By Jessy Joseph
New Delhi, Nov 12, 2021: Young Catholics in Tamil Nadu are in the forefront of rescue and relief operations among the flood victims in the southern Indian state.
At least 18 people have died in rain related incidents across the state, official estimates said.
Some hundred youth from various parishes of the Archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore “promptly swung into action” as the flooding affected reportedly more than 500 residential areas in Chennai, the state capital, Father Ronald Richard, secretary of the archdiocese’s youth commission told Matters India on November 12.
Meanwhile, Caritas India plans to support around 2,000 families with dry ration through its partner, Madras Social Service Society, Patrick Hansda, spokesperson of the Church aid agency told Matters India. He said the has prepared a situation report for further intervention.
Father Richard said the youth and their parish priests ignored torrential rains and threat of more floods to visit homes of the flood affect and help them move to safer places. They also helped remove fallen trees from roads and lanes. “Our youth waded through knee-deep water to get the essentials for people who could not go out of their homes,” the priest added.
Archbishop George Antonysamy of Madras-Mylapore had appealed his priests and Catholics to assist the flood affected people.
“We have distributed some 2,000 packets of food, blankets and other essential items to the victims and our schools have turned into shelter homes,” Father Richard said.
Father A Arputharaj, youth director of Pondicherry-Cuddalore archdiocese, said normal life in their neighboring district of Villupuram has been affected badly because of the rains. A check dam in the area collapsed in the heavy rain.
Some 15 thatched mud houses were destroyed and many people are now “staying in the bus stand,” Father Arputharaj told Matters India.
“Gypsies living the village have no food and shelter and they have moved to the bus stands with the small children,” the Pondicherry priest said. The Church people have distributed around 500 food packets and other necessary items to them, he added.
Chennai on November 12 found some relief from the deluge as the weather system that originated in the Bay of Bengal crossed the coast southeast of the city.
Tamil Nadu Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management K K S S R Ramachandran told reporters that by November 11 the state had accommodated more than 12,300 people in 229 relief camps in 15 rain-affected districts across the state.
This included 2,240 people staying in 44 relief camps in the Greater Chennai Corporation area. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force reportedly fanned out to assist with relief operations in various districts, including Chennai, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Cuddalore, Madurai, Nagapattinam, Tiruvallur. State Disaster Response Force teams assisted in Cuddalore and Thanjavur according to official sources.
The Meteorological Department has withdrawn the red alert for extremely heavy rains for Chennai and neighboring districts. However, warning for strong surface winds and heavy rains would continue, he said.
Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi on November 11 discussed the ongoing relief and rescue operations with Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on the phone. Stalin has asked his ministers on flood duty and officials to speed up rescue and rain relief operations. . On November 11, he visited a few rain-affected areas in Chennai, supervising removal of trees and distribution of food to affected residents.
Such good work needs to be appreciated and emulated.