Chennai: The worst rain and flooding in a century has turned several parts of Chennai into a living hell. Even after the rains stops and flood water recedes, it will surely take months for the metropolis to stand on its feet and restore normalcy.
From the menace of snakes to no ATM, the problems are plenty. But, the affected residents are showing a remarkable patience and statesman like attitude. All of them agree that what floods in Chennai was unimaginable and nobody had expected this.
No government could have avoided the catastrophe and the city's residents are staying away from politicising it. It is something unheard of in an eternally outraged country like India.
The random callers who contacted television channels with their stories are generally happy with the government response. A caller said, "The government is doing very well. These are extraordinary times. No government could have avoided the crisis of this magnitude."
Another resident also expressed similar feelings. It does not mean that they are saying that the city planning by the successive governments is right. They agree on one thing – the city administration led by the Chennai City Corporation Commissioner Vikram Kapur is doing a superb job under present circumstances.
Locals say the government machinery on the ground is doing its best to save the citizens in distress. Be it a traffic police personnel, electricity department, corporation employee or water supply board employee, all are doing their best even though their own families are also facing exactly the same problems.
There is something good to talk about in a country, where the mainstream media now aided and guided by the social media which believes that outraging is the best response to anything and everything.
Though not visible, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa is personally supervising and monitoring the situation is very closely from her residence at Poes Garden in Chennai. A tough task master, Jayalalithaa has activated the entire state machinery and her cabinet colleagues to tackle the catastrophe.
She conducted an aerial survey of the city on Wednesday morning. She even flew over other flood hit areas of the state and came back to state secretariat to review the grim situation. But there is no guarantee that the political mudslinging won’t happen once the flood water recedes.
Some common problems flood affected people are facing:
Snakes: Lot of snakes have entered houses with the flood water. It has terrified the people. Even after the water recedes, there is no guarantee that snakes will disappear.
Water: Most pump-sets in apartments and houses are under water. Most of them need to be repaired once the water recedes. Electricity connection has also been affected. Might takes weeks to repair and restore.
ATMs: ATMs in flood-hit areas have been closed. Water has entered several ATMs. People who have money in their accounts have no access to cash.
Medicines and hospitals: Pharmacists in flood hit areas have downed their shutters. Supplies are running out. Many have stopped accepting new patients. People who need regular check-ups and dialysis are facing a huge problem. IBNLIVE has received several frantic calls and messages from the patients and their families requesting urgent help.
Vegetables, fruits and groceries: Many wholesale markets are shut. Retailers are not getting fresh supplies. Prices of essential food items rising.
Mobile phone connections: About 40% of the mobile phones are not working in Chennai. Getting in touch with the affected people and rescuers has now become a huge problem.
Airport shut: The Chennai international airport at Meenambakkam is shut till December 6. The nearby naval base is functioning as a temporary domestic airport. It can handle only a few flights.
Buses and trains: They have also been severely affected by the torrential rains. Flood water has blocked roads and train tracks.
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