ROLE OF SANGHA SWAYAMSEVAKS IN UTTARAKHANDA FLOODING DISASTER On June 15, 2013 a cloudburst was reported in Kedarnath and Rambada

region of Uttarakhand State. Over 1000 have been reported killed to date, and it is feared that the death toll may rise to 5000. Debris is still being cleared; thousands were still missing as of June 30, 2013. It left approximately 84000 people stranded for several days. Indian Army and its Northern Command launched one of the largest and most extensive human rescue missions launched in its history. Spread over 40,000 square km, 45 helicopters were deployed to rescue the stranded. (SourceWikipedia).

Meteorologists say the rain fall rate equal to or greater than 100 mm (3.94 inches) per hour is a cloudburst. The associated convective cloud, can extend up to a height of 15 km above the ground. During a cloudburst, more than 20 mm of rain may fall in a few minutes. When there are instances of cloudbursts, the results can be disastrous. Cloudburst are also responsible for Flash flood creation. Rapid precipitation from cumulonimbus clouds is possible due to so called Langmuir precipitation process in which large droplets can grow rapidly by coagulating with smaller droplets which fall down slowly.
In the Indian subcontinent, a cloudburst usually occurs when a pregnant monsoon cloud drifts northwards, from the Bay of Bengal or Arabian Sea across the plains, then onto the Himalaya mountains and bursts, bringing rainfall as high as 75 millimeters (3) per hour. On 15 June 2013, starting at about midnight, several cloud bursts occurred, followed by high speed flash floods and landslides, leaving nearly 150,000 pilgrims (for the holy places of Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedar Nath Badri Nath and Hema Kunda Sahib) trapped. The floods were so huge that hundreds of bridges collapsed, and roads sunk into mud, causing all transport systems to come to a standstill. Thousands of homes, shops, hotels, passenger vehicles, just went floating away. There is no clear estimate of how many pilgrims lost their lives; hundreds slid with mud banks and landslides into deep valleys; with dead bodies speeding along the

floodwaters of rivers Mandakini and Alakananda. Hundreds more died due to starvation. Many more succumbed to extreme cold, constant drenching in freezing rain; and to diseases caused by desperate drinking of muddy waters; while their brothers, sisters and close relatives/friends watched helplessly. Thousands have yet to recover from such mental trauma and anguish.

Photo 1. (Clockwise from top): Helicopter rescue; Pickups for relief; Storing and accounting of donations; mobile distribution of food and other help).

Photo 2: First responders go to build helipads so helicopters could land. Even as thousands of volunteers to help came forward, the news media was reporting the muddleheaded, misguided and lazy responses of the state and central government officials- which was right in line with their previous records in earlier disasters. Even those who sincerely wanted to help, were confused; how would the money and relief items reach those affected by the disaster, since no transport or communication channels were functioning? In such dire circumstances, the Indian military personnel jumped into the fray like heaven-sent angels. Army units, air force units, and units of Indo-Tibet Border Force rapidly repaired collapsed bridges and restored flooded highways and roads. They extracted out the trapped pilgrims, and provided them food, makeshift temporary shelters and medical help. Where needed, they unhesitatingly used helicopters and other heavy earth moving equipment. When the main highway going to Rushi Kesh could not be restored quickly enough, they set up alternate routes via Naini Tal, going to Dehra Dun. In this way, they saved nearly 110,000 people, often putting their own lives at grave risk. Even when 19 of them died in the crash of a rescue helicopter, they did not slacken their highly disciplined efforts.

Photo 3. A unit of Swayamsevaks marching to disaster area through a flooded street

Photo 4. Relief Donations collected by Swayamsevaks are now transported to disaster areas on their shoulders!

Photo 5. Swayamsevaks carrying Relief Supplies on their Shoulders in Hilly regions of Uttarakhand.

