Indore seems to be shedding tears, lots of them. Heavy rains have left many parts of the city submerged and life has been thrown out of gear. To top that there are local police, Army and Airforce personnel streaming all over. While the defense officials are there to help the state recover from the torrent floods, the local police are trying to quell temperatures after Hindu-Muslim riots broke out last week.
Sad to see the city of namkeens and dhania chuvda looking so out of sorts. Last year, a similar official trip to the city and the place buzzed with people all around, the scent of fresh kachoris available at every possible street stall overpowered. Namkeen stores were crowded and attendants could never do justice to all visitors.
This time, the kachoris looked stale and there was hardly anyone outdoors.
Not only Indore but the entire state has been seeing heavy rains for a while now and already some 106 people have lost their lives. All reservoirs having crossed the danger mark.
In Indore, what is worse is that now sewage water is also spilling into low lying areas. Local doctors are hoping there is no outbreak of any disease. About 40 housing colonies are water logged. Every third crossroad intersection looks like a mini lake with just a little of the road seen. Schools and colleges have been asked to remain close today.
Indore’s roads look worse than Mumbai. Without exaggeration it feels like riding a camel on the road. In fact, car drivers have been stopping for a few seconds after combating a pothole just to recover from the ‘sinking’ feeling. And jams are big-city type – vehicles bumper to bumper for hundreds of metres.
People in Indore feels worse because there were floods only a month ago and the municipal corporation had promised to clean the drainage system then. Residents of different localities had even marched to the civic authorities demanding better facilities but nothing worked.
To top Indore’s problems is the fact that Hindu-Muslim riots have rendered one part of the city totally paralysed. Chandan Nagar, where the riots took place is placed under curfew. Many small time traders and retailers stay there and they have not gone to work for the last two to three days. And now the rains are not allowing them to leave home.
While Mumbai’s undying spirit in adverse times is thoroughly missed, one cannot miss Indore’s beauty in the rains. If you keep apart the drainage overflow, there are few tall buildings and lots of greenery around and the city actually looks refreshing. Some hot kachoris in the rains would have been a great combination.