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Government relief not reaching flood-hit areas

Prachi Pinglay

MUMBAI: "We are living in Mumbai. In a city. Not in some far-off village ... Nobody has provided anything. No one has come here and the numbers of deaths in this area have been under reported. ... And if we protest the police would not let us do that also!" says Mohammed Shakil, a resident of Kurla, in northwest Mumbai. One of the worst affected areas in the July 26 flood, most houses still remain without electricity despite statements by Reliance Energy that it had "successfully restored normal power supply to all residential areas affected by the century's worst downpour on the city."

As the State Government and the Municipal Corporation begin relief operations, many areas still remain unattended. These pockets, without electricity and water supply, had water levels well over 12 to 14 feet on July 26. People here are almost entirely dependent on external and private assistance.

No help

In several localities in Kurla, like Gaffer Khan Estate, Kapadia Nagar, Sheetal Cinema, Pipe Road, Taxi man Colony — private organisations are providing food and groceries. Yunus Shah, says no one has come to help. "I was stuck on top of a truck along with 30 people. We nearly died that day. While we were stuck, we saw so many dead bodies pass by. People were simply washed out to the river and further. No disinfecting process has taken place in those areas. We live in these areas. They are still stinking of dead bodies. But there has been no medication," he says.

Adds Khan Mohammed: "The drinking water we are getting is reddish in colour. We have no choice but to drink it."

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