2015 floods

After thoughts #chennaifloods

Past week had been gruesome for those in Chennai. As someone stated in fb, the reality of having everything and yet nothing was a nightmare.
You have a high end phone, but no charge nor any signal
You have a house, but can't stay- as it is flooded
You have a car, but its jammed.
You have money in the bank, but no functioning ATM to draw cash.
A black out for days together- and no candle in the stores, no water in the lu, no milk, with vegetables in the refrigerator stinking, water in the ground floor, and some had it till first floor. Losing documents, beds, all electronic stuffs. For those in high rise buildings, no elevators. Imagine having a sick child, or an elderly at home?!
And above all the fear of losing a loved one in the rains.

Speaking to friends at work, I realize there had been some extraordinary moments on December 1, 2 at office. I am jotting them down, tired of asking them to write.

- Complete strangers, have accomodated Infoscions in their homes.
- Gave them dry warm clothes to wear, fed them with food, and a place to sleep.
- Strangers have given lift for Infoscions to reach Guduvanchery/Vandaloor, free of cost. ( Some did take exorbitant amount)
- Some stayed in Churches, some in Mosques
- Some stayed in SRM University classrooms

With phones switched off/no signal to contact their families, a total blackout, completely drenched and shivering in the cold rains, with feet sore walking on water for hours together, I can't imagine the ordeal they went through.

The next day wasn't better either. Getting back to their homes have been a struggle, where each Infoscion had been on their own, and taken their own decision, to reach home, by walk, bus, or own transport. Those who ventured back to office, had more difficulty ( No power/no water/no money in ATM in the DC)and reached their home only on Thursday!

I don’t want to blame, but what could have been done is
- The situation of the nearby lakes, could have been checked and declared holiday on that D day.
- When there was water on the campus –the decision to stop further buses- re-route/cancel shuttles to office could have been done.
- The Bus Drivers could have been informed, to take the buses directly to SRM.
- The train information sent by SMS, misled many. Most were stranded. The trains did not ply after 6.

Some notable points
- Most affected where married Infoscions- who try to get early to office and get out early.
- Some have checked the board in the morning and have started from home, inspite of the rain, to complete their work.
- Men in the bus, were slow to make decisions or lead or even help. Most of the women folks- have ventured out into the rain or walked across, in an attempt to get back to their homes and children.
- The campus was cleaned thanks to the housekeeping and facilities, and making it operational on Monday. I can’t imagine the amount of work involved. ( to know that the housekeeping staffs worked, to clean our campus, when their own homes were flooded and devastated)
- Few got a call from Mysore Infosys, asking about the well being/safety of the individual. ( I got it on Dec 6)

#chennairains, #bcms, #mcity collapse