The recent floods in Orissa
during mid-July, instigated by unusually heavy rains, caused
rivers like the Mahanadi and dams like Hirakud to overflow,
resulting in mass flooding of over 9,000 villages in seven
districts and affecting some six million people. There has
also been a heavy toll on livestock and millions of hectares
of croplands have been destroyed. This was the worst flood
disaster in Orissa's recent history.
Hearing about the devastation in Orissa, Pramukh Swami Maharaj
immediately instructed the Sanstha's Kolkata centre in West
Bengal to begin relief work in the affected areas.
Gathering essential and emergency relief materials, the
Sanstha's team of sadhus and volunteers reached the Tirtol
and Kujang Block of Jagatsinhpur District, Orissa - one
of the worst scenes of the flooding.
From 21 July to 6 August, truckloads of relief supplies
full of foodstuff and medicines were rushed with a team
of professional doctors and volunteers from Kolkata by Sadhu
Purushottamjivandas, Sadhu Purnaprakashdas, Pitambar Jena
and Tamil Pradhan.
Using boats and wading through waist-high waters, BAPS volunteers
provided relief to over 37,000 survivors in 107 flooded
villages in Jagatsinhpur and Kendrapara.
The relief operation was coordinated by 67 BAPS sadhus and
volunteers, systematically and with pinpoint perfection.
Appointed by the Government of Orissa, BAPS
concentrated its efforts in the areas of Jagatsinhpur (Blocks:
Kujang & Tritol), Kendrapara (Blocks: Mahakapada &
Marshiaghai).
Aid was provided in the following ways:
Food Distributed
Chira (Flattened Rice), gur, rice, dal, biscuits, salt.
Medical Help
BAPS has sent a special medical team of experienced and
qualified doctors to the affected areas to treat patients
suffering from acute diarrhoea, vomiting, gastric ailments,
infections and fever. Furthermore, BAPS doctors and volunteers
organised medical camps in 18 flooded villages in both districts,
treating some 1,500 patients.
Medical Materials Provided
Water purifying tablets, tablets (for vomiting, diarrhoea,
etc.), vitamin drops, electrolyte powder, antibiotic ointments,
glucose powder and mineral water were distributed.
Village Clean Up
Both wards in the village of Kath Kot were submerged in
4 feet of water. BAPS provided 8 water pumps with volunteers
to completely pump out the water from both Kath Kot wards
consisting of 102 homes with village roads and avenues.
BAPS volunteers also cleaned the tube wells to ensure safe
drinking water for the people.
Kitchen
The people of the villages of Kath Kot (wards 9 & 10),
Kukurkhai, Barmania and Sharadi (wards 1 & 2) had not
eaten a hot meal for 7 days. BAPS organised a kitchen in
which a hot meal consisting of rice and dalma was cook and
served. Roughly 2000 people had lunch.
"Once again, BAPS Swaminarayan
Sanstha has rushed to help the people of Orissa. I thank
the sadhus and volunteers, who personally went to every
flooded and stranded village in Jagatsinhpur to provide
food, medicines and other aid. BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha
is an inspiration to everyone."
S. Mohanty, District Collector of Jagatsinhpur, Orissa
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