CHENNAI: The incessant rains have created havoc and taken a toll on people’s lives. With NGOs and the government working to rehabilitate victims and provide them supplies, residents themselves have stepped in to become heroes at this hour of need.
Mahesh, a student, transported stranded people from Valasaravakkam, Virugambakkam, Vadapalani and Saligramam in his car for free. “My family supported me and I did this to help the affected. So far I transported about 50 to 60 people,” he said.
Film personality, Mayilsami, has been preparing food in his house and distributing it to more than 60 families over the past four days. “People who are unable to cook due to flooding and power cuts, and people whose houses were damaged, are happy with this gesture,” said Shanthi, a resident of Saligramam.
The Siva Vishnu Temple Trust at Natesh Nagar in Virugambakkam collected clothes, food, sanitary pads, blankets and other supplies to provide for people in Velachery and Palikaranai. They also prepared food for the people lodged at the temple.
Local philanthropists from the area also made sure that food was distributed to the affected areas. Jayanth Kashyap, a volunteer who braved waist-deep water at Kamaraj Nagar, Valasaravakam late on Saturday said that unverified phone calls are an annoyance during such times.
“I had to distribute food packets in Valasaravakkam. I received a call from Madurai saying they were in need. But it turned out to be an enthusiastic person who passed on wrong information. I managed to give the packets to people near the Koyambedu market though,” he shared.