‘Sink-aara’ Chennai!

 

Choreographer-actor-director Raghava Lawrence was on his toes, along with a bunch of his friends to provide food and blankets to hundreds of people in areas around Cuddalore, Vyasarapadi and more. “While I was watching the news, we learnt that were so many people who needed help and we should do something about it. So, in the last three days we have been distributing food packets, mats and other basic supplies to them. Just yesterday we reached out to about 500 people in the city and over 1,000 in and around Cuddalore area,” he shared.

 

Helping him in this initiative are over 10 volunteers in Chennai, over 10 in Cuddalore and 30 friends actively participating. “The colony behind Kasi Theatre was completely jammed. People could not even come out. And even the Vyasarapadi area was completely waterlogged. Upon information, we reached out to them. More people and NGOs should step up for help. This is not getting as much national attention as it should,” he says. Though his movie Motta Siva Ketta Siva is due for its first shooting schedule, Lawrence said this was his priority. 

 

A popular Facebook group Chennai Memes went all out to help people connect and also put up timely updates ensuring safety. “People started messaging and informing us about road blockades and more. We then also got requests to put on emergency numbers and more. We went around and collected old blankets and clothes for pavement dwellers to help them brace the weather better,” informed Gautham Govindaraman, co-founder, Chennai Memes.  They also kept updating regular news alerts on their websites. “Like, a weatherman spoke to us and informed us that the Chembarabakkam Lake’s inflow increased to an unprecedented 16,000 cusecs, that people should move away from the banks of Adyar river and be on alert. This post went viral and soon people were informed, as they are always on social media,” he added.

 

They also started promoting the EFI — Flood emergency kit initiative for low-lying areas. People were asked to assemble a standard kit consisting of bread, biscuits or bun, drinking water, blanket or towels, a strip of paracetamol, bananas, candles and a matchbox. These had to be dropped at a nearby centre, which was later on picked up and sent to people in need. 

 

The NGO Bhumi also kickstarted an initiative where one could SMS or fill a Google form for people willing to volunteer for the Chennai flood relief. A popular radio station from the city took to streets to distribute food packets for people, affected by the rain. Bring it on, Mother Nature indeed!