Dr. Sarathy, as he was known when he practiced medicine locally, returned to India several years ago to direct the Sri Ramachandra Medical College in Porur, Chennai, where both young doctors had studied.

Kim Zahnke, 36, is the son of Fiona Zahnke, of Powell Valley, and the late Dr. Wolfgang Zahnke. Karthik Ramakrishnan, 26, is the son of Dr. and Mrs. M.R. Ramakrishnan, of Big Stone Gap.

Under the umbrella of an organization they have created, Physicians for Asian Disaster Relief, Ramakrishnan and Zahnke have been raising money and asking for donations of medical supplies to stock large vans which will be equipped with critical medications and basic diagnostic equipment to serve the region.

In two recent emails, Zahnke updates us on what has happened to date:

In the first email, received last Friday, he notes:

"Yesterday, we spent the day looking around at the local villages and refugee camps to see were we are needed the most. We also stopped to see some of the villages.

"A lot of the buildings have been bulldozed already, but there was a stretch of beach that had held three rows of houses. Behind it was a church with the middle missing. Another area had a bridge that was washed about 200 feet down river. It was a large bridge.

"Today, we started work. We saw probably 300 to 350 patients. Problems varying from abrasions to musculoskeletal injury. A lot of respiratory infections though.

"We are going to another camp with over 4,000 people. I think we will be a little busier. Probably will see 500-plus patients.

"Our boxes arrived (we think), and are waiting in Madras. We will be returning there on Sunday by night train and can get them then. We will probably stay a couple days, then move back here or go out to another hit area. It depends what we can get done in the next few days.

"Anyway, it is not as bad as I was expecting as most of the damage has been cleared. The people are needing a lot of psychological support as everything they have has been destroyed.

"I will update you in a couple of days. Kim"

Sunday, Zahnke sent another email update that noted, "I underestimated the number of patients we saw at the first camp. I estimated about 300. The actual number, after counting the patient slips, was about 600. Yesterday, we went to another area and saw about 500 patients. Then today was slower, only about 200 to 250."

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Those who wish to provide donations to assist directly in the relief effort may send checks to: Tsunami Relief Fund, Sri Ramachandra Medical College & Research Institute, 1 Ramachandranagar, Porur, Chennai 600116. The fund is part of a not-for-profit foundation set up by SRMC for tsunami relief.

In addition, Ramakrishnan's mother has offered to accept donations to be put into a bank account where money will be accessible in Chennai by the volunteering physicians, who can withdraw it from ATMs in Indian currency almost immediately after each bank deposit.

Mail checks to Tamil Ramakrishnan, addressed to Dr. and Mrs. M.R. Ramakrishnan, 1745 Valley View Drive, Big Stone Gap, Va. 24219, or call Tamil at 523-4425 to make arrangements to give a donation.

The doctors said that they hope to provide, in the near future, daily update reports posted to a website being created through the assistance of J2 Media, New York. As soon as that web address is available, it will be reported in The Post.