Tamil Nadu is battling one if its worst floods in a century as several parts of the state have been submerged and cut off from essential supplies. Chennai has been among the worst hit with constant downpour has turned the capital into a virtual island. The death toll in the disaster is over 280 even as the government and Armed Forces grapple to keep the city afloat.
The deluge in Chennai has not spared the elite either as film stars Kamal Haasan and Siddharth showed how even the affluent neighbourhoods have gone under. Haasan who lives on the posh Eldams Road in Chennai's Teynampet area, told Firstpost, "To describe the situation as calamitous would be an understatement. If this can happen in Chennai can you imagine the plight of the rest of Tamil Nadu?”
Popular South Indian actor Siddharth, who is known in Bollywood for his role in Rang de Basanti and Chashme Baddoor, tweeted photographs of the flooding in his house saying, "I am an affluent actor. This is my house. Imagine rest of Tamil Nadu".
Bathrooms submerged. Water coming out of the drains. I am an affluent actor. This is my house. Imagine rest of TN. pic.twitter.com/tjU2O2vESw
— Siddharth (@Actor_Siddharth) December 1, 2015
House flooded. Moving to the terrace. God save Tamil Nadu. pic.twitter.com/zf1Q18DSGx
— Siddharth (@Actor_Siddharth) December 1, 2015
However, as the situation in Chennai has gotten worse, there also seemed to be some hope as many people have risen to the occasion to provide whatever relief and rescue is possible.
Siddharth and Balaji in Chennai. Image Credit: Twitter @Soudha
An earlier Firstpost article mentioned how Twitter users have been leading the relief effort online. From updates about the situation on ground, to a dedicated Google sheet and website chennairains.org to collate all information, social media has been instrumental is helping Chennai get back on its feet. Be they gathering supplies through crowdsourcing, checking up on people who have lost connectivity or offering shelter, the impact of social media was evident. Even Twitter India has been using hashtags such as #ChennaiRainsHelp to gather all relevant information and several others have been using it to either ask for aid or help out the ones who are in need.
Leading the effort from the front are two popular personalities who have chosen to go out on the streets and help people themselves. Actor Siddharthand RJ Balaji from Big FM 92.7 have gotten together a team of volunteers to assist the people stranded in Chennai. In a rare instance of a celebrity going out on ground zero, Siddharth and Balaji have done some exceptional work by co-ordinating relief activities in the city by tweeting out advice, listing down supplies needed and guiding volunteers. They have introduced the hashtag #ChennaiMicro for the conveneiicne of picking up of parcels and giving out other information.
Here's a brief sample of their work so far:
Many people died in their cars in the Bombay floods because power windows and central locking jammed. Don't sit in broken down cars. #flood
— Siddharth (@Actor_Siddharth) December 1, 2015
Call 044-46946000. One small room cld b d biggest act of kindness. In times of crisis, #WeNeedEachOther #PlzShare pic.twitter.com/ZKRQsgiSRI
— RJ Balaji (@RJ_Balaji) December 1, 2015
Please send tweets to @rj_balaji & me. We are trying to contact groups to spread information for stranded people. Every message/call counts.
— Siddharth (@Actor_Siddharth) December 1, 2015
If you see people in water, please drop them to dry land. If there's any way you can drive around please do. Help the relief work. #TNflood
— Siddharth (@Actor_Siddharth) December 1, 2015
Please use hashtag #ChennaiMicro for food parcel pickup information. It will be easier for our team to respond. Thanks. @rj_balaji
— Siddharth (@Actor_Siddharth) December 2, 2015
People in other cities can help by ordering bread packets, biscuits and readily eatables thro online portals in my name. Add in next tweet.
— RJ Balaji (@RJ_Balaji) December 2, 2015
We r getting 5 tractors today to rescue ppl from flooded places. Dont how many we can reach, hoping to save more.
— RJ Balaji (@RJ_Balaji) December 4, 2015
10 vehicles doing bedding and food water drops from 3pm. Come on #Chennai we need more. Blankets priority! #ChennaiMicro
— Siddharth (@Actor_Siddharth) December 3, 2015
No network. Putting up #ChennaiMicro volunteer team info. Tweet me. Also call them of they are near you. Food water blankets. Please.
