Inmates displaced as home for destitutes gets flooded

Around 150 occupants of Karunai Illam, a home for elderly and mentally ill women in Maduravoyal, were forced to vacate, leaving their belongings, provisions and other 

household effects behind as the water level rose in their area. They were moved to another facility in Tiruverkadu.

Stagnant water remains around their Maduravoyal facility and they are waiting for the area to get dry before starting the repair work. But once the waters fully recede and they return, the process of starting over is going to be an arduous one.

“We have been running this home for around 22 years,” says S Vidyakar, founder-director of Udavum Karangal, a non-profit, social welfare organization that has been providing shelter and treatment for the mentally ill, destitute and orphans for the past 30 years. “On November 15, the water level in the locality rose dangerously overnight as water was released from the Chembarambakkam reservoir and our home is close to the Cooum river too. We had to evacuate everyone.” 

The elderly and ill women were worried about the move even as they fretted about not being able to carry anything with them. “Since we didn’t have enough time, we had to leave everything behind -- groceries, the stove, clothes,” Vidyakar says.

Everybody was rescued, dogs and cats too, with the help of social workers and volunteers. “We have to start all over again by repairing, sanitising and painting the building, refurbishing, getting new cots. And we need help from citizens for this.

From beds to bleaching powder, we’ll need everything to make life come back to normal,” Vidyakar appeals.

Those who want to help can contribute online through www.myhelpinghands.org or call 9940188011.