In a first-of-its-kind initiative in India, online cab aggregator Ola has launched a free boat service to rescue stranded residents in the flood-hit areas of Chennai. The boats are being used to supply food and drinking water in areas facing a scarcity of basic supplies.
Each boat is manned by two professional rowers, and can ferry between five to nine passengers. The boats are equipped with umbrellas for customers and rain gear for the rowers. Unlike Ola's usual service, the boats cannot be booked through its app or website, but are operating in the affected areas on the basis of information provided by Tamil Nadu's Fire and Rescue Department.
Daily life and transport in Chennai have been adversely affected by heavy rainfall in the last one week. The services will run for the next three days, and can be extended according to the extent of water-logging in the city.
Ola is Uber's main rival in India and runs services in over 100 cities. Uber had launched an inter-continental boat service in Istanbul in June this year.
Some reports suggest that the idea for the service originally started as a wishful joke on social media. As news broke, it soon became a top trend on Twitter.
Planning to book #OlaBoat to reach office 2Maro. #chennairains #venkatweetz pic.twitter.com/PWjLLkQEd1— Venkatesh Krishna (@venkatweetz) November 15, 2015
So, @Olacabs did send out boats to rescue people trapped in floods. Hats off to the team! #OlaBoat pic.twitter.com/O2IGGu8GpN— Sai Shyam G (@SaiShyamG) November 17, 2015
Hey, @Uber_India when are you starting a service like #OlaBoat?? #UberYacht— Bilquis Rayeen (@BilquisRayeen) November 17, 2015