Tamils in Australia share woes as bushfire smothers nation
TNN | Jan 7, 2020, 04.23 AM IST
CHENNAI: Most Tamils living in Australia are among those most affected by the bushfire as they live in Sydney and Melbourne. The continent is home to about one lakh Tamil migrants, of whom 50% are from Tamil Nadu. The rest are from Sri Lanka.
G Kiruthiga from Chennai, who is residing in western Sydney, about 100km from the epicentre of bushfire, said carbon emissions were bad.
“I can still feel the smoke and have breathing difficulties. We would airdry clothes in the balcony and find black powdery specks on them the next day,” she said. The Indian community is assisting with relief work, she added.
According to media reports, the deadly southern-summer fires have destroyed more than eight million hectares of bushland in Australia, killing at least 24 people. The disaster has also taken a heavy toll on wildlife, charring thousands of birds and animals to death.
Anagan Babu, president of Tamil Arts and Culture Association in Australia, said Tamils largely reside in Sydney and Melbourne.
“This is the largest drought that the residents of Sydney have faced in the past two decades. Water is being rationed and restricted for domestic use,” he told TOI from Sydney on Monday. Soaring temperatures breached new record due to the inferno last week, he added.
The devastating bushfire has also taken a heavy toll on tourism sector, with a section of city residents who had plans to tour Australia putting it off. Manish Kriplani of Outbound Tour Operators Association of India, said approximately 50,000 tourists from South India fly to Australia every year.
“Those planning to travel to Australia in the next two to three weeks have cancelled their trips following the bushfire. However, we are bullish that the development will not hit the upcoming season starting from May,” he added.
Tourism is an important sector for Australia. “In fact, Australian authorities went ahead with the annual fireworks event on the eve of New Year despite protests as the event in Sydney draws international tourists, generating 130 million Australian dollars revenue,” Anagan Babu said.
Tourism industry sources said people are looking for alternate destinations. Chairman of tourism sub committee of Travel Agents Association of India, Sriharan Balan, said European destinations such as Georgia and Hungary are being suggested as alternate destinations to those who have already explored northern Europe and the US.
TNN | Jan 7, 2020, 04.23 AM IST
CHENNAI: Most Tamils living in Australia are among those most affected by the bushfire as they live in Sydney and Melbourne. The continent is home to about one lakh Tamil migrants, of whom 50% are from Tamil Nadu. The rest are from Sri Lanka.
G Kiruthiga from Chennai, who is residing in western Sydney, about 100km from the epicentre of bushfire, said carbon emissions were bad.
“I can still feel the smoke and have breathing difficulties. We would airdry clothes in the balcony and find black powdery specks on them the next day,” she said. The Indian community is assisting with relief work, she added.
According to media reports, the deadly southern-summer fires have destroyed more than eight million hectares of bushland in Australia, killing at least 24 people. The disaster has also taken a heavy toll on wildlife, charring thousands of birds and animals to death.
Anagan Babu, president of Tamil Arts and Culture Association in Australia, said Tamils largely reside in Sydney and Melbourne.
“This is the largest drought that the residents of Sydney have faced in the past two decades. Water is being rationed and restricted for domestic use,” he told TOI from Sydney on Monday. Soaring temperatures breached new record due to the inferno last week, he added.
The devastating bushfire has also taken a heavy toll on tourism sector, with a section of city residents who had plans to tour Australia putting it off. Manish Kriplani of Outbound Tour Operators Association of India, said approximately 50,000 tourists from South India fly to Australia every year.
“Those planning to travel to Australia in the next two to three weeks have cancelled their trips following the bushfire. However, we are bullish that the development will not hit the upcoming season starting from May,” he added.
Tourism is an important sector for Australia. “In fact, Australian authorities went ahead with the annual fireworks event on the eve of New Year despite protests as the event in Sydney draws international tourists, generating 130 million Australian dollars revenue,” Anagan Babu said.
Tourism industry sources said people are looking for alternate destinations. Chairman of tourism sub committee of Travel Agents Association of India, Sriharan Balan, said European destinations such as Georgia and Hungary are being suggested as alternate destinations to those who have already explored northern Europe and the US.
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