India: Churches and Mosques turned into makeshift hospitals and shelters in disaster zone

Aug 3rd, 2024

Kerala floods in 2018 - Image SVP

Source: Vatican News

Churches and Mosques have been turned into temporary hospitals and shelters after heavy rains caused massive landslides that swept through tea estates and villages in Kerala on Tuesday, uprooting trees, washing away houses and destroying bridges.

More than 300 people are known to have died. Hundreds have been injured and many are missing. A state official said over 5,500 people had been rescued and emergency teams are searching for people trapped under mud and debris.

Blocked roads and unstable terrain are hampering search and rescue operations. The Indian Army is constructing a temporary bridge after the main bridge linking one of the worst-affected areas was swept away by the mud.

Several areas, including Meppadi, Mundakkai and Chooralmala, were isolated, and roads were washed away causing immense damage to homes, officials said, noting that "Efforts to locate missing persons continue with all available resources."

The Health Minister's Office said temporary hospital facilities are being established at a mosque and madrasa and a temporary hospital system will also be established at Chooralmala Church and Polytechnic College.

The Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council said in a statement they are working with the government agencies and social organizations to speed up rescue operations.

The said: "The Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council said it will fully cooperate with government efforts to provide solace to the victims.

"We will work together with diocesan teams and volunteers in the affected areas to provide physical assistance, comfort, and courage to overcome the crisis."

It said expressing solidarity to all affected and paying tribute to those who lost their lives in the landslides.

In recent years Kerala has suffered more and more extreme weather conditions. The Indian Meteorological Department said: "Monsoon patterns are increasingly erratic and the quantum of rainfall received in a short spell of time has increased, resulting in frequent instances of landslides and floods."