Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Madras (Agenzia Fides) - The Indian state of Tamil Nadu was violently hit by torrential rains and winds of over 150 miles per hour caused by the storm, called Thane, in the last days of 2011 that hit the Indian Ocean and then moved to the Bay of Bengal. The towns severly hit were Cuddalore, Pondicherry and Gedilam. According to local sources of NSA, cyclone Thane has caused sixty victims and there are many people left homeless. The houses of the Salesian communities were also damaged. In the early hours of the morning a strong wind, followed by heavy rains, plagued the area first eradicating the tin roofs of the houses and then the huts. The unfortunate victims were trying to reach the concrete buildings, while the roads were rendered dangerous by trees and electric poles that fell, uprooted by the wind. From 31 December 2011 to 2 January 2012, about 20,000 people sought refuge in camps set up in the district of Cuddalore, where, along with the city of Villupuram, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Chennai and Theni deaths were reported. About 80% of the crops of rice, sugarcane, banana, jackfruit, mango, coconut and cashew nuts, were uprooted by the violence of the winds and rain. The most affected villages were those in Pondicherry, situated on the hill Caper. The Salesians in the area, despite the severe damage, immediately offered their help, especially to the poor by providing food and shelter. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 09/01/2012)
