On Tuesday, the rains erased all class and economic differences. But the difference between south Mumbai and the suburbs remained stark.

While people from the suburbs were stranded or had to walk for hours to get home, for the lucky south Mumbai lot, home was only a short cab ride away. Why?

There are several reasons.

Quality planning

According to Sunil Mantri, chief managing director of Mantri group of consultants, it's the quality of planning.

He said, "South Mumbai was the first to be constructed when the city developed. That quality of planning is missing in the suburbs." Another factor is that the entire area lies above the sea level.

South Mumbai tax consultant Mukesh Gandhi was largely unaware of the chaos in the rest of the city. "While watching the news on television, I saw cars floating and people struggling and it struck me that it was happening in my city," he said, adding, "It is absolutely fine here."

Drainage system

"The drains need immediate attention as they are incapable of coping with the present needs of the city," said south Mumbai MP Milind Deora, while speaking to the press. "Things are better here (south Mumbai) as compared to the rest of the city.

Agreed Mofatraj Munod, chairman of Kalpataru constructions and president of Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry, "Drains in south Mumbai are highly effective. This is the primary difference."

Proximity to the sea also helps, as the storm water disposal system has an exit into the sea. "Storm water from south Mumbai finds an exit into the sea immediately, which is not the case with suburbs, especially the central ones," said Mantri.

Traffic control, slums

"The flow of traffic is not well regulated in the suburbs. This is not the case in south Mumbai," Gandhi said.

Another problem, according to Deora, is the large number of slums in the suburbs. He said, "The problem gets bigger when there is a large number of people involved." Fewer slums in south Mumbai also ensure that waterlogging is handled in a better fashion.