In Flooded Chennai, Social Media is the Busiest Helpline

Chennai: In flooded Chennai, strangers became friends in need as they reached out to each other on social media with offers of help or SOS.

Food, water, shelter and helpline numbers were offered on twitter as the fourth largest city confronted one of its worst crises.

Nellai Xpress Restaurant preparing food for the needy. #ChennaiMicro #ChennaiRainsHelp #ChennaiFloods pic.twitter.com/rsVlMsdyNa

- Sudhir Viyas D (@ViyasD) December 2, 2015

Accommodation around 30 ppl at Kolathur near poompuhar nagar.9840794340, +91 8807711111, +91 9841094340. #ChennaiFloods #chennairains

- Asbern (@asbernpyrate) December 2, 2015

FOODDISTRIBUTION INFO FOR CHENNAI -Sharethis #ChennaiRainsHelp #ChennaiRains #ChennaiFloods #tambaram @USAndChennai pic.twitter.com/i1PDr3ddB4

- ThiyagarajakumarRama (@Thiyagarajakuma) December 2, 2015

The efforts proved effective in a few areas where volunteers saved the day. But there were complaints that accessing people who needed help was difficult.

Many tried to organise efforts to rescue people or provide food using hashtags and Facebook posts. Others did their bit by sharing or retweeting.
 

#ChennaiFloods #ChennaiRainsHelp #Chennai #ChennaiDrowning May god bless you @RogerisGod for this initiatve https://t.co/TYFpA6IVTi

- Iswaran N.P. (@NPIswaran) December 2, 2015

A Google spreadsheet is being shared with details of where people can go for shelter and who they can contact. Extraordinary offers of help and support flooded twitter, ensuring that #ChennaiFloods stayed of the top trending topics of the day.

Pl RETWEET: Help from Old Madras Baking Company #ChennaiFloods pic.twitter.com/UcGYsl69Ys

- Dinakaran Rengachary (@dinakaran) December 1, 2015