1216 Mumbai province galvanized ino action, faced by widespread destruction and at least two student fatalities
austraLasia 1216

Mumbai province galvanized ino action, faced by widespread destruction and at least two student fatalities

MUMBAI: 29 July 2005 -- Mumbai's unprecedented monsoonal deluge has resulted in many deaths and much property loss.  Families attached to Salesian schools have not been spared.  Melwyn Pereira, a student attending  National Open School classes at Domionic Savio, Andheri, was drowned while returning home, and his two companions are reported missing still.  Vinesh Aranha, a second year student at Don Bosco Institute of Technology, Kurla, died when a wall fell on him on his way home. Some of the other students who were with him were also injured.
    Water entered The St Joseph's Technical School building at Kurla, and caused considerable damage to property..  Nearby homes, including those belonging to Cooperators, school employees and families of confreres were also damaged, one construction supervisor at the School losing everything.
    In response, Don Bsoco School Matunga, Don Bosco Youth Services Matunga and St Joseph's at Kurla opened up their rooms and space to teachers and students unable to return home.  In Kurla's case, some 500 staff and students were housed.  In Matunga, where it is normal for the Rector of the Shrine to distribute bread to the poor, other well-to-doo citizens this time found themselves without bread and were provided with same.
    Mumbai Province Provincial Fr Ivo Coelho has expressed sympathy to bereaved families and to others badly affected and also his profound admiration for the immediate response by confreres and communities.  He has taken a further step though.  He has asked the Provincial economer, Fr. Anaclete D'Mello, to lead discussion at a forthcoming meeting of Rectors to establish ways to be proactive on future occasions of this kind.  This discussion will take place on 4 August.
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