When Mumbai faces a crisis, the resilience and the spirit of the people are at its very best.
Time and again it has been proved – whether on March 12, 1993, serial blasts, July 26, 2005, deluge, July 11, 2006, serial blasts on local trains or November 26, 2008, fidayeen attacks – Mumbai has shown how to react and reach out to the public.
The 29/8 deluge has shown this once again. Good Samaritans rose to the occasion to live up to the expectations of the people and once again proved to the world the ‘spirit of Mumbai’.
“Lashing rain .. flooded water logged .. but so admirable to see Mumbai Police, the common man helping out .. true Mumbaikar Spirit…..A peculiar eerie quiet in the morning of Mumbai .. and now the rain has started again .. BUT Mumbaikar Spirit is tough .. JAI HIND,” actor Amitabh Bachchan tweeted.
Most of the big Ganpati Mandals kept their pandals open throughout the night and offered food, including the Lalbaug cha Raja or GSB Sarvajanik Mandal.
People also took shelter at the Siddhivinayak temple. “We will help the people to the maximum extent possible,” said Aadesh Bandekar, chairman of the temple trust.
“The storm seems to have passed. A long night for those who have slept in some kind soul’s bed. Time to go home. Gratefully!,” tweeted actor Boman Irani, who last night informed stranded people to take shelter at the Dadar Parsi Colony Gymkhana.
People took shelter at temples, mosques, churches and gurudwaras. “The Spirit of Mumbai never fails,” said celebrity manager and publicist Amit Shah, a resident of Ghatkopar, who was seen at the station overnight speaking to stranded people and those helping them and posting it on Facebook Live.
“People of all faiths were seen helping each other….religion, caste, creed, colour, financial background never comes in between,” said blogger B K Kumar.
Cricketer Ravindra Jadeja tweeted: “A Big Salute To Each & Every #RainHosts Who Offered Help To #Mumbaikars Last Night. Never Let The Spirit OF Humanity Die.”
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