“North Chennai’s very first female group of heroic volunteers who went out of their way to save the lives of many from starvation”.

Serving humanity with kindness and generosity: Vardah Cyclone

In the afternoon hours of December 12^th 2016, the east coastline of South India being swept by winds at 65kmph, Vardah cyclone claimed the lives of more than 24 people. But then these numbers aren’t certain, why? That’s how much ruckus the cyclone imploded. Carcasses afloat on the water running through the streets and devouring everything in its path.

The news channels bore nothing but horrendous news about people losing their loved ones and everything they owned. It was a day of mourning when it was telecasted that the Otteri brigde was about to break down. Amidst all the fear and panic, the founder of Shrradha trust, Dr A. G. Nartana Karthikeyan set out on her two wheeler embarked on a ride to the bridge because she knew intuitively that somebody would need her help and as she thought, there stood a family stranded on the street with no way to reach their homes safely. Without a second thought, Nartana rescued the entire family by drooping them to their house, one by one, back and forth, only on her two wheeler through the gushing streams on the roads.

The next day, Nartana, single handedly rescuing a family in dire need, knew she could make a huge difference if she did the noble deed as a team. Thus formed North Chennai’s very first female group of heroic volunteers who went out of their way to save the lives of many from starvation. This rescue mission plan of distributing all food, grocery, blankets and other inevitable daily necessities took place for two days straight, irrespective of it being night or day, rain and flood, the volunteers made a vow to never back down.

All of the distribution was done area to area, street to street, house to house only via two wheelers in the flooded streets. And if the raging waters prevented them from using their bikes they did not hesitate to walk through the monstrous surge of water to reach the houses of victims and provide them help.

At this point, KRM group of schools  generously provided a vehicle for the volunteers to continue doing good will with ease of transport. Rotary club of Coimbatore joined the volunteers in  their venture and also sponsored countless supply of groceries and flood relief necessities.

The other team who was introduced through sathyam tv also joined with them and sponsored a boat and tricycle to carry the foods, groceries etc.

Many people were suffered without proper food, proper clothes, daily needs near mathur. Once they saw the volunteers of shrradha distributing food and necessities they rushed to them and asked for foods. “It was a very painful moments” said by Shrradha volunteers.

The flood relief mission wasn’t just for the humans crying out for help but it was also extended to so many domestic creatures like cats, dogs and cows. Reaching out to animals was the most kindest service the volunteers offered because they realized there was nobody to voice out for them. Rescue of domestic creatures was indeed a notable deed.

There was a street filled with sewage water near G3 Police station, Pulianthope. The other volunteers from someother groups saw the sewage stagnant and  they were hesitate to walk in sewage water, but our shrradha volunteers never looked the sewage water has a problem or a hesitation they just walked and gave the food, water bottles  to the needy people, because the goal in their mind is no people should suffer without food during that situation.

An old man in his 70s, stricken by hunger, waiting for any food he could get so he can survive a off of it for a few more hours. He was in no shape to cook himself something or even ask for help from anyone around. Shrradha volunteers leaned to him with a sense of empathy and cooked him some noodles. It was a moment of heartfelt warmth when he thanked the volunteers with folded hands and a satiated smile.

The cyclone had hit all parts of east coast of Chennai and since all power lines were destroyed, communication was extremely interrupted. And in times when people needed power source to charge their phones to enquire the state of their scattered friends and family, Shrradha volunteers made it possible for them by charging batteries of mobile phones and enquiring on behalf of the victims themselves. This kind of helping mind never comes to anyone.

“The old women aged 80 years old who was fighting for her life was saved by shrradha volunteers”.

              The volunteers saw the old lady fighting for life and they pamphered her with food and water and  they took the old lady to the nearby hospital through tricycle, finally she was saved. This was an heartfilled and proud moment for the shrradha volunteers.

There was an drastic overflow of water in areas of Metupalayam ( before known as chaklipalayam) near perambur. Soon after the draining of the flood awaited a gruesome scene. The waters drew in filthy garbage into residential areas. Shrradha Volunteers with no hesitation, got to work and swept the premises clean and sanitized the area using bleaching powder.

All the benevolent deeds were done without expecting anything in return expect for the wellbeing of fellow brothers and sisters, to ensure that their suffering is lifted off. Huge bow down to the entire team for all their selfless service. Shrradha trust portrayed that they will always be around in times of crises.