AhlulBayt News Agency: As heavy rains caused floods and displacement in Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts, south of India, about 45 mosques in the region turned into relief camps, welcoming and feeding people from all religions.
The Tamirabharani river overflowed and inundated many homes, forcing residents to seek shelter elsewhere.
Mosques in both urban and rural areas opened their gates and offered food and other essentials to the affected people. Children received hot milk, bread and biscuits, while adults were served meals three times a day, the Hindu reported on Saturday.
Selvalakshmi, who stayed at the mosque in Paattapaththu near Tirunelveli Town for four days with her family, praised the generosity of the hosts.
"They also got medicines for those who needed them and did not accept any money. They gave clothes for our children. They did not even conduct prayers during those days," she said.
Similar stories of hospitality were reported from other mosques, such as the Miyan Mosque in Tirunelveli town, the mosque in Melapalayam, and the mosque at Kailaasapuram. These mosques accommodated hundreds of people from nearby areas, including some students of a National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) coaching centre who were stranded in their hostel.
The students were treated to biryani by K.M.A. Nizam, the Tirunelveli city district secretary of the MDMK party, who cooked the food at a mosque in NGO Colony.
"His house was also flooded, but he still prepared the food in the mosque and served it to the students. He continued to serve biryani to the affected people until the situation improved," said Perumal, a member of the MDMK.
Mohammed Ghani, a leader of the Social Democratic Party of India, said that his party workers also helped in distributing food, milk, bread, blankets and clothes to the people staying in mosques and other flooded areas. He said that 30 out of 150 mosques in Thoothukudi district were used as relief camps during the floods.
"This is a time for us to show our love and compassion to the people in distress. We love all, regardless of their religion," he said.
/129
The Tamirabharani river overflowed and inundated many homes, forcing residents to seek shelter elsewhere.
Mosques in both urban and rural areas opened their gates and offered food and other essentials to the affected people. Children received hot milk, bread and biscuits, while adults were served meals three times a day, the Hindu reported on Saturday.
Selvalakshmi, who stayed at the mosque in Paattapaththu near Tirunelveli Town for four days with her family, praised the generosity of the hosts.
"They also got medicines for those who needed them and did not accept any money. They gave clothes for our children. They did not even conduct prayers during those days," she said.
Similar stories of hospitality were reported from other mosques, such as the Miyan Mosque in Tirunelveli town, the mosque in Melapalayam, and the mosque at Kailaasapuram. These mosques accommodated hundreds of people from nearby areas, including some students of a National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) coaching centre who were stranded in their hostel.
The students were treated to biryani by K.M.A. Nizam, the Tirunelveli city district secretary of the MDMK party, who cooked the food at a mosque in NGO Colony.
"His house was also flooded, but he still prepared the food in the mosque and served it to the students. He continued to serve biryani to the affected people until the situation improved," said Perumal, a member of the MDMK.
Mohammed Ghani, a leader of the Social Democratic Party of India, said that his party workers also helped in distributing food, milk, bread, blankets and clothes to the people staying in mosques and other flooded areas. He said that 30 out of 150 mosques in Thoothukudi district were used as relief camps during the floods.
"This is a time for us to show our love and compassion to the people in distress. We love all, regardless of their religion," he said.
/129