Last Updated: 6th December, 5 pm.
Chennai Rains Help (Updated)
Union minister for external affairs, Sushma Swaraj, on Monday, announced that the three Passport Seva Kendras in Chennai would issue fresh passport free of charge to people who lost their passport in the flood.
If your passport is lost or damaged in floods, pl go to any of three PSKs in Chennai. They will issue u fresh passport free of charge. Pl RT
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) December 7, 2015
RJ Balaji talks about the relief effort so far.
#ChennaiMicro – Lets take this foward..! #People‘sMovement https://t.co/6ZEicC2Yi7
— RJ Balaji (@RJ_Balaji) December 6, 2015
Airports and special trains have begun operations. ATMs across the city were open. Schools and colleges will be closed on Monday. Food supplies are no longer required in most parts of Chennai. Most calls for help have listed blankets, medicines, candles, clothes, sanitary napkins, and water. Certain parts of the city like Porur, Mount Road, and Sriperumbudur reported heavy rains. INS Shakthi and INS Sahayadari landed at the Chennai Port with relief supplies for Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur. Meanwhile, civilian-organised rescue and relief operations continued through social media and on-ground team initiatives. With Chennai having more than needed supplies in some parts, attention has turned to other parts of Tamil Nadu, which so far had not received similar media focus.
Going to cuddalore tomorrow with a truckload of supplies. #ChennaiMicro large requirement areas info in cuddalore. Ngo support requested.
— Siddharth (@Actor_Siddharth) December 5, 2015
Most roads have cleared enough to drive through, and water receded in many parts, but areas like North Madras continue to grapple with flooding. Lakhs of people continue to be without power, food, shelter, and in distress. Meanwhile, several people have reported high fevers, even as relief centers like SPI cinemas organised on-the-spot tetanus shots for the public. Meanwhile, public anger at the government’s seeming ineffective rescue efforts has been directed at senior ministers like Natham Viswanathan, Sellur Raju and Gokul Indira, who were sent back angrily when they went to visit Chief Minister J Jayalalitha’s constituency. Reports of AIADMK members stalling relief work by pasting ‘Amma’ posters, continued to circulate. Other disturbing reports included the harassment of female volunteers by drunk men, around Tasmac shops. KSRTC has announced free hourly bus services to Kerala from Chennai, with destinations including Thiruvananthapuram, Palakkad and Thrissur. Tickets can be booked at Koyambedu, and at Kerala House at Egmore. The contact numbers are: Special counter – 9444186238, 044-28293020; Thiruvananthapuram District Transport Officer (DTO) – 9495099902; Thrissur DTO – 9495099909; Palakkad DTO – 9495099910; KSRTC Inspector (Chennai) Jayaraj – 9449020305, and Thiruvananthapuram Control Room – 9447071014. Private buses continue to charge exorbitant rates. Trains along Chennai-Arakkonnam have been partially restored. Rescue efforts have intensified, and fifteen more NDRF teams are scheduled to arrive in the next two days. To donate towards relief efforts:
#ChennaiMicroFund contribution Account Name: V Trust A/C Number: 533102010503421 Union Bank of India IFSC : UBIN0553310 #SiddharthRJBalaji — Chinmayi Sripaada (@Chinmayi) December 3, 2015
Helplines:
1913 for the Army. 044 25394240 for the Navy. The DMK has announced that 044 24320280 is staffed with people willing to help. Regular emergency numbers (101 – Fire; and 108 for Ambulance services) should continue to work.SMS the NDRF at this number:
#NDRF Chennai Flood Helpline no. 011-24363260 ,9711077372. pic.twitter.com/HxHwzv8VgH — NDRF (@NDRFHQ) December 4, 2015
If you need a place to stay tonight: Sathyam Cinemas (Royapettah); Palazzo (Vadapalani); Chinmaya Vidyalaya (Virigambakkam); S2 Cinemas (Perambur); Mayajaal, and Crescent Engineering College are all taking people in. Gokulam hotel in Ashok Nagar and Bobbie’s Bistro in T Nagar also accept people. All mosques in Chennai will provide accommodation tonight. Public establishments should be your first choice to seek help. Here’s a list of Corporation helpline numbers. If you need food, shelter, medication, or any other help, please post to #ChennaiRainsHelp If you can offer rescue or aid , please post what supplies you can offer along with location and contact information to #ChennaiMicro add your name and contact information here. If you were outside and know which areas are flooded, please post the information to this crowdsourced map of the flooding here. If you cannot get to any of these places, here is a partial list of people offering accommodation. We are verifying these places for genuine shelters and availability. Stay indoors. Help if you can. Don’t spread rumours. Other Assistance and Services (Verified):
Working #ICICI bank ATMs. #ChennaiRains. (Via @SathishMSK) @sandygrains @Chinmayi pic.twitter.com/EuTbzztVFJ — Silverscreen.in (@silverscreenin) December 5, 2015
Stuck in the rain, and need to call/SMS for help? #Genie is more than happy to recharge for people in need. Just tweet us! #chennairainshelp — Genie (@thehellogenie) December 1, 2015
In the wake of #ChennaiFloods , we’re taking the following measures to facilitate constant & seamless communication. pic.twitter.com/acEU19REpT — airtel India (@airtelindia) December 2, 2015
To trace missing persons, Vodafone has introduced a locate service with 1948:
