Social media: Ray of hope for Uttarakhand flood victims' kin

As government helplines and rescue operations are proving to be inadequate, family members of victims missing in flood-hit Uttarakhand from the Capital have started online campaigns to trace their loved ones. While some have started posting details about their missing relatives on different Facebook pages, many others have been sending emails to journalists and NGO’s seeking help.

“I went to Haridwar and Rishikesh to find out the whereabouts of my son and his family. But it was of no use. Now, I am sending emails to everyone who I think can help me in some way,” says Siyaram Gupta, a businessman from Rohini.

Five members of his family, including his son, his daughter-in-law, his three-year-old granddaughter and his son’s in-laws are missing. He had last communicated with them on June 15, when they were in Kedarnath. Even though Gupta is hopeful of reuniting with his family, he continues to wait for their unsure return.

A Facebook page, Mediahelp, is not only updating information about missing people, but also uploading important government helpline contacts and other relevant information.

“A Delhi-based family of an advocate is missing in Uttarakhand,” reads one of the posts along with the photograph of missing family.

Other Facebook pages include Uttarakhand Disaster, Khoya Paya, etc. The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), has also started sending out details of the missing people on emails to government officials and journalists, which they think can help to trace the people quickly.

“We think that a wide online sharing of the details of victims will help and someone might get back with information about them,” says Satish Garg of CAIT. Relatives of a Surajmal Vihar family missing in Uttarakhand have not only gone to the flood-ravaged state in search, but are also getting in touch with organisations that are active online.

“The government seem helpless in this crisis. We have painstakingly met every concerned official, but in vain. Now, I am looking for options online,” says Sunil Jindal, whose cousin and four other family members are missing. He had last conversed with them on June 16 when they were in Ramwada and were stopped from proceeding ahead by authorities. There have been no information about them since.