Homecoming with a purpose: Sritha Thayi

Having landed in the city just two weeks ago, I was still jet-lagged. My trip was all about socialising till the rains brought another purpose. On December 1, when heavy rains lashed the city I had set out to arrange for food along with a friend in a SUV. We could barely make it to Anna Nagar and the enormity of the rains hit us hard. We saw families stranded on the roads and helped dropping them at their destination as we went around the city. 

Just idling around or having fun seemed so insignificant at that time. I soon began coordinating with people and as we received calls about people being stranded and immediate relief materials like food, water and blankets. We put together a system where we ascertained the number of calls to understand which area needed immediate relief. 

As part of the rescue operations, we were in touch with Coast Guards to alert them about any rescue operations in the city. Since December 1 till about last week, I left home at around 7 am and returned only by 10 in the night. As part of our work, I was liasoning with people, whom I hadn’t known till then, and we, as strangers, were united by a cause for the people of Chennai. The stories we heard during our work was very hard-hitting and inspiring. We had a businessman amidst us, who was volunteering throughout the week, despite his house getting submerged in the flood. Now, the focus is on economic rehabilitation because there is only so much what we can do. 

I had wanted to visit India only in the second week, but rescheduled the visit to November 21 because I wanted to be home. Now, I believe this was for a reason.

If you have an experience to share, as an on-field volunteer during Chennai floods, write to us at contact us. dtnext@dt.co.in with a picture. We will feature your story.