[ACNS] Church leaders from the diocese of Madras distributed food parcels and other aid to some of the thousands of people displaced by Cyclone Vardah. The cyclone hit Chennai on 12 December last year, killing 10 people. It was the strongest storm in the region for two decades. Trees were uprooted, cattle killed and buildings damaged. Even modern buildings like the Hyatt Regency hotel were severely affected – with many windows blown out of the structure. Many huts and asbestos homes lived in by poorer people were destroyed.

The Bishop of Madras, Dr George Stephen, mobilised the diocesan diaconal department, which delivered bread and food parcels twice a day to some 2,000 affected families. The church has continued to support them over the past weeks.

The Revd S Jacob Selvan, director of the diocesan diaconal department, said that the diocese was now planning to extend that support by building new houses as well has helping to repair damaged ones.

The cyclone struck as the region continued to recover from severe flooding that hit the region a year ago.