Chennai: Chennai is limping back to normalcy after being hit by the heaviest rainfall to lash the city in 100 years. As many arterial roads become navigable and power is restored in most areas, offices and businesses plan to reopen soon.

Rescue and relief efforts are still underway with the army and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) evacuating stranded residents, volunteers continuing to hand out packages of food and water and people flocking to relief centres in search of blankets and a change of clothes.

The shock and horror of the past week has meanwhile given way to anger.

The J. Jayalalithaa-led Tamil Nadu government is facing flak for delayed response to the calamity and political interference in relief measures.

Locals are also complaining that they were not given enough notice before water from the Chembarambakkam reservoir was released.

“The entire system has collapsed. It will take Chennai months to get back to normal even when the rains stop. Where is the taxpayer’s entire money going? I don’t take black money. I pay my taxes. What is being done for me and my people with my hard-earned money?" asked actor Kamal Haasan in a statement on Thursday.

In a strong response, minister for finance and public works O. Panneerselvam asked the actor to understand the magnitude of the disaster. Panneerselvam said the chief minister’s efforts had greatly reduced the loss of life and property.

But citizens, who worked together to help their rain-battered city, disagree.

“The government turned out to be a big disappointment. In the past few days I have seen only volunteers, the government is nowhere to be found," said Dhileban Angappan, who was assisting in transporting and supplying food in the south of Chennai, one of the worst affected parts of the city.

In fact, reports suggest that the absence of proper local logistical support impeded the rescue operations being conducted by the army and the NDRF. There were reports of men being dispatched to wrong addresses, lack of equipment needed and long waiting periods.

Not only did the government not rise to the occasion but it also attempted to gain publicity out of citizen-led relief measures.

“Except for pasting stickers of Amma, they did nothing" said another volunteer, Bharani Dharan, who was involved in the distribution of relief supplies in the Pallikaranai area.

That was a reference to functionaries of the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam allegedly asking relief workers to stick pictures of Jayalalithaa on all relief material.

Food and water may have been in short supply in the city, but liquor shops overflowed. “The only government institutions which never closed during or after the rains were the #Tasmac shops," tweeted C.V. Sarathi, while Naveen Daftari tweeted, “Please close all #Tasmac for a few days and open all #AmmaCanteens".

The budget canteens, part of the government’s food subsidization programme, remained closed.

“There has undoubtedly been action paralysis here," said Avis Viswanathan, a city-based writer and life coach. “Jayalalithaa may be doing whatever she can to direct relief operations but there is no leadership and inspiration visible."

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