Tuesday August 30, 2011 08:12:40 PM, IANS

Mumbai: Rain-battered Mumbai returned to normalcy Tuesday and people got into the festive mood ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr Wednesday and the 10-day Ganeshotsav starting Thursday.

Though the mood was trifle dampened by intermittent but heavy rains which continued to lash the metropolis since Monday night, there were no fresh flooding of streets and neighbourhoods, according to officials.

Traffic movement returned to normal in most areas, though there were traffic snarls in some places as the heavy rains of the past four days left many roads damaged, including the two national highways running through the city.

"I started well in advance from Dadar (south Mumbai) for an appointment in Kandivli (north Mumbai), but it took me over 75 minutes, against the normal 45 minutes, in view of the bad road conditions after the heavy rains," associate film producer Ramya Iyer of Tina Films International told IANS.

Public schools, which were given a day off Monday, were permitted to remain shut on Tuesday too on account of the heavy rains.

Even private schools were given an option by the education department to remain closed.

But in view of the ongoing examinations, a majority of them were open.

The trading and business community cheered as the rains abated in the afternoon, and shoppers headed for markets ahead of Eid-Ul-Fitr and Ganeshotsav.

"Usually, the week before Ganeshotsav or Eid, we notch up around 75 percent of the season's sale. But this year it is barely 20 percent," rued Ajay Vora, manager with a leading chain of departmental stores in south Mumbai.

"The trickle of customers started post-lunch as the rains allowed a breather, but by 4 p.m. it was roaring business for us," said a happy Rakesh Shah, who runs a garment boutique in Borivli.

 

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