After the Indian military, the second disciplined group to pitch in for disaster relief was that of Sangh Swayamsevaks. Two Swayamsevaks, Bijon Bisht and Yogendra Rana were on the very first rescue helicopter that went in on June 18, as soon as the weather partially cleared. They descended to the ground by ropes; since there was no place to land the chopper. They built rapidly the first helipad. Within hours thereafter, Swayamsevaks in batches of 100 persons could be seen working in the disaster areas near the helipads day and night! Gathering all victims to the safe places of makeshift shelters (built on the spot by Swayamsevaks themselves) giving high priority to women, small children, the sick the disabled and the elderly), giving them ID numbers, distributing food packets, water bottles, and medicines, began in right earnest. Even though the military helicopters were helping tremendously by air-dropping food, water and medicine packets, it was extremely risky, because of gusty cold winds accompanied by freezing rain showers were constant companions. Recovering plastic wrapped food packet pallets washed away due to rainwater and mudslides into deep, steep valleys using ropes and mountaineering techniques,

helped increase the efficiency of air drops by over 50%. The intrepid Swayamsevaks did this, as the victims and pilgrims were too weak, and helpless, due to hunger and diseases. The Swayamsevaks were providing First aid to the wounded and seriously ill, and were carrying them on their shoulders up on steep mountain slopes to medical units where Swayamsevak Medical

Photo 6. RSS Swayamsevaks working with Indian Military in rescue work in flooded Uttarakhand.

Photo 7. A photo of the general area where Photo 7 above was taken.

Photo 8-9. : Landslide/Road Broken/Glacier slide-flooding in Uttarakhand

Photo 10. This is how Swayamsevaks worked with the Indian Military Jawans in Rescue effort

Photo 11. A sick lady is rescued by Swayamsevaks along with a helping Indian Military Jawan.

Photo 12: Indian Military Jawans and Swayamsevaks in Rescue Work

Photo 13: A Daring Rescue by Swayamsevaks and Indian Military Jawans

Photos 14-15: Indian Military Jawans work with local Swayamsevaks in Flooded areas

Photo 16-17: Rescue on a Makeshift Bridge across a treacherous flooded trench (Below: Drinking Water sent across that trench by Swayamsevaks)

Photo 18. Swayamsevaks with Indian Military Jawans working together for rescue and relief Work. Photo 19. (Below) Water being distributed on India-China border by Swayamsevaks along with Indian Military Jawans.

Photo 20. Swayamsevaks serve food to Indian Military Jawans engaged in rescue Effort

Photo 21: Mothers of Swayamsevaks, from Shri Bhuwaneshwari Ashram pitch in to help Swayamsevaks with cooking for victims of Uttarakhand disaster

Photo 22: Distribution of Food and Water By Swayamsevaks. Indian Military Jawans can be seen in the background.

Photo 23: A Swayamsevak Medical Doctor is treating a elderly sick lady, a victim of the Uttarakhand disaster area.

Photo 24: Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of Gujarat, and a veteran Sangha Swayamsevak, is inquiring the health of a sick victim of Uttarakhand Disaster Rea. Shri Modi actively joined the relief work done by Swayamsevaks.

Photo 25: Rescued Victims have been given clothing and food, and are awaiting housing

Photo 26. Landslides/mudslides in Uttarakhand

Photo 27. Swayamsewaks in Relief Work in Rishikesh Doctors and Nurses were working round the clock to treat them. The Swayamsevaks were carrying warm, dry blankets in freezing cold and rain to the victims and pilgrims up these same steep slopes! Until main roads and highways were repaired, help could not reach the victims; so the local Swayamsevaks, who knew expertly the footways and byways, as well as local mountain passes, pitched in with full vigor. They were used to very hard labor, and daily negotiating of difficult terrain. They carried food, water and medical supplies in small teams to the victims. They ran small and big shelters, as well food distribution centers. They carried sick, disabled and seriously victims on their shoulder to the military rescue trucks which went in as far as possible. All electricity had stopped since most electric poles were destroyed in the storm. The mountain Swayamsevaks literally carried thousands of flashlights (batteries) and mobile phones so the victims could be helped at night, and they could call their families to let them know that they had survived. Sangha Karyalaya (office) at Dehra Dun became the center for organizing the help that came in from all corners of India and the world. Uttaranchal (name of the state) Natural Disaster Relief Committee began to work in full speed. A Cental Coordinating Council was formed, consisting of the following Senior RSS Workers: RSS Kshetriya Pracharak (senior Regional officer, a lifetime bachelor) Shri, Shiva Prakash ji,

