The devastating rains and flood-like situation in Chennai shook every Indian with the calamity being described as one of the worst in living memory. Close to 300 people have already ,lost their lives while millions have been forced to spend several days and nights amidst utter despondency and hopelessness.
Social media rose to the occasion and did its best to provide relief to the affected people by connecting those who were able to help with those who needed it the most.
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However, as expected the role of Indian media in covering (or lack of covering) the disaster came under sharp scrutiny. While many believed the media’s response to Chennai rains was shambolic, others highlighted the lack of sensitivity displayed while covering this monumental tragedy.
User Akash Banerjee posted this screenshot of Tez channel, part of India Today Group,
Move over @BDUTT; your coverage of J&K floods was nothing compared to THIS! (:-/)
This year's #Emmy goes to her. pic.twitter.com/n7iCH6U10K— Akash Banerjee (@akashbanerjee) December 2, 2015
Others appeared angry on the slow response of Indian media. Here’s how how they expressed their anger.
People wanted National Media coverage.
And this is what national media offers 🙂https://t.co/oTg58ZmyXp— SG (@shrinivassg) December 2, 2015
The national media coverage of #ChennaiRains makes me wish there had not been any. DEVASTATION EVERYWHERE PEOPLE ARE CRYING AND TRAUMATIZED
— Lavanya Mohan (@lavsmohan) December 4, 2015
Shame On All Media.. Bias Of North Over South! Paltry Coverage Of Floods Battering One Of The Iconic Cities In India, #Chennai #ChennaiRains
— Cinemapatti (@cinemapatti) December 1, 2015
https://twitter.com/i_actorsasi/status/671753454671515648
Non stop raining,Flood,shortage of goods & foods, horrible situation in Chennai but no media coverage 4 #ChennaiRains
Delhi is not India— वंदना (@vandanamehta4) December 1, 2015
Senior journalist and presenter Rajdeep Sardesai too recorded his video blog to highlight why Indian media had initially ignored the tragedy faced by millions of flood victims. Sardesai called it a “tyranny of distance” — referring to the fact that many of the national outlets were headquartered in Delhi, nearly 2,000 km away from the Tamil Nadu capital.
His plain-speaking earned him plenty of plaudits.
A heartfelt message from Rajdeep on the media coverage (or lack thereof) of the Chennai rains: https://t.co/rWqv2GCqL7
— Shilpa Rathnam (@shilparathnam) December 2, 2015
At least somebody had the balls to admit and correct! Well done Rajdeep. https://t.co/zV5p40y8O0 via #ChennaiFloods #Chennai
— Athul Jayachandran (@athuljc) December 2, 2015
