Immediate Response after Tsunami

Within hours of the disaster in the vicinity of Amritapuri, Amma transformed the Ashram’s local colleges into relief camps. There were 20,000 people at the ashram at that time and Amma ensured the safety of them all at first.She arranged the collection and distribution of all necessary supplies, considering every last detail. So intense was her concern for the needs of the villagers that for 24 hours she took neither food nor rest, not even a drop of water.

Initially the M.A.Math(Amma's ashram) accommodated 600 families at the Amrita University, which consists of an engineering school, a computer institute, and an Ayurveda School. When the nearby government schools reopened, the ashram also provided accommodation for the 2000 refugee families who had been living there.

Some families who were staying in makeshift structures in nearby temple premises did not feel that the women were safe there. So, those 1500 additional families were also accommodated at Amrita University

In addition to serving three meals a day to over 3600 families (18,000 people) in the Amrita University campus, hundreds of volunteers travelled from Amrita University to serve three meals a day to between 12,000 and 15,000 refugees in 12 government relief camps.

The Ashram provided everything it could from its storerooms. Evacuees were given blankets, sleeping mats, soap, clothes and medical care.

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