For nearly three days, Pondicherry was brought to a standstill by the devastating Fengal Cyclone. Torrential rains inundated every part of Puducherry, submerging many houses up to the first and second floors. The floodwaters destroyed household items, leaving many without their belongings. The city faced power outages, disrupted mobile signals, and communication came to a halt for two days. Cooking ceased in countless homes, with no shops or hotels open. The modern world was plunged into what felt like ancient darkness.
Snehan Home was not spared. Around 12:30 AM on Sunday night, I received a call informing me that water had entered the patient dormitory. I rushed to the scene and was alarmed to find our residents submerged in water while they slept. Fortunately, they remained dry, as the water did not reach the level of their cots and mattresses.
In that moment, I panicked. What if the water rose above the cot level? Where could I take our elderly, disabled residents who cannot walk? Stepping outside to investigate, I saw the entire street flooded up to knee level. There was no light in any houses. We lost a month’s worth of provisions, and our refrigerator and wet grinder were submerged.
During these three days, our staff were physically exhausted from the relentless cleaning, cooking, and ensuring water was available in the restrooms. This ordeal taught us to appreciate whatever we have. At night, we dined by candlelight, enjoyed long hours of sleep, and made do with the bare essentials to survive.
