Unprecedented rains caused devastating floods in Kerala in the month of August 2018. It was the worst flood in Kerala in nearly a century. This catastrophe has affected one-sixth of the total population of Kerala causing immeasurable misery and devastation to hundreds of villages. An estimated 10,000 km of roads and thousands of homes have been destroyed. The Union government declared it a Level 3 Calamity – a calamity of severe nature. Although some of our devotees were temporarily displaced, however, with the grace of Gurudeva they are all safe.
YSS has joined the nation-wide effort in extending relief to those affected. Yogoda devotees in our Kendras and Mandalis in Kerala have come forward during these challenging times and have taken the initiative to reach out to those affected by joining hands with various state agencies who have set-up relief camps in the affected areas.
In the primary phase of the relief activities, the devotees of Yogoda Satsanga Dhyana Kendra – Trivandrum provided clothes, footwear, buckets, toiletries, mosquito repellents, cleaning and disinfecting agents, latex gloves, candles, lighters, bedsheets, towels, etc. to the inmates of the relief camp at Kanichukulangara, in Alappuzha district. Our devotees packed the items into bags and transported them to the relief camp, north of Trivandrum. The relief camp authorities greatly appreciated the effort and help received from the Trivandrum Dhyana Kendra. The Kendra is currently arranging to send more relief material to such camps.
Among the places badly affected by the floods are five districts– Thrissur, Palakkad, Ernakulam, Kannur, and Calicut. Yogoda Satsanga Dhyana Mandalis in these districts supplied essential items to the inmates of the relief camps. In addition, on behalf of YSS, each Mandali handed over a cheque of Rs 2 Lakh to the local District Collector for the disaster relief.
The Government of Kerala displayed courage and unreserved commitment in reaching out to the affected. In order to help the affected, and rebuild their lives, in the secondary phase of relief work, YSS also offered financial support to the Government by donating to the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund. Swamis Lalitanandaji and Madhavanandaji handed over a cheque of Rs 10 Lakh to the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Kerala Sri Pinarayi Vijayan.
Our beloved President, Sri Sri Swami Chidananda Giri expresses his deep sympathy and offers his heartfelt prayers for the survivors of this calamity, who have either lost their loved ones, or their homes and livelihoods. His message can be seen here. The monastics in Gurudeva’s Ashrams are also deeply praying for those affected that God and the Great Ones give the affected people the strength and courage to cope with the aftermath of this tragedy.
As the survivors strive to regain a life of normalcy, they will need not only material resources but also the spiritual support of our prayers, and we request you to join us in praying for their spiritual, mental and material well-being.
