DNA RAIN CHECK: Thane locals mostly stay above water, want pest control done

Three days of non-stop rains affected everybody in Thane and beyond. But its impact was varied. The lanes of Bhaskar Colony in Chikhalwadi, Naupada, saw a column of water four feet tall, but the Indiranagar slums were free from flooding this time. The residents now await the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) officials to tend to their health, affected by various ailments.

On July 9, incessant rains hit residents of Bhaskar Colony. "Some 200 houses had knee-deep water inside them," said JP Yadav, a resident. "This year they fitted a suction pump which kept our homes from being submerged."

Ratnesh Mishra, another resident, said even partial flooding could have been avoided if the TMC had cleaned a nearby nullah properly.

Indiranagar residents are happy they were not flooded. "Thanks to DNA, the nullah which flows from our slum was cleaned twice. For the first time in years, there was no flooding," said Meghraj Pandey, a local resident.

The area at Manpada flyover in Ghodbunder Road did not get jammed with traffic.

Residents do have a couple of worries — potholes, and waterborne diseases. "There are huge potholes on Indiranagar-Sathenagar stretch at Wagle Estate. On Wednesday night an auto rickshaw almost slipped," said Pandey. "The road was built two to three months back and rains washed it away. If they are not repaired urgently, it might lead to accidents," he said.

The residents also said it is time the TMC started taking measures to check infection. "Nobody has come from the TMC to fog our area where there is a drain, which is a breeding ground for mosquitoes," said Yadav.

Sandip Malvi, TMC's public relations officer, said, "We have started fogging in all areas to deal with mosquitoes. Since rains have abated, we will start filling potholes."