Chennai, one of the busiest and populated metropolis city with 9 million residents in India. On December 2015, the city faced heaviest rainfall, considered to be the most highest in the past century. This rain was no ordinary, not the kind it rains for few hours and then stops. It rained and rained for days together with constant dark clouds above the city.
Within hours rain water started to flood in few places, as the intensity of the rain got higher and higher... the Chennai city was sinking!
The water level rose to 10 feet in some areas while the dams and rivers flooded like ever before.
Nearly 400 people have died and over 1.8 million people have been displaced.
But, people of Chennai rose! More specifically the youngsters.
Thousands and thousands of volunteers came from all over the state and from neighbouring states.
Thousands and thousands of volunteers came from all over the state and from neighbouring states.
Volunteers jumped in neck deep rain to sewage water and rescued the victims. Went extreme measures and helped one another.
Till the day before, we were strangers but that day, we became brothers and sisters.
Those who were in Chennai went for rescue operations. And those who are away from the city, took the help of social media, they are mobilizing volunteers and identifying areas that require help all day long without rest.
Later Army, Navy and Air force joined.
- One great young soul died during the rescuing operation.
- An auto driver left his 9 month pregnant wife at home while rescuing people all day long.
- 70 years old man cooking continuously for 3 days to feed the starving victims.
- A young volunteer even after losing everything to flood, working with NGOs and helping people day and night
- Doctors seeing help status's through media and rushed to the places extending their helping hand. One particular doctor helped with birth of a baby whom later named after the doctor.
- Day and night in pouring rain youngster supplied foods and other needs going to every house in nook and corner
- Fishermen came along with their boats and drove from streets to streets aiding help.
- Hundreds of Whatsapp and Facebook groups with thousands of volunteers coordinating and passing information of needs and went for rescue
- Most of the auto's and Taxi drivers dint charge a penny but drove around the city all day long and helping the needy.
- Schools, colleges, Pilgrim places, malls, theatres etc. open to public and provided shelter and food.
- Even when a Muslim woman is not allowed inside d mosque but it sheltered Hindus while the Muslims were welcomed inside the Hindi temple! Unity at its peak!
- And the Indian army quoted "Chennai is the only place where we saw more volunteers than victims."
Government remained silent watching the victims suffer but actively participated in looting volunteer’s food packets to stick the infamous poster, tried to stop volunteers by not giving authorization. But still... Irrespective of age together we came out as a force.. Shoulders to shoulders we carried the young and old, sheltered many, sharing whatever we had and tired to get through the nightmare.. Not alone but together
Sleepless nights, endless calls, hardship works, we opened our doors to strangers and shared our food.
Bangalore and Coimbatore almost emptied out with the young people driving for long hours to reach our floating city just to lend us a hand.
Facebook, Twitter and Whatsapp played major roles!
Finally.. The Youngsters who were quoted as lazy, selfish, geek, greedy and not patriotic.. Lifted the drowning city high up and set an example to the world that “Humanity STILL lives”
Now we are focusing on rehabilitation of affected areas and families. Also cleaning the debris left by the floods.
- Pradeepa Pandiyan, Admin, Photos That Shook The World (fb page)
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