The very heavy rainfall (570 mm or 22.4 inches in two days) this end July triggered landslides in the Wayanad district of Kerala resulting in considerable loss of lives and damage to property. Innumerable individuals were injured, more than 130 were reported missing and over 10,000 were displaced.
The affected area includes the villages of Punjirimattom, Mundakkai, Chooramala, Attamala, Meppadi and Kunhome, comprising farms built on steep slopes. Most of the victims were workers on tea and cardamom estates in the region who were asleep in their makeshift tents when the landslides occurred. The Indian Spacecraft Research Organisation suggests that the landslides cover an area of around eight km and damage to property has been estimated to be Rs 1,200 crores (USD 142.93 million).
The WZO (World Zoroastrian Organisation) Trusts have decided to lend a helping hand by arranging for the purchase and distribution of medicines, nonperishable food items, blankets, disinfectants and other essential items required to alleviate the suffering of the affected persons. We will be collaborating with the Kinder Trust founded by Diana Cyrus Bharucha at Coonoor, Nilgiris, as was done in 2018 when parts of Kerala were ravaged by floods.
The WZO Trusts will be contributing Rs 10 lakhs (USD 11,910) from their own resources and requests community members to donate generously towards this humanitarian effort.
Cheques in the name of "The WZO Trust Funds” may be sent to: The WZO Trust Funds, C-1, Hermes House, 3rd Floor, Mama Parmanand Marg, Opera House, Mumbai 400004 or remitted directly into the bank account of The WZO Trust Funds. Kindly email admin@wzotrust.com for details. Donations to The WZO Trust Funds are eligible for exemption u/s 80G of the Income Tax Act. The WZO Trust Funds is FCRA (Foreign Contributions Regulations Act) compliant and authorized to receive donations from overseas.
DINSHAW K. TAMBOLY
Chairman
The WZO Trust Funds
dinshawtamboly@gmail.com