#ChennaiRains: A packet of milk selling for Rs 100, airlines making the most of tragedy

After days of incessant rain, Chennai got some respite on Thursday, with no rainfall. The rescue operations are still on, though.

Read More: Indian experts say Chennai rain crisis is 'full-blown' outcome of global warming

The first hurdle of course was that most ATMs had run out of cash. And with the little money they had with them, there was hardly anything they could buy. A packet of milk which usually costs anything between Rs 20-25 was selling for Rs 100. Something as basic as a bottle of drinking water too was selling for Rs 100!

Plus, those who are in the flood affected city for a wedding or for some official work, going back home has become a costly affair.

As Chennai airport remains inundated and shut, most passengers travelled to Bengaluru to get back home.

Read More: #ChennaiFloods: Aid pours in on social media, Chennairains.org; register now to help

But the sky high ticket rates sent them into a tizzy.

A Bengaluru-Delhi-Indore flight ticket is being sold for Rs 56,000.

The Times of India reported this morning:

On Thursday at 6 pm, the cheapest one-way Friday fare on the Bengaluru-Delhi route was Rs 24,000 being offered by Spice Jet. In a matter of two hours the fare climbed to Rs 28,000. That's far more than the average ticket price one pays to travel to Kuala Lumpur from Bengaluru.

The latest rates as shown on Makemytrip.com is as follows:

It's sad when hundreds of people have opened their doors for those stranded without food and shelter in Chennai, the airlines deem it fit to profit from peoples' misery. .

Chennai has seen the worst rainfall in the last 100 years. According to official figures, the death toll has reached 269. Electricity is yet to be restored. Rescue operations are still on.

What however has kept the city going is the extraordinary voluntary help extended by private companies and individuals.

You can all read about where to seek help or how help here.