Adversity - When the waters rose - TAPMI, Manipal
Shortly after joining M/s Schneider Electric, the big challenge that I faced was contributed by Mother Nature herself. Unexpected heavy rains and flood in the city of Chennai, brought life to stand still in December 2015. Even the Met department did not comprehend a disaster of this magnitude. Stranded in one of my customers’ office, with water all around and with not many acquaintances in the city, I had absolutely no idea as to what to do. I could see my car in the parking area literally floating in the sea of flood water. The mobile communications had stopped. I knew I had to do something, right at that moment, since flood water was still rising exponentially. I waded through the knee-deep water, trying to keep myself always at the centre, lest I fall into any pits and somehow managed to reach my car. The dilemma now was to open and shut the door as quickly as possible, so that water doesn’t get in much. After entering the car, completely drenched, I could successfully start the engine. I had to dump my plan to reach my apartment when police man informed me that the roads leading to that place were blocked due to excessive flooding. I could not afford to take much time in making an alternate decision, as flood water was still on the fast rising trend. I just tried to concentrate and tried hard to fast scan through the any available options and their pros and cons. It then struck me about my friend who long ago mentioned in one of our conversations about his newly furnished apartment in a hilly terrain in the outskirts of the city and then decided to reach there. With no means of contacting him and not knowing whether he was in the city, I knew it was a risk, but that was the only pragmatic action that I could think of, at that time. Without the Google map working in my mobile, finding the place in such a situation was a tough task by itself. I found myself now entering into previously unknown roads where water was chest deep, but continued my journey. From far I could see that after a few feet, the roads are on an uphill mode and hence the flood water level lesser. Then with the help of a few good Samaritans, I finally reached the apartment where my friend was only happy to accommodate me.
