A celebration planned by Northland's community from the Indian state of Kerala for tomorrow has been cancelled due to widespread rain, flooding and landslides back home that have killed around 70 people.
Special drums had been brought from India to add spice to this year's Onam festival in Whangārei, which was to be hosted by the Whangārei Malayalee Association at Forum North tomorrow.
However, association secretary Jossy Thomas said due to the terrible situation back in Kerala, the organising committee yesterday made the decision to cancel the event and send money it planned to spend on the celebration to help those affected by the flooding.
''Now is not the time to celebrate. There has been severe rain, flooding and landslides that have killed almost 70 people. Many of our members in Northland have been affected through their families at home.''
Thomas said two of the state's massive dams, Idukki and Mullaperiyar, had come close to overflowing so the flood gates had had to be opened to prevent them bursting, which added to the flood waters.
He said homes and buildings had been washed away and the death toll was expected to rise.
It is monsoon season in India, but this year had seen even heavier rain than normal during the rainy season.
''It's the worst it has been for more than 60 years,'' Thomas said.
There are more than 300 people from Kerala living in Northland and Thomas said the association is collecting donations from the wider public to send back to Kerala. Anybody wanting to donate can do so through the association's ANZ bank account 060493052318300.