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A depression was formed in the Bay of Bengal on the 20th of November 2008, with a non-stop rain for six days (800mm at Pondicherry, a new record over the past 15 years)

The depression became a cyclone, named as ‘ NISHA ‘ which hit Tamilnadu and Pondicherry on 26th and 27th November. Very strong winds thrashed the huts into pieces, uprooted thousands of trees, electrical, television and telephone wires were cut in many places. To the worst, totally 67 people have been reported dead in Tamilnadu and Pondicherry due to the cyclone and flood. 200000 hectares of paddy, in Tamilnadu alone, and hundreds of villages have been drowned in water.

In Pondicherry, the normal life was completely paralyzed for 4 days. People were unable to move anywhere because the roads were flooded. No electricity, no lights and no drinking water supply in the town. Public and private schools were closed for one week continuously. It is estimated that 65% of crops are drowned in water.

Volontariat, as always, acted immediately for relief works. All and, specially, the social workers together with the Parrainage section, were at the service of the people :

 The community centre was open to receive people whose huts were damaged completely.

 All three meals for three days were provided to 400 people in the Asokan Street Uppalam and to 150 people in the area of Udayarthoppu in Nethaji Nagar III – Uppalam.

 200 nos. of bread pockets were distributed to Kannibai Thottam and Sonampalayam areas.

 All the sponsored students were given three meals for three days and after their mid-day meals, they were allowed to carry food to their family members.

 All the social workers went nearly to 400 houses of the sponsored children and issued tokens to the deserving families. Today more than 300 tarpaulins were distributed to the families whose hut was badly damaged in the rain.

The Government of Pondicherry provided food to the people of most affected areas. Many families were given 10 kilos of rice and 2 liters of kerosene.