Pedal power helped marooned
Chennai: The stink of sewage water mixed with rainwater was the last thing on Damodharan Sampathkumar’s mind. The six footer, head of business development for an IT company in the city, was only thinking of how to reach a family stranded on the top floor at Medavakkam. The family had an 18-month-old child who had not had milk for the past 24 hours as no one had come to rescue them.
After a three-hour long wait for help, he ventured into the water that even boats were hesitant to navigate through since the corporation had dug huge trenches to lay new sewage lines. Recalling his walk through the five-deep slush, he says: “While walking in water, one cannot use any kind of footwear; I just had to go with my instinct feeling the ground. I was lucky nothing cut or bit me as the water was infested with snakes and scorpions.”
After half an hour of walking he was unable to go any further due to the slush and loose soil. He handed over the baby formula to a few locals with car tubes. “Though I was not able to get the family out, I managed to get the baby food,” he says adding that the family was evacuated the next day.
Damodaran is a cycling enthusiast and his story is unique as his bicycle helped him reach spots, where traditional modes of transport could not make it. The cyclists’ community in Chennai was the first responders to carry out rescue work, deliver supplies, gather information and used its network to share information and plan. They were the city’s pedal heroes. Irrespective of the group they were affiliated to, they united and pedalled, through neck deep water to help the stranded reach safer ground, or to just offer words of comfort.
Balaji Prasad, cyclist and business manager in an HR company, despite his house being flooded and running a fever was out helping people the entire time. After completing a round of delivering candles and supplies, he saw a father trying to carry his third standard child through waist deep water.
“The man was struggling. I put his child on the cycle and managed to get them to safe ground.” The 100 plus cyclists became the lifeline for many marooned in the metropolis. Even the Amma Unavagams depended on them to bring in food and water.
Where all other means of transportation, including automobiles, buses and trains failed, the cycle came in handy. One cyclist requesting anonymity said, “I did what I should do. There is nothing to boast about. If anybody else was there in my place, they would have done the same.” He further adds that in Chennai everyone is a super hero as they helped in whatever way they could.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle most of the cyclists felt that in a disaster of this magnitude, when roads are compromised, the best way of getting around, transporting food, medical supplies and even messages is on cycles. It is much easier than using cars or bikes. In addition, some places where the water was so high, cycles were used as a way to guide the riders to bring essential items to those stranded. It was an eye opener and an experience for many.
Cyclist Thilak Raj, who runs an NGO, said, “As we cycle regularly, we have a decent level of stamina and strength, because of that we were able to wade through neck deep water and walk against the currents, which a normal person would find difficult to do.”
The cycling community also donated goods, loading their backpacks and with whatever they could buy to deliver to those stranded. This time they were cycling against all odds and won.
(The writer is a freelance journalist)
Download the all new Deccan Chronicle app for Android and iOS to stay up-to-date with latest headlines and news stories in politics, entertainment, sports, technology, business and much more from India and around the world.
