Mumbai Rains Causes Major Damage to Us!!!
Just when you think that the good times are here something bad happens. What happened yesterday with Neeraj wasn’t bad, it was a nightmare. 
Torrential downpours in Mumbai caused streets to be flooded, stranding many commuters to their offices, as well as cell phone networks to be down. When communication was needed the most it was almost impossible to catch someone on their mobile or landline phones.
I had no idea when I woke up on Tuesday that rainfall was so heavy in Mumbai. I had sent my usual email to Neeraj letting him know that I was awake. He usually was very quick at responding via SMS, email, or coming online. But yesterday none of the above happened.
We usually talk on the phone around 10 pm IST (11.30 am CST), but I didn’t hear from Neeraj. 
I began to worry, of course, and tried calling his mobile. I would get the Airtel lady telling me that the number that I was calling was unreachable. After much despair, I tried calling his office number. It wouldn’t connect. 
Finally someone picked up at Neeraj’s extension only to find out that he had left long time back for his home. 
Tension arised. Still no phone call from Neeraj, and I began to be more scared. I hope he’s all right is all I could think of and so I sat and prayed to Mata Rani that let me hear from Neeraj and please let him be safe.
I didn’t hear from him all day, and I continuously called him. 
No answer. Later on the message changed to the mobile number you are calling is switched off. Neeraj’s phone switched off???? That never happens. 
I couldn’t sleep, and I couldn’t eat. I just sat there hoping for some news. Finally at 11 pm, I got a message from him that he was on the net.
We finally talked. He’s fine. His room was totally flooded to the top. His passport and visa documents are all wet. He doesn’t think that his passport is ruined, but its definitely wet (if you can imagine a one bedroom apartment being flooded to the top ). So he has to go back to the Consulate tomorrow and beg and plead with them to please do something about his visa stamp and documents. I really hope its not going to be a big issue, and that they will just put another stamp. Let’s pray that it all works out. 
Neeraj is going back to the Consulate on Thursday morning to get everything settled again with the visa stamp and all.
His mobile got also all wet, so we have no means of communication other than the Internet.
Everything was going so well, and we were so happy. Boom! Life comes crashing down. My dear Neeraj went through a lot yesterday, its hardly even worth repeating the troubles he faced.
Mata Rani sab aache par paani kyon pherr diya? Humein maaf kar deo humse koi galti hui ho, par please hamara kaam ban jaaye…
Alvida. Jai Mata Di.
…
July 27th, 2005 at 2:20 am
dun worry sweetie! it happens, sometimes!:roll:
but i hate it! nightmares like these really make me feel sick and totally spaced out.:eyebrow:
my dad was strck up @ his work place too. cap gemini was full of water! santros, altos and everything was literally floating on water it seems! aarrgghhh.:mad:
im worried to death. its raining crazily in pune tooo. some parts r hit by rains in konkan soo bad!my!! my!!:sad:
but i’m glad Neeraj is safe now. and about his visa documents, dont worry.. everything will work out perfectly well.
My wishes with you! and thanks for the gift sweetheart! really appreciate it!!
God bless you both.:angel:
July 27th, 2005 at 2:29 am
yeah… its raining like hell here… i’ve never seen so much in past 23 yrs of my life!!
even our hostel mess was flooded with water.. we didn’t had snacks.. no dinner.. and no breakfast today morning!! no restaurant wala.. was willing to parcel food to iit campus!! just had to make do with some food… banana’s etc whatever we had in our rooms with us!! man, its horrible!!
hope Neeraj.. gets his things in order…
and yeah.. its still raining outside!!
July 27th, 2005 at 5:34 am
God.. this is bad.. :( i didn’t see this post today morning..
so hard on u too.. even i had a bad day y’day… anyway, hope things would get better soon..
and hope Neeraj won’t have any difficulties in getting the stamping again… take care Neeraj and u too Poonam..
hope the rain gods do something abt the situation in Maharashtra and spread some rain in other parts too where its really required.. :)
July 27th, 2005 at 5:51 am
This is really bad … but don’t worry it will be ok soon. I think if the damage on passport is not really bad, Neeraj doesn’t need to change or ask for new stamp right ? Don’t worry, I think when the visa is already released, when it’s missing or damaged, you can ask for the replacement. There is no long procedures for that. Crossed fingers …. Everything will be fine *hugs*
July 27th, 2005 at 6:03 am
Thats really Bad…
Hope Consulate cooperates and Neeraj is in US as per the schedule.
