With monsoon just round the corner, Mumbaikars are gearing up to meet challenges posed by the rains
With monsoon just round the corner, Mumbaikars are gearing up to meet challenges posed by the rains
Amita Khakkar is busy getting ready for the monsoon. Khakkar, who lives in a terrace flat at the National Garage Building in Mahalaxmi, has more than a dozen plants and trees of different varieties at her house. "I call it a small garden. Before the onset of the monsoon, I add adequate manure to the plants. So when it rains they grow beautifully. Some potted plants have to be moved inside the house, otherwise there are chances of the soil getting washed away," said Khakkar, as she watered her plants. 
Careful: Vivek Kabra takes extra precaution by keeping a hammer in
his car. Pic/Utkarsha Kotian
House
Elsewhere in the house, plaster work is underway to prevent dampness. "We have a leakage problem and getting the roof fixed every year is absolutely necessary for us. Apart from this, my 7-year-old granddaughter has to be prepared for the rains. Right from raincoats to extra cover for her bag, everything has to be taken care of before the rains come," added 50-year-old Khakkar.u00a0 Pointing at her are two small Yorkshire terriers, Muffin and Dollar. Khakkar said, "Soon their hair has to be trimmed and checked for ticks. We don't let them outside the house," explained Khakkar.
Equipped
Some families claim that they have learnt their lessons during the last monsoon and are taking extra precautions this year. The Ramamurthy family is getting their row house and gardenu00a0 ready for the rains. Said Ramamurthy who stays in Thane, "Last monsoon we had some seepage on the sidewalls of our house, so now those cracks have to be filled up. I believe, we will be better prepared during this monsoon."
Trouble
Ramamurthy's daughter, Rashmi, is not particularly fond of the monsoon. Currently, preparing for her competitive exams, Rashmi finds travelling cumbersome especially during the rains. "Since our house is far from the railway station, I travel in a bus and then take a train. Usually the trains are crowded so I have to stand near the door.u00a0 Also I do not like to go to college when I'm completely drenched," said Rashmi, who travels daily from Thane to Matunga. And Rashmi's mother, Sundari, too helps her pack all her necessary items. "The idea is to keep everything dry," said the mother-daughter duo. "I make sure Rashmi packs all her books and valuable things in a plastic cover," said Sundari.
Dangerous
The rains can also be dangerous for commuters who are not careful while travelling. One frequently hears about people getting killed while crossing railway tracks or travelling on train rooftops, but the monsoon season makes it all the more risky. Vidyadhar Malegaonkar, Chief Public Relations Officer (PRO) for the Central Railway, explained, "Commuters must not try to get into a moving train, especially during the monsoon. There are also chances that passengers might slip and hurt themselves especially when it is raining heavily." He also advises people against travelling on train rooftops. "Others who travel on the footboard too must avoid it as it is slippery during the rains and there are more chances of them falling off."
Safety
Roads are wet and hence dangerous during the monsoon. Riders may skid due to slippery roads. However, a lot of people take care to avoid such accidents. "Driving slow is the key to safe travel when it is raining," said Aparna Saboo, a media executive from Bandra. "I take my two-wheeler to office occasionally. A lot of people think that since the roads are empty, they can cruise at high speed. The rains do complicate driving," she added.
Agrees Prashant Potdar, a social media strategist from Chembur, who avoids riding a bike when it is raining. "After a spate of accidents that I have seen and experienced too during the past few years. I prefer to travel by an auto and if need be, a bus ," said Potdar.u00a0 Many take extra precautions. "I apply anti rust paints for my vehicles and oil it regularly. Some might say that I am being over cautious, but it is better to be safe than sorry.u00a0 I even carry a first aid kit with me," says Yogesh Deosthali, who travels to work everyday from Thane to Andheri for his work.
Cars
Talk about cars and many families are extra careful with their four wheelers. "Regular servicing and anti-rust treatment isu00a0 necessary," said Anish Bhalachandra, who has recently acquired a driving license. For others, cleanliness is important. Agrees Surendra Gondegaonkar, a business manager with a pharmaceutical firm, "I keep disposable paper mats on the floor of the car and put plastic seat covers to avoid them getting wet."u00a0
Referring to a few incidents of cars getting automatically locked causing suffocation and even death, Vivek Kabra, a CA final studentu00a0 said, "I keep a hammer in my car especially during the rainy season so that I don't get trapped inside."u00a0u00a0 Many car dealers say that one should get their cars serviced prior to the monsoon. Lalit Holebadi, who works at Shinrai Toyota, in Worli gives a list of precautions one must take while driving in the monsoon. "The oil filters must be checked. Apart from this the chassis of the car should be taken care of. The rubber coating too must be checked to make sure that small pebbles or deep mud do not create a problem for the car. Finally, an anti-rust treatment is must."
Transport
Shivani Gawde, a student from Ruia College, prefers to travel by a taxi . "The seats of the bus are too wet to sit, the taxis on the other hand give me a comfortable ride. Even if it means spending more money on travelling."u00a0 Many prefer to stay indoors when it pours really hard. "I would rather sit at home and stay safe," says Potdar who had a bad experience when the city was flooded in 2005. Nirav Kothari, an engineering student makes sure he carries an extra pair of clothes during the rains. "Even if I get wet on the way to college, a change of clothes is always at hand," he explained.
Helpline
* Traffic Police
Control Room: 24937746/ 24937755/ 24937747
/24939717/ 24940303 ext - 100.
*u00a0BMC Disaster Control Room:
22694725/ 22694727/ 22694719
* Fire Brigade Control Room:
23076112/ 23076113
* Railway Police Control Room:
22620173/ 22621695
* Ambulance Control Room:
23076111/ 23076112
Traffic safety
Parking Areas
Tardeo
1. Grant Medical Gymkhana
2. Wilson Gymkhana
3. Parsi Gymkhana
4. Islam Gymkhana
5. Mahalaxmi Racecourse
6. Catholic Gymkhana
Colaba
1. Cross Maidan, M. G. Road
2. CR 2 Parking Lot
Worli
1. Kamgaar Kalyan mandal - 100 vehicles can be parked
2. Jabori Maidan - 150 vehicles
3. Worli Sea face - 100-150 vehicles
4. Mahanagar Palika School - 50 vehicles
5. Hotel Blue Sea
6. Phoenix Mills
7. Flyover at Senapati Bapat Marg - 150-200 vehicles
Bandra
1. Mhada Ground No. 2, Bandra Reclamation - 150 vehicles
2. Supari Talav maidan - 80 vehicles
3. Sacred Heart School - 150
4. Palm Grove Hotel - 175
Vakola
1. MMRDA Grounds, BKC
2. Ground in front of Community Hall
Airport
1. CST Airport - 1500 vehicles
2. Kamgar Kalyan Kendra Maidan, Andheri East -350 vehicles
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