Swept away!

Mumbai's waterfront residents panic after high tide warnings; ask BMC if they should leave their homes

Mumbai's waterfront residents panic after high tide warnings; ask BMC if they should leave their homes

With the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) issuing predictions of super high tide days in the approaching monsoons, it is the people living on the waterfront who are already getting sleepless nights.

Residents are in a panic, wondering whether this means that they will have to shift for a few days and move their valuables, in case a repeat of the 26/7 flooding happens. The BMC has already planned to keep the schools closed on July 24, since the tide level is expected to be a record high in the last 100 years on this day.u00a0

"Where will we go?" says Versova resident Payal Shah, "I'm thinking of moving my family to my sister's place in Dombvli during those days in July when the tide is the highest. People who say that nothing will happen are being foolish. What if the building falls? Our lives, our valuables will go with it! I'm moving my jewellery and papers to the bank for safe-keeping."u00a0

Pooja Kapil, a housewife from Sun and Sea Building located bang on the Versova beach, says that the impending disaster is a hot topic of discussion amongst the society's ladies and neighbours. "Every evening, we meet and discuss how the situation can be best tackled. While some of my friends talk about storing their valuables in bank vaults, others are discussing hoarding provisions," she says.

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Rain + high tide = Trouble

If the forecast by weather pundits is to be believed, the apex of waves at high tide is expected to be over four meters and its combination with a heavy downpour is a perfect recipe for the city flooding.

Kapil's neighbour Rizwan Gharial feels that shifting valuables to bank vaults isn't of much help; after all, most of the residents' banks are also located close to the sea. Vijay Pandit, another society resident, says that the scars of 26/7 floods are creating a fear psychosis in the minds of the people. "The majority of car owners in our building have experienced the ordeal of paying hefty sums for repairing their submerged vehicles. The very mention of floods is enough to trigger a panic attack. While some are planning to move to alternate locations, others plan to stay back and face the situation," says Pandit.

Residents living along the seaside at Juhu, Versova, Worli, Cuffe Parade and Mahim say that their buildings already bear the brunt of monsoons every year. As the rains lash down, they often feel their buildings shake slightly, especially on those days that the sea winds are strong. "We can barely walk towards our building. We feel as if we're pushing against the wind," says one Juhu resident. "Even on normal monsoons, the sea is so rough that the waves come right into our compound. What if those days the waves hit our building?"

BMC keeps mum

In response to this panic, BMC commissioner Jairaj Pathak, who first issued the warnings, has refused to comment and stated that the press would be briefed at a later date. This means that residents will be told later, rather than sooner, whether their buildings are safe at all. BMC officer Kishor Gajbhaya only says, "People should not get scared but they should take necessary precautions, like not stepping out of their house during high tide."

Sounding confident, Mumbai mayor Shuba Raul says that the government is in control over the anticipated flood situation.u00a0

"We have our disaster management cell on red alert. Our new pumping stations in Haji Ali should act as a deterrent. But at the same time, the elements of nature can't be taken for granted and people of Mumbai should cooperate with us."

Mahim resident Amey Beheray, whose building Ashirwad is almost touching the sea, states that the effects of the high tide can already be experienced even before the monsoons have set in. "The BMC had dumped hundreds of stones to break the tide, but the work could not be implemented due to some stay order," he says.
Armeen Parikh, who lives across the road facing the beach at Juhu Versova, still admits that 26/7 flooding has left its impact on residents. "The last thing Mumbai needs is a repeat of that. It's high time that the authorities looked at proper disaster management instead of just issuing warnings." Juhu-Santacruz resident Ajay Varde is concerned about the fate of his new car, even if the waves won't reach the height of even the first floor.

"When Mumbai was flooded, my car was submerged and I had to incur major expenses to get it back into working condition. Now I have an even more expensive car, I'm scared." Varde plans to shift his car to a friend's place at Pali Hill during those certain days.u00a0

'Will it be like Waterworld?'

Dharmesh Karmokar, vice president, luxury division, Dish Hospitality that handles hospitality for Aurus, the Juhu seafront hotspot, says, "Everybody along the sea coast considers the monsoon a very scary time. But this year it is predicted to be worse than usual. We will have to see if it becomes like Kevin Costner's Waterworld.u00a0 At Aurus, we have decided to protect our glass panes by putting up wooden planks on them. We will also do everything to protect equipment from the water. But mostly it is wait and watch for us. July 24 is predicted to be the worst day. Before that there will be a few bad days, so we will face it as it comes. And if it's really bad, there's not much one can do, is there?"

Worli resident Ashish Pitle says it will help dispel panic if the BMC is a bit more clear about how high these tides will be. "If the normal monsoon tide height is five feet, how much is this going to increase by?"

'We're not worried'

Meanwhile, there are those who aren't in a flap. Fashion designer Anita Dongre, whose Anita Inter-Pret store is on Juhu Tara road, says, "I've been getting emails about the high tide, but I haven't really given it a thought because my store at Juhu never really gets affected. Even during the July 26 flooding, the lane didn't get flooded. And I hope this monsoon too, we will be lucky."

Vivek Vasant Velinker, who lives in a 150-year-old bungalow in Juhu Tara Road, says he's seen many tidal waves and flooding over the years, but his family has rarely been affected. "In fact, 10 steps of my bungalow were even submerged one time. The house is old now, but I am not worried at all."

Budhwar Park resident at Cuffe Parade, Manoj Parab, says he and his neighbours feel more excitement than fear. "It's not a new thing for people who live absolutely close to the sea to have waves come into their homes. We're used to it. It isn't much of a problem. Hum log waves ka mazaa lete hain (we enjoy the waves coming in)."

Nihar Shah, a college student, residing in the seafront property, Pranashish Bungalow at Versova, is skeptical of the anticipated danger in spite of the fact that his boundary wall has been swept into the sea thrice in the last couple of years. "Similar warnings were issued by the authorities last year, but nothing actually happened. The only precaution we've taken after these warnings is that we have fortified the foundation of our walls for better protection against the tide." Taking a rather philosophical route, Mohit Jeevani, secretary of Versova's Pyramid Society categorically says that running away from the situation isn't a solution.

What the stats show

Floods in Mumbai are attributable to simultaneous occurrence of rainfall and high tides. If the rainfall is in excess of 200 mm in a day (24 hrs), the floods can occur anytime irrespective of the tides. However, if there is moderate rainfall but the tides are in excess of 4.50 metres at the same time, the city of Mumbai is sure to get flooded. Accordingly, heavy floods are anticipated on the following days in Mumbai, if excessive rainfall coincides with the high tide days.

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