 Kya pool hai hum: Poonam Khanna (37) during her swimming lesson at a pool in Chembur yesterday. Her face has been blurred on request. Residents of Kalina, Kurla and Chembur the areas worst affected by last years floods are thronging pools to learn swimming to be prepared in case a similar calamity hits Mumbai this year.
The lone BMC-run pool in Chembur already has 500 new members queuing up for swimming lessons. Most of them have horror stories to share from last year.
The manager of the pool, Vasudev Kanal, said, October to December is usually a lean period for swimming pools, but this year the response has been overwhelming.
A pool in Belapur, another flood-affected area, has seen over 600 people seeking admission to swimming classes. About half of them have taken up swimming because of 26/7. Ashish Thorat, secretary of the YMCA Aquatic Institute in Belapur, said, Membership in our club has gone up after the torrential rains last year. Many people have joined to be prepared for a similar situation this year.
Aasiya Aden (29), a resident of Kalina, recalls her experience of bringing her six-year-old daughter home from school that day. The 10-minute distance from Mary Immaculate High School to my place took me an hour and 15 minutes. With my daughter over one shoulder and her classmate on the other, I walked through the water with great difficulty. I dont want to take any chances this year, she said.
 Deluge: What Poonam and hundreds like her are preparing forAdens daughter is also learning to swim, as are her sister Mehtab Ansari and six-year-old daughter Javeria. Ansari recalled, I was in Mumbra on July 26 and my husband was stuck in Kalina. I saw dead bodies of children floating near my mothers house. That sight forced me to learn swimming. If nothing else, at least I can save my daughter.
S N Parab, a swimming coach at the Chembur pool, said, Many middle-aged women are learning swimming this year along with their children.
Diving lessons
Anup Singh (24), a resident of Chembur, was stuck in Nerul on 26/7. He has now learnt diving so that he can save not only himself but also others in distress.
He recalled, I was with my friends in Nerul. We had helped many people who were stuck in the waters. With my new skills, I will be able to save many more people, if a similar disaster strikes. Horror tales
Our ground-floor flat was submerged. We had to shift to a neighbours place on the third floor. We had to wade through neck-deep water. I want to be prepared if it happens again this year.
- Afreen Sharif (18)
Nehru Nagar, Kurla I was stuck in a lane near my childs school and couldnt move for hours.
I decided to learn swimming to be prepared.
- Poonam Khanna (37)
Basant Park, Chembur My five-year-old daughter was missing for an entire day. It was the worst day of my life. I felt completely helpless.
- Prerana Kothambiri (36)
Nehru Nagar police quarters
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