Monsoon malady

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">Incessant rains, moderate showers, drizzle, downpour, call it by any name, but monsoon is a perfect time for <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">mauj masti</span>. With the rains come water ponds, big and small; lush green hillocks; mud puddles and waterfalls. For Mumbaikars the added attraction of wild, roaring sea and waves brings in an extraordinary high.<br /><br />Riding this high, Mumbaikars - young and old - grab the opportunity to go picnicking to a nearby hillock, a dam, a lake or a sea shore.Lonavala, Khandala, Malshej, Alibaug, Panchgani, Vaitarna, Vasai, Palghar, Boisar are some of the hot spots. Hikers prefer to go to forts and higher hilltops. <br /><br />But with the onset of monsoon, Mumbaikars, who are growing increasingly careless, lose all semblance of behaviour – they get drunk, misbehave, eve-tease and also put their lives in jeopardy. Displaying dare-devilry by riding the high waves on the sea and jumping into waterfalls or taking risks climbing hills are favourite activities of monsoon revellers.<br /><br />Last week, a young couple enjoying the rainfall at Gateway of India fell into the sea and was swept. The girl was saved, the boy is still missing. Last month, in the barely two-and-a-half km Juhu-Versova beach 22 people drowned. <br /><br />On the outskirts of Mumbai, a person bathing under a waterfall was swept away. A group of youngsters, who ignored police warning, was trapped on a small island at Yevoor in neighbouring Thane district. The boys were eventually rescued by the fire brigade late at night.<br /><br />Alcoholic drinks, a ''necessity'' on such outings, are another problem. Empty liquor bottles strewn all over the picnic spots after a merry weekend is evidence of this. Cases of eve teasing and harassments by drunken revellers have led to riots in the past. The nuisance has attained such alarming proportions that at many places police have started checking picnickers and confiscating liquor bottles. <br /><br />Mumbaikars, who are otherwise very much civilised, would do well to keep their adrenalin in check during the monsoon. One should realise, as you enjoy the nature others have an equal right to enjoy it too. By all means celebrate the monsoon with a <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">dhamaka </span>but with safety and decency in mind.</div> </div>