Salesian priest’s team bring consolation to the flood affected people in Kerala

Kottayam: Unexpected floods and landslides have caused havocs in the district on Kottayam in Kerala. Different areas in Mundakayam in Kottayam district are badly hit and people are now homeless. Kootickal, Chappath, Poovanchimala, Plappally, Vettukallamkuzhy, Chelikundu and Vellayadi are the worst hit areas in Mundakayam. Since these areas had been unaffected in the last two floods in 2018 and 2019, this was least expected. There are 53 houses destroyed in Vellayadi, of which 9 are completely washed off in the flood, the rest are not in livable condition though destroyed partially. This calamity was caused by the flood in nearby Manimala river. People have not yet come out of memories of the devastating hours and are housed in the relief camp in CFS school. The landslide in Poovanchimala on the shores of Manimala river caused the death of five people in a family and 4 houses are fully destroyed.
Roads have been completely destroyed and many of them are still under water. Reaching out to these affected areas have become nearly impossible because of the bad condition of the roads. Though this being situation, a team from KISMAT under the leadership of Fr. Tony Plavilayil, the state director of KISMAT, ventured into the flood stricken areas come what may! KISMAT (Kerala Interstate Migrants Alliance for Transformation) is an organization of the Salesians of Don Bosco, working for the welfare of Migrant Labourers in the state of Kerala. KISMAT team visited, bringing consolation and solace to the badly affected people and distributed food kits, study materials, dress items and other necessary things in Kootickal, Chappath, Poovanchimala, Plappally, Vettukallankuzhy and Chelikundu. KISMAT team also visited also the migrants in the locality and ensured safe living conditions for them. “KISMAT will join hands with the government machinery, extending all the support to bring back these badly affected areas to normalcy. KISTMAT will be on the forefront for the relief work and have plans to help the affected people.” says Fr. Tony Plavilayil, state director of KISMAT.
Tony Plavilayil SDB