SGPC team in Kashmir to review relief work

Amritsar, Punjab: A 15-member SGPC delegation, led by its general secretary Sukhdev Singh Bhaur, left for Jammu and Kashmir to review the SGPC’s ongoing rescue and relief work there. SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar, who was supposed to lead the delegation, could not accompany them in view of the demise of former SGPC president Jagdev Singh Talwandi.

SGPC executive member Rajinder Singh Mehta said they would take stock of the relief work and also look into the requirements of the flood-affected people. He said they would submit a report to the SGPC chief after assessing the situation so that they could chalk out the future course of action vis-à-vis relief work.

He said they had been sending ration to the flood-hit state on a daily basis. “Even today, we’re taking along 10 quintals of rice, five quintals of “daal”, five quintals of juice, and two quintals of onions,” he added.

Talking to The Tribune on the phone from Srinagar this evening, additional SGPC secretary Daljit Singh Bedi said the delegation visited the relief camp and the flood-affected areas in the city. It met people who expressed satisfaction with the relief work being carried out by the SGPC. They were, however, unhappy with the state government and accused it of not doing enough for them.

The people urged the SGPC to facilitate their rehabilitation. The SGPC team told them though they had limited resources but would still try to help them in every possible manner. Bedi said they would continue the supply of relief material till the situation became normal in the state.

He said they distributed 5-kg packets of relief material to the affected people today. The delegation would return tomorrow.

In a related development, the SGPC facilitated the dispatch of ashes of those killed in floods to Amritsar through aerial route. The family members of those killed brought the ashes of their near and dear ones.

Meanwhile, the district administration today dispatched 25,000 blankets, 2,000 towels, 700 suits for women and 5 tonne food items to Jammu and Kashmir through Indian Air Force planes. Earlier, it had sent 6,000 blankets, 37 tonnes of food packets and 35 quintals of dry ration. DC Ravi Bhagat said their control room was working round the clock to facilitate all possible assistance to the flood-hit.

                                                          Extending help in hour of crisis

• The team will take stock of the relief work and look into the requirements of the flood-affected people
• It will submit a report to SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar to chalk out the future course of action
• The SGPC has been sending ration and other relief material to the flood-hit state on a daily basis

Source: The Tribune