UNITED SIKHS URGENTLY SEEKS DONATIONS AND VOLUNTEERS WITH VALID VISAS
To read a Field Update and Analysis on the affected villagers’ plight, from Bhai Esher Singh, the UNITED SIKHS team leader, click here.
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Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir (J&K)—Two aftershocks dealt another blow to the earthquake survivors grappling to stand on their feet. These shocks disrupted relief effort in the earthquake-affected areas in Indian occupied Kashmir. This however, did not stop a team of three intrepid UNITED SIKHS volunteers from Delhi – Harbhajan Singh, Jaspreet Singh and Jorawar Singh from taking a truck load full of blankets (2000), and Woollen garments, from Amritsar to the earthquake victims in Uri, Baramulla, and Kupwara sector. Harbans Singh, who arranged the shipment on short notice, said the quality of Blankets was not compromised.
Dr. Gurbachan Singh, UNITED SIKHS director of community affairs, stated that excise and state entry toll charges have been waived for relief materials brought into Jammu and Kashmir. He said that UNITED SIKHS is working with all other Sikh organizations operating in the area to channel their relief effort into the far-flung areas of Kashmir (India). He said he has called upon state government departments to visit devastated areas and assess damage with an effort to pay compensation to the surviving families.
Karnail Singh of Sandhu Bros Farms, Tracy, California generously donated funds for the purchase of the blankets and other relief supplies. He assured UNITED SIKHS of his continued support to provide aid to affected families in Kashmir before the first snow. He categorically emphasised the need to rebuild all damaged gurudwaras.
A total of nine Gurudwaras were damaged in Kashmir, according to the latest report available from Kuldeep Singh Bali, President of the Srinagar Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee. The locations of these Gurudwaras are:
1 – Uri (Gurdwara Parampila)
1 – Slamabad, 2 kms from Uri
1 – Legaima
2 – Tribuni, Tangdhar
2 – Kupwara Sector
2 – South of Baramulla
Despite the availability of supplies, it’s difficult to get it to villages close to the Pakistan border due to lack of good roads. Daleep Singh, 57, Sarpanch and President of Gurudwara Sahib Tribuni said, “We live next to the L.O.C, (Line of Control). There are no roads leading to our village to receive relief supplies. You have to walk single file on a narrow path alongside our fields. Despite many requests, no roads have been built since 1947.”
“There is no high school to cater for the area. Tribuni is the first village that gets hit by shells during border skirmishes. With no proper irrigation support, our agriculture depends entirely on monsoon rain. We are delighted to see Sikhs from other parts of the country in our village,” he added.
In a separate development, Bhai Esher Singh, UNITED SIKHS Team Leader, along with the Gurudwara Prabandhak committee of Srinagar, and Baramulla met SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur, and SGPC members Sucha Singh Langah and Harsurinder Singh Gill – in charge of J&K – to discuss the immediate needs for survivors in devastated areas in Kashmir.
South Asian Earthquake Relief Links:
Issued by:
Kuldip Singh
Director
UNITED SIKHS
1-888-243-1690
