UAE expatriates from Chennai brace for flood aftermath

Dubai: Heaving a sigh of relief over the relative respite from the rains, UAE expatriates from Chennai continue to live in fear as they feel the worst may not be over for their near and dear ones.

“While my sister who lives in Kodambakkam area did not suffer from the typical troubles that residents of flood affected areas suffered, she feels once the water recedes from the city, bacterial contamination of water might lead to a rise in diseases like cholera and dirt and sludge will attract flies and mosquitoes. Any viral or bacterial outbreak is likely to affect the entire city,” said Neeta Tyagarajan, a resident of Dubai.

Life is slowly returning to normal, but there are people in many pockets of waterlogged localities waiting to be rescued.

Annie Paul, a resident of Dubai who went to Chennai to care for her sick mother, found herself stuck at the Railway Hospital in Perambur along with her 80-year-old mum. Her 89-year-old father, who was left stranded at home, was being looked after by neighbours as their home was flooded.

“It had been a very trying week for me as I had not expected this deluge. I had come to Chennai to take care of my ailing mother who had two heart attacks,” Paul said, speaking from the hospital.

“While I cared for my mother at the hospital, the city was hit by a severe cyclone; luckily the kindness and compassion of my neighbour Gita saved my father.

“At the hospital, Dr Sreeram and Dr Lakshman and matron Aleyamma of Southern Railway have been the epitome of kindness.

“They allocated a special room for my mother though the hospital was affected with shortage of basic food supplies and electricity and the entire hospital staff truly showed the noble side of the medical profession.”

Annie’s husband George Paul who is looking after their two children in Dubai, hopes things will get back to normal soon and his wife is able to return by December 12.

Aparna Hariharan, another Dubai resident, says the city of Chennai witnessed the generosity and dedication of ordinary volunteers while greedy hoarders exploited the situation to sell essential products at high premiums.

“My parents who lived in Korottur had luckily moved in with my sister’s extended family in Velacherry soon after the first round of rains close to Diwali as their house was completely damaged by rains,” Hariharan says.

“They were fortunate to have supplies of rice, lentils, water and cooking gas for the entire month and they had no problem.”

But, for her aged in-laws and parents, getting fresh essential supplies like milk, bread and biscuits was a challenge.

She says the volunteers from the city were using boats to distribute these supplies, however shop keepers were selling milk for Rs100 (Dh5.5) a litre and all essential commodities at three to four times the original price.

Most of the domestic appliances in the Thiruvamiyur home of Raghu, brother-in-law of Dubai resident Rajgopalan Thygarajan’s were washed away.

“A wall of about four feet [1.2 metres] of water gushed into my brother-in-law and sister’s home and they lost everything. They have since moved to their daughter’s home in Mylapore and the Chennai government has a huge job now to rehabilitate so many people once this phase is over.”

Another Dubai resident, Lakshmy Shanker’s daughter Geeta who lives in Cholaymid had a fortunate experience as after some initial flooding her family has been quite safe in the first floor of their home.

“Most homes in Kodambakkam, Rajkilpackum, Vilivakkam did not witness so much flooding as these neighbourhoods have better drainage and are built on higher land. It was neighbourhoods in low lying areas such as Saidapet, Mambalam which were worst affected proving that had the government cleaned the canals and taken preventive action such devastation could have been avoided.”

The Indian Consulate in Dubai in the meanwhile has no plans to organise any collection drive for Chennai. A media spokesperson from the Consulate said residents were being asked to directly contribute to the Indian Prime Minister’s Relief Fund and the Chennai Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.

Nothwithdstanding this advice, many independent organisations such as the Art of Living have organised fund raising from expatriates based here. Many other UAE residents have organised collection of essential toiletries, dry food items such as baby food, milk powder, biscuits, clothing and blankets among other things to be sent to Chennai.