The Chennai Trekking Club, embarking on a major initiative to build 100 houses for those affected by the recent Gaja cyclone in Tamil Nadu, had completed work on 87 units.

It was a record 53 houses constructed in four days between December 8 and 11, a note from the club said.

It was a busy and long weekend for on-field volunteers in the Delta region. The arrival of more volunteers from Chennai helped in completing the 53 houses, double than what it did over the previous week. Experience also contributed to hastening the work, the statement added.

Roughly four to five teams, including local labour are involved in construction around Mannargudi and Vedharanyam, with materials and supply support from on-field CTC volunteers.

Support has been pouring in various forms. Volunteers Mani and Preethi and Ashwin and Abhinaya got married recently and decided that a part of their marriage gift would be given for a good cause. Their gift money of Rs 20,000 was being used in the rebuilding efforts.

On-field volunteers made sure that that the rehabilitation efforts reached to the most needy, the club said.

It cited the case of a family whose house was completely destroyed. Members of the family were in hospital with injuries from a wall collapse. One of the family member’s leg had to be amputated. But when they get back from hospital by the weekend, they would have a new house.

Construction of homes for the elderly, poor underprivileged, differently-abled, widows was going on in full swing. The club also thanked all those who contributed to the magnanimous initiative of a hundred homes and hundred smiles.