While the Army and Air Force are working very hard to rescue citizens stuck in flood-hit Chennai, several people and now even start-ups like Ola are working to help people reach safer areas.
Taxi operator Ola has deployed boats along with professional rowers to rescue people in the waterlogged areas to safer places.
“Ola deployed boats in waterlogged and partially submerged areas on the basis of information from the Fire and Rescue department”, Ola said in a statement.
The boats were manned by professional rowers and also fishermen to rescue people and to provide food and drinking water free-of-cost.
The boats are equipped with two rowers, sufficient umbrellas and can ferry between five to nine people in a trip.
“While we are addressing the increased demand for transportation in city, we are working closely with local stakeholders to help ferry those stranded in water-logged areas.”, Ola, business head (Tamil Nadu), Ravi Teja said.
The boat service would be available for next three days and will be extended if water-logging continues, it added.
The residents of Chennai were elated to see the initiative taken by the taxi aggregator and thanked Ola on Twitter for helping out people.
Great to see @Olacabs going beyond their call of duty and helping people in need. I wish many more companies join them. #OlaBoat
— Sai Shyam G (@SaiShyamG) November 17, 2015
Love the way @Olacabs is going that extra mile with #OLABoat to rescue people. Hats off to you guys.
#ChennaiRains pic.twitter.com/yuFoh3XS2a
— Sanket B Mehta (@sanketbmehta) November 17, 2015