Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (DC)
Mangaluru, Aug 19: Over 200 devotees from coast including families from Pangala, Kemmannu, and Konaje, who were stranded at the Divine Retreat Centre in Chalakudy, reached their homes safely on Sunday, August 19.
According to sources, the devotees from Mangaluru, who had gone to the centre last week, returned on a private bus while devotees from Mysuru returned by train. Meanwhile, over 50 devotees from Goa have taken Erode-Chennai-Goa route.
The centre has announced that there will be no retreat for the next two weeks. It also thanked all the Mangalureans and well-wishers for their prayers.
It is learnt that the water level has come down at the centre. State ministers are likely to visit the centre today.
Among the stranded devotees, 8 were from Mudipu - Ravi Cutinha from Kambalapadav, his relatives Stephen Cutinha, Sunil from Vittal, Philip D'souza from Vijayadka, his wife and two children and Suresh Prakash from Mudipu.
Former MLA J R Lobo, district-in-charge minister U T Khader and MLC Ivan D’souza also got in touch with the family of stranded devotees.
Earlier, the rescue teams were unable to reach the retreat centre since the Chalakudy River was overflowing and also there were no army choppers to rescue them. The English, Kannada and Konkani sections of the centre were submerged in water and the devotees were shifted to Malayalam section temporarily.
Potta Retreat Centre is the biggest retreat place in the world.