More than 15,000 people have died in the Uttarakhand floods resulting from a cloudburst on Sunday, June 16, 2013. Thousands of decaying bodies are spread across the valley. There are concerns of an epidemic outbreak. People living in the mountains have started complaining of fever, diarrhea and vomiting.
Many villages are washed away and villagers are spending the nights in the tents. Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust (HIHT) will be concentrating its efforts on them. The Institute has decided to adopt 50 affected villages. We will work for health, sanitation and education related issues in these 50 villages. We do not want to focus on rehabilitation issues because many funds are coming into the State for rehabilitation and reconstruction of villages.
HIHT is thankful to the many concerned and generous people who have responded to our plea. For more information contactpb@hihtindia.org, or telephone (91)0135-247-1133. Contribution details: To donate funds within India, you may deposit the amount in A/c no 10548876117 of Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust at State Bank of India, Railway Road Rishikesh. IFSC is SBIN 0001180. Donors are requested to please send the details to our e-mail address pb@hihtindia.org so that a receipt can be sent to them. The amount can also be sent by check/draft made in the name of “Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust” payable at Rishikesh, and send the same to Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust, Swami Ram Nagar, Jolly Grant, P.O. Doiwala, Dehradun 248140. Donations to HIHT are tax deductible. HIHT is registered under 80 G of Income Tax Act, 1961. The individuals donating funds for furthering the activities of HIHT can claim exemptio while filing their tax returns. To donate funds from outside India, you can send a check/draft made in the name of “Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust,” to Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust, Swami Ram Nagar, Jolly Grant, P.O. Doiwala, Dehradun 248140, India. PayPal option is available on Swami Rama Society website: www.swamiramasociety.org. Swami Rama Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the mission of Swami Rama. Your donations to SRS are tax-deductible within the USA. These donations will be forwarded to HIHT for this purpose. Or, you can send a cheque to “Swami Rama Society,” 5000 W Vliet St., Milwaukee, WI 53208, USA, 414-273-1621, info@swamiramasociety.org.
The Institute had earmarked 250 beds in the Hospital exclusively for the victims of this calamity. Everything (Investigation facilities, Treatment, Surgeries & Medicines) was provided free of cost. 340 victims were brought to the hospital. A team of doctors along with 4 ambulances were working in the Air Port for providing primary treatment for those who are airlifted. One team was sent to the Kedar valley to help the Government Agencies with DNA sampling. One team of doctors is currently stationed at Rudraprayag for providing health facility to the victims.
HIHT has decided to adopt 50 affected villages in the area. In these 50 villages, the institute will be working for the issues relating to health, education and water & sanitation. Children who have become orphans due to the calamity will be adopted by the institute for their education.
The institute had implemented the drinking water scheme in 165 villages out of which in 28 villages the scheme has been completely washed away by the calamity. The institute has decided to re-construct the water scheme in these villages.
