The floods in Chennai, caused by incessant rains due to depression, has created an emergency-like situation. The Army and the NDRF have been deployed for rescue and relief operations, while Indian Air Force helicopters are delivering food packets, and essential to the stranded people.
The Prime Minister is in the state, and he met Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to take stock of the situation. The Home Minister gave a statement in the Parliament, apprising MPs of the relief and rescue measures.
In times of such crises, heart-warming stories of humanity, generosity, and kindness pour in. Chennai has been no exception. People have opened up their homes for stranded strangers, some have collaborated to create an online resource, listing people with accomodation, and those who need help. These stories show how even before the state agencies could reach flood-hit people, it is the people who organised themselves to help others.
#Chennaifloods live with @NewsMobile
Posted by Saurabh Shukla on Thursday, 3 December 2015
However, it was not always easy, as evident from the testimonials of flood survivors posted on the micro-blogging website Twitter. Their tweets capture the essence of the struggle they have faced over the last few days, as one modern-day infrastructure after other kept crumbling, under the wrath of nature’s fury.
Here’s a look:
How bad are things in T Nagar? Lost all contact with family. Has started drizzling again. Seriously running out of ideas now
#ChennaiFloods
— Vidya Krishnan (@VidyaKrishnan) December 3, 2015
Connectivity was a casualty to rains, exposing the limits of modern day technology. This meant that people could not establish contact with their loved ones, fuelling panic and uncertainty.
Stranded in Chennai airport with nowhere to go. Anybody can offer any help? Only option seems to be taking a flight and going to Bangalore.
— Vignesh Venkat (@vigneshv_psg) December 1, 2015
Before the stranded people could be airlifted to safer areas, it was a tale of horrors for them, as shown in the above tweet. Many had to probably sleep hungry.
#chennairains horrible to walk in 4 feet water outside our house – with lot of dead cockroaches and dead Rats floating – nauseating
— S.Ranganathan (@rangats) December 3, 2015
Some horrors could be best described only by those who experienced it first-hand!
To reduce casualties from electrocution 80% of chennai city has been having power cut for the past 20 hours. Feels like a dark city!
— Gujju Gajamani (@gajamani) December 2, 2015
To protect accidents by electrocution, the power department often had to cut the power supplies. Now, if a flooded city is scary, a floodied city in the dark is even scarier.
Ppl strnd on roads for hours,traffic blkd,hotels full,horrible sitn in chennai, my boss and foreign colleague stranded at a petrol pump
— Akshay singh (@salessingh) December 1, 2015
The above tweet is from a couple of days ago, but it captures the horrors of the situation. Stranded, traffic woes, full hotels, and nowhere to go!
Ppl strnd on roads for hours,traffic blkd,hotels full,horrible sitn in chennai, my boss and foreign colleague stranded at a petrol pump
— Akshay singh (@salessingh) December 1, 2015
Family in Besant Nagar says people on streets selling 1/2 litre milk & biscuits for more than Rs.100. Diabetics, kids forced to buy. Ugh.
— Sandy (@sandygrains) December 3, 2015
The most horrible part of the tragedy was how some unscrupulous elements tried to take advantage of the situation, and make easy money. While on one side, there were amazing good samaritans, there were also these people. At the end of the day, it is the good deeds, and sacrifices that will be remembered. A salute to such people!