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Up close with a besieged Mumbai
Mumbai under siege: This file photo shows commuters walking through floodwaters in Mumbai after heavy rains a couple of years ago.
An authentic story on the much talked about disastrous floods that brought the bustling city of Mumbai to a grinding halt will be aired by National Geographic Channel this coming Sunday.
“Mumbai Mega Flood” meticulously follows the siege of Mumbai as all its systems were shut down and millions of people faced nature’s fury. Through dramatic recreations, interviews with victims, meteorological experts and environmenta lists, the film relives the traumatic and shocking set of events that brought the city of Mumbai to its knees.
Speaking about the upcoming film, Rajesh Sheshadri of National Geographic Channel says: “At National Geographic Channel it is our constant endeavour to bring into focus issues that are relevant and relatable to the world we live in. And ‘Mumbai Mega Flood’ is one such effort. Monsoons bring back the fear of floods in Mumbai every year after the disaster in 2005 and we believe that this film will play a role in highlighting the challenge that life becomes for people of the city and bringing to light the reasons behind this recurring phenomenon”.
According to the channel, on July 26 in 2005, a month before Hurricane Katrina ripped through New Orleans, Mumbai -- the country’s financial capital -- received its highest rainfall in recorded history. “An incredible 944 mm of rain fell on the city in 24 hours and the resulting flood left hundreds dead,” recalls the channel.
It began like any other monsoon day in Mumbai; a dull, cloudy day that gave no forewarning of the disaster that was to come. Most people reported to work on time, blissfully unaware that their will to survive and tenacity would soon be put to the ultimate test. Environmental destruction, unplanned construction, climate change and administration failure are the reasons cited by experts and environmentalists for the disaster.
However, before any significant action is taken, Mumbai finds itself in the same situation again.
Ten days ago, on June 30 this year, Mumbai received unusually heavy rain again that brought the city to a screeching halt.
-- Madhur Tankha
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