Deep in D'Souza Chawl is a well that had to be closed after a woman fell into it and drowned. Her haunting screams as she struggled to get out of the well can still be heard, and residents of the chawls claim to have seen a ghostly figure in the area.
In the heart of the bustling city of Mumbai lies a tiny and unassuming residential area known as D'Souza Chawl near the Mahim area, not far from Mumbai's Canossa Primary School. Yet, despite its seemingly ordinary appearance, the area has been shrouded in mystery and speculation for years.
There are rumors of paranormal activity and sightings of the ghost of a drowned woman in the area, and many wonder if D'Souza Chawl is actually haunted.
The Legend of D'Souza Chawl
A chawl, which is a Marathi word: चाळ) is a type of residential building found in western India. Typically low-quality houses and chawls are generally associated with poverty or perhaps now with developing middle-class communities. The first chawls were built in the early 18th century as housing for industrial workers, particularly around textile mills.
D'Souza Chawl has a long and prosperous history dating back to colonial times in what is now India's richest city. Built in the early 20th century, the chawl was originally built to house migrant workers in factories and similar establishments in Mumbai. With a seemingly unassuming three-story residential building, you wouldn't necessarily believe that it also houses one of the more notorious paranormal haunts.
Terrifying experiences of residents and guests
Over the years, the community grew and many families joined. However, over time, the chawl began to gain a reputation as a center of supernatural activity. Residents of D'Souza Chawl have reported experiencing a number of strange and unexplained incidents over the years.
Visitors to the area, as well as residents, have also reported feelings of unease or discomfort when visiting the area. The most commonly reported experiences include hearing footsteps in empty corridors, seeing apparitions, and feeling a sudden drop in temperature. Many have also reported feeling watched or followed while walking through the chawl. But who haunts the area?
Haunted Well at D'Souza Chawl
Once the community living in D'Souza Chawl dug a well in the Chawl because the residents were tiny of water resources when they found underground water in the center of the Chawl. The well was not secured, it had no boundaries which made it unsafe,
According to a ghost story told in the area, a woman living in D'Souza Chawl went to a well by herself to fetch water. She was thirsty in the dim of the night and fell into its depths. She screamed for aid the entire night, trying to get out of the dim and frosty well, but ended up drowning before anyone noticed she was gone.
The next day, the drowned woman was found and the well was closed to prevent further tragic accidents. The locals also refused to exploit the well after this incident and tried to move on from the event.
Although her family would soon leave the chawl, her spirit remained. Today, people still hear the woman's screams near the well and think her spirit now haunts the residential area. There are also people who report seeing the figure of a woman who simply vanished into gaunt air.
Although people claim that her spirit is harmless and that she has never harmed anyone, it is advised to stay away at night.
Spirit of the Guard
When the D'Souza Chawl well incident took place is not certain. Nor is it known who she was or where her family went. The details are unclear, but not as unclear as in the case of the other ghost.
It is also said that the guard haunts the Chawl at night. People see him near one of the trees where he appears at night to guard the area. He, as well as the woman who supposedly haunts D'Souza Chawl, remain nameless until the end of eternity.
Is D'Souza Chawl really haunted?
Although many people claim to have experienced strange occurrences in this area, there is no concrete evidence to suggest that these experiences are the result of supernatural forces.
However, it is clear that the stories surrounding D'Souza Chawl have captured the imagination of many and have become a well-known story in Mumbai as well as India. Whether the chawl is truly haunted remains a mystery, but there is no denying that it is a fascinating and intriguing place to explore.
Bibliography:
D'Souza Chawl, The Most Haunted Place In Mumbai – HubPages
D'Souza chawl – the most haunted place in Mumbai
Most Haunted Place In India: D'Souza Chawl In Mahim | Indie.com
Fish – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia What is the secret behind D'Souza Chawl in Mumbai? – Quora
Image Source: Pixabay.com
