Mumbaikars reach home safe, shudder at Gonu's wrath

Mumbai, June 10 (UNI) A number of Gonu-affected Mumbaikars returned home in a Gulf Air flight 064 from Muscat that arrived at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport here this evening.

''We have come back from a death trap. It was as if hell had broken loose. The powerful gale and subsequent heavy rains caused so much of devastation that it will take a while before life comes back to normal,'' said Zahida Iqbal, who teaches at the Indian School in Muscat.

''I saw thousands of cars floating in the water, and trees and electrical poles being uprooted like tiny plants,'' she recalled.

This was the first flight from Muscat to Mumbai five days after air services were cancelled following the devastating cyclone that hit the Gulf country on June 6.

''It rained like the July 27, 2005 rains in Mumbai. On wednesday, at around 1530 hrs (Oman time), we experienced heavy winds, and soon it started raining heavily. Trees were falling like anything, and within hours, our area got flooded. There was panic all over as people were crying for help,'' said Aswini, a 10-year-old girl from Dombivli, who lives with her parents in Muscat.

''Although I am now back here to meet my grandpa and grandmom, I still feel for those back in Muscat, who are facing the nature's wrath,'' she added philosophically.

''Situation there is still bad, and it will take at least a week before it returns to normal. Water, electricity and telephone lines are yet not fully operational,'' said Rebecca, another passenger.

''Drinking water is still a problem, and a gallon of water is being sold for as much as Rs 20,000,'' she added.

UNI