track safety reasons.So however deep the water is I was convinced my leg is going to land on a solid surface.With that trust in mind I started walking.I was just 5 minutes into my walk and I saw civic officials in their trademark yellow raincoat with big BMC signage over their arm.They were on the tracks directing people and escorting them via a safe route.Walking between the tracks was safe however walking between two parallel tracks can be risky as there could be unexpected empty drains that can test your legs for sure.It was here the BMC and railway staff came into help.They nicely guided everyone through the right way over the tracks.Somehow I reached jogeshwari tired and hunger eating me from inside.
I gathered strength and decided there is no point waiting more and started walking once again.While I walked I got the first shock of my life.Between Jogeshwari and Goregaon lies a railway overhead bridge which runs over a part of drainage.It was almost 300 meters long and straight.Wow the seemingly uninteresting bridges we see while sitting inside the train is now actually the Bridge of life.It was going to be a difficult choice.The rules of the game were set by the civic officials.We were supposed to close our umbrella while walking on the bridge to maintain our body balance and were strictly instructed to not look down while we walk.I followed the instructions and started to walk.But then I looked down also and what i saw below was very disturbing.The water was flowing so swiftly and it was like a horizontal waterfall.There was one person who just got washed away in front of my eyes.It was not the best of the sights to see.Somehow I reached the other end of the bridge and I never looked back.I just walked.The time was almost close to 5 PM and I had not eaten anything since morning.
Somehow I gathered strength and continued my journey in more than knee deep water.I walked I walked and I just walked.After another 2 hours i.e by 7 PM I finally reached Malad station.The first thing I searched was for a Public telephone and this time I was lucky.I called up home and my mom was so relieved to hear my voice.The first instruction she gave me was to hang in there and find the nearest home of friend and stay there for the night.But somehow I didn't like the idea as I saw a Bus which was going to my destination ready to leave in 10 minutes.I told my mom that I am taking the bus back home after eating something from the station.The line got disconnected soon.I ate to my hearts delight at the station,had a cup of tea and started my journey with new energy.While I took out my wallet i realized all my currency notes were wet beyond recognition.The shop owner was nice enough to accept the wet and soiled notes from me.Coincidently I met my school friend Ujjwal Rokde also at the station.We both stayed at the same locality and were headed in the same direction.I was overjoyed of the fact that now I have company.
We boarded the bus at 7.20 PM comfortably seated in our seats.We still had 8 Kms to travel.This was my next mistake and once again in my overconfidence I underestimated the havoc the non stop rains would have potentially caused.Oblivious of the rational facts and any logical reasoning I and my friend started our bus travel back home.After traveling only 2 Kms our bus came to a standstill halt.The Sky was still crying loud and what I saw outside was no land, just water water everywhere and once again only people walking.This time I wasted no time and we started walking.The road outside was filled with cars and other transport vehicles.Everything was still and worse there was no power and electricity to guide us.Luckily the moon still had some light to show us the way.Again I had the same dilemma.Which side of the road I am supposed to walk.On the sides filled with water or in the center line over the divider.This was the most difficult part as the roads had numerous potholes with uneven surfaces, we were bound to get injured in dark.We still walked and saw a group of volunteers who had managed to tie a rope between multiple street light poles over the road divided and we walked holding on to them.As I wished my problems would end soon there came my next challenge.Again a road over bridge above a semi river.The problem now was that the river was flowing above the road with a ferocious intent.Again the BMC had tied solid ropes between the start and end points and we walked holding on to the ropes tight.We crossed the river what was till yesterday called a Road.Still 3 kms short of our destination.We reached a second check point and I called up my home to let them know that I am walking back home.It was the Malawani stop.
The magnanimity of the rain has still not sunken yet and I and my friend were literally enjoying the walk.It was 9 PM. It was time for the next shock.Suddenly I see a transport truck from my Naval base(where I reside)going the opposite direction.I was like what a foolish man he is traveling in a direction in this rain with no guarantee of reaching his destination for at least next 2 days.I had seen the road and the train situation.With current infrastructure there was no way anyone could travel in this rain and hope to reach his destination in time.My friend Ujjwal knew the driver and we in our best of joyous and playful mood went to the driver and started to chat.We thought we will ask and convince him to reverse his truck and go back,so that we could also get a trip back home.I told him "Bro what are you upto in this rain.Go back home and enjoy with your family man.You might as well earn some extra bucks from us for giving us lift back home"
What happened next shook me and made me numb for sometime.The driver replied with a straight face "Sir, in my truck lay 2 coffins of civilians who died because one of our campus walls fell over them.I know I am stuck now but its my moral duty to make sure these bodies reach their home tonight".I was speechless and finally i realized the gravity of the situation and tragedy of this monsoon.I payed my respect and started to walk again.This time very silently.
The time was 9.40 PM.As I approached just 500 meters to my destination I saw my dad walking towards me.He had literally started to walk in the streets of Mumbai in search of me.It was real luck i saw him on the way.The first thing he did was to hug me and then we walked back the final leg of our journey.If we would not have met like that then he would have continued to walk looking out for me.After my 11 hours of journey I knew this was not the best of things to do.Finally I reached home.Mom was overjoyed to see me.There was no power at home but still I could see the spark in her eyes,the joy of reuniting.
My sister who was working in Bandra did the smart thing.Instead of having an adventure she stayed back at a friends place.But such was the tragedy of the monsoon,she could only return back after 2 days.I woke up the next day waiting to get hold of the newspaper to know what had happened to the city of dreams while I was having my adventure.It was not worth the wait.The newspaper never came the next day for obvious and understandable reasons.
26th July 2005 the city came to a standstill for the first time.994 mm of rainfall claiming more than 5000 lives leaving a trail of destruction behind.Many lost their life and their livelihood.Still in this times of despair there were number of real life hero's.The BMC guy on tracks,The Radio Jockey of a popular channel providing real time updates, Armed forces distributing relief materials,the unknown hand who pulled people before they were swept away and of course the determined driver who chose to carry the coffin.He always had a choice.In times like these the people of this city came together to help.
Its been 9 years now since I had this experience and all the memories still intact....Meanwhile it still rained but Mumbai never stopped !!!
This just refreshed my memories of that day. A student of eighth standard with a young brother beside her, waiting for their dad to reach. 'Buddha Charita' laid open with the printed word flickering with the candle's light thanks to the strong wind that struck out of nowhere. The joy when dad finally walked in as the sun began to set is still fresh in my mind.
ReplyDeleteMy grandparents and my uncle were stranded for more than 12 hours in a Maruti 800 wondering when they would finally see land and stretch their legs and stand out a bit.
Then there was my mother who reached home the other day after walking from Santacruz to Vidyavihar after struggling in the rains with water reaching upto her neck at times! The floating dead bodies, the deserted cars with just their rooftops visible, the double-decker bus with the ground floor almost invisible- the scenes narrated by her would remain another story in my heart.
What was worth applause were the bold persons like the ones whom you described- be it the lonely driver on the flooded road with corpses to be delivered to their respective families or the lively people who got out of their homes to help stranded ones to reach their destinations safely and even trying to bring a smile on their faces with a cup of hot tea and biscuits. :)