Current Events
A Call For Help:
Ground Zero, Jammu & Kashmir Floods
Dr TARANJIT SINGH
Two weeks ago, the most severe flooding the area has experienced in 60 years hit Jammu and Kashmir (“J&K“), prompting the armed forces and various relief agencies from different parts of J&K to spring into action.
To date, according to reports, it is claimed that more than 150,000 people have been rescued from flood-ravaged areas, with another half-a-million awaiting rescue.
The area has a minority population of Sikhs comprising of about 2 percent or 70,000 people, spread across various districts like Srinagar, Shopian, Pulwama, Baramulla, Anantnag and Kupwara. Mostly, this Sikh population is concentrated as groups in different areas in small villages, though a few live in the urban region near Srinagar.
The Sikhs in the Srinagar valley are mostly educated and employed, working for the government, or are small business owners. Their ancestors settled in these areas since the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. They have continued to stay in the area while others, such as Kashmiri pandits, fled the region for other parts of the country.
Throughout, the Sikhs have been living in communal harmony with the Kashmiri Muslims.
The flood, which has killed more than 500 people (official figures, therefore likely downplayed!) in the J &K state, ravaged the state capital Srinagar’s suburbs, where the Jhelum River crosses in the center, leading to the city’s flooding, sending survivors to mosques and gurdwaras.
Although more than 150,000 may have been rescued, they have been transported to makeshift camps, where health and other services are greatly lacking.
I am part of a group of Sikh students and professionals who originate in the J&K region but who are working in the Delhi Capital region.
Many of us have lost contact with our families as utilities such as phone, internet, and electricity have been wiped out by the flood. The few of us who have heard from family members are getting frightening reports of water levels rising upwards of 20 feet in some area, and entire houses being washed away.
We are also hearing of anger over the state and central government’s lack of preparedness and delayed response, as shocked officials simply did not know what to do, despite repeated advance warnings of a dire situation from the Flood Control Department.
Also, despite Indian media reports of rescue operations, the ground reality is somewhat different for the many people stuck and stranded for 4-5 days without any help, food, or other supplies, and left to fend for themselves.
Many Sikhs in the Kashmir valley in the Srinagar area are taking refuge in gurdwaras where medical aid and continuous langar are being supplied by the local Sikh community, organizations from across J&K, and some international non-profit organizations like Khalsa Aid and United Sikhs. At present, there are 4,000-5,000 people at the Shaheed Bunga Sahib Gurdawara, and langar is being served three to four times a day to for 10,000-15,000 people, irrespective of religious affiliation.
The bottom line is that the Sikh communities in J&K need help.
What can you do to help?
The most affected areas are Sikh residential areas -- and our group of J&K transplants to Delhi want to help our Sikh neighbors, friends and families by providing much needed supplies, medicines …
With horrible stories like entire houses swept away adding to our sense of helplessness, we plan to take action and hope that anyone who reads this will be inspired to act with us the best way they can. To date, we have collected medical aid and lifesaving jackets from donations from Kashmir Sikh students and professional through Facebook page and have already sent them along.
Anyone wanting to help our fellow Sikhs whose lives and, no doubt, livelihoods have been destroyed by the flood can visit our Facebook page to find out more about how to donate and where to drop off donation points. If one is in the Delhi Capital Region, we would prefer material aid over the money and will organize the material to deliver it to appropriate camps in J & K.
Anyone wanting to volunteer can also post on that same page.
To help, please go to: www.facebook.com/groups/316488118533383/
People can also help through UnitedSikhs.org or Khalsa Aid.
Sikhism teaches about the importance of seva, the act of selfless service. What better seva can there be to donate or volunteer to help others felled by such a catastrophe?
"If someone of high social standing becomes a selfless servant. Then his praises cannot even be expressed. And if someone from a lowly social class becomes a selfless servant, O Nanak, he shall wear shoes of honor." [GGS:1256]
September 16, 2014
Conversation about this article
1: Kulvinder Jit Kaur (Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada), September 17, 2014, 11:44 AM.
I hope the SGPC and the DGPC are spending the millions in their coffers to rescue and rehabilitate these Sikh families. What else are these committees for, If not to serve the Sikh community in their hour of need? Looking back, they have failed miserably in their role, especially in serving the victims of 1984. Sikhs at large should hold them accountable. It is the sangat's money and is to be utilized on the sangat.
2: Manbir Banwait (Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada), September 17, 2014, 3:25 PM.
No nation is prepared for such ruthlessness of mother nature. Even the US struggled through the hurricanes that affected New Jersey and New Orleans. I believe it's remarkable that the men and women of the armed forces put their lives on the line day in and day out rescuing nearly 200k people while politicians bicker. I suppose that's what politicians do best. Hopefully this can be a wake up call for the govt. to invest money in infrastructure and build dams to contain the waters. One can hope, at least. I too would like to see the Sikh gurdwaras take a leading role in helping the local populations affected. I'm sure much is already being done, but more needs to continue.
3: Baldev Singh (Bradford, United Kingdom), September 18, 2014, 12:31 PM.
This is very tragic ... Kashmir is known as 'Heaven On Earth'. It used to be one of my favourite places on earth. I have met and lived with Kashmiri Sikhs briefly. They are educated and have a good standard of living. I am sure Sikhs everywhere will help equally non-Sikhs and Sikhs affected by this tragedy, as they always do whenever humanity is in trouble!