The helplessness, the anxiety and the kindness of people...Chennai floods brought forth all this and more. We focus on a few celebrities who got personally affected and involved...
Dhanush, Prabhudheva, R Madhavan and Sonu Sood
The deluge in Tamil Nadu has brought the state to a standstill with severely disrupting flights, train and bus services and forcing postponment of half-yearly school exams even as the state braced up for more showers in days to come. The death toll has reportedly touched 188. And unfortunately, it seems there is no instant relief for the people of Tamil Nadu as Met predicts rains to continue for the next four days. The situation in the flood-affected state has not only shaken the people residing there, but their relatives and well wishers all across the country. Many celebrities from the South Indian and Bollywood film industry are also concerned about the flood-affected people in Chennai.
In pictures: Heavy rains cripple life in Chennai again
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A family walks through floodwaters in Chennai on December 2, 2015. The death toll has reportedly touched 188 and Met predicts more rain in the next four days. pic/AFP
While the likes of Dhanush, Rajinikanth, Suriya, Vishal among others have already donated money for the Tamil Nadu relief fund, others are planning to lend their help at the earliest. But more importantly, most of them are being hands-on volunteers, helping the affected as best as they can.
Also read: Bollywood celebs pray for Chennai flood victims
Dhanush
In spite of all the resources and funds at his disposal, actor director Prabhudheva is feeling terribly helpless as he's been unable to reach his family. Prabhu's kids are in Anna nagar, Chennai while he's in Mumbai for work. "People in Chennai are not even in a position to take help.
Prabhudheva
I am not able to get in touch with my kids who are staying with my mother. Their phones are off because there is no electricity to charge. Transport system has taken a beating. Airport is also shut for two days. One of my friends, who happened to pass by my house, informed me that the ground level of my house is under water and my car is submerged. People in Chennai are in big trouble. Many people have lost their home and are struggling for food. I pray the situation comes under control at the earliest. As soon as that happens, I will go there and help people," he says.
Also read: Rajinikanth and other South stars donate for Tamil Nadu's rain-affected victims
Actor Dhanush is right now in Chennai and has been busy updating people with contacts to seek help for food and shelter. Dhanush was not willing to talk to us at length over the phone, because he was worried that he would miss calls from people who needed help. He says, "Only thing we can do now is try our best to help people out of this crisis. That's what I am doing." He had stocked about 600 biscuit packets and 400 packets of rusk and since he was unable to reach the food to the right people, he tweeted about it to let them know.
Siddharth was one of the actors in the forefront and his relentlss tweets since Tuesday morning suggested that he's busy doing his best trying to get transport, meals and clothing reach as many affected people as possible. He even tweeted a picture (below) of his bathroom where water was seen coming out of the drains.
Another person who's in the forefront helping people is Siddharth. We were unable to speak to the actor but his series of relentless tweets since Tuesday morning suggested that he's busy doing his best trying to get transport, meals and clothing reach as many affected people as possible. One of his tweets said, "We have 5 car convoy patrolling affected areas. Please collect genuine transport issues and post it to me." Siddharth also expressed concern when he tweeted a picture of a part of his house submerged in water. His tweet read, "Bathrooms submerged. Water coming out of the drains. I am an affluent actor. This is my house. Imagine rest of TN."
Last time when TN was in trouble after Tsunami, Vivek Oberoi had gone out of his way to make their lives easier. "I am constantly in touch with the NGOs who helped me during Tsunami. One Foundation is planning relief and rehabilitation for the flood affected people there. The situation is really bad and I am praying it comes under control as soon as possible," says the actor.
R Madhavan
Actor R Madhavan's entire family, including his parents and sister are in Chennai. He was relieved to hear from them that they are safe. He says, "We have not seen this kind of deluge in over 100years. The city is not at all prepared for something like this. To think it has been raining for 22 days at a stretch and it refuses to stop. What is also concerning is that the snakes and frogs have entered houses. Some of them had to ask for snake catchers to catch snakes inside their homes. It is really heartening to see the humanity shown by Chennaites on social media. It is amazing how people opened up their homes etc to help out their fellow citizens. The film industry there was quick to come to the rescue and some of them are personally going out there to help people, not thinking about their celebrity status."
Sonu Sood
Sonu Sood, who started his career in South Indian films and has many friends in Chennai, echoes Madhavan's statement. He says, "Most of my friends back there are saying their homes and offices are damaged in the flood. However, it is wonderful to see the way people are helping each other without worrying about their own safety."
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