DMK Councillor Turns Away Rescue Boats In Flooded Chennai, Cites ‘Social Media’ Concerns

In a bizarre situation in Chennai, a DMK councillor in Velachery sent away fire and rescue personnel who arrived with boats after a distress call by expressing concerns that using the boats in the area could go viral on social media and attract negative attention.

The troubling incident in Velachery, Chennai, an area notorious for water stagnation due to its location over a lake bed, the monsoon rains since 15 October 2024, have caused significant flooding there. Velachery alone received 15 cm of rain, disrupting public life and flooding several interior roads, with water entering homes in some places. In response, fire and rescue personnel, along with the NDRF, were deployed to assist those in distress and help evacuate them to safety.

During this crisis, it is alleged that an elderly man made a distress call for assistance, prompting the arrival of rescue personnel in boats as water levels continued to rise. However, they were met with opposition from a local DMK councillor named Anand. He argued with the rescuers, questioning why they were bringing boats to the area. Despite the personnel explaining that they were responding to a distress call, the councillor insisted that their presence would lead to negative social media coverage, which he feared would tarnish the area’s reputation and him as its councillor.

Ultimately, he then ordered the personnel to leave and brought the elderly man from the boat back into the stagnant, polluted water. The councillor then arranged for a tractor to transport him and others to safety. This clash of egos at such a critical time has drawn widespread criticism, with netizens calling for action against the councillor for his irresponsible behavior.

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