Sapper veterans in the tricity have joined hands to help the victims of floods in Jammu & Kashmir.
The Valley has been battling one of the worst floods in decades with rivers in spate after heavy rains. More than 250 people have died while thousands are still stranded across the State, including Srinagar.
The Sapper veterans have donated 500 blankets in HQ Western Command, Chandimandir on Tuesday morning, for onward dispatch to their suffering countrymen.
Speaking on the occasion, 89-year-old Brig Gobindar Singh, AVSM (Retd) said that this was a token of their love and humility towards their brothers and sisters in distress. This, he said, was the first installment, since time was of essence, and more will follow.
“Army Engineers, popularly known as Sappers, help the Army to live, to move and to fight. They are everywhere on the battle field – with leading elements, in the middle and at the rear performing all kinds of tasks: laying or clearing mines and other obstacles; constructing roads, bridges and airfields; providing water and shelter. In peacetime they are the first to be called to render aid at times of natural calamities like floods, and earthquakes where their bridges, earthmoving equipment and boats help save lives,” he added.
After the floods hit J & K, more than 2.26 lakh people have been rescued by the army.
Earlier, Chandigarh Industrial Youth Association members had donated 300 blankets, 1,000 packets of biscuits and 1,000kg rice. Chandigarh Industrial Area Tenants Association had also donated 150 blankets, 500 packets of biscuits and 500 kg daal and rice for the flood-affected people of J & K.
Besides, the industrialists of the city have donated 250 blankets, 1,000 packets of biscuits, 1,000 kg daal and rice.