Doctors For You (DFY) has sent a four-member team lead by Dr. Ravikant Singh up to Uttarakhand (UK) for an initial assessment of the disaster situation and medical relief work. With only helicopters as mode of transport to flood-affected areas, our team was stuck in Delhi for a few days attempting to access these areas and the people in dire need of medical attention. Eventually the team reached Dehradoon, where they met with the principle secretary of UK.
Our primary goal at the moment is to provide constant assessment of the situation and liaise with existing volunteer and governmental organisations to execute an effective response. Thus far, DFY has also established contacts with National Disaster Response Force, the Indian Army and other volunteers working in Srinagar, Rudraprayag, Gaurikund and other affected areas.
Those who are stranded in Uttarakhand are living in severely adverse conditions, receiving only water and blankets. Most people spend their time on hilltops singing bhajans and praying, waiting to be rescued. They sleep on the fields, and most have been hungry for at least 6 days.
Our local sources and numbers in Janaki Chhadi and Gauriki Chhadi indicate that at least 556 people have died in total. Just today, 209 have been reported dead, 392 injured, and 334 missing. Infrastructure has been brutally damaged too—21 bridges and 1751 houses have collapsed. Ten thousand people still remain to be evacuated with many more in other regions of UK. Gangotri has almost been evacuated but Badrinath and Kedrinath, two major pilgrimage destinations still need a heavy rescue response.
Tomorrow, DFY will organise a health camp in Badrinath for the affected victims and their families along with provision of basic needs like water, food and medicines. Our team has adequate medicines and other essential supplies such as glucometers, blood pressure machines to use at the camps. Furthermore, DFY will implement the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP), which will focus on reproductive health (RH) needs of the affected/displaced population.
A team of 50 doctors and 70 volunteers (and counting) is ready at DFY-Delhi office, equipped with medical relief supplies; they will be sent to the flood-affected areas immediately upon receiving a green signal from our team in UK.
We are also collecting donations from all around India, with the intention of receiving donations from our international partners and patrons. We are receiving an excellent response from doctors, donors and volunteers who are supporting us with whatever they can, in many different ways.
(See attached pictures)
Doctors For You 