Transportation of an Elephant in India

CHENNAI, INDIA FLOODS

     The city of Chennai, where I live, received extremely heavy rainfall practically cutting off the city from the rest of India. Road, Rail and Air services were totally shut down. Against a normal rainfall of some 357.8 mm the city received some 537 mm - a 60% more rainfall over the normal. Some places received  nearly 50 mm. of rain in an hour. More than 260 people lost their lives. The financial loss is estimated to be above Rs. 15,000 crores (approx. $230 million). The loss to property, livestock and cultivation is yet to be assessed.

     Here are some pictures of the devastation -

An Aerial View - In Some Places The Water Level Came Up To A Height Of Two Floors.

Even an idol of a god was not spared

Some people did save their pets, some didn't.

Total Submersion of Cars and Autos

Indian Creativity - You Just Can't Beat Them

Having A Grand View

     Youngsters, NGOs, Policemen, Army and Naval personnel did a yeoman's rescue work.

     The heavy rainfall was attribute to the "El Nino" effect but the flooding was due to other reasons.

Weddings

Attended two weddings. One was the daughter of a family friend and was held at Nagerkoil, practically the southernmost tip of India in the State of Tamil Nadu. The bride was a doctor and so was the bridegroom. I am furnishing a picture of the bride together with her parents and my wife and myself. The parents of the bride are to the right of the bride who is in the middle all decked out in a bridal outfit.

The other was the son of my college mate and was held in Madurai right in the middle of Tamil Nadu. I ran out of battery and so I did not get any pictures.

Both the weddings went of splendidly and I met some of my old colleagues from my days of service in the Department of Irrigation. We had some recollections of the past experiences while in service. All of us have retired.

The Silent Indian National Anthem

The Indian National Anthem sung by deaf and dumb school children. I don't know which school it is but I do know that it is touching and I wish a lot of others had the same patriotism that these children have.