by the flood caused when the
monsoon-driven Kosi River changed its
course, following a breach in a dam upstream
in Nepal. Around 1,600 villages were marooned,
resulting in enormous loss to life and
property. Some of these villages are still submerged
in waters two months after the flood.
Inspired by its founder His Holiness Sri Sri
Ravi Shankar's call to deliver relief to the
affected people, the Art of Living swung
into action within hours, working with the
Army in rescue, providing emergency relief supplies and trauma care in the worst affected
areas in Purnia, Saharsa, Forbesganj, Supaul and Araria.
The volunteers of the Art of Living have been reaching out to the people in need despites
the odds. In many places, they had to make extraordinary efforts to reach to remote areas.
The relief camp at Narpatganj was located 10 km inside, with no motorable roads and volunteer
had to carry food and rations on waterlogged
roads.
HANDS ON, ON THE GROUND
As soon as the flood devastated the state, the Art
of Living helped the Army in the rescue operations.
It shipped 1,000 life-jackets from Dubai.
Even as its volunteer networks around the world
launch collection drives for relief material, the Art
of Living took charge of tending to 5,000 people
housed at the government-run JVC Nahar camp,
A Holistic Rehabilitation
A view of a submerged village in Purnia. The
Art of Living is working in several remote
village like this one to bring relief to the victims.
Using life boats, the Art of Living volunteers
did rescue and relief operations
in remote areas.
The Art of Living, through its sister organisations Vyakti Vikas
Kendra India and International Association of Human Values
(IAHV), is engaged in a multi-pronged relief and rehabilitation
operation in the flood-affected Bihar.