RSS Kshetriya Prachar Pramukh (senior Regional officer responsible for RSS work) Shri. Krupa Shankara ji, Uttaranchal State RSS Pracharak Dr. Harish ji, Vyawastha Pramukh (Facilities Organizer) Shri. Surendra ji; Dehra Dun Mahanagar Karyawaha (Dehra Dun Metro area RSS secretary) Shri. Anil Ji Nanda and Uttaranchal State RSS Karyawaha(Organizing Secretary) Shri. Lakshmi Kant Jaiswal. After the completion of the initials rescues, about 5000 Swayamsevaks are now directly engaged full time, in the relief efforts. On 28 June 2013, RSS Saha Sarkaryawaha (All India Joint General Secretary) Shri. Krishna Gopal ji visited Dehra Dun area to make sure that enough resources were organized to take care of the situation. Shri. Prem Badakoti, a senior Sangha worker, walked to Uttar Kashi (a disaster area town) and took charge of the only relief Center operating for victims trickling in with the rescuers from Gangotri area. In this center, daily food was provided for 7500 victims. Overnight shelters are made available to over 10,000 victims. This went on for 12 days. Similar relief Centers are operated by Sangha Swayamsevaks at these towns hit by the disaster: Gupta Kashi, Tilawada, Chandra Puri, Harasila, Joshi Matha, Karna Prayag, Peeple Kot, Rushi Kesh, Hari Dwar, And Chamba. By June 30, 2013, over 98,000 pilgrims and victims were helped by these centers. Medicines worth over Rs. 1 million, groceries worth over Rs, 10 million, and 58 large truckloads of relief tents, blankets and disaster relief equipment was sent from Dehra Dun RSS Karyalaya to the disaster areas. Obviously this was just the starting point. Major additional help is being sent in an on-going manner.

Photo 28. Relief Supplies

Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Assembly) and Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP; All India Students Council) also pitched in the relief efforts in a major way. VHP Relief Centers operated as follows: VHP Rushi Kesh Center: 20,150 victims clothed, fed and medically treated VHP Hari Dwar Center: 8,000 victims clothed, fed and medically treated VHP Dehra Dun Center: 10000 victims clothed, fed and medically treated VHP Kota Dwar Center: 6,600 victims clothed, fed and medically treated VHP Lakh Moti Center: 3000 victims clothed, fed and medically treated. In addition, the VHP bought train tickets for over 3000 victims/pilgrims so that they could go home.

Photo 29. A typical Sangha Rescue/Relief Food Center

Photo 30. Various Scenes of rescue/Relief Work

Between June 28 and July 1, 2013, the Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP; All India Students Council) organized Shraddhanjali Sabha (meetings Paying Homage to dead pilgrims) at hundreds of colleges and Universities all over India, raising the awareness. These meetings also thanked the valiant Jawans (soldiers) of the Indian military for their super human efforts in the rescue operations. Officers of the Badri Nath temple Committee also helped in a great manner. Chief Secretary Mr. B.D. Singh who lives in Mana town right on India-China border, appealed to all surviving hotels/lodgings and food establishments to not to overcharge the victims. The temple committee also arranged for Langar Sewa (food service) for victims at three different locations. Utaarakhanda State government policies were a study in contrast to all this good will and relief efforts. 1. They appointed an IAS officer ostensibly to co-ordinate and organize all different relief efforts; but his first order was to stop all Rescue and relief work done by the Badri Nath temple committee! A very large number of

victims/pilgrims, who were thus far being helped nicely, had to be uprooted out of their centers and they had to face needless calamities. 2. Shri. Narendra Modi, chief Minister of Gujarat State, came immediately to the help in the disaster struck area, and offered all helicopters owned by Gujarat State government for the relief and rescue efforts. The weather was clear at this time, and a large number of victims could have been air-lifted to safety. But the Congress party government of Uttaranchala State said a flat NO to this offer, because it came from a BJP ruled state! They requested large helicopters from the central government, but the bureaucratic delays ensured that the helicopters arrived too late; the weather had deteriorated so badly that any air-operations became impossible. 3. The Congress party government of Uttaranchala State did not bother to put screens to stop the dead bodies of pilgrims floating down the flooded rivers; in spite of many requests and offers of help from RSS sources. Consequently, the dead bodies went downstream, floating as far as Prayag (Allahabad), hundreds of kilometers away! 4. The Congress party government of Uttaranchala State announced that before the final rites (cremation) for the dead bodies of Hindu pilgrims, photographs and DNA samples would be collected, so that later, proper information could be sent to the next of kin. However, no mechanism was set up to do this for days and weeks on end! Consequently, the dead bodies began to rot and decompose in such large numbers that the stench spread all over the state, and Medical Doctors sternly issued Warnings that Choleras and other diseases were imminent unless this problem was immediately resolved. Sangha Swayamsevaks were dredging by hand deep mud, and pulling out these dead bodies by the hundreds, and bringing the next of kin to help their identification. The Swayamsevaks were also arranging for the administration of the Hindu last rites (cremation). Most of these pilgrims being extremely poor, their families begged the Swayamsevaks to perform the last rites. Yet, the IAS officers specially appointed by the Congress party government of Uttaranchala State were issuing threats of lawsuits to both the Swayamsevaks and the next of kin! 5. Many thieves and anti-social elements were seen snatching valuable jewelry and money from the dead bodies. However, this added disaster was prevented to a great extent due to the active cooperation and alertness of the Swayamsevaks and the Jawans of the Indian military working together. However, the Congress party government of Uttaranchala State did absolutely nothing, in spite of offers of free help from police personnel! 6. The Congress party government of Uttaranchala State and the central government, are both concealing the true extent of this disaster from the public- by misrepresenting the number of dead people, wounded people and the financial figures of the property losses. However, they are afraid that Sangha Swayamsevaks will come out with the plain, unvarnished truth. Thus, on an emergency basis, Rumor Prevention Acts have been hastily put into place, and Swayamsevaks have been threatened with them. (However, with

