2005 Flood Relief
In October 2005, flash floods destroyed houses and threatened the lives of people in many parts of Tamil Nadu. As part of our disaster relief programme, we turned our efforts to the worst affected areas of Chidambaram (Cuddalore District) and Chennai.
Helping the people of Chidambaram
Within 12 hours of the floods, we mobilized the resources of our well-wishers and four of our volunteers helped distribute over 5000 chappathis to remote and isolated parts of Chidambaram. These included villages in Thittukattur, Keezhakundalapadi, Sivapuri, and Rajiv Nagar, where government relief had not yet reached.
Our relief material included
- Food (chappathis, bread, and biscuits)
- Water packets
- Mats and bed sheets
- Clothes for children
We worked alongside the local people.
Our four volunteers worked side-by-side with local people, who provided them with boats and directed them to areas that were not being helped by other relief efforts.
The work held its share of danger and carried on into the night.
As food and emergency supplies were limited, distributing relief material became a precarious task. Our volunteers were in constant danger of being attacked by groups that had not yet received aid. Therefore, to serve as a deterrent, the Deputy Tahsildar and his retinue accompanied them.
Work carried on into the night and our volunteers were soon being guided by lorry headlights as they distributed food and clothes.
Following up with medical care.
After the more basic needs were taken care of, we organized a special medical camp for the sick.
Appreciation from the Collector
Our volunteers put a lot of effort into the flood relief work and we were rewarded by successfully being able to help the victims as well as receiving appreciation from the Collector of Cuddalore.
Building a new school
As we carried out our relief work, we came across a school that had been destroyed by the floods. When the villagers asked us to help reconstruct it, we took on the challenge without having any idea where to start or how to get the money. Yet, the Keezhakundalapadi School Project became our biggest success to date, costing Rs. 17 lakh.
Helping the people of a Chennai slum
The floods also destroyed a slum on the banks of the Adyar river in Gandhi Nagar, Chennai. In the past we had provided medical aid to its residents, and so news of their plight reached us quickly. Within a few hours our volunteers had brought them food as well as medical aid.
We continue to take care of their medical needs, and every month bring food for young mothers.