The Gaja Cyclone and the Disaster

As you know, in the early hours of 16th of November, 2018, the cyclone ‘Gaja’ hit seven districts of Tamilnadu. Many of us personally witnessed the cyclone and its fury. It wreaked havoc in several districts, including Nagapatnam, Thiruvarur, Thanjavur and Pudukkottai. It also affected some parts of Trichy and Dindigul

Devastation and Destruction

All the tiled houses, sheet houses and huts have been totally destroyed. A major catastrophe is the destruction caused to the livelihood of the people. All most all the trees have been uprooted. All the cultivations have been destroyed. In the coastal areas, fishing boats and nets have been damaged. The province itself suffered heavy damages in some of our institutions and parishes. As the catastrophe unfolded, the people had no access to food, transport, electricity, water, communication etc.

Relief & Rehabilitation works

The province is doing some level of relief works in the affected areas. A team consisting of Fr. Amirtharajan (Councilor), Fr. Selvaraj (coordinator), Fr. Santhiyagu, Fr. Joseph Xavier, Fr. Abin and Fr. Yesuraj have been formed in this regard. Our fathers are doing the relief works in many villages. We are providing the people with purified drinking water, bed sheets, tarpaulins, saris, candles, mosquito-coils and also all the necessary household things. Since all the electric polls and electric lines have been so badly dismantled and destroyed, there is no possibility of getting electricity at least for few months, especially in villages. As such, we have started to help the people in the villages, with solar electric lambs with the dual aspect of recharging the phones and lighting the house.

We also intend to take up rehabilitation works. The social work team together with the provincial administration had a meeting on 29.11.2018 to work out the details on the rehabilitation of the people of our parishes, mission stations and also the badly affected parts of the cyclone hit region. The team is also making a study of the affected areas so as to identify the rehabilitation requirements.

We gratefully place on record the consolation, concern, contribution and the prayers received from Fr. Abraham Vettuvelil, our Superior General, the General Administration and the Provincials and their Administrations and confreres, including the MDOs. We are strengthened and encouraged by their prayers and contribution to the Relief & Rehabilitation Fund. On behalf of the province, we whole heartedly thank them for their love and support. We assure you that all the details of the contribution to the Relief & Rehabilitation Fund will be maintained. The fund will be utilized only for the affected people and proper account will be submitted.

Provincial and Fr. A. Selvaraj