DHARAMSHALA, June 23:The exile Tibetan administration has expressed its deep sadness over the devastation caused by torrential rain and floods in the northern Indian state of Uttrakhand in which nearly 800 people have lost their lives.
The Dharamshala based Central Tibetan Administration in a statement on Saturday also announced a donation of Rs 3 lakh to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for the flood victims as a “gesture of solidarity.”
“The Central Tibetan Administration is deeply saddened by the devastating rain and flood that has affected tens of thousands of people in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand this week,” the statement said.
“We offer our prayers and sympathy for the families of those who have lost their lives and those who have suffered injury or loss of property in this natural tragedy.”
Also, the Tibetan Settlement Office in Dharamshala has announced that it will be holding a special prayer service for victims of the torrential rains in Uttrakhand and Himachal Pradesh on Monday from 9 am (local time) at the Tsug-la Khangm the main temple on behalf of the local Tibetan community.
“Our office will raise donations for the relief fund, which will be sent to Uttarkhand CM Relief’s fund through the Dehradun Tibetan Settlement Office,” the settlement office said. “Tibetans living in Dharamshala strongly feel the pain of those who have lose their dear ones.”
The holy town of Kedarnath in Uttrakhand, which bore the brunt of the destruction, has been turned into a ghost town according to reports.
Estimates say that at least 5,000 people may have been killed in the deluge as rescuers evacuated by road and air 12,000 more stranded pilgrims and tourists while 10,000 survivors still remained to be taken to safety by Sunday.
