Good Samaritans

Published in The Times of India, Mulund-Powai Plus – July 2007 – © Manali

As heavy rains lashed the city, and water levels continued to rise, forcing people to find higher ground, some residents from the Mulund-Powai belt were glad to find kind strangers who lent them a helping hand.

Heavy rainfall once again paralysed life across the city on June 30. Several roads and homes were flooded, throwing normal life off gear, but as Mumbai filled up, Mumbai stepped up as well.

Says Kaushik Deliwala, a businessman whose car was stuck in a gutter near Sambhaji Grounds, Mulund east, “The front wheels of my car were trapped in the gutter, and I couldn’t move it. However, four youngsters arrived on motorbikes and saw that I needed help.

They wasted no time and helped me get the car wheels out. I do not know them but it really feels nice when people help each other out during a crisis,” says Deliwala.

The situation was similar in Powai. Near the IIT main gate, all the drains were overflowing. Rakesh Deshmukh, a software engineer, was on the way to his office when he saw an old man struggling to walk. Moved by his plight, Deshmukh decided to leave behind an important business meet, and helped the man get home.

“Since it was a Saturday, the road was empty. While I was on my way to office for a meeting, I saw this old man stranded in the middle of the road. So, I decided to gave him a lift on my bike,” says Rakesh, who affirms that it’s a moral duty to help people out during such situations.

Volunteers from local NGOs helped the BMC drain water out by manning open drains. Normal life was hit hard as rail, road, and air transport was crippled.

The power was cut off between Mulund and Powai as well as other parts of the city and there were reports of landslides as the city battled against the season’s first big spell of rain.

Mulund resident Dipti Dave was touched by the kindness of a BEST bus driver who picked up stranded people and allowed them to alight close to their destination, even if it was not close to a designated bus stop.

“I had to visit a relative in the hospital at Paanch Rasta and boarded a BEST bus near the ESIS Hospital. I requested the driver to let me alight near the hospital, since there was knee-deep water in the area. He did so, and he also stopped to pick up anyone who was stranded,” she recalls.

In another incident at Mulund west, near M G Road, a man fell off his bike due to the potholes and was injured badly. “I was getting back from work, and saw him get hurt. I took him to a nearby hospital and I hope that he is fine now,” says Monil Dawda, a stock broker. He went on his way only after informing the man’s family.

Many roads and areas such as Veena Nagar and Tambe Nagar in Mulund west were blocked because of trees that fell due to the strong winds and intense rainfall. Nevertheless, people of the locality acted quickly and cleared the way by shifting the branches on the corner of the lane.

Rains may continue to lash the city every other day, and though parts of Mumbai may submerge, the spirit of Mumbaikars will continue to stay afloat, no matter what!