Flood relief fund – ISKCON Chennai

Dear People of the world and all well wishers,

Chennai, which is the capital of Tamil Nadu, located in the southern most part of India, was declared a National Disaster Zone by the Indian Government last week. The city has turned into a mini island and this is the first time the city has faced nature's fury to this extent. The death toll has reached to more than 340, and the rescue and relief operations by the Army, Air Force, several National Disaster Relief Force teams, voluntary and social activists are under full swing. Property damage is severe.

ISKCON Chennai, which is a Vedic spiritual learning centre and a welfare organization, suffered severe damage from the heavy rainfall. The temple residents and devotees had to be evacuated with just few taking care of the presiding deity. The temple vehicles, Govindas restaurant, shops and resident buildings have all been damaged and flooded. The city is expected to receive more heavy rainfall. We appeal to everybody to help us recover from this major setback. Estimated losses to the temple are in the range of 25 million INR  which is almost $380k USD.

For your reference list of damages are listed down.

1. Temple structure repair and restoration
2. Water supply infrastructure including sump, pumps etc.
3. Electrical infrastructure including equipment
4. Temple premises cleaning and restoration
5. Brahmacari kitchen equipment
6. Kitchen store - all grains and grocery items completely spolied
7. Sannyasi ashram
8. Temple vehicles (fully submerged in flood water)
9. Temple gift shop and restaurant interiors are damaged.
10. Public Facilities - Bathroom & drinking facility.
Other damages are yet to be assessed.

Also, ISKCON Chennai is engaged in supplying daily meals to more than1500 flood displaced families sheltered in government schools. We wish to expand that to more areas in Chennai and distribute items like water, bedsheets etc. I 5 sq.km area around the temple is badly effected & 5000 people are displaced who are without basic amenities of food, water & medicine, toothbrush, paste, soap etc. As of now we are supporting 1500 families with the help of food for life program at Perambur centre in Chennai. We plan to start a temporary kitchen near our main temple for these 5000 effected people and we wish to do for many more.

We urgently appeal and request you to contribute wholeheartedly to help this wonderful spiritual center.

your servant,
Sukirti Madhavi (Iskcon Chennai)
Secretary TMT(Temple Management Team