Salaam Bombay

It was 94 in 24. 94 cms of rain was recorded in 24 hours. This is the highest ever rainfall recorded in India in a single day. Bombay was crippled. The latest figures confirm 420 deaths in the city which is a home to 13 million people. The local trains stopped. All the vehicles stopped on the roads. Electricity in suburbs was cut off. Mobile networks were jammed. Landlines are still being repaired. Houses of the people who lived in low lying areas were flooded. People drowned. Some died in landslides. Some were crushed under compound walls. I never believed that this could happen to my city(I am from Bombay, but work in Bangalore). Ah! Most of you have already read this in the newspapers. So let me tell you, how it affected my family. My father was trapped in a bus for 20 hours. My uncle had to walk in five feet deep water all through the night to reach his home. My landline is now dead. And yes. The motor that pumps water into my building burnt its coil. So there was water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink for a few days. But then, why crib? Why not salute the indomitable spirit of Bombay? Why not salute the thousands of volunteers who left the comforts of their homes and helped the stranded people? To read about such inspiring stories, click here.