BAPS Helps Flood Victims of Gujarat, India

By the inspiration of Pujya Pramukh Swami Maharaj, over 105 sadhus and 1650 volunteers of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha served to help the flood victims during the heavy rains in Gujarat. BAPS provided hot meals to over 325,000 flood-affected people and distributed over 185,000 food packets coordinated by the BAPS headquarters in Amdavad. The Sanstha’s Mandirs at Amdavad, Atladra, Bharuch, Bochasan, Navsari, Surat, Tithal, Mahelav, Sarangpur, Rajkot, Surendranagar, Vidyanagar, Gadhada, Gondal, Himmatnagar, Limdi, Nadiad, Junagadh, Jamnagar, Gandhinagar, Adas and other places served as centres for flood relief activity.

BAPS provided flood relief aid to 95 villages in 16 regions. In particular: Vadodara district – Vadodara city, Mujmahuda, Akota, Tandalja, Gotri, Atladra, Bhimtalav, Subhanpura and other villages; Bharuch district – Bharuch city, Vilayat and villages of Vagra sub-district; Anand and Kheda district – Anand, Borsad, Amiyad, Khadodhi, Badalpur, Dhuvaran, Kanbha, Undel, Kalodra, Kalu, Rahevan and other villages; and Navsari district – Navsari, Dashera Tekri, Ramlakhota, Kabilpor and other villages. Extensive flood relief work was performed in the severely affected South Gujarat areas of Surat, Tithal, Valsad, Kosamba, and others. In addition, affected parts of Amdavad and Saurashtra were also provided aid.

The Sanstha’s youth volunteers ventured into remote areas, braving the heavy rain and waist-deep waters. In Borsad, where army help was necessary, BAPS volunteers worked with the army to provide aid. In Saurashtra, even sadhus helped to save lives. Using its boats the Sanstha helped to deliver emergency aid to affected areas and to evacuate people to safer places.

Pramukh Swami Maharaj has prayed that the torrential rains subside. Prayers have also been offered at all BAPS mandirs and centres.

Details of the BAPS flood relief work are as follows:

Flood Relief Work - Details (upto 6 July 2005)