This monsoon, several Indian states, including Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir, were battered by heavy rains, floods and landslides. Rising river levels and relentless downpours triggered widespread alarm and extensive damage. Across the country, Rotary clubs swiftly came together to provide emergency relief to affected communities.
In mid-August, Dharali village in Uttarakhand was hit by six consecutive flash floods, destroying homes, homestays and hotels, trapping several residents under debris, and cutting off communication lines. Helicopter services and rescue teams were deployed for immediate assistance.
The Rotary Club of Hardwar, RID 3080, responded by supplying essential groceries, toiletries (soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, sanitary pads, hand sanitisers), and emergency medicines. DG Ravi Prakash flagged off the relief consignment to the Uttarakhand Social Welfare Office for distribution to the villagers.
In early September, continuous rainfall led to a sharp rise in the Ganga River, submerging several residential areas in Kanpur. Members of the Rotary Club of Gangaghat, RID 3110, travelled by boat to reach 136 inundated homes and distributed ready-to-eat food packets. “The only way to reach the houses was by boat,” said club president Avanish Shukla.
When floods ravaged parts of Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh, the Rotary Clubs of Durgapur Central and Dharamshala Central, RID 3240, stepped in. Led by president Nikita Verma and secretary Shailendra Mehta, members collected and distributed new clothes, footwear and groceries to nearly 500 households in Sidhbari Baghni village near Dharamshala.
In Punjab, RC Jalandhar Greater, RID 3070, supported by funds from RC Durgapur Central, provided winter garments to schoolchildren affected by the floods.
Heavy rains in August caused the Beas River, which winds through both Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, to swell and breach its bunds, inundating several villages in Sultanpur Lodhi and Kapurthala districts. “Over 5,000 acres of agricultural land and residential areas were submerged. Farmers lost standing crops and families suffered enormous damage,” said Yogesh Talwar, president of RC Kapurthala Downtown, RID 3070.
Talwar, along with secretary Gagandeep Mehra and club members, visited Baghuwal village to assess urgent needs. “Groceries and clothing were the top requirements. Many had lost household items and were under severe financial stress due to collapsed roofs and walls,” he said. The club subsequently provided groceries, toiletries, footwear, tarpaulin sheets, bedsheets, mosquito repellent and ORS sachets. DG Rohit Oberoi and Rotarians from the region joined the relief efforts.
In Maharashtra, floods severely impacted Gahule and Wanegaon villages in Pachora district. The Rotary Club of Pachora Bhadgaon, RID 3030, led by president Mukesh Teli, distributed 100 sets of educational materials — notebooks, books, bags, slates and pencils — to affected schoolchildren.
In Punjab’s Hussainiwala village on the banks of the Sutlej River, Firozpur district, RI District 3090, in collaboration with RI District 3060 and the Rotary Club of Bombay, RID 3141, organised a scholarship camp for flood-affected students.
“The camp provided crucial financial support to 342 students from three local schools in this severely affected region,” said RID 3090 DG Bhupesh Mehta. Blankets were also distributed to help students cope with the winter chill.
A total of ₹3.3 lakh was disbursed in scholarships, with the schools extending a 35 per cent fee concession for flood-hit families. Project chairman PDG Vijay Arora thanked RID 3060 DG Amardeep Singh, IPDG Tushar Shah, RC Bombay president Bimal Mehta, PDG Sandip Agarwala, and RID 3090 PDGs Amjad Ali, V B Dixit, Rajeev Garg, B M Dhir and K C Kajal, whose support made the initiative possible.