Heavy rains wreaked havoc in Mumbai and surrounding areas, causing chaos for commuters as knee-deep water flooded the streets leading to Virar railway station on Wednesday.
The downpour was relentless, turning Virar into a waterlogged mess and leaving daily commuters stranded as they tried to navigate the flooded roads. Shared auto rickshaws, a common mode of transportation in the Vasai-Virar area, were in short supply due to the heavy rain, resulting in long queues and delays for those trying to get home.
Reports surfaced of many vehicles breaking down on the waterlogged roads near Virar railway station, adding to the commuters’ woes. The situation forced people to form lines and wade through knee-deep water, turning what should have been a routine journey into a challenging ordeal.
One commuter, Rohit Raj, shared his experience of the arduous journey home from Virar railway station, saying it took him over an hour to navigate the flooded roads. “Commuters formed a line to navigate the water while wading through the flooded road. It took me over an hour to get home from Virar railway station,” said Raj, highlighting the struggles faced by many on that fateful evening.
The flooding in Virar was attributed to the poor drainage system and civic apathy, exacerbated by the recent heavy rainfall. The lack of proper infrastructure and maintenance led to the inundation of the streets, leaving residents and commuters at the mercy of the rising waters.
As if wading through knee-deep water wasn’t challenging enough, some stretches of the road near Global City in Virar West were plunged into darkness due to dysfunctional streetlights. This added another layer of difficulty for those trying to make their way home in the midst of the chaos caused by the heavy rains.
The situation was particularly disheartening for many, like Raj, who had spent the day enjoying themselves only to be confronted with the harsh reality of navigating flooded streets in the evening. “Whole day, we had fun, but the evening spoiled our mood because we had to wade through knee-deep water for kilometers… this was scary… we had to remove our shoes to protect our expensive footwear and walk barefoot,” shared Raj, capturing the frustration and inconvenience faced by commuters that day.
The scenes of chaos and struggle in Virar served as a stark reminder of the challenges posed by heavy rains in a city like Mumbai, where infrastructure issues often compound the impact of inclement weather. As the city grappled with the aftermath of the downpour, residents and commuters were left hoping for better days ahead when such scenes of chaos and disruption would be a thing of the past.
