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Fog blanks out view of Fleet Review

Josy Joseph in Bombay

They were all there. The young, old, disabled, macho, marketing executives, lovers and the married. Also, the unavoidable confusion, chaos and some everlasting disappointment.

Most who turned up on Saturday morning along the Gateway of India-Radio Club stretch had to return home disappointed as thousands jostled for precious sea-front positions to have a view of the International Fleet Review by President K R Narayanan.

The lucky few hundreds who managed to position themselves in the front row too were not so lucky as fog enveloped the majestic site. Far off, the presidential yacht and accompanying ships moving in a column were almost lost to the fog. Even ships closest to the shore were not very clear.

From early morning, people from across the city and far off began to flow in, most taking public transport and taxis to reach their destination. There were families, couples and even the disabled, carrying binoculars, cameras, mineral water, chips and spread sheets. Several had to contend with munching the chips and walking the crowded roads near the bay, unable get a sight of the review.

"Navy ne hum ko paagal banadiya," said Gaurav, 13, with binoculars slung on his shoulders, standing at the left far end of Chowpatty beach, where from it was only a calm sea that was visible. The ships were opposite Gateway of India, a different bay. "We tried to reach the sea front at every possible place near the Taj hotel. We did not even get space to put our feet down," he said as his parents sat exhausted on the sea wall. "Here at least we can sit relaxed and watch the fly-past," he said.

Hundreds like Guarav had landed up at Chowpatty beach after failing to find space near the Taj hotel, where from the view was supposed to be the best. The area in front of the Gateway of India was blocked off to public as preparations for this evening's beating the retreat were on.

All roads pouring into the bay area between the Taj and Radio Club were blocked. Thousands alighted from buses and trains some distance away and walked down. From one enclosure to the other, they went in search of an inch of space to stand and view the ships.

As space became precious in front of the Taj, youngsters began to step atop cars parked nearby. Car-tops did not take much time to be damaged.

The more industrious climbed trees. "I have come from Thane. Do you expect me to go home without seeing this?" a young boy atop a tree sprouting out of the Northcote Nursing Home complex, next to the Taj, shouted back at a policeman who was persuading him to come down.

Several people tried to occupy positions atop the nursing home, but the management turned them away. A lonely old woman sat on the fourth floor balcony of the nursing home, watching the parade.

Below on the road it was a jostle for space.

Even those in the front row were disappointed by the fog. The columns of ships that lined the sea opposite the Gateway of India were a blurred surreal picture.

"We have walked every possible road in this area, to get some space by the sea," said Hanif, who sat with his family on the sidewalk of the Heritage wing of Taj for some snacks. The review was going on out in the sea.

Some youngsters climbed atop a water tank parked by the Taj. The driver could get the tanker out of the area only after almost an hour's struggle.

"I want to see the ships," Chinnu, a girl in her father's arm, trying to stretch above the crowd said. But she could hardly see anything. After sometime, it was the turn of her father to lift her utterly embarrassed mother up.

Guneet, a marketing executive with Daewoo Electronics, left his office for a look at the fleet review. But he had to stand sweating near the Taj, waiting for the flypast. "On Sunday, I will bring my family along. But we will come early," he said.

There were several who were disappointed for the second consecutive day and they were the most the restless. "On Friday, we stood for two hours at Chowpatty to watch the flypast, but they cancelled it," said Ajay Mehta and his son Abhinav.

On Saturday, the father and son managed a toe-hold on the small platform around the lamp-post on the right corner of the Heritage wing of the Taj. But they were hardly able to see anything. "The ships are anyway not clear. We are waiting for the fly-past."

Ajay Mehta was furious and threatening, as time began to run away with no sign of an aircraft. "If the fly past does not happen now, this crowd will go mad. They will destroy everything around," he said. With an uncanny determination, he added, "I will be the first one to stone that window." He pointed to an open window of the Taj, through which a woman and her two children were having a glimpse of the review.

Luckily, the fly past took place and there was no stoning.

The crowds were delirious -- clapping, cheering, jumping in the air -- as formations of helicopters began to fly over the ships.

Though disappointed, most were determined to return on Sunday for the city parade.

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