Battling Chennai rains with love!

"We are not afraid, we are not afraid,
We are not afraid today;
Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe,
We are not afraid today.

We shall overcome, we shall overcome,
We shall overcome someday;
Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe,
We shall overcome someday."

These are the lines that are running in the minds of every Chennaitie and wish that "someday" is a day in the near future.Being born and brought up in Chennai, this is the worst that I've seen in so many years. Water, water, water, it's just the sight of water wherever you turn. But as it is claimed, we get to know the best of people only when we are going through a tough situation. City is witnessing so many random acts of kindness that is bringing us together and is helping us fight through it as a team. 

I got down last evening at a stop with knee deep water (not-a-low-lying area) and that was when I realised the intensity of the problem. If this is the case of a pretty high lying area, then imagine the plight of people from areas that are yet to get back to normalcy after last week's floods. When series of thoughts were crossing my mind, my eyes caught the sight of a tea shop that was opening its backdoor . The teashop anna walked out of his shop and was requesting people to wait inside his shop or to use it to trespass to the other side. He was offering free tea and biscuits to everyone around. This is just a small example from  millions of similar acts that's happening throughout. Everyone living in neighbouring houses are time and again checking on eachother and have opened their doors to the affected families.So many mechanics are offering help to move stranded vehicles. All popular cine complexes have opened their doors for public to stay. Actors, RJs and VJs are using their popularity and reach to garner more support from far and wide.Doctors, volunteers, emergency team...entire city is on its toes to come out of this situation together and stronger than ever before. People are using social media effectively to spread the word and do the needful.

TNEB Helpline numbers:

Superintending Engineer (SE) Chennai South 9445850111; Executive Engineer (EE) Adyar 9445850555; EE K.K. Nagar 9445850202; EE Guindy 9445850179; EE Tambaram 9445850227; EE Porur 9445850258; and EE I.T. Corridor 9445850164.

SE Chennai Central 9445850707; EE Mylapore 9445850717; EE Anna Salai 9445850686; EE Egmore 9445850696; and EE T. Nagar 9445850727.

SE Chennai North 9445850909; EE Perambur 9445850959; EE Tondiarpet 9445850889; EE Vyasarpadi 9445850871; and EE Ponneri 9445850915.

SE Chennai West 9445850300; EE Anna Nagar 9445850286; EE Ambattur 9445850311; and EE Avadi 9445850344.

List of doctors available:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1tCRi8Dhb2Fxs-K_jvA4BsPk4Wd9pXFOuEgBgpecnirw/htmlview?sle=true#

Link to find accommodation:

http://chennairains.org/

List of all emergency contacts available:

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-chennai-floods-helpline-numbers-for-rescue-operations-food-blankets-accommodation-stranded-animals-and-more-2151017

Latest update on individual areas:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1V9TraK4_ADSZ2EB_Tuj_KjpToRPEBWQgNI2r_H_aCvQ/edit?pli=1

Flood map to help us understand the situation and act accordingly

http://osm-in.github.io/flood-map/chennai.html#17.55/13.04697/80.26884/-30

Proud to be part of a city that is using its colours of love,unity and solidarity even when greyness is threatening to engulf the city...The city that is constantly fighting the downpour with its own showers of care,humanity and several acts of kindness. Chennai, you are amazing as always!

“And once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about.” 
-Haruki Murakam