BOKARO/DALTONGANJ, June 29, 2013: The flash floods that wreaked havoc at Uttarakhand has not only made man pay a hefty price for encroaching upon his natural surroundings but also brought forth his compassionate side. Amid stories of several undeterred jawans and fearless NGO workers involved in rescue operations, there are instances of relief amounts and donations announced by various states. Jharkhand Governor Syed Ahmed, too, had announced Rs 5 crore for relief and rehabilitation.

Bokaro and Daltonganj are among the regions in the state that has come forward with financial help for the disaster-hit people of Uttarakhand. Political parties, social organizations, students and others are collecting funds in Bokaro. Several people under various banners are seen collecting money for the noble cause.

The students and teachers of MPI Middle School, Bermo took the campaign to the streets in their area. Umesh Kumar, a student, said, "We have collected Rs 6,000 which our teachers would give to Prime Minister's Relief Fund." Members of the BJP and the Congress are also collecting money.

A group of unemployed youths under the banner Jharkhand Berojgar Vikas Manch also joined the drive to raise funds. The members assembled at Community Centre in Balidih and prayed for the departed sole of the pilgrims in Uttarakhand.Meanwhile,

Rotarians from Bokaro have also donated Rs 11,000 for the victims.

A meeting was convened by the district administration in Daltonganj on Friday for arranging funds. The meeting was chaired by the DC Palamu Manoj Kumar. The DC urged people, who attended the meeting, to donate through Red Cross Society Daltonganj. "SDO Sadar B Tatma has been made the nodal officer and the Red Cross building near town thana has been made the collecting point," he said. Donations worth Rs 1 lakh was collected within minutes after the meeting.

But none in the gathering spoke about the three persons from Daltonganj Suresh Prasad (61), his wife Urmila Devi (55) and their grandson Aman Chowdhury (19) who were in Kedarnath and are missing since June 16. For this gathering their lives hardly mattered it appeared at least as none wanted to know what the Jharkhand government has done for their discovery in the midst of death in life!

Family members of Prasad said they have not heard from the three yet.

Source: The Times of India, DT. June 29, 2013.