<p>Mumbai: The deluge of July 26, 2005 was the worst disaster that Mumbai faced - both because of natural and man-made causes. </p><p>Natural, because Mumbai has never seen such rains and man-made because, Mumbai has not undergone a planned development. </p><p>Mumbai was not prepared or rather underprepared to tackle such heavy rains. </p><p>Mumbai, which is spread over 600 sq kms, could not withstand the pressure of nearly 944.2 mm rainfall in 24 hours. The high tide accompanied by rainfall following a cloudburst – created havoc in India’s commercial capital on July 26, 2005 – the memories of which are still fresh in the minds of one and all in Mumbai.</p>.Maharashtra’s ‘half ticket’ scheme on intercity bus travel yields modest improvements in women’s mobility.<p>It had left over 500 dead and lakhs homeless in Mumbai and neighbouring Thane and Raigad districts. This July 26 marks the twentieth anniversary of that disaster. </p><p>The road, rail and air transport had come to a standstill, the communication system was paralysed and the damages were more than Rs 2,000 crore. It was a case of urban flash floods – and now commonly referred to as 26/7. Lakhs of people were stranded at different places during the deluge and could reach home only after the second or third day. Some did not.</p><p>The reasons were way too many. Firstly, there were unprecedented rains – the highest in a century’s time on a single day. Secondly, the pressure on land in Mumbai is too high coupled with unplanned development. Thirdly, high tide coupled with rains led to severe pressure on the 100-year-old storm water drainage system. Fourthly, there was no prediction of rainfall of such magnitude, for July 26-27. And most importantly, the city was never prepared for such a disaster. A week after the deluge, there was an outbreak of water-borne diseases and a series of building and wall collapses.</p><p>The Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport was closed for more than 30 hours. For nearly two days, the suburban trains of Central Railway and Western Railway could not run. </p><p>Several upcountry trains were delayed, rescheduled or cancelled. Traffic on the Mumbai-Pune, Mumbai-Nashik, Mumbai-Surat and Mumbai-Goa route were badly affected. In some places in Kalina, water reached up to a height of over six to eight feet and reached the first floor as well.</p><p>One of the issues that need to be underscored is the infrastructural vulnerability of Mumbai. Whenever the city receives heavy rains, its roads get waterlogged, and the traffic is disrupted. Though the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) undertakes monsoon preparedness measures, its efforts have not proved to be very effective due to its old drainage system. </p><p>A lot of money has been spent on the Mithi river, but still it floods. </p><p>The Brimstowad project, a complete renewal of the stormwater system is yet to be completed.</p>
<p>Mumbai: The deluge of July 26, 2005 was the worst disaster that Mumbai faced - both because of natural and man-made causes. </p><p>Natural, because Mumbai has never seen such rains and man-made because, Mumbai has not undergone a planned development. </p><p>Mumbai was not prepared or rather underprepared to tackle such heavy rains. </p><p>Mumbai, which is spread over 600 sq kms, could not withstand the pressure of nearly 944.2 mm rainfall in 24 hours. The high tide accompanied by rainfall following a cloudburst – created havoc in India’s commercial capital on July 26, 2005 – the memories of which are still fresh in the minds of one and all in Mumbai.</p>.Maharashtra’s ‘half ticket’ scheme on intercity bus travel yields modest improvements in women’s mobility.<p>It had left over 500 dead and lakhs homeless in Mumbai and neighbouring Thane and Raigad districts. This July 26 marks the twentieth anniversary of that disaster. </p><p>The road, rail and air transport had come to a standstill, the communication system was paralysed and the damages were more than Rs 2,000 crore. It was a case of urban flash floods – and now commonly referred to as 26/7. Lakhs of people were stranded at different places during the deluge and could reach home only after the second or third day. Some did not.</p><p>The reasons were way too many. Firstly, there were unprecedented rains – the highest in a century’s time on a single day. Secondly, the pressure on land in Mumbai is too high coupled with unplanned development. Thirdly, high tide coupled with rains led to severe pressure on the 100-year-old storm water drainage system. Fourthly, there was no prediction of rainfall of such magnitude, for July 26-27. And most importantly, the city was never prepared for such a disaster. A week after the deluge, there was an outbreak of water-borne diseases and a series of building and wall collapses.</p><p>The Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport was closed for more than 30 hours. For nearly two days, the suburban trains of Central Railway and Western Railway could not run. </p><p>Several upcountry trains were delayed, rescheduled or cancelled. Traffic on the Mumbai-Pune, Mumbai-Nashik, Mumbai-Surat and Mumbai-Goa route were badly affected. In some places in Kalina, water reached up to a height of over six to eight feet and reached the first floor as well.</p><p>One of the issues that need to be underscored is the infrastructural vulnerability of Mumbai. Whenever the city receives heavy rains, its roads get waterlogged, and the traffic is disrupted. Though the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) undertakes monsoon preparedness measures, its efforts have not proved to be very effective due to its old drainage system. </p><p>A lot of money has been spent on the Mithi river, but still it floods. </p><p>The Brimstowad project, a complete renewal of the stormwater system is yet to be completed.</p>