Raining cats and dogs since the evening of November 30, 2015 and the level of water flow
kept rising slowly to some 8 feet high near the inter-junction of First and Eleventh avenues ( 100 ft. and 120 ft. roads respectively) at Ashok Nagar in South Chennai (11th Avenue running parallel to Adayar river at a distance of 200 ft). Water started receding only on the night of of December 3, 2015.
Both the avenues suffered a lot on the ground floor of almost all the residential and shopping complexes. Unfortunately there was no prior announcement regarding the possibility of rising water level due to excess flood waters expected from the upper regions of Adayar river. Some preventive measures could have been easily taken by the residents. Administration - both civil, namely, municipal corporation as well as police establishment was nowhere visible and seen for about 24 hours. We could see some uniformed NDRF personnel on a rescue boat making rounds on first avenue for the first time around 8.00 PM on Wednesday-Thursday (2 - 3 December) intervening night whom I requested to ensure patrolling in the vicinity during night hours in view of possible looting and theft in darkness.
As a citizen I felt the absence of communication between the administration / government and the people affected for quite some time. In the absence of electric power, phone, Internet connectivity and T.V the affected families and individuals were not knowing what to do and how to communicate with the authorities. A sensible administration could have established contact with the flood victims through the radio network or through messengers with loud-speakers from time to time. Only 104.8 Hertz. FM radio was trying to establish contacts with the marooned people and passing on information constantly from December 2 onwards. Hats off to this group of youngsters who were innovative and consistent in their work and help to the citizens.
Even in the days of British rule the administration knew how to communicate with the people through beating of drums in different pockets of human settlements at constant intervals. When all modern communication gadgets failed they could have resorted to this traditional means at least or through radio, the most effective mode of communication in such an emergency situation. No Minister including Chief Minister, no municipal Councillors including Mayor, neither the Municipal Commissioner nor the Police Commissioner came live on this medium to be in contact with the people. Only after December 4, 2015 the police vehicles were seen announcing and correcting the rumours of a breach on the banks of Sembarambakkam lake on the western side of the city. People started panicking and leaving the city for their homes in Andhra Pradesh and South & West Tamil Nadu by whatever means available by road - bus and vans in the absence of trains and aircrafts.
I presume thing were better in other parts of the city near the rivers and water courses during heavy rains and floods. Army, Navy and Air Force as well as NDRF came to the rescue of Chennai citizens. NGOs and self motivated individuals and volunteers were more active and dedicated than the expected government servants from the initial beginning. Volunteers did a good job.
(Concluding this write up at 7.30 AM on December 6, after getting the typing gadget recharged from a different locality where the power supply has been resumed)
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