MESSAGE FROM MR. DILIP D. KHATAU, CHAIRMAN, THE CORBETT FOUNDATION
Dear Friends,
In June 2013, the
State of Uttarakhand experienced several days of unseasonal and exceptionally heavy
rainfall resulting in devastating flash floods and landslides. Many villages
located in Uttarkashi, Rishikesh, Joshimath, etc. were badly affected and we have seen
television images of houses, buildings,
temples, religious idols, all swept away due to the sheer force of the river.
The poor villagers, who make a living out of the pilgrims and tourists during this
season, lost their only means of making
a livelihood and also sadly, their
homes.
Uttarakhand is
home to many pilgrimage sites, such as Badrinath, and Kedarnath, apart from
being a popular tourist destination. At least 70,000 tourists and pilgrims, were caught unaware and were stranded without any access to food,
water or dry shelter. The landslides caused massive damage to houses and even
medium-rise brick and mortar buildings were not spared. The official number of casualties is more
than 10,000 and many thousands of villagers have been rendered homeless.
In the past, many
scientists and environmentalists had warned the Government about the serious repercussions
of developmental activities, especially the Tehri project undertaken in the ecologically-fragile
Himalayas. Mass deforestation, lack of a
suitable buffer between the Himalayan rivers such as the Ganga and human settlements on its banks, haphazard
construction of new roads, buildings, dams, mining and hydro-electric projects across the
State, had exacerbated this destruction. .
Back in September
2010, similar flash floods also wrecked havoc to the entire state of
Uttarakhand. Faced with the seriousness of the
situation, The Corbett Foundation (TCF) raised donations and its team based in Dhikuli, sprung into action and
immediately initiated the flood relief measures in some of the villages
situated along the banks of River Kosi. TCF provided the affected villagers
temporary housing, cooking utensils, blankets, medical aid, food and other
essential supplies on a priority basis. Our team members crossed rivers on
rafts, to reach flood-hit villages. At the risk of endangering their own lives,
our doctors and other staff spared no efforts in distributing essential
supplies and medical services to the victims.
The current situation
is of a much larger magnitude compared to the floods in 2010. We earnestly request
you once again to join hands with us and assist us in our mission to render
help quickly to these poor villagers, who are trapped between the flood waters
and living in these hostile environment.
Your donations to
The Corbett Foundation will enable us to provide much needed and speedy medical
treatment, temporary shelters and sustenance to the victims.
Thank you.
DILIP D. KHATAU
CHAIRMAN
THE CORBETT FOUNDATIO
