After a spell of heavy rainfall in parts of Mumbai on Tuesday afternoon, Sikova Road in Ghatkopar was submerged in approximately 4 feet of water. The road adjoins a major nullah in the Eastern suburbs – Sikova nullah.
Videos of waterlogging, stranded citizens, and a distressed bike rider surfaced and were shared by MNCDF Bombay, a citizens` welfare forum, prompting the BMC to take action to pump water off the street.
Urich Kamath, co-convenor of MNCDF, said, “The water filled up the street really fast, and maybe that`s why the rider did not get a chance to move. We had to throw a rope towards him to bring him to the safety of the adjoining housing society.”
The BMC had to demolish a wall adjoining the nullah to clear the area of logged water.
Gajanan Bellale, Assistant Commissioner of the N ward, told mid-day, “A wall was constructed along the boundary of the SWD drain to prevent damage to the nullah during pre-monsoon road repair work. This was causing an obstruction to surface water flow along Sikova Road.”
Following heavy rainfall on Tuesday, around 4 feet of water submerged Sikova Road in Ghatkopar, adjacent to the overflowing Sikova nullah.
Videos of waterlogging and a stranded biker shared by citizens` forum MNCDF Bombay prompted BMC to act. A wall built along the nullah… pic.twitter.com/u0NBKqH1hP
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He added, “As the major Sikova nullah was flowing at full capacity, water was not receding through lateral drains. Therefore, to ensure the surface water flowed to the drain, the wall was demolished by ward staff, restoring the situation.”
An official from the ward said, “About 4 feet of water was logged only at one point. This was being obstructed by the wall, which was about 3 metres in height, adjoining the nullah. We demolished the wall, and water cleared off in 15–20 minutes.”
The BMC is also widening the nullah by increasing its depth, and half the work is complete, the official said.
The residents pointed out that they faced waterlogging for up to 1 hour and have previously complained about this same issue to the BMC.
MNCDF Citizen Welfare Forum founder, Adv. Trivankumar Karnani, said, “The BMC officials are guilty of dereliction of duty, for which they should be held criminally liable and prosecuted. It is due to their lack of due diligence and wilful dereliction that lakhs worth of losses have been caused to citizens, whose vehicles have drowned due to the flooding at Sikova Road near R City Mall, endangering the safety of the public at large.”
