New Delhi: Rashtriya Sewa Bharti’s National President Surya Prakash Tonk and Sewa International’s Convener (Sanyojak) Shyam Parande said that the devastating earthquake in Nepal has wreaked havoc in our neighboring that has killed more than 15,000 people, destroyed thousands of houses. The April 25th earthquake has caused unfathomable loss to life and property in Nepal and it is painful for a country with a population of 2 crore to bear the brunt of such a magnitude.
Bharat and Nepal share millennia old cultural, historical and social relationship and it was quite natural for Bharat to extend a timely helping hand during these tough times for Nepal. People across all states of Bharat, rising to the occasion, collected relief material to be handed over to the Rashtriya Sewa Bharati on a massive scale. The relief activity in Nepal is spearheaded by Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh Nepal and 6 other organizations which launched rescue and relief activity within three hours of catastrophe. More than 1,600 Swayamsevaks of HSS and other organizations were pressed for relief activity work across all the affected districts of Nepal. The other organizations working together with HSS in Nepal are Jan Kalyan Pratishthan Nepal, Pashupati Shiksha Samiti, Pragyik Vidyarthi Parishad Nepal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad Nepal,Janjati Kalyan Parishad Nepal and Sewa International Nepal
The earthquake affected population needed food and some temporary shelter immediately and Rashtriya Sewa Bharati moved the required material across Nepal within three days of the earthquake.
The quantity of relief material dispatched from Bharat to Nepal includes:
– Tarpaulins 55,133 numbers
– Rice 40,000 kgs
– Chirwa (flattend rice) 1,500 bags
– Wheat flour 1,300 bags
– Blankets 83,790 numbers
– Food packs 70,764
– Sugar 13,017 kgs
– Salt 1,877 kgs
– Gur (Jaggery) 500 bags
– Tents 2,800 numbers
– Milk powder 8,035 kgs
– Medicines worth Rs.5 lakh
Relief material dispatched to Nepal through air, rail and road till this date weighs more than 200 Metric tonnes while 30 tonnes of material is yet to be dispatched.
Rashtriya Sewa Bharati thanks the donors and contributors for joining hands for supporting the relief activity in Nepal on large scale and expressing trust on RSB through their contributions, material or money. Rotary International, Bullion
Merchant Association, Brahmakumaries, Shastra University, Bharat Vikas Parishad, Indian Oil Corporation, Gokul Vraj Foundation, Adhirvad Trust, Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Resident Welfare Associations of Delhi are included in the list of those organizations which support RSB.
Several Mandirs and Muths and heritage buildings of archaeological importance have been destroyed in different parts of Nepal including Kathmandu. These include Patan Krishna Mandir, Patan Darbar Square, Basantpur Hanuman Dhoka Darbar square, Bhaktapur Darbar square, Taleju Mandir. The loss of historical and culturally important 9-storied Bhimsen Dharahara Tower is probably the worst loss.
The Swayamsevaks of RSS swung into the rescue and relief work just three hours after the devastating earthquake struck Nepal. They started distributing drinking water, rice, Chiwda (beaten rice), snacks and tarpaulins as an immediate relief in many places of Nepal.
Since then the relief material is being distributed for last 3 weeks by all the 12 badly affected districts of Nepal like Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, Dhading, Kabhrepalanchok, Nuwakot, Rasuwa, Dolakha, Gorakha, Ramechhap, Sindhupalchok & Lamjung. In some of these districts 90% houses have been destroyed by the earthquake.
The volunteers have tried to reach far flung villages in some of these districts which are located at high altitudes of more than 10,000 feet to provide relief material to the people in distress. There had been a demand for Tarpaulins for protecting the families from rain/wind/sun and food stuff like rice & yellow gram (Arhar) which are being supplied.
HSS led organizations have successfully deployed more than 1,600 Swayamsevaks for the rescue & relief operations till now and have reached more than 350 villages till this date in those 12 districts of Nepal.
Timely valuable guidance by Shri Dattatreya Hosabale Ji, SahSarkaryawah RSS and Shri Sunil Ambekar Ji, Sangathan Mantri of Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad boosted the morale of all Swayamsevaks and oriented the activity in appropriate direction for serving the quake affected.
HSS Nepal appreciates support and cooperation of many local organizations from various towns and villages during the relief operation. HSS also appreciates the role of Indian Embassy in Kathmandu for providing round the clock services to the earthquake affected in Nepal. HSS also thanks team of Doctors from Arogya Bharati, National Medicos Organization and many individual groups who joined the relief with medicines and medical kits that have saved many lives.
