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Following the devastating earthquake in
Gujarat on 26 January 2001, the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, with the
blessings and guidance of HDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj, has been active
in the rehabilitation of villages destroyed by the quake. BAPS has adopted
9 villages for reconstruction. Of these, two, Gunatitpur and Yoginagar,
were ceremoniously handed over to the villagers on 28 April 2002. The
dedication ceremonies for both villages was held in the presence of
Pujya Dr. Swami, donors and local dignitaries.
Gunatitpur
 Located
9 km from Bhachau, the epicentre of the earthquake, and 75 km from Bhuj,
Gunatitpur was totally razed by the quake. The 112 families have been
resettled in a 17 acre area. The foundation-stone laying ceremony for
the new village took place on 26 June 2001 and construction began in
earnest in August 2001. The village has been designed with all the necessary
infrastructure requirements. In addition to the 112 houses, a large
main entrance gate to the village, a school complex, play school, community
hall, panchayat ghar, primary health centre, roads, electricity and
street lights, water and sanitation facilities, plantations and a centre
for socio-spiritual activities have been constructed. The dedication
ceremony was attended by the main donors of the village - GRECO, Sultanate
of Oman.
Yoginagar
(Ukhadmora)
 Yoginagar
is located on the Bhachau-Bhuj State Highway, approximately 50 km from
Bhachau and 30 km from Bhuj. The earthquake leveled almost every building
- houses, schools and shrines. The foundation-stone laying ceremony
was performed on 29 June 2001 and reconstruction work began in August
2001. The village has been designed with all the necessary infrastructure
requirements. In addition to the 87 houses, two large entrance gates
to the village, a village square, a school complex, play school, community
hall, panchayat ghar, primary health centre, roads, electricity and
street lights, water and sanitation facilities, plantations, a cattle
farm for 400 cows and a centre for socio-spiritual activities have been
constructed. Rehabilitated over an 11.5 acre area, the 87 families of
Yoginagar consist people of Ahir, Goswami and Muslim community. The
donors for this village, Sunrise Radio Listeners of London, were unable
to be present for the dedication ceremony. However, the Sanstha, villagers
and local officials expressed heartfelt gratitude for their generosity
and support.
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