Mumbai remembers deluge victims

Residents of this city today paid homage to victims of the 2005 deluge on the second anniversary of the worst natural disaster to hit the financial hub.

Over 400 people were killed and thousands left homeless when 944 mm of rains lashed the metropolis in July 26 2005, the highest rainfall recorded here on a single day. The deluge also damaged property worth crores of rupees.

Functions to pay homage to the victims, including a 'rangoli' competition depicting the scenes of the fateful day, were organised across the city.

There were also many who felt that the administration had not learnt any lessons from the tragedy. In this regard, they cited last month's rains that inundated roads here.

Activists alleged that the recommendations of the Chitale Committee, constituted to check the reasons behind the flash floods, had not been implemented by the government.

Madhav Chitale, who headed the committee, said, "many recommendations given by me are long-term ones but it is very surprising that two years after the incident, the authorities have not even prepared the essential contour maps of the city."