— Siddharth (@Actor_Siddharth) December 3, 2015
Contact @RJ_Balaji me and our team with hashtag #ChennaiMicro DO NOT RT RANDOMLY. ONLY VERIFIED DONORS AND INFO PLEASE.
— Siddharth (@Actor_Siddharth) December 2, 2015
Siddharth and Balaji even drove around the waterlogged city in order to transport people stranded without supplies
driving around doing pickups and drips tomorrow. Currently food and clothing are secondary. Transport is first priority. Please RT #TNflood
— Siddharth (@Actor_Siddharth) December 1, 2015
We have a 5 car convoy patrolling affected areas in #Chennai . Please collect genuine transport issues and post to me & @rj_balaji #TNflood
— Siddharth (@Actor_Siddharth) December 1, 2015
If anyone has innova or Scorpio cars to spare please contact us. We need more vehicles. #TNflood #chennaimicro
— Siddharth (@Actor_Siddharth) December 2, 2015
His request for vehicles was immediately picked by several people including Udhayanidhi Stalin, son of DMK leader Stalin and Prithi Ashwin, wife of Indian cricketer Ravi Ashiwn.
@Actor_Siddharth Fortuner at home Sidharth. @RJ_Balaji can someone pick it up?
— Prithi Ashwin (@prithinarayanan) December 2, 2015
@Actor_Siddharth @RJ_Balaji Sid make it 6! Wil join u tmrw!
— Udhay (@Udhaystalin) December 1, 2015
As panic in the city spread, there were several rumours such as escaped crocodiles making rounds. Siddharth and Balaji, who were on the ground, cleared the air and even made sure people were not hindering the effort.
Crocodiles in d city and all other nonsense are just rumours. Plz Stop spreading thse in watsapp and here. Will add more choas.
— RJ Balaji (@RJ_Balaji) December 2, 2015
If you are not part of relief work please stay indoors. People crowding bridges to see flood sights are a nuisance. Stay home. #TNflood
— Siddharth (@Actor_Siddharth) December 2, 2015
They have even set up a trust fund for people from other places to contribute to the relief effort.
Will post account details of a trust soon. If you would like to send donations for relief work done by @RJ_Balaji and me.. Plsss do
#ChennaiMicroFund contribution A/c Name: V Trust, A/C NO: 533102010503421, UNION BANK OF INDIA, IFSC CODE: UBIN0553310. #ChennaiMicro
— Siddharth (@Actor_Siddharth) December 3, 2015
— Siddharth (@Actor_Siddharth) December 3, 2015
The contribution of Siddharth and Balaji along with their volunteers did not go unnoticed as many on social media praised their initiative.
Massive respect to @Actor_Siddharth n @RJ_Balaji who tuk ground wrk n serve foods for 1000's of ppl ! #chennairains pic.twitter.com/ypFrpycN1a
— Joy Crizildaa (@joy_stylist) December 3, 2015
#rjbalaji & #Siddharth are real heroes who took ground work and served foods to thousand of people massive respect pic.twitter.com/f8PaPbeKMC
— Dinakaran (@dinakaran_web) December 4, 2015
He hasn't just given away money. He went out n helped as much as he could. Truly inspiring hero @Actor_Siddharth pic.twitter.com/LVXpTo3BA1
— soudha (@soudha) December 4, 2015
And a word n for @Actor_Siddharth who's put his time n efforts where his heart is, as his timeline reflects #ChennaiFloods
— atul kasbekar (@atulkasbekar) December 4, 2015
Don't remember any Bollywood actor taking measures to help during Mumbai floods of 2005 the way Siddharth is doing right now in Chennai.
— Shakti Shetty (@Shakti_Shetty) December 3, 2015
@doctoratlarge Real life is much like Rang de Basanti. Aamir gets all the fame, while, real hero is @Actor_Siddharth pic.twitter.com/r4PRWY0Zpx
— Aryan Vulcan (@dinonysus7) December 3, 2015
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Updated Date: Dec 04, 2015 19:48:04 IST
