Mumbai flood highlights: Flashback of 26 July 2005, 13 years of Mumbai floods

26 July 2005, a date etched in the memory of every Mumbai citizen. Through pictures, we look at the deadly deluge the city suffered.

26 July 2005 : The rains paralysed the city.The city received a rainfall of 944 mm, a 100-year high, in a span of 24 hours. The rain continued and at least 1,000 people lost their lives and 14,000 homes were destroyed.

37,000 auto rickshaws, 4,000 taxis, 900 BEST buses were damaged, and 10,000 trucks and tempos were grounded. The city had to bear a direct loss of about Rs 5.5 billion.

Local trains came to a halt due to the water-logging on the tracks. 52 local trains were damaged. Water logging led to a dramatic increase in trafiic on road and low-lying regions like Dharavi and Bandra-Kurla Complex were submerged.

There was no Facebook and Twitter then. Thousands of people were stranded due to flooding and could not reach home for up to 24 hours.

The rains could not defeat the indomitable spirit of the Mumbaikars. They were not just helping the fellow citizens but also rescued stray animals.

At present, the monsoon rains and the subsequent flooding keeps on bringing back the memories of the 2005 floods. Almost every year, the monsoon season brings scenes of distress from all across the city, depicting its struggle with rains.

The 2005 floods devastated the city. With the city receiving more rain, more construction, and more garbage, it is now indeed more vulnerable than what it was in 2005.

Wetlands and mangroves need to be looked at as vital infrastructure, as they help reduce the impact of torrential rains by abosrbing water. It is essential to protect them. In addition, one must segregate the waste and should refrain from dumping it in storm-water drains and waterways.

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Mumbaikars to face 2 more days of heavy rains; even Dabbawalas suspend work

Train services were disrupted on Tuesday as incessant rains continued to lash Mumbai and adjoining areas.

Mumbai Rains : Hoping for a respite from the rains in Mumbai? There may not be any for at least some time. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast that heavy to very heavy rainfall is very likely at a few places, and extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places, in the districts of Greater Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, and Palghar from July 10 to July 13, news agency ANI reported on Tuesday.

At least for two more days, including Tuesday, Mumbaikars will have to brave "heavy rains", according to the IMD.

On Tuesday, IMD's local weather report and forecast for Mumbai was: Generally cloudy sky with heavy rain on July 10, generally cloudy sky with heavy rain on July 11, generally cloudy sky with moderate rain on July 12, and generally cloudy sky with moderate rain on July 13.

Train services were disrupted on Tuesday as incessant rains continued to lash Mumbai and adjoining areas.

"Due to heavy rains, up and down through line at Nala Sopara is halted. However, local trains on western suburbs are running late by 10 to 15 minutes between Virar to Churchgate," the Western Railways' Divisional Railway Manager told news agency ANI on Tuesday morning.

Further, Mumbai's Dabbawalas on Tuesday suspended their services due to the rains, reported ANI.

Streets at Gandhi Market, Sion Panvel Highway, Chembur, and Vadala were waterlogged as rain continued to lash the region.

The downpour also led to houses being water-logged in Palghar, causing people inconvenience.

The onset of monsoon has disrupted routine life in pockets of Maharashtra.

As heavy rainfall lashed the city, the Maharashtra education minister on Monday declared a holiday for all schools and colleges in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

Story By BS