Everyday heroes among you and me

When the storms of cyclone Vardah were ravaging the city and most people were confined in their homes, a few people and their dedicated teams were risking their lives and going out of their way to make sure everyone was protected and safe. From offering shelter to rescuing birds to updates on the weather — they did it all.

Shravan Krishnan
While people were locked up indoors witnessing the destruction, animal welfare activist Shravan Krishnan and his team were out and about attempting rescues for those that needed the most help. The winds wreaked havoc on nests of baby birds, displacing them and often causing severe injuries. Shravan posted online asking for people to open their homes for animals that needed their help and contact his team in case of immediate rescues. The founder of Hotel for Dogs Is still doing his part for the creatures, and his aviary Is filled with birds and bats that need medical attention.

Sam Paul
After winning hearts through his tireless efforts during the floods last year, Sam Paul is also taking initiatives to help Chennai get a speedy recovery from the devastation caused by Vardah. Sam took to his Facebook account to request people to not spread negativity and spread panic. Apart from tagging people from whom one could seek help from, he also posted, “We have people in all areas who are willing to help with food, water accommodation. You can even come to our places for charging your phone and having a cup of coffee. (sic)”

Tamil Nadu Weatherman
Post the floods, everyone immediately looks up ‘Tamil Nadu Weatherman’ whenever they need updates on weather. What started as a hobby for Pradeep John has every Chennaiite hooked. During and even before  the cyclone,  the constant stream of information by him helped citizens remain prepared for what was to come. Needless to say, his predictions were spot on and despite having no power or connectivity, he managed to warn thousands of his followers to remain indoors and stay safe.

Agnishwar Jayaprakash
Former swimming champion Agnishwar Jayaprakash’s NGO Agni Foundation has been working relentlessly to help the betterment of transportation in the city. The foundation has been helping the public by clearing roadways — that are blocked due to uprooting of trees — to restore transportation and commuting and also by deploying volunteers to major junctions to manage the traffic. They had their volunteers currently serving the city at the areas worst affected like RA Puram, Adyar, Kotturpuram, IIT, Anna University and OMR.