Chennai Flood Relief

Hello Friends,

Chennai and Cuddalore districts of Tamil Nadu are affected by a torrential rain that poured from mid-November to first week of December. At least 300 people have died and about 1.8 million people are displaced. An estimated $3 Billion worth of property is damaged/lost. The fourth largest city in India is declared a disaster zone.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_South_Indian_floods#Tamil_Nadu_2

http://google.org/crisisresponse/2015-chennai-flooding 

http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/06/asia/chennai-india-floods/

Apart from the state and central government, a number of volunteers by themselves or as part of NGOs are currently doing the relief work. This includes providing temporary shelter, food, basic necessities and emergency medical care. A number of friends are in ground procuring, preparing, transporting and distributing for the people affected. 


Please read these acts of benevolence,that made me to decide that I should do something too.

http://indianexpress.com/article/trending/this-is-serious/maharashtra-sex-workers-donate-rs-1-lakh-for-chennai-flood-aid/

http://www.ndtv.com/chennai-news/kerala-prison-to-send-chapatis-to-stranded-people-in-rain-hit-chennai-1251179 

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/mortuary-worker-reaches-out-to-flood-victims-donates-rs-20000/article7959686.ece 

http://www.ibtimes.co.in/chennai-floods-class-5-students-coimbatore-donate-towels-cash-victims-658531 


All I could do is send money and pray for them who are still awaiting rescue.

A great deal needs to be done in the restoration/rehabilitation of those affected. I am afraid that the emergency funds will cease once the situation loses media coverage.

I am starting this fund raiser to collect money and help restore the lives of a few families (at least 1 or 2), who have lost all their property including their house. 

I am planning to use the money directly to help a family or 2 build/repair their houses and buy some basic essential like stove and bedding. This will be supervised by my friends who are doctors in Chennai - Dr.Amarnath Moni, Associate Professor Anesthesiology at Chettinad Medical College and Dr.Sasikumar Sinnathambi, Mch Urology fellow at Madras Medical College.  You can find them in Facebook.

I will withdraw the funds at the end of the campaign in to my personal account and by online money transfer service such as Xoom.com or ICICI money to India will send it to Dr.Amarnath's account in India, who then will disperse the money in small batches for the restoration costs. I will update the details as they happen. All excess funds will be donated to #chennaimicro through Bhoomika trust.
http://bhoomikatrust.org/

If for any reason direct contribution to a family is not possible, then I will donate all the proceeds collected to 
Chennai Flood Relief Fund of Global giving foundation.

Globalgiving foundation is a 501(c)3 not for profit organization, so tax deductible charitable contribution - I verified it on IRS website
https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/chennai-floods

I will post updates/pictures when the family(ies) are identified and later when money is put to use.

I do not have Facebook or Twitter accounts. So friends please share this as much as possible on Facebook, Twitter, email and text messages to every one of your friends. 


About me:
Those who do not know me, I am Thiyagarajan Thangavelu from Erode, India. I lived in Chennai for 10 years from 1995 to 2005 before moving to the United States. I studied in Stanley Medical College. I am currently working as an internist/hospitalist at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

If you have any questions, please contact me at [email redacted]

My friend Dr.Anand Subramanian will be helping in this fund raiser.  I will also post updates in his Facebook account.