Mumbai: Yes Rain, No Rain And Monsoon Pain!

In a normal rainy season in Mumbai there are at least three major disruptions, and a major disruption normally means total breakdown of communication with local railway stations stopping train services due to water logging on tracks and all roads hopelessly clogged; stranded commuters lambasting the inadequacies of the municipal authorities in monsoon preparedness and the television channels terrorizing people with reports of more rains and tidal waves not to venture out of homes. Apart from that there are at least ten moderate or minor disruptions. But this rainy season-2012 there are no major disruptions so far and only 2/3 moderate or minor ones. People in Mumbai are confused and pained, they cannot say the monsoon is being merciful on them as their normal activities are not disturbed; they want more rains to fend off possible water scarcity in coming dry months; they do not want the municipal body to waste loads of money on the proposed artificial rain or rain seeding project. Therefore, in effect, people here now would like the monsoon to pour and disrupt life immediately, if necessary! Why ‘immediately’, we will know later.

The month of June has passed rainless barring one or two heavy showers. The month of July, always proving to be the wettest month with rains continuing sometimes for several days, has passed almost without rains. And, the month of August has almost passed with only one day of good rains that is on August 27 which proved to be the wettest day of the season. But the rains on that day, though heavy and continuing for hours causing water logging in traditional areas and slowing down rail and road traffic, cannot still be defined as a major disruption. Defying the met department forecast that heavy downpour would continue for the next 36 hours the monsoon decided to call if off by evening of the same day. Next day hardly any rain, and today too hardly any rain. This bizarre unwillingness of the monsoon to pour has been very clear throughout the season.  Only the huge traffic jams linger on for the third day today since the rains. 

As per latest reports El Nino is not going to affect the rains in September. So, if rain deficit of more than fifty percent in Mumbai is to be cleared the month of September is bound to be the wettest month of this season. And, the Lord Ganesh or Ganapati Festival when people worship their beloved God for ten days is going to start on 19^th September. Keeping their fingers crossed Mumbaikars are praying for the monsoon to pour and keep pouring 'immediately' and finish off the deficit. 

Meanwhile the Government of Maharashtra had declared drought conditions in 123 blocks of the state due to deficient rains. The farmers are the most worried lot at the moment. They are also praying for the rain gods to sail them out of this crisis. They would also expect Lord Ganesh to do some magic before He arrives for his devotees.

Pour O’ Monsoon, Pour!