Mumbai: Chennai has suffered severely from what seemed to be one of the nastiest deluges in recent times. More than 269 people have lost thier lives and around 1000 people are stranded in various flood-trotted regions across the entire city.
The torrential rainfall that started on Monday, and continued henceforth, broke a century-long record, as one day’s rainfall amounted to an entire month’s average downpour.
Even now, affected areas have limited or no access to mobile networks and most parts of the city do not even have electricity.
Heavy rainfall and floods have disrupted almost all forms of communications in the affected areas of Chennai
The intense cloudburst impacted the city in an unkind manner and presently, Chennaiyans need all the help they can get.
However, the condition is being controlled quite splendidly, even though large parts of the city continue to be submerged under water. Thanks to social media and numerous brave hearts, the whole nation is helping Chennai in every way they can.
As heavy rains hit the city for the third time over a period of one month, regular citizens from all around the country interacted via various online forums and groups to seek help for the ones in distress.
Over the past two days, online campaigns such as #chennairainshelp, #chennaivolunteer, and #chennairescue have emerged as the most visited online forums in India. These campaigns helped arrange food, shelter, and other amenities for the rescued victims.
In addtion, numerous Twitter and Facebook users even called people to stay at their houses, providing contact details and adresses.
Twitter and Facebook were the most common platforms for interactions. Several individuals from the city are incessantly passing on messages regarding shelter, safe roads, and dangerous zones to everyone who is stranded.
Important hashtags under which real-time rescue operations are being conducted to help affected people
It is also amazing how different google docs’ sheets are being passed around on Facebook and Twitter to share contact information, safe lists, and other details. Even Facebook has activated the safety check-in feature to let people know that their friends and family in Chennai are safe.
People who are trapped in certain areas of the city are tweeting their locations along with contact numbers and they are being rescued instantly. Indeed, the digital campaign has helped Chennai in tackling this sorry condition.
Trapped in Saidapet. Two young kids and two senior citizens. Been waiting for 24hours. Urgent. #ChennaiRainsHelp pic.twitter.com/Pu7f6eyruz
— America Maaplai (@america_maaplai) December 3, 2015Our doors will still be open to all in spite of ongoing theatre operations. So please do not hesitate to take shelter with us. #chennairains
— Sathyam Cinemas (@sathyam_cinemas) December 2, 2015Update on the roads across the city !! #ChennaiRainsHelp (dec 3) @Actor_Siddharth @VishalKOfficial @actor_viishnu pic.twitter.com/QYFqQX3caB
— kawin (@kawinct) December 2, 2015Food being arranged for 500 people at TNagar / GN Chetty Road, please call / message Bharath 9952096478 for help #Verified #Chennairainshelp
— ChennaiRains (@ChennaiRains) December 3, 2015Prominent actor Siddharth started a digital campaign named #Chennaimicro, where he along with several other concerned citizens passed on vital information regarding availability of food and shelter in different parts of the city including film theatres and malls, which were opened to facilitate the rescue operations.
Other influential people, actors and even the media is passing significant data through a series tweets and Facebook posts.
Start-ups and Telcoms offering massive support
It is also heart-warming to see telecom operators and numerous start-ups rolling out free services for the ones affected. Last month, cab aggregators Ola helped rescue people in the city by deploying free boat services.
This time Ola is not only providing free boats for rescue, but the company is also offering safety zones for people to reach nearby safe places.
OLA Safety Zone 2: Usha Rani Marriage Hall, 202/1A, Devaraj Complex, S.Park St, Venkatapuram,Ambattur. Contact:9840641950 #GetSafeChennai
— OLA (@Olacabs) December 2, 2015Apart from Ola, companies like Paytm and other telecom companies have also stepped forward to help, as they are providing Rs 30 recharge and 50MB data pack for free.
Indian restaurant searching and food delivery giants Zomato had also helped the cause by starting a campaign to provide food to the people in Chennai. The service is currently halted, until need arises.
Help get food to those affected by #ChennaiRains. We buy a meal for each one you buy here: https://t.co/YdkHUShX4w pic.twitter.com/956WZg6GuJ
— Deepinder Goyal (@deepigoyal) December 2, 2015Yesterday, Zomato’s CEO Deepindar Goyal said on Twitter: “At 110k, we are pausing to ensure our restaurant partners aren’t chocked. We will find more capacity tomorrow and try to switch this on again. Until then, thanks for all the incredible support.”
According to media reports, the rainfall has subsided but the conditions are far from good.
However, rescue operations are still going on at full flow, thanks to relentless support from people all over the country. Indeed, Social media has proved itself as an essential platform for the country’s concerned citizens to come forward and help out with the rescue operations in Chennai.
