Chennai: The hopes of J.P. John, 61-year- old daily wageworker, and his family staying at Seva Sadan makeshift camp at Tambaram here, were shattered. He has lost most of his belongings after his house went under flood water three days ago.
“When I woke up at 5 am and moved out, my small house was almost submerged. I tried reaching all helpline numbers, but it was very late before I could move out all my household belongings, my son’s job documents and other important certificates,” he said in a mild voice, with tears rolling down his cheeks.
Sitting on the school staircase, he said “It was only two suitcases and a bag that we were able to carry along when we came to this camp at the school,” he added. The auditorium on the second floor of the school accommodated nearly 50 families. Most of them were elderly people lying on the floor and whose kids were found playing in waterlogged grounds.
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In total, there are 250 children at the makeshift camp at Seva Sadan School alone. Like John, there are nearly 2,500 persons, who are residing in camps at Seva Sadan higher secondary school in West Mambalam, Kannada Palayam higher secondary school and Perungalathur higher secondary school with similar stories to narrate.
Meanwhile, those staying in Kanndapalayam School complained that shortage of bedcover and dress materials has made life difficult for them in the past two days. “At night, while it was chilling cold, I and my kids had no bedcover due to which we were not able to sleep as lying on the cold cement slab was very difficult,” said 52-year-old T.Muniyamma, a tailor of MGR Nagar, who is now staying at the Kanndapalayam school with her two daughters.
“We are trying to make sure that all those who have arrived here are registered and are provided with food and shelter with bed sheets and bed cover. We will send the names of all those who are affected to the government who will later decide on the quantum of compensation,” said a senior official at Tambaram municipality. In Tambaram and Perungalathur, there are 11 makeshift camps that are operated by the municipality and the government for the past six days.
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