When meme turns a reality

Trending meme becomes reality after cab service sends boats

Ola deploys boats to rescue residents— Photo: Special Arrangement

In the wake of the floods in Chennai that left several hundred people in low-lying areas stranded, Ola, the mobile cab services provider, began a free boat service on Tuesday.

Boats, manned by two rowers, were deployed at Velacherry, Perumbakkam, Saidapet, Thoraipakkam and Nandambakkam to rescue people whose houses were inundated. With rain being a popular topic on social media, memes depicting the need for Ola to start boat services offering catamarans and ferries had gone viral recently. The company had also come in for backlash from customers since cabs and autos were not available easily.

The company, which was flooded with tweets by residents about the new service, responded by saying that building urban mobility in the country had prompted them to look at unconventional solutions.

Anand Subramaniam, senior director of marketing and communications at Ola, said, “The boats are being sent to areas identified by the Fire and Rescue Services Department that are severely waterlogged. The free service will continue for the next two to three days till relief work goes on in the city,” he said. Four of Ola’s boats have been sourced from Blue Waters, a deep sea fishing company .

(With inputs from

Zubeda Hamid)