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Fransalian International

"Be what you are, Be at its best!"      - St. Francis de Sales

Editorial  SFS Fr. Moget  Fr. General  Fr Archie St John's, Nagpur  Nimkheda Perpetual Profession in Brasil  England Bonteheuwel  Mission Institute  Jubilees in NE India  Mermier Opticals  MSFS Scholastics in Cameroon  Mumbai  Help in Andhra Pradesh  Cardinal Sin  Mozambique Fransalian Youth Ministry  North-East  Apostolate of Care and Healing  Confreres in Switzerland  SFS College  Vol. 9   No. 2  (2005)

Fransalian International

As pictures began to flood television screens late on July 26, 2005, it was clear that it was a problem Mumbai was not prepared to handle. The city was battered by the heaviest rainfall recorded in India, shutting down the country's financial hub, snapping communication and power lines, closing airports and marooning lakhs. At least 108 people were killed in two days of crippling rains, 25 drowning after being trapped in their cars, and another 190 were feared buried in landslides. Civic and public transport services collapsed and 5,000 army troops had to be deployed after the sudden rains measuring 94.4 cm in a single day stranded tens of thousands of people. Food packets had to be air­dropped from helicopters, perhaps for the first time in a metro.

Seeing that Kurla was low lying and usually getting water logged, we were tense and anxious to send children home, before things could get worse. Already by 1 p.m., we began sending children with those who came to take them home. By half past four, 40 members of the staff and twenty-five children remained to go. It became dark at five, and 7 feet water outside and the Church on the ground floor had it one foot high. Sensing the need of the hour, Fr Terrie went down and opened the gate of St Joseph's School wide. The deluged were welcomed to take shelter inside. The water level was steadily on the rise. The School had immediately hundreds of people from all walks of life. The schoolchildren left behind were well cared for and put to sleep. They remained in the school for two days more till their parents could come to take them home. The people kept on coming throughout day and night.

(Teachers of St Joseph's School, Kurla-Mumbai)