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The heavy rainfall in Mauritius during the last two consecutive days is likely to persist and today is 26th of March 2012, a date which brings us down the memory lane to 2008 when torrential rainfall in Mauritius produced four victims. Coincidentally, this 26 March 2012, which marks four years since that dreadful incident, saw the day starting with heavy rainfall.

Umbrellas and raincoats have come out from their hiding place to shield their owners for these few days as the weather forecast predicts that the rain will fall continuously until Thursday morning. Matches, candles and battery cells are the immediate end of the month supplies as power cut is expected in these weather conditions. It has been noted that the heavy rainfall is due to some climatic instabilities originating from Madagascar owing to which the whole country will be showered during this week. For us Mauritians, though it is rather difficult and troublesome to deal with the rain in our daily hectic lives, it is an answer to our prayers as Mauritius was facing a serious water scarcity issue which was affecting the whole population indirectly- high water bills, restrain from washing cars, floors and watering plants as well as low supply of water for daily necessities.

The central plateau, the Northern region and some parts of the East have been mostly affected by the rain and in some places the firemen have had to be called. Traffic was languid in the region of Phoenix and Port Louis lanes heading towards the South due to slippery roads. Some stupid drivers were busy with horns thus hurrying the others while some were taking utmost care not to risk their lives as well as others. Buses were dripping, passengers were complaining and school children were hurrying inside buses to reach home at the earliest because they were drenched completely. A school child has to handle his bag, his sketch pad or other school supplies and in such a case is unable to protect himself from the rain. Should we wait for a torrential rainfall alert itself to exercise necessary precautions?

Now what is torrential rainfall?

Torrential rain conditions is said to exist when the prevailing weather in Mauritius or Rodrigues produces 100 millimeters of widespread rains in less than 12 hours and that this heavy rain is likely to continue for several hours.

Torrential rain can cause flash floods and water accumulations in flood prone areas. Heavy rain may also be responsible for the overflow of rivulets and streams and is likely to cause landslide in high-risk areas.

When to issue the torrential rainfall warning?

As soon as the Meteorological Services has registered 100 mm of rain in a period of 12 hours at several stations over the Island, it will advise the Ministry of Education and will issue warnings at regular interval through the MBC and private radio stations.

Whenever torrential rain conditions exist, schools will not be opened for school children.

Agreed that there have not been such conditions till now, but what about the child going to school drenched in the rain? He/she will spend the entire day with that very wet uniform and socks and will inevitably catch a cold. You see, it’s not just the case of getting carried away by floods but it has a greater dimension to it.

Now let’s go back to four years ago! Four victims and many injured. On that day itself, the conditions for torrential rainfall were not yet satisfied, but still the rain made so many victims. Our country is so funny yet so dramatic. It has to wait for a disaster to happen then only it will act. They are like the Indian police in the Bollywood movies who arrive after climax. If we closely analyze the situation, more rain has showered Mauritius since March 2008 yet some prone areas have not been inundated due to bridges built following that massive flood. Again, if the bridges would have been built earlier, perhaps no such thing would have happened.

I am not blaming the Government nor the Meteorological station and neither the Meteorological Services. What I am suggesting is why should we wait for implementing development in the country for the safety of our people? Should we wait for the conditions of torrential rainfall to be met, and then only we will issue the warning to school children? Can’t parents take necessary precautions to see to it that their children reach school and home safe and sound? Can’t drivers show some sense of responsibility on such days and stop acting like retards on the road?

Find below a table showing the rainfall in Mauritius over the last two days.

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