1983 FLOODS OF SAURASHTRA

The region of Saurashtra was experiencing its second consecutive year of mass flooding. However, this year the floods had covered a larger area and the results were much more devastating. The District Magistrate (Collector) of Rajkot immediately appealed to BAPS for help and relief aid.

FOOD DISTRIBUTION

•  On 23 June, BAPS started relief operations. 5,000 food packets were prepared immediately and a large BAPS team distributed food packets to flood victims in the town of Upaleta and the village of Varjan Jadiya in the District of Junagadh.

•  For over 25 days, volunteers of the BAPS centres in Gondal, Junagadh and Rajkot, set out each day with roughly 3,000 to 5,000 food packets for distribution in the three affected districts. Rain constantly pounded the area and in certain places, were roads were washed away, volunteers waded through chest and waist high waters, walking up to 5 kilometres and carrying heavy loads of food packets and relief aid on their heads to reach stranded villages. Seeing such work by BAPS volunteers, Mahant Vijaydas, State Minister of Agriculture, deeply praised the organisation.

•  BAPS volunteers distributed cooked food packets, wheat flour, vegetables and sweet dishes like ‘mohanthal' and ‘sukhadi' in flooded towns and villages like Bamansha, Ganod, Gabhej, Keshod, Manavadar, Meghpur, Panchala, Piplana, Shapur, Upaleta, Vanthadi and Varjan Jadiya. Each village was closely monitored by BAPS and its relief operations were coordinated with District Collectors, government officials and Municipal Corporation representatives.

•  In the Ghed sector, thousands of families were completely stranded and totally unreachable by any land or river means. Air was the only means. 10,000 cooked food packets were prepared by BAPS and transported from Gondal to Junagadh. There a helicopter provided by the government, airdropped the food packets to thousands of victims.

MEDICAL HELP

•  Using rowing boats, BAPS doctors and medical staff were transported with medicines to treat the sick and injured, and moreover to prevent an epidemic outbreak especially in the Ghed sector.

•  Disinfectant powder was also provided and used in most of the villages to prevent an outbreak of diseases.

SHELTER

Shelters and hot cooked meals were provided to the homeless at the BAPS Gondal centre until the situation normalised.

REPAIR & CLEAN UP

The heavy floods had stranded many villages and washed away approach roads. BAPS set to work immediately to repair roads and clean streets so that aid could reach desired destinations. On 25 June, a special team of 40 volunteers repaired the main approach roads and streets of the villages of Piplana and Shapur so that aid could reach the victims. Moreover, the BAPS team also cleaned public buildings, mandirs, schools and storage houses. Cattle carcasses were removed and the villages were treated with disinfectant powder.

HOUSEHOLD MATERIALS DISTRIBUTED

Together with food, BAPS also distributed clothes, blankets, candles and matchboxes to thousands of flood-affected families.

COMFORTING, CONSOLING & PRAYING

A team of BAPS volunteers also visited villages comforting and consoling thousands of people. Sadhus also conducted special prayers for those who had lost loved ones in the floods.