Chennai and its suburbs, home to about 9 million people, where most of the Advent Christian ministry in India is centred, is presently experiencing very serious flooding caused by the heaviest monsoon season rains that have been experienced for more than 100 years.
1.22 metres (48 inches) of rain were recorded in the city in the month of November and it has continued to rain very hard for the first few days of December. Monsoon rain in India is unbelievably torrential!
Chennai International Airport’s runways are flooded and the airport is closed at least until the end of next week; there is so much flooding from the rain and the resulting flooding of the two major rivers that run through the city that buses and the local train system are not operating; the roads in most parts of the city are so flooded that travel by road is virtually impossible; power has been off in most areas of the city since Tuesday (no power = no computers = no email!); many of the mobile phone system towers are out of action (it is fortunate that at the present time the BSNL mobile system which AAM and Mission Manager Immanuel uses is the only system still operating so he has been able to contact me daily). The armed services have been called in to assist those in danger in the city and to get food parcels to those who are isolated.
Where possible Immanuel has been in contact with the leaders and pastors of the two AC conferences and as far as we know all personnel are safe and sound but some churches have had flood water through them, as have the homes of many, many members. Some of the AC and FBHC churches are sheltering those who have been flooded out of their homes in the communities around their churches and are doing their best to care for them as far as food and shelter are concerned. The Mission compound at Guindy is flooded but all who live there are safe and sound. The house of one staff member who lives off the compound has been flooded and damaged by the rain.
Please pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ in Chennai and of course also for all those who are affected – this will be a wonderful opportunity to show Christian care and compassion to those who are suffering.
Ernie Schache.