Many forced out by floods; say filthy water ruined all that they own; Residents told mid-day that they feared snakes from the swollen river would enter their homes. Many had not been able to cook food since Monday night
Police have been deployed around Mithi River as a safety measure; (right) Sandip Rana, and his sons Raj and Yash, called a snake rescuer but snakes vanished before he arrived
As heavy rain continued to lash the city for a second day, residents of Ambedkar Nagar in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) and Kranti Nagar in Kurla West were severely affected after the Mithi River overflowed. Electricity supply to the area was cut off as a precautionary measure, leaving families in darkness. Residents told mid-day that they feared snakes from the swollen river would enter their homes. Many had not been able to cook food since Monday night.
On Tuesday, the water level of the Mithi River rose to 3.9 metres, flooding nearby areas including Ambedkar Nagar and Kranti Nagar. The floodwater damaged household belongings. Environmental activists said that flooding of the Mithi has become a recurring crisis because the sludge along the river’s underground route, particularly near the Mumbai airport, has not been cleaned properly.
Mohamad Mumtaj at flooded home; (right) Paru and Pankaj Waghela sit in darkness
This negligence has led to frequent flooding in Sakinaka, BKC, Kurla, and several other parts of the city. mid-day visited Ambedkar Nagar on Tuesday and found that most residents living near the river’s edge had locked their homes and temporarily shifted to relatives’ homes.
Resident Speak
Paru Waghela, a resident of Ambedkar Nagar, said, “We have been removing water from our home since Monday night. Our furniture, clothes, valuables, everything is damaged. The stench is unbearable. We can’t live inside the house and have to keep the doors open.” Her husband, Pankaj Waghela, added, “Snakes, including pythons, have been seen in the area after the flooding. We are scared to even step outside. The government must solve the Mithi River problem. Every year, our homes are flooded after heavy rain.”
Another resident, Mohamad Mumtaj, said, “Since Monday night, electricity has been cut off as a precaution. We couldn’t even cook food. The water level keeps rising, and we are continuously bailing out water from our houses. The BMC and government must find a permanent solution to protect us.”
Kisan Shibaug with neighbours who have taken shelter at her house
Sandip Rana, who lives with his sons Raj and Yash, said, “We even called a snake rescuer, but before he arrived, the snakes disappeared into the floodwaters. The river and floodwater levels are the same now.” Kisan Shibaug, another resident of Ambedkar Nagar, said, “My house is on the river’s edge. If the water rises further, we could die in the floods. We haven’t cooked since Monday night because of the power cut, and to make matters worse, there are snakes everywhere.”
‘Don’t harm the snakes’
Snake rescuer Atul Kamble from the NGO Wildlife Animal Protection and Rescue Association (WAPRA), said, “I am receiving many calls from Walmiki Nagar and Ambedkar Nagar since Monday night about snakes. Flooding of the Mithi has caused snakes from the river to come out and enter areas nearby. We requested local people not to harm the snakes and inform us.”
Activist Speak
Nicholas Almeida, ex-corporator and trustee of the Watchdog Foundation, said, “I had filed a writ petition. Several orders have been passed, but nothing has been implemented. We demanded a retaining wall, but many stretches remain open, allowing floodwaters to enter residential areas. Industries also dump waste into the river, worsening pollution. The main reason for flooding is sludge along the Mithi’s route, which is never cleaned properly.”
According to Almeida, because of this, areas like Sakinaka, BKC, and Kurla flood whenever heavy rains hit the city. “Another issue is the large rocks near the river’s exit at Mahim, which block the outflow into the Arabian Sea,” he added.
Official Speak
DCM Eknath Shinde said that the NDRF rescued some people who were stuck on the top floors of homes along the Mithi River. “Danger has now decreased. The current Mithi water level is at 3.9 metres. The BMC is working on a permanent solution for Mithi, and tendering is going on. Scope of work includes increasing the width and depth of the river.”
Voices
Nicholas Almeida, ex-corporator and trustee of Watchdog Foundation
‘We demanded a retaining wall, but many stretches remain open, allowing floodwaters to enter residential areas. Industries also dump waste into the river, worsening pollution. The main reason for flooding is sludge along the Mithi’s route, which is never cleaned properly’
Atul Kamble, snake rescuer, WAPRA
‘Flooding of the Mithi has caused snakes from the river to come out and enter areas nearby. We requested local people not to harm the snakes and inform us so they can be rescued and returned to their home’
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