Srinagar, Kashmir: Floods turned to be mass tragedy for the people of Jammu and Kashmir this year as thousands are still strained in flood hit areas. Media reports say that 280 people have lost their lives, but the number is likely to rise as many areas of the affected region are still lying under water.
Various NGOs and social and religious groups have come forward to extend humanitarian aid to the victims of J&K floods.
Hundreds of flood-victims in Jammu and Kashmir who found shelter at various Gurdwaras across the state are grateful to the Sikh community for their contribution in the rescue efforts.
A control room set up by Sikhs in Srinagar Gurdwara for helping flood-victims of J & K
Abdul Rasheed has been staying in Gurudwara Shaheed Bunga for past 17 days ever since he along with his family was rescued from his marooned house in Jawahar Nagar in Srinagar.
“Flood-water did not spare any community, everybody was equally affected, but we are thankful to the members of the Sikh community,” he said.
Expressing gratitude towards the Sikh community, the flood victims, of whom a majority were Muslims, said they would remain indebted to the community as they helped them without discriminating on the basis of religion.
“I had never been to Gurudwara before and I am overwhelmed to see the love and care these people gave us. Without being bothered about our religion, they allowed us to live inside the main hall of the Gurudwara,” Maqsood Ahmed, a resident of Bemina locality, said.
Besides setting up relief camps at Gurdwaras, several members of Sikh community also volunteered in rescue efforts.
“A sardarji used his turban to pull my drowning family out. We owe our life to him, he even used the turban cloth to stop the bleeding of my daughter’s wounds,” Shabeer Ahmed another resident of Jawahar Nagar, said.
Various Sikh organisations from across the country and the globe too have extended help for the relief and rehabilitation of the flood affected residents.
Khalsa Aid volunteers heling flood hit people in Jammu and Kashmir
“UK-based Khalsa Aid and US-based United Sikhs were among the first few charitable organisations which rushed their men and equipment to carry out the relief work in the Valley,” a government official said.
Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DGMC) and the Amritsar-based Shri Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) have set up 24-hour free Langer (community kitchens) at various places across the Srinagar city.
PunjabUp Films, Green Thinkers, Sikh Relief, Sikh Helping Hands and Australian Sikh Relief are also enganged in extending humanitarian relief to flood victims in Jammu and Kashmir.