Chennai Rains: A quick guide to be safe and emergency numbers

Heavy rains have once again pounded the city of Chennai and until now close to 188 people have been killed and many are injured. The rains that have virtually broken a 100-year-old record with a day’s rainfall covering a month’s average. The worst affected are the low lying areas and people living near the banks of Adyar river. Close to 4,000 people living on the banks of the river has been evacuated to safer zones.

In such adversities here’s a quick guide for being safe :

• Travelling: it’s better you don’t travel through the water logged areas especially do not drive or walk as there might be strong under currents, huge crater like potholes or worse still leeches and snakes. Travelling if at all must be done through public transport preferably busses.
• In the face of such adversities many of you must have lost many important documents. Well for those who haven’t, then do quickly put all your important documents in one plastic packet and keep it handy so that in case of an evacuation you can take them with you and there won’t be a fear of you losing them or these getting destroyed with water.
• Keep all the contact numbers especially the emergency ones written down in a pocketbook
• Don’t forget to boil the drinking water even if you are using a water purifier

List of food items that you must keep stocked up at home:

• Packaged food
• Milk
• Water Cans
• Bread, jam/butter
• Biscuit

The medicine cabinet should be well stocked up too:

• Paracetamol
• Cough Syrup
• Electral and Glucose
• Band aids, multi-purpose ointment
• Any prescribed medicine especially for diabetics and blood- pressure patients

An assorted list of household items you should have at your house:

• Candles with matches
• Torch lights with extra set of batteries
• Charge your cell-phones & battery banks
• Bedsheets & Shawls for all family members

Help line numbers:

Lastly for regional emergency number click here