SRINAGAR, Kashmir—The flood affected people of Jammu and Kashmir have extended their heartfelt gratitude to Sikhs who have provided aid to them and played a crucial role in minimizing their sorrows. It is no exaggeration that Sikhs have set a new example of aiding the people victimized by big natural calamity on humanitarian grounds and provided shelter to them at various Gurdwaras across the state.
Abdul Rasheed, who has been staying in Gurdwara Shaheed Bunga for past 17 said,”Floodwater did not spare any community, everybody was equally affected, but we are thankful to the members of the Sikh community.”
Expressing gratefulness towards the Sikh community, the flood victims, who are generally Muslims, said they would remain indebted to the community as they helped them going beyond the boundaries of race and religion.
Maqsood Ahmed, a resident of Bemina locality, said that he had never visited Gurdwara before and he was overwhelmed to see the love and care Sikhs gave them. “Without being bothered about our religion, they let us to live below the roof of the Gurdwara,” he said.
A news portal quoting a Kashmiri man, Shabeer Ahmed, said, “A Sardarji used his turban to pull my drowning family out. We owe our life to him, he even used the turban cloth to stop the bleeding of my daughter’s wounds.”
Various Sikh organizations such as Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Khalsa Aid, United Sikhs, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) and Sikh Relief too have extended help for the relief and rehabilitation of the flood victims.
A government official lauded rescue efforts made by these organizations saying, “UK-based Khalsa Aid and US-based United Sikhs were among the first few charitable organisations which rushed their men and equipment to carry out the relief work in the Valley.”
SGPC and DGMC have set up 24-hour free Langer (community kitchens) at various localities across the Srinagar.
