Heavy rains witnessed in city; clogging disrupts life and 3-year-old dies

Although the monsoon season is yet to hit India, the nation is witnessing the early monsoon showers that have disrupted the routine life.

3-year-old slips and falls into an open gutter at Cheeta Camp, Chembur east in Mumbai. The toddler was drowned in the capsizing waters.

The gutter had been opened after the drainage overflowed, and the open gutter was not visible due to the heavy rains.

Shahnawaz Shaikh, the corporator of All India Majlis-e-Ittehaddul Muslimeen (AIMIM) at Cheeta Camp, lashed out at the BMC for its negligence in not providing nets or covers on open gutters and manholes. “These officials are neglecting all areas, except island city, where they reside,” alleged Shaikh.

“A three year old boy dies because no safety measures are taken by the corporation. I had written letters regarding lack of desilting in our area, but nobody paid heed to it,” Shaikh said. Shaikh has filed an official complaint against the Assistant Commissioner of M/East Ward as well as maintenance and stormwater drains department for dereliction of duty. Srinivas Khilje, the assistant commissioner, was not available for comment despite several attempts to reach him.

The residents have alleged the BMC neglects their areas deliberately. “The BMC had only completed 1% of their job and they were gloating over their monsoon preparedness. In just three days of rain, the city has already seen three deaths, and this one is a baby,” lamented a resident of Cheeta Camp.

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The death sent shock waves across the city as the public has raised questions about the corporation’s ability to pre-empt such mishaps. Moreover, the civic officials from the storm water drains (SWD) department had this week said there was no likelihood of any untoward mishaps happening in these rains.

RAILWAYS SERVICES DELAYED

As the heavy rains lead to water clogging and commuting has been a trouble with the trains being delayed by 20 minutes.

Railway tracks were flooded at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Wadala, Guru Tegh Bahadur Nagar, Sion and Kurla, leading to the hiccups in services. In the evening rush hour, a SPAD (signal passed at danger) incident was reported at Wadala station. Commuters voiced their dissatisfaction at the unpreparedness of the railways. “We have seen waterlogging on tracks and disruption of train services in the first few showers. What will authorities do when it rains heavily?” demanded commuter Rajesh Khillari.

The flow of traffic on the main arteries was sluggish, especially at Haji Ali and Andheri subway because of waterlogging, further inconveniencing the public. Other waterlogged areas of the city were Malabar Hill, Hindmata, Dharavi, Byculla, Dadar TT, Kabutarkhana at Dadar, King’s Circle, Nagpada, Kurla, Vikhroli, Malad, Santacruz (E), Jogeshwari, Bandra and Marol-Maroshi. According to the Disaster Management Department of the BMC, 20 trees collapsed and two short circuit incidents were reported.