Statement from the Church of North India

Through electronic and printed media reports, all of us are aware of the horror, destruction and loss of life because of unfamiliar and unknown disaster called “tsunami”. According to the United Nation’s estimate, the death-toil figure has crossed 150,000 dead. Without undermining the gravity of the loss and destruction in other parts of our own country and in the South West Asia and while we express our empathy and solidarity with our counterparts in those areas/countries, we, in the CHURCH OF NORTH INDIA have suffered a great loss as one of our Diocese, the Diocese of Andman and Nicobar Islands has been the worst hit.

In a radius of ten kilometer in Car Nicoabar Island there were eleven large church buildings.  According to the unconfirmed sources, as communication in these islands have been totally disrupted, nine large church buildings in Chukchuka, Tamalu, Terka, Malakka, Kakana, Kimeos, Awrong and Sawai villages in Car Nicobar Islands have been washed away and the Car Nicobar island itself has been splitted into three islands due to change of course of the sea and these villages where these churches were standing have now turned into sea beach by the killer tidal wave.  Only two churches viz. St. Thomas’ Cathedral in Mus and St. Andrews in Kenyuka are standing though partially damaged.

Out of the forty-five clergies, according to the latest information reaching us three Clergies with their families have died and one lost his children and got himself injured.

We however praise God that Bishop Christopher Paul, who was consecrated in 2003, is reported to be alive along with his family.  Mr. Appolos, Diocesan Secretary is all right and will soon join the relief camp in Port Blair.  The total population of the islands is reported to be approximately 35,000 and more than 4,000 are now in Relief Camps in Port Blair, 20 to 25 thousands are expected to be surviving in the jungles of Nicobar and not less than 10,000 is reported to be killed.

The Most Rev. Z. James Terom, Moderator, CNI, immediately constituted a high power CNI DISASTER MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE with Bishop P.S.P. Raju as Chairman, The Rev. Enos Das Pradhan, Mr. K.R.P. Kosala, Dr. Samuel Kishan, Dr. Shailendra Awale, Mr. Sudipto Singh, Bishop Christopher Paul, Mr. J.B. Jayaraj, Mr. Appollos, Mr. Rig David, Mrs. Christen, Mr. Kalvin Roberts and Mr. Stephen Gosalves as members.  Mr. Khogendra Nath Das, the former SBSS Consultant has been appointed, as the Resident Relief Coordinator.  He is based in Port Blair.

A team of six members with Mr. Sudipto Singh as the team leader, Mrs. Reena Bose of CNI SBHS, Mr. Rajiv Prasad, Mr. Sunil Mahajan and Mr. R. John Suresh Kumar of CNI SBSS and Mr. K.N. Das reached Port Blair on December 31, 2004 with relief materials and medicines.  The team has joined hands with other four Christian relief organizations operating in Port Blair.

CNI Relief Control Room has been opened at the Bishop’s House, Goal Ghar, near Phoenix Bay, Port Blair, Phone No. 03192 231 362. Mr. K.N. Das, Relief Coordinator will be operating from this control room. Any relief materials for tsunami victims may be sent directly at the above address or may be sent to the Bishop’s House, 51 Chowringhee Road, Calcutta 700 071.

Your contributions by cheque or demand draft may be sent to the Treasurer, Church of North India, 16 Pandit Pant Marg, New Delhi 110 001, India.  The cheque/draft should be drawn in favor of CHURCH OF NORTH INDIA SYNOD.