Floods and landslides have killed more than 270 people in India, displaced over one million and inundated thousands of homes across six states, authorities said after two weeks of heavy monsoon rains.
The rains from June to September are a lifeline for rural India, delivering some 70 per cent of the country's rainfall, but they also cause death and destruction each year.
The states of Kerala and Karnataka in the south, along with Maharashtra and Gujarat in the west, were among the hardest hit by floods that washed away thousands of hectares of summer-sown crops and damaged roads and rail lines.
Last year, Kerala was hit by its worst floods in almost a century and is still recovering from the extensive loss of life and damage to public infrastructure including highways, railways and roads.
Memories of the 2018 floods were revived as parts of central and northern Kerala received heavy rainfall. Flooding and multiple landslides claimed at least nine lives in the state till Thursday
Hundreds are using various social media platforms to coordinate search operations and post precautionary messages to help those in need.
#Keralarains began trending with various precautionary messages, and updates about floods and rescue operations. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also took to Twitter to ask people to refrain from sharing unreliable and fake news.
Social media was a boon during Kerala floods. When phone networks within the Indian state were disrupted due to the weather, many flood victims started uploading videos on Facebook and Twitter to ask for help.
Keralites around the world, who had friends and relatives stranded in Kerala also uploaded videos requesting rescue teams to act fast.
Soon, social media channels and messaging platforms like WhatsApp were filled with information, emergency numbers and details about those who were stranded. This helped rescue teams reach people who needed help.
Social media also helped Kerala get financial and humanitarian assistance from people across India and the globe.
Online tweeps felt it was “inspiring” and many users shared pictures about their endeavours.
#KeralaFloods
— Sandeep.S (@sandeepsnml) August 9, 2019
Troubling memories of 2018 floods returned to haunt Kerala as heavy rainfall lashed central and northern districts.
Pic credits: to respective owners pic.twitter.com/Xe49SbfA12
#Cochin Airport closed in fear of Flood. #KeralaFloods #Keralarains pic.twitter.com/MmllTct8US
— AKHIL Gš (@akhilbot) August 8, 2019
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