rediff.com has received this mail from a reader.

Subject: URGENT : 100 LIVES AT RISK IN KURLA, NEAR BKC BUS DEPO , IT IS A DOUBLE DECKER BUS, PLEASE HELP!!!
Date:  26 Jul 2005 17:12:02 -0000
From:  "gopa chakrabarti"

hi

please do something. my younger sister and more than 100 people are in a double decker BEST BUS near
BKC bus depo . they are unable to call from their mobiles, i called my sister with great difficulty. the water has
filled the first floor of the bus and they are all stuck.is there no one that can help, fire brigade, helicopters, even if
someone could pass them a rope from some height their lives can be saved.
they are unable to come out as the water is flowing with force and is above 15 feet.

i tried calling police 100 and 101 but no reply. u r my only help as  i know u can reack to many people. i am in
nagpur nd am helpless.

please help.

gopa

When we contacted Gopa, she asked if we could speak to the police or fire brigade and rush help to the marooned passengers.

We called 101 and spoke to a fire brigade employee, whose response was,"There are so many cases like this in the city. Our vehicles are all on the streets."

He initially refused to give the number for the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) fire station, asking, "What's the use? The vehicles are all out," but relented after we appealed to his good sense.

We repeatedly called the BKC fire station at 2643-5206, but no one picks up.

On seeing this report posted on our site, a gentleman, Nirvan, called to offer help. He said he wished to help and asked for the exact location of the bus. He has been trying to organise a rescue, without apparent success.

People on the bus have been contacted on their mobiles. The commuters say about five such buses are stranded on the BKC stretch.

More disturbing, they report, that the water level is near the second level of the bus.

Can any readers help the stranded passengers?