Good Luck
July 27th, 2005 at 7:58 am
In Tamil there is a saying that “IF something very good is going to happen, it will be bordered by some bad things so that we dont forget him, during good times”(I hope am saying it right!)….these are testing times for sure…! but gal, hold on to ur courage…as expected he shuld be here with u in August! we are all praying! so nothing to worry!god is there :) and our prayers!
July 27th, 2005 at 8:42 am
Hey Poonam..first of all my heartiest congratulations for the big news.
I heard about the Mumbai rains…I am sure everything will be fine…just have faith and wait for the big day when u both will be together here in US:) What could be done about things that are not in our control. I am sure the immigration people would understand and issue Neeraj new docs.
July 27th, 2005 at 11:29 am
Dont worry,..i am sure even they understand the situation perfectly well, so am sure Neeraj wont face a problem. Its a national news, so everyone knows abt it so i am sure they will understand. Just a matter of time till the water recedes and people get back to work….. I can only imagine how worried you must have been. Just think of people who would have needed immediate medical attention….they must have suffered the max probs…anyway…dont worry, it will all work out fine
July 27th, 2005 at 11:49 am
mumbai is crawling back to normal now, although trains are not running and electricity has been shut down as a precautionary measure, mobiles and landlines are out… dont worry everything is getting back to normal… reliance mobiles are still up….. see if Neeraj can get hold of one temporarily
everything shall be alright…
July 27th, 2005 at 3:30 pm
..just as i was enjoyying the rains.. really was wondering of people who might be suffering because of the downpour.. dont worry lady.. all will fine soon.. yaar thoda bahut to even god has to do here and there to keep people remionding of HIS existance.. thats it.. Neeraj has a visa and that is the most important thing.. u will soon be with ur man.. all smiling and having fun.. both of you..
July 27th, 2005 at 9:20 pm
I have been gone for a while and when I return…
First of all congratulations to Neeraj for getting thru the Visa interview…n getting his paperwork done!
And the rains n damamge. {BIG HUG} Poonam…don’t worry. Its no big deal. The consulate is in Mumbai too so ofcourse they would know how bad the rains have been. Don’t see any reason why they should create a problem!
It’ll all work out…. just hang in there.
July 27th, 2005 at 9:52 pm
believe in HIM.. everything will be fine.
July 27th, 2005 at 10:39 pm
Sucks ! this is bad. Hopefully the consulate ppl will understand the situation and will stamp his passport afresh. Really everything in India is so unpredictable.
City like Mumbai in seige due to rains !! at first I thought it was just like any monsoon in Mumbai but then when news started coming in we could realise the enormity of the situation.
But don’t worry Poonam things will be fine, these are just hiccups before Neeraj comes to USA
July 28th, 2005 at 12:18 am
Oh god..thats really sad. Who would think the rains would cause so much havoc!!!!
I am sure the people at the Consulate will understand :). After all these rains have shocked everybody!!
Dont lose heart Poonam
Ashwin
July 28th, 2005 at 12:46 am
*Says a silent prayer*..Don’t worry,Poonam..everything will be all right.Just another of the ‘tests of time’ which God conducts from time to time. You always have something to be thankful for.What if Neeraj had been stuck at office/platform/..for 2 days,like so many others ???Look at the bright side.TC.
July 28th, 2005 at 1:15 am
Oh no!!.Thats really bad, what happened with the passport. But anyways, I think consulate people will surely understand the reasons for that happening. As they too might have faced the problems with the heavy rains.
Well, anyways have faith. I am sure everythings going to be alright. :)
July 28th, 2005 at 2:29 am
congrats(that Neeraj got his VISA)…..
don’t worry, the constulate would understand and am sure there would be a lot of other people with same problem.
BOL!!
July 28th, 2005 at 4:59 am
well things in the suburbs of bombay have been terrible… some area hv no electricity for 40 hrs now… traffic is now moving… i tried Neeraj num but no luck… the phones been down for 48 hrs now… v diff to get thru… luckily i was home that day so didnt get stuck…
July 28th, 2005 at 7:19 am
town side it wasnt much water clogging .. just bad traffic jam and .. no morning newspaper and milk.. which nuthing when compared to other part of mumbai it was bad….a friend of mine told..even in bandra it was car floating..
yeah rightly said .. the communication going down is bad.. its like when u need the cellphone to work the most they don’t work… i think they should.. keep power backup. at cell site even I couldn’t trace many of my friend and stuff people were stuck everywhere
don’t worry I think just hope for best and can only pray they do something about the visa.. And I think they would.. Be considerate enough… because it was damaged coz of genuine reasons which probably they also know how bad was the rains
good luck Neeraj
July 28th, 2005 at 10:42 am
ya.. lots of rain .. causing damage to many.. ya visa stamp shdn’t be a problem.. well many people I knw had to stay the night outside as they couldn’t get home etc.. nature’s fury.. hmm not in our hands.. but Mumbai’s spirit can’t be broken so easily…
July 29th, 2005 at 12:10 am
the rains have badly affected many lives…keep the faith! the good thing is Neeraj is safe…rahi baat visa ki, to woh bhi ho jayega…good wishes from VISA…
hey mannat, wut happened to ur page?
July 29th, 2005 at 2:00 am
chk this out…
July 29th, 2005 at 2:21 am
Thanks for sharing the pics. Kunal
July 29th, 2005 at 10:30 am
It was a record number of rain Manpreet
Mujhe toh lagta hai ke shayad tum Delhi se baarish laaye ho:!: 
Tumhare aane ke baad dekho kya hua. 
Just kidding. I hope all is ok with you @ IITB. Take care!
Ya Prasad, I hope it works out for Neeraj as well.
We will have to wait till Monday. You are right about rain in other parts of the country, not only that, but other parts of the world as well. Its sweltering heat here, and I hope for some rain soon:!: 
You are right Mona. You know I used to think it was just something that was shown in TV and movies, that people get happiness, and then they get sadness. This was a real experience for me because I have been on Cloud 9 since Neeraj got the visa, and then on Tuesday I just went way down.
In India, there is a belief of the “evil eye” which causes such issues. I know that I used to not really believe in that, but now I am starting to believe.
Thanks Ankur.
It seems that Neeraj will be delayed to go home. 
So true Indu, and now I am beginning to believe in that. Really, the turn of events in the past week have been just a total shift in emotion.
I will keep your point in mind for the future. 
Thanks Mannat.
Yup, just waiting for that faithful day. Now its time to be more patient than before. 
What’s up with ur blog btw?
So true Mallika. So many people have lost their lives due to this, its just so sad how much damage it has caused. We are thankful that Neeraj is fine, and he is in good health.
It will work out, keeping the faith!
Thanks for the info Anat!
His mobile is back up today. 
He had sent it for repair, and now its back to normal and working.
Thanks Shreyas.
We are hanging in there. 
Good to see you after a long time Nupur.
It looks like my comment on your blog brought a spark to bring you here. 
Thanks for the good wishes! 
So true Uv.
Even I thought it was just like any other monsoon in Mumbai Satya, but then when i didn’t hear from Neeraj for quite some time, its then I began to worry. Everything should work out, I am feeling much more confident abt. the visa now then before.
This was definitely the unthinkable Ashwin.
Amazing how much rain can cause damage to such a huge metropolitan city, a real test for them as well. Keeping the faith is all we can do, and we shall continue. 
Thanks Amit for the prayer.
You are right there are always a brigther side to everything, and we are thankful to have Neeraj well. 
Thanks Govind.
Yup just praying that everything will be fine, which I think it should. 
Thanks Gaurav, long time no see.
Seems u must be back from India. Yup it should be fine abt. the passport and all. 
Yup Kunal it was crazy. His mobile just started working today.
Thanks Puneet.
Yup it is amazing how Mumbai just shutdown. It was a major test for them. Hopefully they have seen their flaws and are able to improve.
Yup Vivek…how one day’s record breaking rain changes the whole city.
Thanks Vidhi.
We are happy that Neeraj is safe and sound, after all that is the most important. 
Thanks Kunal for the pics.
July 29th, 2005 at 10:36 am
By the way, today is my last day at LionBridge. So no more office:smile: So many ups and downs I saw in my whole stay in Mumbai. I am sure Mumbai rocks in all the ways:smile:
July 29th, 2005 at 1:33 pm
..eyy best wishes Neeraj.. for monday..
July 29th, 2005 at 2:05 pm
Oh my blog is down, just like me:) I haven’t gotten time to bring it back up. I hardly get on the Internet these days…but hopefully, it will be up & running soon:)
July 29th, 2005 at 8:24 pm
I hope that the blog and you get back up Mannat.
April 22nd, 2007 at 4:57 am
Hi, I was just searching on the web about travelling with a slightly wet (and later dried) passport and got a link to your website. All my visas and stamps are intact and I travelled to several countries with it in Africa whitout any trouble (for getting new visas or at immigration). Next weekend I am flying to the US (I am in South Africa now).
Just a few Qs… Was Neeraj able to travel with the wet passport or did he have to get a new one? Do you know if immigration officials in Atlanta will send people back to where they came from if the passport page edges look wet and then dried? Please email me Neeraj’s experience with immigration. It will help me decide if I should drive 500kms to the Indian embassy, stay in a hotel for a night and pay close to 6000 rupees to the consular office for a new passport. Your timely response will be highly appreciated.