Category: Disaster Relief
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Mass cremation in Azhikkal
28 December 2004 — Azhikkal, Alappad Panchayat, Kollam District, Kerala The sun was going down when the pyres were lit at the beach in Azhikkal. As the sun set, its sullen red colour spread across the sky, as if it were sharing the grief of the villagers. The air was filled with the moaning cries…
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A song of mourning
28 December 2004 — Relief Centre, Amrita University, Amritapuri Campus The sun had set. Two kilometres up the river in Azhikkal, the villagers had just set flame to 42 bodies. In the relief camp set up by the Ashram, the only sound was that of crickets. From the college, Amma walked silently to the field…
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Tales of Tsunami -2
Ashramites and devotees share their experiences of the tsunami in Amritapuri. Christiane Gude, Germany “I was standing with Amma on the balcony of the temple, taken aback to see how fast the ashram grounds were filling up with water. I work with pictures professionally and had the opportunity to take some. Watching Amma instructing and…
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Tales of Tsunami -1
Ashramites and devotees share their experiences of the tsunami in Amritapuri. Love, Dharma & Samskara When the flood struck, Damayanti Amma, Amma’s mother, was immediately taken across the jetty to the mainland. But when she reached the other side, she immediately realised the Suganandan Acchan, her husband, was still at the Ashram. “What? Acchan is…
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Frightened villagers see hope in faces of Ashram doctors
28 December 2004 — Relief Camp at Amrita University, Amritapuri Immediately after the flooding, Amma ordered six ambulances from AIMS Super Specialty Medical Hospital in Cochin to be sent to the Kollam District in order to facilitate the Ashram doctors in treating the distressed and injured. The ambulances were fully equipped with medicines, ventilators, etc.,…
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Ashram supplies villagers with free clothing and blankets
28 December 2004 — Amrita University, Amritapuri Campus Although Amritapuri was also hit by the flood, the ashramites are doing what they can to help the villagers, many of whom have lost all their clothes and food when their huts were swept away by the incoming water. Recently devotees from Dubai had donated a large…
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Cleaning of Tsunami
27 December 2004, Amritapuri After the sludge had been scraped off the floor, workers cleaned the bhajan hall. Many carton boxes had been soaked and were now useless. All helped to disposed of the waste. Water seeped into everything. The machines in the press needed to be dismantled, cleaned, and then put together again. Amma’s books were cleaned and…
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Amma visits tsunami relief camps
27 December, 8:20 PM The danger is over. But the damage has been done. While no one at the Ashram was injured, the villagers have suffered great losses. Family members are dead and missing. Many of their houses and huts have simply been washed away. Amma visited the relief camps and consoled the evacuees and…
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Amma cries with them
27 December 2004–Amritapuri The danger is over. But the damage has been done. While no one at the Ashram was injured, the villagers have suffered great losses. Family members are dead and missing. Many of their houses and huts have simply been washed away. The government has evacuated the area, asking everyone stay on the…
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Tsunami hits Amritapuri, all are safe
26 December 2004 Due to the earthquake in Jakartha, Indonesia tremors occurred in many places in India, and waves were sent towards the Indian coast. Amritapuri has been affected by tsunami waves, but no one there was hurt. Here in the picture, the sea water is just coming to the premises of the Amrita Ayurvedic…