Mumbai: It was Mumbai's date with the tides, the highest this season and perhaps the tallest in the last decade. The city waited with dread hoping the rain gods, for a change, would give Mumbai a pass.
The city authorities had warned people not to venture out unless necessary. Rescue teams were out in full force, the Navy was on stand-by waiting for the tide to set in.
At 5.05 metres, it was the tallest monsoon tide in over a decade.
The beachfront of Versova was awash. But since it didn't rain at the same time Mumbai was spared a major flood.
There were fears that Mumbai would flood during the high tide but luckily it passed off without incident. So, relieved Mumbaikars took time off to watch the tide.
"I really enjoyed it. I came from very far. I took off from office to enjoy the tide," said one Mumbaikar.
But for those living on the sea-front it was no fun at all, they bore the brunt of the tide.
Over the last few days a few houses collapsed and been washed away like a house belonging to Dinesh Mandal who bought it just last week for 15 lakhs. The remains, an indication of how one man's pleasure could well turn into another's pain.