Chennai rains: How social media helped Chennaites reach out to people in distress

Next time someone tells me “you are spending too much time online” I shall give them OTS. Why? Well, that is how awesome the online world has been the past few weeks. When the rains hit Chennai late November, I was following the action across the city via Twitter and then I discovered the forums on Facebook- Tamilnadu Flood- Support and Chennai Rains relief group. Soon after I found #chennairains and #chennairainshelp on Twitter. I live in Chetpet, an area that wasn’t too affected, so after I was done making sure our household help were taken of, I headed out to buy some pedigree, biscuits and bread and fed every possible stray that I found. I have also been leaving food and milk out daily, a couple of times along the streets in my area. I sent out about 20kg bags of rice, and 40 kgs of dal to a relief camp yesterday. For the dogs, I sent out bread, food, bowls, newspapers as well..

On the second day, I began connecting people who had relief materials with those in need, helping update the Google doc that had been put together and that is how the ball rolled. Teamed up with a best friend, Radha Srinivasan and her husband Jaishankar, we put a plan to collect material from all over the city and head out to see who needed what. Twitter was a big help in this. We tracked, we hunted and we went out into knee-deep water to give people basic necessities, food and everything else we thought they needed- clothes, medicines (especially for fever, headaches and Cybol for fungal infections), blankets, mats, juices, milks (tetra pack), water and soaps as well. 

Day before yesterday, we loaded their Ertiga with these items - 300 packets of food, equal number of water, some clothes, medicines and headed out towards the OMR area. There we found the Fathima Child welfare centre- with about 100 kids, and gave them water. A kid from one centre took us to their two other shelters, where we distributed more stuff. On a whim, we decided to drive down and find more places to help. We found Tsunami colony [road opp TCS], Chemmenenchery and gave out nearly 300 packets of biscuits, water and food packets. We also nearly got mobbed there, but managed to survive. We heard later that there were nearly 20,000 people inside and that some hadn’t received any relief. So we put a team together. 

Image Courtesy: Aarti Krishnakumar

Yesterday, we hired a lorry and loaded it with relief items donated from all across the city. Strangers from across the world called, asking if they can send us money - one kind soul sponsored the lorry cost and we were on the road with 1000+ packets of food and other material heading towards Tsunami Colony. Driving all the way inside, near the 98th street, we got out in 2-3ft water and distributed sanitary pads, food, water, sheets, ointments, and just about everything else we had. We also did a second round to Fathima child welfare center as water levels inside had increased with Sunday’s showers. The team of volunteers was a random group of people who found us via Twitter and Facebook and just came along! 

On Monday, we went to Kamatchi Nagar in Pallikaranai where houses are under water and families have lost everything. They needed about 300-400 blankets, milk and medicines as priority. We have reached out to people who sent stuff yesterday and have already received materials required. A small team in a Tata Ace shall head out, make deliveries, assess areas around and come back with requirements. 

Image Courtesy: Aarti Krishnakumar

For the coming week, we plan to collect more essential items and do a trip to Cuddalore and areas around there to help. We have also been following Twitter actively and calling people, who say they have materials to verify, block and follow up with collection. Similarly, we are looking to create a plan to organise medical camps and rehab centres  - reach out to doctors, identify areas where help hasn’t reached, write to hospitals and labs to check if they set up mobile camps, and mobilise funds through all interested sponsors and out of our own pockets as well. Some of the contribution yesterday was routed through Vatsalya, started by Radha’s parents a decade ago with intention of helping babies, children and new moms who cannot afford milk or basic food. 

What touched us was that people had so much trust, they were ready to extend any help needed without a single question. When we sent out pictures via Whatsapp to those who had contributed, they were overwhelmed and have been insisting we tell them what more we require! Talk about people coming together… more power to those in Chennai!

Aarti Krishnakumar is a writer based in Chennai.