The Chennai Floods 2015

The  sufferings of the Chennaites during the 2015  December floods were of great magnitude. Unprecedented outflow from the lakes and intermittent heavy rains, poor infrastructure took a heavy toll.  The houses in the embankments were washed away. The low lying areas took a big hit with water rising up to the second floor level. People were hungry sick and helpless . In spite of the political parties which were bent upon fishing in these troubled waters the spirit of Chennai rose up to the occasion. The youth who were generally considered  beyond redemption   proved that they were a class par excellence and with their selfless service  filled  the entire  state with  hope for a great future . 

The flood was not a huge  monetary loss for us but the inconveniences caused were worth a mention in this blog!

It was raining hard the whole night and in the morning balancing an umbrella on the slippery steps  I came down to the ground floor where we have the guest bedrooms and kitchen and dining. The portico and the verandah were brimming with murky waters.

Being an optimist  I believed that the inside of my house would be safe and sound. Sometimes it is better to be a pessimist!

 As I opened the lock the welcoming committee was in place in anticipation  of  my  arrival. The door mats were floating around along with the precious and expensive coffee table books ! Our DIY IKEA book shelf turned turtle throwing all my beloved books unto those muddy waters. In the bedrooms the stacked up bed sheets spreads  towels etc  in the lower shelves had gained weight ready for a liposuction.

Our kitchen is indeed a class apart. Even for ordinary rains  the swelled up well at the back creates minor havoc around  the place. But on this  day the chaos was of different order. The lower shelves immersed in water along with the 'drunken and dancing'  groceries were indeed a once in a life time spectacle!!

Added to all these chaos an amazing occurrence was happening in and around house. The tiny frogs, not the tadpoles but full grown minions occupied the house and  it’s surrounds in great strengths leapfrogging on any one who dared to disturb them. Like the Pied Piper of Hamlin they followed suit on those who dared to enter their regime.  In my anxiety I took broom which was standing straight in spite of  this utter disorder and started banging at them. I regretted my hasty action. The frogs jumped in glee all over me and I got the fright of my life thinking over my grandmother's commanding statement that we would get skin disease if  ever we came into contact with a frog!

At one point of time electricity was cut. In spite of using the inverter very frugally it gave up its spirit. Efforts to light up the  few tea candles  with a single match box was a grand failure with the match box conspiring with the wet ambience.( From the newspaper  we came to know that a single candle was sold at Rs.50.) Frantic outside calls went unanswered striking panic among friends and relatives outside Chennai and the  unaffected lucky few  within the city. 

Wading  through the waters I cooked a pot full of rice and carried it to the first floor. With some  pickles  and 'fridge less' curd it turned to be an ambrosia for a full day!

If I thought that the inside of our house  was in a big  mess, in many houses the toilets were overflowing creating a big stink. As in the poem of Francis Thompson ‘Hound of Heaven "If the pulp so bitter how shall taste the rind?” if the houses themselves were in a state of chaos  what could we say about our road condition? The grimy water was filled with jetsam and flotsams of varied hues and shapes. The stink from this overflowing waters could be the  precursor for any number of contagious diseases waiting  around the corner!!

My son and daughter in law were our redeemers whisking us away from this muddle. They too acted as the guardian angel for my sister in law from her place where the water raised to the waist level.

10 days with the grand children and rest of the family , an interesting book by your side and the rainy breeze  through the French windows was indeed a bliss!

I am giving you all these details to explain my situation and why there was no blog for quite some time.

In sympathy with the ambience it gained plenty of moisture and refused to budge to the heat of hair dryer. No service person were available for the  lowly few  single computer owners since their priority was to bring back life  many an inundated IT companies filled with umpteen no of computers. Mine sprang to life late but applied for VRS in no time and till the new person joined duty my blog was wait listed!