|
Alamelu
Children's Homes (Canada) |
|
|
We received the following email in January 2005, from Mr.Sivamarakrishnam,
Director: The tsunami hit the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu on December 26th morning. From Chennai to Kanyakumari and further West up to 30 km to Colachel, a coastal village, and in Kerala State, the Tsunami waves hit along the coast line. It washed away huts and destroyed boats and buildings in many villages along the seashore. The sea receded in some places and came back later. Many thousands of lives were lost. Tourists and holiday makers at the sea shore in several places and at Kanyakumari were washed away by the waves. People in coastal villages were severely affected. The media, newspapers, radio and TV were very informative. All people were very helpful to the affected people. Our ashram locations are a few kilometres interior from the coast line. The children's home in Kanyakumari is 3 km North of the Indian Ocean shore line. The second location at Alamelupuram is 4 km away interior of the Eastern coast. The 3rd campus, Sitharamapuram in Palavoor village, is 5 km interior of the Eastern coast line. On Sunday, 26th morning, at about 9- 00 a.m. we got a telephone message from Uma Shankar from Chennai, that there were unusually high waves in the sea at Chennai since that morning and the waves had come onto the shore and into the streets nearby. Within an hour after that call, we received another phone call from Kanyakumari saying 10 meter-high waves were seen. We did not know the situation and could not know if the high waves would travel further interior. So we guessed something serious was happening in the sea. Immediately, we gathered all the children and the staff at Sitharamapuram and Alamelupuram Homes. We took them by our van to Palavoor, 1.5 km away. At the same time, Subbamma went to Kanyakumari by our truck and brought all the children and staff from the children's home at New Land near Kanyakumari to Palavoor. We also saw many tourist buses coming from Kanyakumari which confirmed our fears. As we are located within 5 km of the sea, we decided to move the children and staff away to the village of Tirukkurungudi where we have Emmaus farm. This village also lies at the foot of the Western range of hills. It is 33 km from Sitharamapuram. We arranged for campus security. We took all the children and staff by our own and hired vehicles to Tirukkurunkudi village, where our farm is located. It lies 46 km away North West from the sea coast. There, local people helped us to rent a wedding hall with facilities. We kept the children and the staff there for three days. The Officials were helpful. The Police, the Public Health and the Revenue Department officials came to our camp and informed us that they were ready to offer all the help needed. They asked us to let them know if we needed any help. We informed them, of course, that we were not affected by tsunami but had come there as a protective measure. The local public and a local trust were very helpful. They donated rice and food grains. We hired a cook to prepare food for all. The cooking was done by gas and so we had to hire a cook since our cooks do not use gas in the ashram. We returned on Wednesday, 29th morning. Meanwhile, on December 28, we took 50 children by our vehicles to their families which were far away from the sea shore. For some more children the guardians or parents came and took them away for a few days. We kept back with us those children coming from villages near the sea shore and also children who have no place to go. Again, as the situation had not yet returned to normal, on December 30th, we took the remaining 50 children and 20 staff members to Valliyoor town, 30 km away from the sea shore. We returned on the 31st , Friday night, to our cottages. The children who went away for a few days, are returning from yesterday. By God's Grace the children and the staff at the ashram are all right and are doing well. On December 26th, the tsunami waves entered land up to half a kilometre in Kanyakumari. People say they saw huge waves coming very fast. They hit the land, rose high, moved interior, made a roll and withdrew. As each wave rolled back, whichever was caught in the roll was washed away. The huge, powerful waves kept coming. At Colachel on the West and some places on the East coast, the loss and death toll is high. Life is returning to normalcy in the affected areas. People have started returning to their villages in the coastal areas. With State and other support the affected people will be able to restart their lives in their villages and return to their daily occupations. The State has decided to open children's homes for Tsunami-affected children at Nagercoil and other places. The State is giving relief assistance. We are also ready to admit children who have lost their parents in this tsunami calamity . The ashram is fortunate to have deeply concerned well wishers and donors in India and around the world. People could not reach us as we were away. We know you, Robert, Joan and your kind Committee Members and sponsors would have been thinking about the children and the staff here. To all of you who have been thinking about the children here, and shown your love, sympathy and concern at this dark hour in human history, the ashram conveys most sincere gratitude and thanks. Your prayers and good wishes have given strength and courage to every one in the ashram. The ashram is most grateful to God for His Blessings and Grace. We thank you, Robert, Joan, Alan, Howard, Ruth and all the members of your committee Members and all the sponsors, Donors, Volunteers and well wishers for your very kind thoughts about us and your continued support. Please also convey our thanks to Ms. Donna Lightfoot. She has sent us an e-mail and we have replied bye-mail. With best wishes, love and regards from every one at the ashram to you [Peter]and Robert, Yours sincerely, Krishnan [A. Sivaramakrishnan
|
|
|