Disaster Relief

I Mumbai Flood Relief July 2005

Mumbai and its suburbs experienced the unprecedented rainfall of 944 mm on 26th July 2005. The entire city was flooded and came to a grinding halt. Bhaktivedanta Hospital, keeping in tune with its philosophy of being a hospital with a difference, immediately involved itself in the relief operations. Hospital staff worked for more than 36 hrs on a stretch taking care of patients. Hospital Ambulance recovered dead bodies and helped stranded people to safety. 20 students and ten school staff were accommodated for more than 36 hrs at the Hospital. Food was also provided to them. For a week more than 1000 people were fed with hot food.

Free Medical camps were conducted at several places in Mira-Bhayander area and patients were also given free medicines. Mira-Bhayander Municipal Commissioner, Mr. R. D. Shinde (IAS) appreciated the timely relief provided by the Hospital.

II TSUNAMI RELIEF – December 2004

After an emergency meeting convened for Tsunami relief, the Bhaktivedanta Disaster Management team immediately left for the Tsunami affected areas of Nagapattinam.

After a detailed survey of various villages viz – Serudhur near Vailankani shrine, Keechankuppam, Kuzikarai and Palayar etc. of Nagapattinam district, the following relief activities were conducted.

More than 2500 patients were seen and the necessary medical treatments were given. All the patients were given free medicines including costly antibiotics. Precautionary medicines for malaria and other such diseases were also given to the patients.
During the relief operations more than 3000 plates of food (hot rice, dal etc.) were distributed daily. In the next 50 days, till 24th Feb. 2005, Bhaktivedanta team distributed few thousand plates of food every day, totaling about 48000 plates. Other ration materials as well as cooking stoves, mats, bed sheets were also provided. Books, notebooks, school bags, shoes, uniforms etc. were distributed in various schools for the children. Our efforts to bring solace to the Tsunami Victims did not stop just with medical and food relief. We also extended our help by constructing permanent houses and handing it over to the poor fishermen families at Madavamedu coastal village in Sirkazhi Taluk, Nagapattinam Dist.

Inhabitants affected by Tsunami were also counseled in various camps apart from group prayers (Sankirtan) to boost their psychological morale.

III GUJARAT EARTHQUAKE RELIEF

Bhaktivedanta Hospital Disaster Relief team reached, Rapar within 2 days of the 26th January 2001, Bhuj earthquake. Hospital team consisted of 50 people including Doctors, Paramedical Staff & Volunteers served for more than 6/7 month thereafter. More than 2000 patients were treated for fracture and bone injuries and more than 20,000 patients were given OPD services including X-ray, Pathology, free medicines and food. Counseling and prayers were also conducted for the people in distress. Staff quarters were constructed for the employees of Savla Hospital, Rapar, Gujarat who were affected by Earthquake.