SGPC sends 50,000 more food packets to J&K flood-hit

Amritsar, Punjab: The SGPC today dispatched another 50,000 food packets to the flood-hit Jammu and Kashmir. Its employees and devotees are working overtime to prepare langar at Sri Guru Ram Das Langar Hall in the Golden Temple complex.

Manjeet Singh, secretary, SGPC, said: “We have prepared 50,000 food packets each containing four paranthas, dry vegetable and pickle. These have been sent to Srinagar by air this morning. We will send 50,000 more food packets to Kashmir tomorrow.”

Kulwinder Singh, publicity in charge, SGPC, said the Indian Air Force had deployed four aircraft at Sri Guru Ram Das Ji International Airport to transport food packets and other relief material to the valley. He said they were also taking services of private airlines to send relief material to Srinagar.

He said the SGPC had roped in extra staff for preparing langar while devotees were also volunteering in large numbers. The SGPC officials said they made sure that the langar was cooked in a manner that it did not get stale quickly.

In another development, the SGPC brought back 47 persons from Srinagar by air. The SGPC had rescued 30 persons yesterday.

Ravi Bhagat, Deputy Commissioner, said they dispatched 1.2 lakh food packets, 2,700 blankets and 35 quintal ration in two Indian Air Force aircraft today. He said these food packets were contributed by the SGPC and other organisations based in Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur and Tarn Taran. He said they were also sending 40 quintals of rice to the state.

                                                              IAS officers give a day’s pay

Chandigarh: All IAS officers of the state have decided to donate one day’s salary for Jammu and Kashmir flood relief fund. Suresh Kumar, president, Punjab IAS Officers Association, said the IAS officers had decided to express their solidarity with the flood-affected people of J&K by donating money. Gurkirat Singh, general secretary, has requested Vikas Partap, Secretary, Personnel, to issue instructions to drawing and disbursing officers to deduct a day’s salary from the September pay of IAS officers.

                                                               More relief for J&K

Fatehgarh Sahib: Deputy Commissioner Arun Sekhri on Saturday flagged off vehicles carrying 20,000 food packets and blankets for the flood-hit residents of J&K. Sekhri said they had set up relief-collection counters at SDM offices in the district.

Source: The Tribune