Flood relief and rescue work by Sevabharathi in Tamilnadu

The recent spells of monsoon rains have wrought great havoc in Tamil Nadu. In the Tiruchirappalli District, areas like Edamalaipattipudur, Woriyur, Karumandapam, Thiruverumbur Taluk, Lalgudi Taluk, Kulambampadi Taluk and V.N.Nagar in Tiruchirappalli town were the worst-affected. In these areas the RSS Swayamsevaks distributed milk, bread and biscuits to the residents by carrying them in baskets on their heads wading throgh neck dep water.

In the Edamlaipattipudur area they prepared food by collecting five sacks of rice and one sack Rava (sooji). Clothes, vessels, rice, dal, bed-sheets, sarees and dhotis worth lakhs of rupees were distributed in Arasankudi, Thogur, Kizhavilangulam, Melavilangulam, Panayankurichi, Sarkarpalayam, and Ottangudi areas. In the Karumandapam area the Swayamsevaks rescued seven persons who were struggling for their lives in the flood waters. With the help of Bala Swayamsevaks, they collected biscuit packets worth Rs. 40,000 for distribution to the flood victims.

More than 500 people have been sheltered in the Bharat Cultural Training College run by Hindu organisations, in Seerathoppu. They are being given food 3 times daily. Vessels for cooking were given to 50 families immediately. On behalf of ‘Sadhana Trust’, comprisin Swayamsevaks, relief materials were distributed to an entire village. Arrangements have been made for distributing notebooks to schoolchildren. In Tiruchirappalli district alone, more than 250 Swayamsevaks are engaged in flood relief work.

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The banks of River Vellaru near Kudaliyathur in the Kattumannarkoil taluk of Cuddalore district in Tamilnadu breached at around 11 AM . As a result, Vattathoor, Dhandehwaranalloor, Kuppam, Kodhandavilagam, Vizuppamthurai, Kurichchikkudi, Kudaliyathur, Sakthivilagam, Anavari, Kanur and Perur villages were submerged in the flood waters. On that evening, RSS Swayamsevaks from Palayamkottai cycled 12 kilometres to reach the affected area.

When they could proceed no further because of the swirling waters, they tied up their cycles to a tree. They then swam in the flood waters and rescued the aged, pregnant women and children and housed them in shelters. During the night, 120 food packets were prepared in Palayamkottai and distributed to the affected people. On 24.11.2005 grocery items and four sacks of rice were collected from the people of Palayamkottai. Five Swayamsevaks did the cooking while the distribution of the cooked food was undertaken by seven others. Thirty litres of hot milk was distributed to the affected children. In Kumarapettai near Parangipettai in Chidambaram taluk, a Swayamsevak, Madhavaraj from the fishermen colony put his own boat to use for the rescue of stranded persons from the submerged villages nearby and brought them to Periapattu village situated on the highway leading to Chidambaram. It is particularly poignant because he had lost his brother only a week before. The rescue work went on till 7 PM. A would – be groom who was in a hurry to reach the marriage-venue on time offered 5,000 rupees if he was given priority for being taken in the boat. While refusing to accept the money, the Swayamsevaks helped him to tie the sacred knot on time.

In the Kilbhuvanagiri village a Swayamsevak by name Murugan along with his friends who knew swimming rescued those who were caught in the waters of Vellaru river and took them to safety. It is pertinent to note that Murugan’s house was also submerged in the floods. The affected persons who were sheltered in the Periyanayagi Amman Temple near Parangipettai were provided with food continuously for three days. Six Swayamsevaks who were Engineering students collected the food packets dropped by helicopters in and around Chidambaram and distributed them in the Lalpuram area. Medicines for water borne and winter epidemics were requisitioned from Cuddalore. Three relief centers were established.

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Chennai city was devastated by an unprecedented downpour on December 2, 2005, the likes of which were not seen in the last 50 years. Rivers of water were flowing everywhere. It turned out to be a shocking experience for the people who had thought it to be another normal spell of rain. Water started gushing into the houses suddenly. The people who were sleeping during the night were rattled. Many started rushing towards multistoried apartments. If there is one organization which immediately rises to the occasion when the people are in distress, it is the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. It was proved once again during the recent floods in Chennai.

The Swayamsevaks carried out relief work along with workers of ‘Seva Bharati’. Places like Kotturpuram, Velacheri, MGR Kuppam near K,K.Nagar, Arumbakkam, and areas in North Chennai like Kargil Nagar, Rajaji Nagar and Manali were the worst-affected. In the Kotturpuram area nearly 11,000 families were stranded in the flood waters. Some 1,500 persons were rescued by the Swayamsevaks by pressing boats into service. Four boats were used out of which three were government – operated and one was operated by Seva Bharati. Seva Bharati was the only NGO that stood shoulder – to – shoulder with the administration during such a grave crisis. Not only this, they distributed 250 sacks of water packets to the people, while the police and military personnel engaged in relief work. Police officials expressed their gratitude to the Seva Bharati members. When MDMK leader Vaiko, visited the affected areas in Kotturpuram, his partymen approached Seva Bharati with a request to spare their boat for his use. The request was immediately granted. Only because of this, Vaiko was able to go around the flood – affected areas. But it is another story that the MDMK leaders created an image as if only their cadres were engaged in the relief work.

The Swayamsevaks distributed bread packets and food in the Kargil Nagar and Rajaji Nagar areas of North Chennai. Similarly the members of the gypsy camp at Ennore were also given food. The excess waters released from Chembarambakkam and Poondi lakes inundated 4,000 houses in Satya Nagar and MGR Kuppam in KK Nagar area. The Swayamsevaks distributed food packets in the morning, the afternoon and the night to the affected people. BJP leaders Venkaiya Naidu, La.Ganesan and C.P. Radhakrishnan inspected Vadakal Village near Guduvancheri on the outskirts of Chennai which had turned into an island by using a boat. They were the first political leaders to visit that village during the grave crisis. Venkaiya Naidu consoled the people and on learning that their immediate requirement was fuel for the motor-boat , gave them Rs.5,000 on the spot for purchasing diesel.

Five sacks of rice were also given. On behalf of the Bharatiya Janata Party, 5,000 food packets, 2,000 bread packets and 4,000 milk sachets were distributed. Seva Bharati’s medical relief camps have started functioning in Kotturpuram and Arumbkkam.

The part played by the ordinary people in the relief work was no less heartening. In Saidapet, a housewife, after flushing out the water that had entered her house, prepared and served food to other affected people. Similarly in the Aduthotti area of Saidapet a ‘Dharmakarta’ (Trustee) of a temple provided food at his own cost to those who were sheltered in the temple. Household articles were damaged in the houses of the middle-class section of Kotturpuram area. Foul smell emanates from the houses and the surrounding area. This is not new the residents of the area. They had undergone a similar experience some 25 years ago. On that occasion too their houses were damaged. On the request of the then chief minister MGR, college students helped them in cleaning up their dwellings. Now also they have asked for similar help from the NGOs. The immediate need and requirement of the affected people are plastic sheets, bed-sheets, and drinking water. Seva Bharati volunteers are engaged in collecting the above materials for use by 10,000 persons. Kind-hearted persons can help in this task. The articles as mentined above or cash or both can be sent to: SEVA BHARATI TAMILNADU 1, M.V. STREET CHETPUT CHENNAI- 600 031