New Delhi: The president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India has issued a nationwide appeal for funds to help victims of unprecedented floods in Tamil Nadu, southern India.

“The Catholic Church India expresses our solidarity with the people of Tamil Nadu offer our prayers for the flood victims and condolences to the families of all those who lost their beloved ones and property in the devastating floods of these past days in Chennai and adjoining district,” Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, who is also the head of the Syro-Malankara Church, said in a circular.

The December 6 letter for humanitarian support was addressed to all Catholic bishops, priests, religious and laity and collaborators of Caritas India, Catholic Church’s social arm in India.

Heavy rainfall that began on November 9, 2015 was further intensified in early December due to cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal. It caused massive floods in several parts of Tamil Nadu including Chennai, Cuddalore, Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Villupuram and Thanjavur districts.

The floods have left thousands of families helpless and homeless without food and water. The public service systems of transport, electricity and water supply have been severely damaged and disrupted.

While media reported that 269 flood-related deaths in the floods, it is fear that the actual toll would be much higher. As of now, 4,515 relief camps have been opened and public utility places such as schools, churches, mosques, temples and cinema halls are providing temporary shelter to the affected victims.

The rapid assessment report says that about 3,000 families have been displaced, about 7,700 houses have been damaged, over 1,000 huts got washed away and 250,000 hectors of agriculture crops destroyed.

Caritas India has responded to this calamity and has already placed a 10-member team in three base camps to coordinate the relief operations together with the social development wings of the affected dioceses.

The relief activities of Caritas India are in full swing and relief kits with food, drinking water, cloths, utensils, sanitary items are being distributed to the flood victims. Caritas India officials say they plan to reach out to more than 10,000 flood victims in the next few days with the relief activities in the first phase.

“The need of the hour calls us to express our solidarity with flood affected suffering families and communities and to contribute our mite for their relief and rehabilitation to reduce their sufferings by bringing their life to normalcy,” Cardinal Cleemis’ letter says.

Besides seeking funds for flood relief, the prelate also sought prayers for the victims.