2014-09-12 16:46:00

Indian bishops urge help for flood victims


(Vatican Radio) Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI), has urged Catholics across the country to contribute generously to rebuild the lives of people affected by the floods in Jammu and Kashmir. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Cardinal expressed  "deep anguish over the loss of lives and properties" caused by the devastating floods and asked India’s 16 million Catholics to dig deep into their pockets.

Listen to this report from correspondent Carol Andrade in Mumbai

Jammu and Kashmir is battling one of the worst floods in decades with rivers in the region in spate due to days of incessant rain.  More than 200 people and possibly double that number have died in floods, landslides and house collapses, as well as accidents on the Jammu National Highway which has been shut down now for nine days.

So bad is there situation that chief minister Omar Abdullah has asked for pumps to drain out water from residential areas, and the Union Home minister has declared this a national calamity. Teams of doctors and medical experts, including many specializing in epidemics, have been brought in along with 1000 tonnes of medicines that will be urgently required to battle the expected fall-out, as people fall gravely ill with stomach and other ailments.

Just hours ago, it was learned that thousands of people are thronging to Indian Air Force bases, desperate to be flown out of the valley. So far, according to the Home Minister, 130,000 people have been rescued.

At the Ramban and Banihal passes, thousands of litres of water for stranded  persons and more than 80 refugee camps have been set up, with operations being undertaken literally on a war footing. Air Force planes are also bringing in blankets and tents in a constant stream, but this seems like a drop in the ocean for the problem  involving such huge numbers.

The immediate need for food, clothing and shelter is being met, but equally important is the need for the roads to be speedily repaired so that communications can be restored. There is also the other huge problem facing the people of the troubled state – 20,000 houses have collapsed in the rains and all their inhabitants must be re-housed. And then there is the need for a restoration of communications equipment.

There is one more possible headache – the fear of infiltrators from Pakistan through Pak- Occupied Kashmir which has also been hit by floods. A constant problem for the Indians, this is one headache that promises to intensify in the confusion of the days ahead.

Carol Andrade for Vatican Radio








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