todays technology, photos/videos taken with mobile phones can easily overcome any mischief and suppression of truth!) 7. With excellent coordination, Shri. Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of Gujarat state, swiftly ensured the rescue, medical treatment and conveyance to home for 15,000 pilgrims who were from Gujarat, in the disaster area. However, the Congress party government of Uttaranchala State and central government, tried in vain to politicize the issue by claiming that this was election propaganda, and the rescue never happened! 8. With characteristic super efficiency, Gujarat government under the leadership of Shri. Narendra Modi has been operation with huge surpluses over many years. Shri. Modi offered to re-build the Hindu Shrines of Kedar Nath area for free. No effort would be required of the Uttaranchala state government. Fearful that this might very well expose their inefficiency and utter bankruptcy, with the national and state elections coming up next year, the Congress party government of Uttaranchala State and central government refused to accept the offer!

The first phase of rescue for the disaster hit pilgrims/victims is by now almost complete. The real challenges of re-building and re-construction lie just ahead! The people of Uttaranchala State have suffered disastrous losses of their homes and property. Hundreds of villages and over 30 major townships have been totally destroyed. True numbers of the dead and wounded are still unknown. Thousands of very poor people, including those directly reliant on tourism for subsistence such as tea shack owners, coolies, horse carriage operators, palaki operators, have lost not only their homes; they will have no income till the tourism/pilgrimages re-start; this is estimated to take anywhere between 3-5 years at least. Thousands of cows, buffaloes, goats and other agricultural animals have floated away to their deaths in the flood waters, or were buried alive alongside their helpless owners in humongous landslides and mudslides. The four Dhama Yatra (Pilgrimage to four holy places) with the pilgrims and tourists has stopped for the foreseeable future. The forests in the area are completely destroyed as well. It is imperative to jump-start economic activities here! By re-starting the pilgrimages this can become possible. For this, the infra structure such as roads, bridges, electric grid, lodgings/hotels, restaurants, etc. need to be rebuilt. To clear away the landslides and mudslides, to re-open the roads, to re-build the medical facilities, and train lines, is a very major undertaking. Obviously, the Uttaranchala State government has neither the will-power nor the financial resources to do this. Thus, the Swayamsevaks have to pick up the lions share. In a second phase, simultaneously, re-building of the destroyed homes and shops/businesses is vitally important. Creating jobs in the region through tourism and these reconstruction activities is a very big responsibility. The economy of the entire region is dependent upon tourism.

In this mountainous region, flat lands are at premium. Landslides, mudslides from steep upslope areas are imminent due to denuded forests, and melting glaciers due to irresponsible environmental policies of the state and central governments. Thus, the re-construction will have to be such that newly rebuilt construction is not washed out again due to another disaster. The roads, bridges, electric grid and medical facilities will have to be re-built such that they remain functional in spite of another set of cloudbursts or shifting river flows. Illegal building will have to be stopped. Nature is sometimes a cruel teacher- disasters do not obey any government rules! We must plan properly to avoid repetition of such disasters. Our current focus is obviously still on immediate rehabilitation. Please donate generously to this noble cause! In India, this effort is covered under Government Of Indias 80-G tax Exemption. Dhanyawaad (Thank You)! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------