Satellites show how record-setting rainfall paralyzed one of India’s largest cities

Newly released satellite images show how far relief efforts have to go to restore Chennai after the heaviest rainfall in 100 years that some link to climate change inundated India’s fourth-largest city in recent weeks.

Google News Lab partnered with DigitalGlobe, a geospatial imaging company based near Washington, D.C., to release before-and-after images of Chennai, a coastal city in southeastern India that is home to more than 4.6 million people. So far, officials report that 280 people have died, but recovery efforts are just starting and thousands of people are displaced after the seemingly endless rain’s rising water forced them from their homes.

A couple sits along a flooded roadside under a picture of Jayalalithaa Jayaram, chief minister of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, in Chennai, India, Dec. 6, 2015. Photo by Anindito Mukherjee/Reuters

Indians both in and out of the flood-hit region have used Whatsapp, Facebook and Twitter to check on loved ones, issue distress calls, coordinate relief efforts and shame politicians who some feel could do more to help people, often using the hashtags #ChennaiFloods and #ChennaiRains.

Video of workers placing pictures of local politicians on relief material before distributing much-needed rice and lentils have stirred outrage on social media.

These satellite images were both taken over the same area of Chennai, India. The top image was captured on March 19, 2015, and the bottom image was taken on Dec. 8, showing how floodwaters have inundated India’s fourth largest city. Photo by Google and DigitalGlobe

One image on Twitter that went viral showed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi looking out of an aircraft window over the Chennai floods. It was later revealed to have been photoshopped. The tweet was removed from Modi’s official Twitter account, but not before it became a social media punchline. Modi has promised $150 million in aid to nearly double $140 million already committed.

Satellites captured before-and-after images of Chennai, showing the result of historic flooding that has paralyzed one of the largest cities in India. Here, the above image was taken on June 8, and the bottom image is from Dec. 8. Photo by Google and DigitalGlobe.

Despite overwhelmed systems and loss of electricity, clean-up is underway as floodwater recede.

Municipal workers clear the debris in an alley after flood waters receded in Chennai, India, Dec. 7. Photo by Anindito Mukherjee/Reuters