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Dear Sir,
I am writing this from my
sick bed. I proceeded to Karaikudi on the 3rd by plane, blissfully ignorant of the
catastrophe that I was to face in our College Campus. No doubt I had some slight idea of
the damage that must necessarily have been caused by the cyclone described in the papers.
The adventurous journey I had from Trichy Airport to Karaikudi by car, rail and on walk
exhausted me completely both in physique and in mind, that I was just in a state of
collapse when I reached the Bhavnagar Stadium. What I heard and what I subsequently saw
with my own eyes gave the finishing shocks to my frail frame both of body and mind that I
continued to remain in Karaikudi for another day just a helpless person with double
impression of the sudden demands, for rehabilitation alongside of the ever growing demands
for maintenance and expansion of the institutions.
Despite my definite weak
health on the 5th, and the sad picture of the Campus I was leaving behind, I left for
Madras on my intended journey for Delhi to preside over the Central Electrochemical
Advisory meeting and call on certain officers of the Govt. of India with regard to the
proposed National College of Physical Education, the extension of the Science Block of the
Alagappa College for Women and much dreamt of Medical College. The moment I arrived in
Madras I was fit not to pursue my programme of activity but ready only to be delivered to
the care of Doctors. As a result of medical advice followed by a thorough diagnosis I am
now in my sick bed with an enforced rest for treatment of bone T.B. You can easily
understand my anguish in the background of my responsibilities for the Colleges already
established and the glowing vision for their planned future. To cut the unhappy story
short I should like to give hereunder a rough account in seriatim of the damages wrought
to our fair College Campus by the cruel slings of cyclone.
1.
Avenue trees all
along: Avenue trees which have taken not merely continued enthusiasm and love but also
a long stretch of nearly seven years for their growth and thousands of rupees have now
been up- rooted and the site appears to be one as though a Bull Dozer deliberately run
through.
2.
Dr. Alagappa Chettiar
Training College: It is indeed on irony of nature that what one built with assiduous
care and never failing speed to give us a feast of the completion before the year and has
been mercilessly beaten and dealt with by the cyclone. The asbestos roof of the newly
built blocks have been blown off. One temporary shed put up for the Model High School
attached to the Training College has collapsed. The thatched roofs of the buildings of the
Alagappa Basic School and Alagappa Preparatory School have to be renewed.
3.
Alagappa Collapse and
the attached Hostels: The Hostels in our campus and the amenities for students in the
shape of dining hall, bath room and kitchen which were our pride, now lie almost literally
floored. The marble tables inside the dining halls have been broken by the fall of the
sheds. The roofs of the three kitchens have been severely damaged. The glass window panes
of the Five blocks of the Alagappa College have been completely broken and in some cases
even the frames have been ripped off from the structure. Fortunately we were able to save
the files, though most of them got submerged in water. The staff sheds nearby are all in a
dilapidated condition leaking profusely and there is even the danger of their collapsing,
if some further slight shocks of nature are unhappily experienced.
Chemistry Block:,
Part of the roof of the B.Sc., laboratory has been blown off, and the gas house is in a
miserable condition as considerable damage has been done to the roof. The cellar room of
the Chemistry Block is flooded. in front of the Zoology and Botany block cement slabs
which were deliberately built round the trees to provide amenities for students
particularly during midday recess have all been smashed by the trees which have fallen on
them.
College canteen, the
Students' Co-operatives Stores and the General Stores of the Hostel have all sustained
heavy damage and we had to remove articles worth ten to fifteen thousand rupees to the
Zoology block. Most of the articles are in a damaged condition. The Botany garden and the
Jawahar Park which were built and grown with a lasting pride are now mere scenes of sad
memories. It will take months and a large sum of money to restore them to the former
condition. The Pump sets installed in the gardens have all come under water and in some
cases the foundation gave way and the machine is under 26 to 30 feet of water. Salvage
operations are going on. Even if these pump sets are taken back they may not be of any use
immediately.
4.
Staff Quarters:
In the staff quarters the bath rooms and lavatory are rendered useless, the roof having
been blown away. The fuel which was stocked all got completely wet and in view of the fact
there was no light and no water we were compelled to close the Colleges. We are getting
anxious enquiries from the parents after reading the news of the havoc in the papers. So,
we thought it best to allow the boys to go home. Most of them had no money for traveling
expenses, and we advanced money for the traveling expenses. If this had not been done we
would have had to face a very difficult situation, but fortunately we were able to send
away all the boys by the 3rd December, we have informed them that they would be intimated
as when the Colleges will resume normal work.
We wish to inform you that
we owe a responsibility for the care and well being of nearly 2500 persons - staff and
students of the various Colleges with the Campus. Every moment after the eventful and
tragic happening our staff of the College and our office have been straining their nerves
to rebmbilitate the campus in the various sectors. We have already spent well over
Rs.50,000/- with the full realisation the date of the re-opening of our Colleges must be
as immediate as possible particularly in view of the fact that 50% of the Arts College
students and the 100% of the Engineering College students have to face the Ordeal of
University examination in March. We have now issued notices that the Colleges will be
reopened on the 19th December and students will have to report themselves to their
respective hostels on the 18th.
May I in this dark hour
solicit your sympathy and kind co-operation? This appeal I am making on behalf of the
staff and students of the Colleges. I do hope that your large-heartedness, you sympathy
for the distressed and your genuine kindness for suffering humanity will respond to our
humble call for help and assistance. Financial help from Government at this dark hour has
become a necessity and we do hope we shall get a substantial contribution from Government
to tide over the crisis.
With kind regards,
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