Raichur recovers from a natural disaster
 These are the 242 brand new pink-coloured houses, standing in all their majesty. Newly paved roads criss-cross the length and breadth of the township, connecting each house. Huge black water tanks stand on either side of the road. Eight hundred trees lovingly planted by the M.A.Math monks are swaying in the breeze. Lush greenery surrounds each house.
The people here are at peace; the Krishna river will never flood their houses and farms ever again. This stretch of land where their new homes have been constructed is far above its reach - close enough that they can pipe in its waters to quench their thirst, but far enough away that any future flooding will not touch them.
Kuruvakurda is an island village encircled by two tributaries of the Krishna which have sustained and nourished it for generations. The last time the river flooded was 60 years ago; most of the villagers had heard of the flood only as a legend. Even for those who had lived through it, it was a distant enough memory that the experience was entirely devastating. Six days of unprecedented rainfall, from September 29 to October 4, 2009 caused the Krishna to overflow its banks, rushing into their villages and inundating their homes and fields. Collapsed houses, destroyed crops, lives and livestock lost – their lives were never to be the same again.
This story was repeating itself in hundreds of villages bordering the states of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Tragedy and devastation loomed large. News of the disaster brought tears to Amma's eyes. She responded immediately, sending two contingents of medical personnel, accompanied by truckloads of medicines, blankets, garments and food. The Mata Amritanandamayi Math's medical teams sought out those inaccessible villages that had not been reached out to by any other aid group, working to ensure that no one slipped through the cracks. While attending to the survivor's wounds, they also worked to fight epidemic outbreaks that could prove even more deadly.
Amma offers immediate help
On November 27th 2009, Amma announced a relief-and-rehabilitation package of Rs. 50 crores ($10.7 million USD) for those affected by the floods. The team Amma had sent to survey the devastation brought back the name of one village which so far no aid group had offered to assist. Amma unhesitatingly offered to rehabilitate the populace of this village. That is how the construction of a thousand houses began in Dongrampura (Raichur District) replete with roads, parks, electricity, water and a community center.
On January 16th, a team of 14 brahmacharis landed in Raichur. That was an eclipse day, and though according to tradition one is not supposed to look at the sun or walk outdoors, they traversed the area without hesitation, visiting the proposed site and meeting the various district officials. The next day, the paperwork was finalized, and the very same day, the mammoth construction work commenced.
Speed Mantra
Speed was their mantra; M.A.Math volunteers literally toiled nonstop, though the temperature soared up to 45o C; half the day there was no electricity; no water. Braving these hostile circumstances, they built the first 100 houses in less than 30 days (news) . Inspired by Amma who is always working ( without an exaggeration) they had fulfilled Amma's dream of providing quick solace to those rendered homeless.
This construction miracle broke all records. Statewide, their accomplishment created ripples of awe in all circles. The government made a Powerpoint presentation of this incredible feat to other NGOs. They came in droves to see with their own eyes. Articles appeared in dailies, heaping praise. Ministers and top civil servants sang paeans from public platforms.
Keys to the houses
 The keys of these houses were handed over to the grateful Chief Minister of the state of Karnataka during Amma's Bangalore Brahmasthanam festival.
New records were broken again and again after that day. 242 houses were handed over on August 4th, 2010. Today, almost all the allotted houses on the three sites stand completed, awaiting allotment by the Government for the displaced families. It is truly a gift of grace.
To the right is a picture of suryaprakash and his happy family who received a home.
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