Emergency in Orissa

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Dear Sysop Prabhu, PAMHO. AGTSP!

 

The following message needs to be urgently sent to the

receivers listed. Please do this for me and confirm.

 

Thanks.

 

Your servant,Bhaktarupa Das

Reply to Bhaktarupa.acbsp (AT) bbt (DOT) se

 

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New Text 1045 (123 lines)

Bhaktarupa ACBSP

04-Nov-99 06:13

Anuttama ACBSP

Cc: Bir Krishna das Goswami

Cc: Saunaka Rsi SDG

Cc: India Open

Cc: "Madhavananda Prabhu Travelling"

<GopalJiu >

Cc: GBC Discussions

Cc: Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami

Cc: Jayapataka Swami

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Cc: "Dad and Hazel" <rcorocran (AT) snet (DOT) net>

Cc: "Chuck" <ccru (AT) chevron (DOT) com>

Cc: "Muky" <mrubins (AT) tfn (DOT) net>

Cyclone at ISKCON Gadei Giri

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Dear Anuttama Prabhu and other Maharajas and Prabhus,

 

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to

Srila Prabhupada!

 

Today is Day 7 of the Great Orissa Cyclone, and

finally there is the chance of sending off an email

directly from the satelite station, which has limited

internet facilities for emergencies. So here is the

news.

 

We are reasonably OK now in Bhubaneswar. My house had

power restored on Day 5, but still no telephone. The

temple has telephone, but still no power except for

their generator. Food and water are not a problem for

us. Petrol is available readily.

 

But we were only on the outside edge of the cyclone's

path. The District of Jagatsinghpur was the worst

affected, and in that District our new ISKCON center

in Gadei Giri is severely affected. Here is a report

from Caitanya Candra Prabhu, the Temple President, who

could only reach here after five days to give a

report.

 

------ beginning of report:

 

I wish to inform you that a great emergency and

chaotic situation has arisen at the ISKCON temple at

Gadeigiri. A great cyclone and heavy rains has

attacked the whole area of Jagatsinghpur for 3 days,

from 28 to 30 October. The devastating winds have

destroyed all the houses, crops, plants, etc. of

Gadeigiri and nearby villages.

 

Thousands of people are homeless and about 400 are

taking shelter of our temple building, as it is the

only structure with a concrete roof. About 60 cows and

calves, including other pet animals like goats are

also staying in the large prasadam hall of the temple.

The brahmacari rooms, kitchen room, store room and

toilets are destroyed. All other temporary structures

such as the goshalla and workers rooms are now without

any cover. The windows and doors of the guest house

are mostly broken. The local people are staying

everywhere they can find a space, even if it has no

roof. Our devotees are staying in the only room left,

the temple room itself, and they are taking prasad

only once per day.

 

On 29th it was not possible to cook. On 30th there was

relief from the strong wind and we were able to feed

about 600 people, and we are trying to feed as many as

we can, but the stock of grains will soon be finished.

As I was leaving on day 5 there was some news that

there was going to be a helicopter drop with more

grains that day. It is not possible to bring

provisions to that place just now as the roads are

blocked with fallen trees and any trucks are looted by

hungry people along the way. The local markets were

exhausted due to hoarding or panic buying among the

populace.

 

The army is conducting some relief efforts and perhaps

within a few days we will be able to take a convoy

with relief materials to Gadeigiri, and the immediate

needs will be met. But the situation in the local

village of Gadeigiri is quite pathetic and will not be

normalized for perhaps as long as a year, as their

houses and crops are destroyed.

 

We are calling upon the international community of

devotees to help with the situation. Our relief plan

is as follows:

 

We need to feed the 400 people who are living with us

for one month. If we have funds we could feed another

5-600 from nearby villages.

 

We need to help the villagers so they can return to

their homes, and so that we can reestablish a proper

worship standard for Sri Sri Radha Gopal Jiu. This

involves giving them plastic sheeting to build some

temporary houses, as well as kerosene, clothing, and

blankets for the coming winter.

 

We need to buy diesel for the temple generator.

 

And optionally:

 

We will need to continue to feed at least 200 people

for up to three months.

 

At least 100 of the poorest will require food for a

year until they can again earn some money.

 

Needed minimum emergency finances are calculated at

Rs.8 per day to feed one person:

 

One month prasadam "Food for Life" (really) for 400

$2300

Plastic, kerosene, and clothing for villagers

2700

Transport, medicines, and miscellaneous

300

 

Bare Minimum Required

$5300

 

One month extended prasadam distribution for 600

$3300

Continued prasadam distribution for up to three months

2300

Prasad assistance to poorest

5000

 

Total if Funds are Available

$15900

 

It may be many months before proper communications are

restored here, therefore we have requested Sri

Bhaktarupa Das Prabhu to coordinate the relief program

from Bhubaneswar.

 

Hoping this reaches you in good health, and in the

best of Krishna Consciousness.

 

Thanking you.

 

Your humble servant,

 

Caitanya Candra Das

Temple President, ISKCON Gadeigiri

 

----------- end of TP's report

 

It is very difficult at the present time to

communicate with each of the devotees individually.

Therefore I am asking Anuttama Prabhu to kindly

organize some program to help. Please reply only to my

normal email address and I will receive your messages,

Krishna willing, within a few days.

 

For fund transfers, please use my personal account:

 

UCO Bank

CRP Headquarters Branch

Bhubaneswar, Orissa, INDIA

Account Number 12067/64

Account Name: William B. Rubins

 

Please be sure to send an email confirmation including

the date and amount sent.

 

Thanking you kindly.

 

Your servant, Bhaktarupa Das

(Text 1045)

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