1997 FLOODS OF GUJARAT
Category |
: |
Floods. |
Account |
: |
In 3 days, (25-27 June), the monsoon rains
flooded hundreds of villages in Gujarat. Rivers broke
their banks and flooded roads and prime agricultural
land. |
Area affected |
: |
5 districts: Dhandhuka, Surendranagar,
Mehsana, Gandhinagar and Amdavad had hundreds of villages
completely stranded for days and towns lay under siege,
cut off from the rest of the world. Communication breakdown
and power failure resulted in many areas. Roads and homes
were swept away with disregard. |
Casualties |
: |
Over 200 people died. |
|
HELP
BY BAPS ORGANISATION
|
|
Area helped
|
:
|
5 districts: Dhandhuka, Surendranagar, Mehsana, Gandhinagar
and Amdavad.
|
|
Appointed by
|
:
|
The Government of Gujarat.
|
BAPS volunteers fanned
out into 5 districts of Gujarat: Dhandhuka, Surendranagar,
Mehsana, Gandhinagar and Amdavad. Using small boats or by
wading through waist-deep waters, volunteers risking their
own lives, rushed with aid to bring relief to victims.
RESCUE OPERATION
Using motorboats and paddleboats, BAPS volunteers, rescued
and helped several hundred stranded victims reach safer grounds.
The village of Buranpur in the district of Surendranagar was
stranded for five days before BAPS sadhus rescued the people
using motorboats.
MEDICAL HELP
• BAPS doctors and
volunteers were rushed to treat the sick. Fever, vomiting,
diarrhoea and foot diseases were common and were well treated
by BAPS doctors.
• In certain areas
volunteers distributed or helped treat villages with disinfectant
powder to avoid the spread of diseases.
FOOD DISTRIBUTION
BAPS had brought relief to thousands who had not eaten for
days.
• BAPS immediately
started preparing cooked food packets for distribution. Sadhus
and volunteers cooked and packed food at BAPS Amdavad, Mehsana
and Sarangpur centres. 70,000 food packets were prepared
and distributed by boats or on foot along with other essentials
to thousands of victims. Fresh drinking water and water pouches
were also distributed.
• Hot meal centres
and kitchens were also opened to cater for the homeless.
HOUSEHOLD HELP
• In the district
of Mehsana, 300 families were given new cooking utensils
along with other household items. |
