Kodagu, Karnataka: Though the flood waters that ravaged Kodagu in Karnataka have receded, the ravages it caused was all-too visible, with massive landslides, caved-in roads, collapsed houses and uprooted trees.
Archbishop Peter Machado along with a core team that planned, monitored and coordinated relief work visited Kodagu on September 19 and interacted with the victims of nature’s fury.
Among many whom he interacted and consoled, the Archbishop also heard the dismal cry of a lady who lost all her 12 acres of land and her house.
Under the aegis of the Archdiocese, money and material was earlier reached to the flood-ravaged areas.
The team visited Hattihole where most of the destruction happened. About 35 Catholic families were displaced, most of them have lost their houses and it was here that one, Francis Montero sacrificed his life while saving others. The team met the wife of Francis and consoled her.
Nirmala Vidya Nikethan English medium school, Hattihole, with 500 students were shifted to Suntikoppa. The team visited Suntikoppa and interacted with the students from Hattihole school. The children were still going through trauma, post-floods.
The Archbishop was accompanied by Fr Joseph Navin Kumar (Director- Bangalore Multi-purpose Social Service Society) among many others.
The Prelate who garnered encouraging support from across the Archdiocese boarded a mini-bus with the team heading to Kodagu.