JOIN USThe Disaster Management Cell under Revenue department has been flooded with calls inquiring about the prevailing flood situation in Chennai and the well being of their dear ones stranded there.
A senior official from the Cell told Deccan Herald, “Communication is a major problem. We have received over 500 inquiries pertaining to situation there (Chennai) and safety of their dear ones. We have not received any news on the casualties of the stranded in flood-hit Chennai. As inquiries are pouring in we are building a separate communication channel with 10th NDRF Battalion in Guntur, who are communicating with the rescue teams and disseminating information to us which we are sharing with our callers. The NDRF is installing high frequency satellites and are using high frequency satellite phones.”
Since roads to Bengaluru are cut off, many rescued are being sent to Hyderabad from where they will reach their respective destinations. Details of people on this route is yet to be received from Tamil Nadu. A team of doctors with medical supplies is ready to help people once water recedes, the official added.
Several voluntary organisations including Blue Cross of India, Bhoomika Trust, Aids India, Goonj, Red Cross Society Mangaluru and India Cares Foundation among others are collecting materials in various localities.
Succour on social media
To help the people stranded in flood-hit Chennai, many Bengalurueans are using Facebook and Twitter to collect essential items. As electricity supply has been cut off in Chennai and most parts of Tamil Nadu, there is a dedicated drive on social media to collect power banks for people to charge mobile phones. This has caught the attention of many Bangaloreans and people from across the State. A page on Facebook- Chennai Rain Relief- 2015 is flooded with help, donations and timely updates of the scenes from the ground zero.