An update Mount Abu The Road down to Abu Road

The Road down to Abu Road

I was to post this update on 23 Aug 15. The construction of the road had come to a momentary standstill for a fleeting moment of time, awaiting the decision of the administration. Finally, the road-repairing contract went to two contractors who have started operations. It seems to work at it with gangs of labour and the latest machinery. Fortunately for the Abuites, Mother Nature is holding her peace and as such no impediment to the lifeline which needs to be functional for the coming tourist season. In September, thousands of vehicles will head to "The Abode of the Gods" for Janmashtami, and in November, Mount Abu will be overcrowded for Deepawali.

Yesterday the local community organised a "Sit-in" in front of the SDM office. They protested that the repair work on the road was going far too slowly and that the provincial authorities should speed up the process.

I'm attaching a link to a short video of the latest on the road. Click to watch.

The road to Abu road.

Here’s an inspiring poem written by none other than our dear Dr A.K. Sharma.

REMEDIAL MEASURES ARE NOW A MUST

What a rain what a rain

In falls and streams and drains

Roaring pouring like hurricane

Ruling all over sans any rein

 Hills and dales are totally sodden

No more are safely be trodden

The grass that was turning brown

In verdant green it has drowned

Every summer prowled hostile draught

Now can’t gauge how much is rain about

It rains all day sans getting bored

Only by greens is this rain adored

Mauled roads have massive puddles

In fields under trees cattle huddle

Albeit we all said we wanted rain

Alas now it’s a bit of a pain

Grey skies constantly overhead

Coziest place is one’s own bed

Water in dales would take days to go

Do not know when the sun would glow,

All is soaked sodden sopping wet

Every homemaker fumingly frets

Day after day intimidating storm

Breaking all past set norms

Weatherman threatens with gloomy forecast

How long would this menace just last

Indeed it is bad by any book

Giving the environ a gloomy look

In town streets are just deserted

Ripped roads have traffic diverted

Trash and rubbish clatter up drains

On road surfaces water remains

Visitors are warily apprehensive

Authorities are sheepishly defensive

What would happen no one can guess

Every life is in tangled mess

All crave for a slice of sunshine bright

Dismal financially terribly tight

Global warming is said to be playing havoc

Here it inundates there it rocks

Cities crumble dust unto dust

Remedial measures are now a must!

Worst storm since 1994 leaves a trail of destruction across Mount Abu.

The worst storm since 1994 leaves a trail of destruction across Mount Abu.

Yesterday the telephone department finally restored my phone after a lapse of 15 days. Mount Abu experienced the worst storm since 1994 when it came under the spell of the low pressure that had developed over this region. The storm accompanied by torrential rainfall on the 27th and 28th of July left a trail of destruction in its wake, hundreds of trees were blown down causing a complete breakdown of its power supply, and property and some vehicles were destroyed because of falling trees, tin-sheeting’s over a lot of properties were blown off, even the tin sheeting over the schools bathing section was blown off. 

Continuous tons of rain that fell caused minor landslides, which breached the main road between Abu and Abu Road. Traffic came stranded to a standstill. Thousand of tourists are in this hill station on the 28.

I’m told that it rained around 40 inches in 48 hours. I think this would be a record of the highest rainfall ever recorded in such a brief space of time in this place. After the first heavy downpour, our Nakki Lake overflowed and the Lower Kodhar Dam, which needed to fill 9 feet, overflowed the next day. Paddy's bridge remained submerged for quite a long time.

The students of the school were like stranded prisoners in the corridors of the school. There was no class for at least 4 days. 

For Liz, Jennifer, and me, it was a really harrowing experience. The continuous rising and falling of the water in the stream in front had us in constant fear of the water entering and destroying all our furniture. We were without lights for an entire week. They restored our light on the 3 of August in the afternoon. 

Life is finally limping back to normal. The road is being repaired. Only light vehicles may ply. 




Here are Abulites who took a few snaps during this period.




The stream flooded in front of my house

The rising water in front of the house

It rose to 1 inch in front of our main door 

The road going down to Abu Road

Work in progress restoring the road

Paddy's bridge

Water flowing under the Big Bridge Abu Road