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Earthquake Hits India

In the early morning on January 26, 2001 a violent earthquake tookplace in the western part of India, in the state of Gujarat. Theearthquake was so strong that it was felt across all of India, fromthe Himalayan mountains in the north, down to the south shores and tothe east.

Initially, the news agencies reported 500 victims. Then, day byday and hour by hour, the numbers of dead kept rising as a result ofwhat was described as the worst earthquake in India in the past 50years. A week after the earthquake, the Indian Minister of Defenseestimated that the number of dead may eventually reach 100,000.

The Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee directed the Army and Air Forceto take part in the massive rescue operations, aimed at assistingmore than 500,000 people who lost their homes and were sleeping atfreezing temperatures in the open air. Damages in Gujarat areestimated at over $3 billion.

The governments of a number of countries such as Germany, UnitedStates, Great Britain, Italy and the European Union were among thefirst ones to provide assistance.

Many American and Canadian friends have been calling about whatthey can do to help in this catastrophe.

This is what information we can give you at this time:

1) Swami Veda Bharati's thoughts and prayers are very much withall those associated with this unfortunate incident.

2) The Swami Rama Hospital in Dehra Dun and the Swami Rama Ashramin Rishikesh have contributed over 600,000 rupees (about $ 20,000) inthe first days. The money is distributed through the Prime Minister'sRelief Fund to assure the money is spent where it is most urgentlyneeded.

3) The need right now is not for rescue and remedy, but forrehabilitation.

4) If you like to make a donation for the victims of theearthquake, please send them to Swami Veda's American headquartersat:

From there the funds will be sent to Swami Rama's Ashram inRishikesh, and then distributed through the Prime Minister's ReliefFund.

Also remember that the purchasing power of the US dollar is highin India, and even modest contributions will provide some relief tothose who lost all their property in this natural catastrophe.

Thank you and God bless you.

Consul John Zavrel

Director, Rishikesh Foundation

February 8, 2001