Delhi Sikh body chief visits flood-hit Punjab areas, offers relief

Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Harmeet Singh Kalka recently visited flood relief camps set up by it in Dera Baba Nanak and Ajnala areas to support those affected by the recent floods in Punjab.

During his visit, Kalka met with flood-impacted families to understand their problems and assessed the situation on the ground. He informed the media that two truckloads of relief material had been distributed among the victims. The aid included essential items such as dry ration, food supplies, daily-use goods, medicines, tarpaulins, tracksuits, mosquito nets and mosquito repellents.

He stated that discussions were held with farmers to explore ways to restore flood-damaged farmland and bring it back into cultivation. “Now, the challenge is to bring life back to normal after which we will again assess the requirements of the flood victims.”

Since August 25, nearly 100 volunteers from the DSGMC have been actively engaged in providing continuous relief work across various flood-affected areas. With the support of the Sikh community, the collected supplies are being delivered directly to those in need.

Kalka assured that the DSGMC will strongly advocate for a substantial relief package for Punjab from the Central government. “A large portion of Punjab is sunk for the past three weeks and people are suffering. The DSGMC has tried to make efforts to help people in distress”. The committee also started medical camps and doctors arrived to help the victims and supply adequate medicines.

He said the DSGMC teams were assessing the requirement of the people at this stage and will accordingly arrange the relief material. The flood affected areas have received enough food material and now they need cattle feed and fodder, tarpaulins, seeds for next crop and support to rebuild houses, he informed. “Several tubewells have been sunk, so the need is to re-dig them. The DSGMC will bring teams to help the farmers, so that the tubewells could be dug again,” he said.

Now, the challenge is to bring life back to normal after which we will again assess the requirements of the flood victims. DSGMC teams are assessing the requirements of the people at this stage and will accordingly arrange relief materials.

Harmeet Singh Kalka, DSGMC president