Bellary Diocese

BELLARY, OCT. 20: A truck load of relief material worth over two lakhs was presented by the Mangalore Diocese to the worst flood affected people of Bellary diocese on Tuesday, Oct. 20 at the Bishop’s House, Bellary. The material collected from the philanthropists of Mangalore under the leadership of noted leader Ronald Castelino and social activist Stany Alvares was handed over to the Director of the Bellary Diocesan Development Society Director Fr Paul Raj in the presence of the Bishop of Bellary Henry D’Souza and Vicar General Fr. Chowrappa Y. The relief material included a large quantity of school books, sleeping mats and bed sheets, readymade clothes for men and women, kerosene stoves, buckets and food material such as rice, sugar, cereals and biscuits. Bishop Henry D’Souza thanked the donors, the organizers and the Diocese of Mangalore for their “Compassionate gesture and good will in the hour of tragedy”. The team which travelled with the material included Ronald Castelino, Stany Alvares, Naveen Lobo, Denny Castelino, Seema Alvares, Radhika Castelino and Salomi Alvares. All the three districts namely Bellary, Koppal and Raichur of Bellary Diocese have been badly affected by the incessant rains and unprecedented floods of Oct. 1-3. The loss of life and property in Bellary Diocese: Loss of life : 72 Number of people affected : 151,934 Villages affected : 1,296 Houses destroyed/damaged : 118,833 Relief being distributed to : 3,500 families Number of Catholic houses : C 600 Number of medical camps held : 11