While Chennai — which is currently experiencing what is being said is its worst flooding in almost a century — has been receiving support from just about every corner of the country (and social media), Hyderabad has been doing its bit to help out.
Facebook and Twitter have been abuzz with updates about groups of individuals and organisations collecting money and one of those groups consists of our own Tollywood stars. Actors Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Manchu Manoj and Navdeep have launched a campaign called Mana Madras Kosam to raise money for relief work in Chennai. Navdeep says, “On Sunday evening we’re going to a few malls in Hyderabad and we will set up donation boxes for people to contribute. There’s also an account we set up today with Ramanaidu sir’s trust, so people can donate there too.”
The actor also revealed that the group has already sent a truck filled with relief materials, thanks to a tie-up with the National Disaster Management Authorities to not just to Chennai, but Nellore and Cuddalore as well. “In one night we managed to send out one truck. We’re doing a bigger public campaign now hopefully we should have at least three trucks by Sunday night,” he says.
Other Hyderabad-based groups like Helping Hands and Nature Restoration Centre are also helping gather materials to be sent to Chennai. Raghavendra Shivakula from Helping Hands says, “We’re trying to take food packets, blankets, clothes and regular OTC medicines like cold and cough medicines, as well as electrolyte powder packets. We’re planning to leave tomorrow and return by Monday.”
“We’re tying up with Goonj, so we’re collecting materials that they need,” says Nature Restoration Centre’s Rini Anweshi, “One of us will also be going along with them, and by Sunday evening the truck will be leaving for Chennai.” Meanwhile, Hyderabadi Suresh Kochattil, an alumnus of the Institute of Hotel Management in Adyar, says that he will be travelling next week to help the people living in the villages around the college. “Once we get the green light from our people on the ground, we will be taking up relief and rehabilitation in the area around our college in Taramani near Adyar,” he says, adding, “Right now, the priority is providing relief there, so there’s no point in becoming a liability. There’s already the NDMA and army on the ground, and enough material there too, but not enough people to reach it out to.”
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