(updated on 20 August, 2017)
In the wake of severe flood situation in parts of Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal affecting thousands of families, Ramakrishna Mission is conducting extensive primary relief work among the flood victims, as per details given below:
ASSAM
In the wake of floods in many areas of Assam, Guwahati centre distributed the following items to 628 affected families in Morigaon and Darang districts on 15, 18 and 20 July: 150 buns, 204 bananas, 550 packets of biscuits, 371 saris, 110 dhotis and 466 mosquito-nets. Besides, the centre provided medical relief to 540 flood-affected patients. Moreover, as floods have again struck the Nagaon district in the month of August, the centre has started distribution of dry food materials, mosquito-nets and garments among nearly 500 flood-affected families. Further reports are awaited.
BIHAR
In the aftermath of heavy rains and release of water from Nepal, many areas of northern Bihar have been extensively struck by floods, affecting thousands of families. Our Katihar centre has conducted survey of affected areas in Katihar and Araria districts and has made arrangements to distribute dry food materials among nearly 1000 families. Further reports are awaited.
GUJARAT
On 23 July we were informed by our Rajkot centre that some households living on the banks of the local Machhu river in Morbi district have been inundated owing to release of water from the Morbi Dam. The centre served cooked food to 17,600 flood-affected people and educational kits (consisting of a school bag, a geometry box, 3 notebooks and a water bottle) to 336 needy students in Maliya and Mitana villages in Morbi district. Limbdi centre served cooked food, milk, biscuits and plastic-sheets to about 1770 flood-affected people in Limbdi taluka of Surendranagar district.
A relief team, consisting of monastic members from our Vadodara and Rajkot centres, reached the worst affected Banaskantha district in north Gujarat. Flash flood caused by incessant rainfall has wrecked untold suffering in the area. Our relief team has distributed more than 36 tons of assorted dry food materials, 1701 pieces of utensils, 12,180 candles, 1015 tarpaulins, 50 handcarts, etc. in about 45 remote villages of Dhanera, Deesa, Vav and Tharad talukas. Arrangements are being made to distribute educational kits and more handcarts among the affected families. Further reports are awaited.
UTTAR PRADESH
In view of the severe flood in Gonda, Barabanki, Balarampur and Maharajganj districts due to the inundation of Ghagra and Sarju rivers, our Lucknow centre has started extensive primary relief work among the flood victims. After a thorough survey of the affected areas, the centre has served 4280 food packets and distributed 8430 kg assorted dry food materials, 5000 litres of drinking water, 3480 candles, 3080 packets of matchboxes, 100 mosquito-nets, 500 tarpaulins, etc. among 1720 flood-affected families in 34 villages from 7 to 19 August. Further reports are awaited.
WEST BENGAL
Heavy incessant rainfall and resulting breaching of dams caused severe floods in extensive areas of Howrah, Hooghly and West Medinipur districts. In view of severe inundation in Amta, Arambag, Chaipat, Daspur, Ghatal, Khanakul, Mansuka, Pursurah, Udaynarayanpur and other areas, our centres in Antpur, Belgharia, Gadadhar Ashrama, Gourhati, Ichapur, Jayrambati, Kamarpukur and Saradapitha, along with two relief teams from the Headquarters, have distributed more than 144 tons of chira (rice flakes), 15 tons of sugar, 925 kg rice, 380 kg dal, 500 kg potatoes, 1628 kg milk powder, 1000 loaves of bread, 39,512 packets of biscuits, 3035 saris, 1560 dhotis, 1907 tarpaulins/plastic sheets, 700 kg bleaching powder, 7 lakh halogen tablets, etc. among 71,396 flood-affected families in 316 villages. As some areas of West Medinipur district are severely affected by water-borne diseases, being still in a water-logged condition, we have arranged 3 medical camps in Daspur block on 27 August through our Belgharia centre.
Our Cooch Behar centre served cooked food to 1590 flood-affected families in Tufanganj area in Cooch Behar district from 13 to 16 August. Our Malda centre has started primary relief work among nearly 1000 families in Bamangola block in Malda district from 16 August. Further reports are awaited.
