Orissa update

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Food for Life in Orissa, Update # 1

 

ISKCON's National Coordination Office for Flood Relief, Mumbai, Nov 8, The

following is an update on the food for life program in the cyclone

devastated Orissa. It is reported by Prataparudra prabhu, the temple

president of ISKCON Bhubaneshwar. This faxed report from Bhubaneshwar is

posted to you from Bombay.

 

 

Report from Bhubaneshwar, Nov. 8, 1999

 

After nine days of the cyclone which devastated the whole costal area of

Orissa, we reached one obscure place in Erasama block in the district of

Jagatsinghpur. We went to a place 3 miles away from Erasama. The road was

opened only yesterday. Hundreds of dead bodies of men, women, children and

animals were lying on the roadside. The government was unable to clear the

dead bodies till now and the entire atmosphere is stinking. Our devotees

with 5000 plates of prasadam went through that place and finally reached

Jeeraila village which is worst affected with 20,000 people dying from this

place alone. ISKCON is the first organization to reach here with food.

Thousands and thousands of people thronged our truck and there was a great

competition to receive prasadam. With great difficulty we served everyone.

While we were distributing prasadam Indian Army was dropping food from

helicopter. But people preferred to take kichidi prasadam, because it was

hot and tasty. Navin Pattanaik, a top leader and Union minister saw our food

distribution and appreciated the activities of ISKCON.

 

ISKCON Bhubaneshwar's Food for Life program started from Oct 31, 1999.

Brajahari Das from Bombay is camping in Bhubaneshwar to coordinate the

prasadam distribution activities. ISKCON Bombay contributed $7500 which made

us possible to start the prasadam distribution program immediately.

 

We request devotee community all over the world to contribute for this

important program. ISKCON Bhubaneshwar does not have facility to accept

foreign contribution. So, overseas contribution could be sent to ISKCON

Bombay

 

ISKCON Foreign Contribution Fund, Account No. SB 700

Indian Overseas Bank, ISKCON branch, Juhu, Mumbai 400049 INDIA

 

These funds will be transferred to Bhubaneshwar for immediate action. All

Indian contribution could directly be sent by Demand Draft in favor of

 

ISKCON Food for Life Account no. 9193/51 payable at Bhubaneshwar.

 

For further information, please contact Prataparudra Das/Trailakyanatha Das

on 91 (674) 55 5517 or Sharat Purnima Das 91(674) 55 3517 / 55 4281.

 

Prataparudra Das

Temple President

ISKCON Bhubaneshwar