respite for battered Chennai [some Media puts it otherwise] !!!

There was water, water and more …. as SYMA did some relief work, we  could see on our way  river in spates and water flowing on roads in some places.  Though we intended reaching Chromepet and took a detour via Maduravoyal Irumbuliyur toll bridge  – we could not move beyond Thiruneermalai and were forced to return back – distributing food on the way. 

Today,  the first relief was – ‘ no rains ‘ and Sun did come out – morning we could go to Godown Street, in Georgetown on two-wheeler  and buy some dress material ! and thus started the day. Everywhere we could see people interested in doing some relief work – a good sign for the city.

Our Prime Minister Narendra Modiji  made an aerial survey of the city,  announced relief of Rs. 1000 crore for Tamil Nadu, which, he said, will be released "immediately by the Centre". "This is over and above Rs. 940 crore which was released earlier," he said.  PM Shri  Narendra Modi, also met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Ms J Jayalalithaa and assured that the Govt of India  will stand by the people of Tamil Nadu in their hour of need".

There is another popular man [on whom there are so many memes !] said Regional Meteorological Department Director, S.R. Ramanan; and lot of what he predicts has been happening.  The weather Office predicted more rains ! Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today  said in the Lok Sabha that 269 people had lost their lives in rain-hit Tamil Nadu.

Now having returned home from a tiring day’s work, watched few minutes of Times Now where they harped on ‘good drinking water’ not available [later corrected that it is being provided in camps but not to others marooned] – while the Govt official said things are improving – the host kept contending that not much is being done and people are suffered.  Scroll news read that at 8 pm today – many parts are still under water !

This morning SYMA had collected good amount of relief material and around 1000 packets of food was given by Sri Raghavendra Mutt, Triplicane.  The first truck left for relief work with our volunteers and from Mutt.  The 2^nd truck was organised in association with Sri Parthasarathi Swami temple.. Thirukovil DC Mr P Kothandaraman and many kovil staff accompanied us.  There was good quantity of cooked food from Sri Parthasarathi kovil  in 3 big vessels with few hundreds of clothes, biscuits and other material too.

As the truck went along – first to Maduravoyal, there was Sun, water level has receded in many places [not to say that there is no water and that all people are comfortable ! – many are suffering and some are still marooned – but situation has largely improved] ; the places where we wades through water, the bigger truck was able to pass by.  At Maduravoyal Govt High school, yesterday, we did not have enough for all the people – but today, some Agencies had already distributed food by the time, we were there.  A van was distributing bananas from truck load of crates and there was scramble – but the food was received orderly and many said, that they have had and not interested in this.

As we proceeded on Maduravoyal toll bridge, the situation presented a far better picture and we could move on.  Eventually, we received an area in Thiruneermalai – opposite to Tambaram Sanatorium and distributed the food. Then we went to Vivekananda Vidyalaya, Chromepet where Seva Barathi is doing exemplary service.  We deposited some material here and also bought some good quantity of rice bags. 

On return around 7.30 pm – we could travel in the GST road – via Meenambakkam, Kathiappara – the Saidapet bridge had been opened to traffic – via Raj bhavan,  Adyar, we traversed Thiru Vi Ka bridge near Malar hospital – [water has been flowing over the bridge here and at Saidapet and traffic had been closed earlier] – now the river was flowing [nothing on bridge] and vehicular movement was normal.

Good news is that the Sun came out in Chennai today and the water level has started receding in some areas. The Met department has said the low pressure will weaken over the next 48 hours.  Soon the city should limp back to normalcy.

There have been spate of calls – many people have supported SYMA [many have been helping people individually; there are many other associations too] financially and with material.  SYMA thanks you all.  Perhaps, by tomorrow, we will close our present ‘flood relief work’.

A Big Thank you to all

Regards – S. Sampathkumar,

Secretary SYMA

3^rd Dec 2015 @ 10 p.m.

cattle grazing - at 100 ft road bridge near Arumbakkam

normal vehicular traffic at Poonamalle High road

the school at Maduravoyal 

Indian Army at work 

food getting readied at Vivekananda Vidyalaya by Seva Barathi  

and sent to various places