Floods in Manila on Saturday 26.09.2004

Manila Floods Saturday 26.09.2009
Raju was in Mindanao on an overnight trip to meet a hopeful for the next years election to the Philippine Presidency. It had rained non-stop during the night and there was a nip in the air. Indira and I had just finished our breakfast and were watching the rain falling.
Soon we saw the swimming pool filled up to the brim and rain coming into the lanai. The scene was quite pleasant and we were relaxed. Soon Pamposh, my daughter felt, it is time to get the three big cupboards filled with books moved inside. It was quite an operation carried on by the Driver Ogi, the House-keeper Rose, the maid Nalya and Mama’s nurse Jheli. Pamposh, who is an excellent ‘crisis manager’ conducted the delicate operation as the cupboards have glass fronts. While the book-cases were being brought in, the water level in the lanai rose to the door ledge.
Next few moments were crucial as the water could now enter the house. There were a couple of rare carpets on the floor and those were rolled up and stocked on the sofas. Mama suggested that we should try to drain out water in the pool. Pamposh thought it was an excellent idea and asked Rose to call the pool-man. He told Rose that he couldnt as the water in his area had reached the danger level. Rose, who has a lot of initiative in her, asked him how to do it. She asked permission to try. Pamposh agreed and Rosee succeeded in opening the drain out plug. This prevented the water from coming into the house. It was a hairbreadth escape.
Rain continued to come cascading and water levels all over started to rise much above normal . Dasmarinas village ,where we live, was not flooded as the village administration immediately cleaned the entire drainage system and all the clogged drains. Their alertness saved the day. Elsewhere in Manila water rose to first and second floor levels. And a number of people lost their lives and thousands became homeless. We learnt about the devastation first from the BBC and then from the people who ere hit.
Soon our thoughts turned to Raju who was away from home. Mobiles were still working. Raju was advised not to take the days’ flight. Pamposh told him “come back tomorrow. Don’t take the risk today.” But soon we were told that he was on the plane bound for Manila. There was a heavy gale by then and we were naturally scared. However, soon Raju rang up from the Manila airport to say ‘though the plane has landed the passengers cannot get out as there is no staff to connect the chute to the aircraft bridge’ We waited for Raju to come home as Ogi was on the way to bring him.
It was a long wait ,first for Raju to get out of the plane which was one hour and fifteen minutes and then his trudge home through waist deep water as the car sent from home could not reach the airport. The roads were completely clogged by vehicles and swirling water. Ogi was stuck somewhere on the way.
Raju was thinking he might stay at some hotel near the airport. One of his colleagues, who had gone with him, was very keen to go home as she had a small baby at her flat. Her husband who had cone to fetch her had to park his car at some distance and wade through the water. He told Raju, if he was prepared to wade through the water he would lead the way to Dasmarinas village. about 8 Kilometers. Raju threw his lot with the two of them and followed the duo through the water. He reached home sometime after dark, may be about 8pm completing a journey which should have ended at about 3pm.
This was a Reporter’s quest for news. Not many people realize what a reporter has to go through collecting ’news’. Raju has been in Srilanka when there was fighting with the Indian Peace Keeping Force and he went to the northern areas held by the LTTE. He went to Iraq, when the newsmen faced suicide bombers, to Afghanistan when the Taliban were still strong. He was in Amritsar when the operation Black Thunder was launched. It is quite an adventurous life but very heavy on the family and friends.
BBC, CNN, News Channel Asia and other news media soon started covering the horrors of this flood caused by the Typhoon Ondoy. This was caused by heavy rainfall ever recorded in such a short time. One months average rain fell within a few hours accompanied by strong gale. Houses were flattened, cars drowned in rising waters and men and women caught by water were swept away by the current. The damage is extensive and abut a million people have become homeless and destitute in different parts of the Phillipines.