According to the Dawn newspaper, the local Hindu community welcomed flood victims and their animals into the Baba Madhodas Mandir.
color:black">
color:black">Digital Desk: A Hindu temple in a small village of Balochistan has
cast a light in the darkness by offering food and shelter to roughly 200 to 300
flood-hit individuals, predominantly Muslims, as millions across Pakistan who
have been marooned and displaced by the disastrous floods wait in urgent need
of assistance.
color:black">The Baba Madhodas Mandir in Jalal Khan village, Kachhi district,
is perched on high ground and has stayed largely safe from the floodwaters. It
provides refuge to the flood-affected people during their darkest hours.
color:black">Due to flooding in the Nari, Bolan, and Lehri rivers, the
settlement was cut off from the rest of the province, forcing the locals to
fend for themselves. According to the Dawn newspaper, the local Hindu community
welcomed flood victims and their animals into the Baba Madhodas Mandir.
color:black">Locals claim that Baba Madhodas was a revered Hindu saint in the
region before the partition who was equally loved by Muslims and Hindus.
color:black">Iltaf Buzdar, a frequent visitor to the village from the Bhag Nari
tehsil, recalls that "He used to travel on a camel."
Buzdar claims that the
saint crossed religious borders according to the tales told to him by his
parents.
color:black">He claimed his parents promised him that "he would view
others through the lens of humanity instead of their caste and creed."
color:black">The big, concrete worship space is frequently visited by Hindu
worshipers from all across Balochistan. Being on high ground helped to keep it
reasonably safe from the floodwaters.
The majority of the Hindu
population in Jalal Khan has relocated to neighbouring Kachhi cities in search
of work and other possibilities, but a few families continue to live on the
temple grounds to maintain it, according to the article.
color:black">Currently in charge of the temple is Rattan Kumar, a 55-year-old
trader from the Bhag Nari tehsil.
color:black">The newspaper reported him as adding, "There are more than
100 rooms at the temple since a big number of people from all around
Balochistan and Sindh come here for pilgrimage every year."
color:black">Rattan's son Sawan Kumar claimed that while a few rooms were
harmed by the flooding, the building as a whole was secure.
According to the account,
there were at least 200 to 300 persons, predominantly Muslims, and their cattle
who were provided shelter on the property and cared for by Hindu families.
color:black">The region was first totally cut off from the rest of the
district. The displaced claimed that rations were sent to them by helicopter
flights, but after they entered the temple, they discovered that the Hindu
community was feeding them.
color:black">A doctor in Jalal Khan who has established a medical tent within
the temple said, "Besides residents, Hindus have also sheltered the goats
and lambs along with other animals."
He continues, "The
local Hindus made announcements on the loudspeaker, urging Muslims to run to
the temple to take refuge."
color:black">The people who sought safety there said they owe the locals for
helping them out and giving them food and shelter during this trying time.
color:black">According to the story, the residents' centuries-old custom of
showing compassion and religious harmony to flood refugees included opening the
temple to them.
color:black">Over 33 million people have been forced to flee their homes due to
floods that has submerged a third of the nation, destroyed crops, and claimed
nearly 1,400 lives.
On Saturday, UN chief
Antonio Guterres urged the international community to intensify efforts to
support Pakistan's flood-devastated reconstruction of resilient communities and
infrastructure to withstand future calamities.
The UN made a request
for USD 160 million in aid for Pakistan last week. Additionally, the US has
disclosed an additional 20 million USD in financial support for flood relief.
Leave A Comment