FLASH FLOODS KILL 120 IN INDIAN KASHMIR

SUCCOUR TO DEVASTATED LEH BY FLASH FLOODS
RESCUE CREWS BATTLING DEEP MUD AND RAIN

NUEVA DELHI (VOA) - Authorities in Indian-controlled Kashmir are stepping up rescue operations after flash floods killed at least 120 people and injured hundreds of others. Rescue crews are battling deep mud and additional rain in the mountainous Ladakh region in an attempt to find dozens of people believed still missing. An early Friday downpour triggered flooding as residents of the Himalayan region slept. Buildings, homes, power and telephone services collapsed as floodwaters carrying mud and debris ran down mountain slopes. Reports say the airport in the main city of Leh re-opened Saturday to transport relief supplies Saturday, but many roads are washed out. With the civilian hospital damaged, doctors and patients have moved operations to a nearby army hospital. At least 2,000 displaced people have been housed in government shelters. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday expressed grief for the loss of life and pledged federal aid to the Jammu and Kashmir state government.

Six Indian Air Force planes landed on Saturday in devastated Leh town in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ladakh region with men and material to carry out rescue and relief operations after flash floods triggered by a massive cloudburst killed 120 people. While the priority of the relief operations of the army is on saving lives and property, soldiers are also providing succour to the affected with food, drinking water, medicines. Bulldozers and other earth moving equipment of the army were pressed into service to clear the mudslide. Ladakh is a high-altitude desert about 3,500 meters above sea level and normally experiences very low precipitation. It is a popular destination for Western tourists and backpackers. The Indian army has a large presence in the largely-Buddhist area, which shares borders with China. Kashmir’s deluge happened as neighboring Pakistan suffered from its worst flooding in decades.


The picturesque landscape of Ladakh has been completely destroyed and many villages have been completely washed away. Even the district hospital is in ruins. In absence of a mortuary, bodies lie in the open, most unclaimed. Despite everyone is trying to counteract the onslaught of material nature, everyone is ultimately fully controlled by it.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US?

Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Thakura has written of the principle of energy. The three modes of material nature is material energy called ‘Maha-Maya’ and is responsible for the material activities like creation and destruction. As long as the living entity is engrossed in sense gratification; till then he comes under this influence of illusory energy. He is able to escape from this abominable material energy only on realization of his innate blissful spiritual identity in relation with transcendence. ... The living entity has been covered by illusion for a long time and have been suffering countless miseries but by receiving the mercy of the pure devotees, he takes to the devotional service of the Lord which frees him from the effects of the illusory energy. Seeing the bewilderment of the living entity, the compassionate Lord reveals the scriptures.

Śrīla Bhakti Promode Puri Mahārāja :
“Essence of Pure Devotion – Bhakti Siddhanta Sara”
Part VIII – ‘Yoga Maya and Maha Maya’
Bhaktivedanta Memorial Library - http://bvml.org/SBPPG/index.htm