The world is continuously experiencing flood-like situations. Bharat is also one of the countries prone to this. The recent floods in Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh serve as a stark reminder that nature can take any turn. Also, floods in countries like China and the US, where billions of dollars of infrastructure were submerged under water for days, reminds us that there is a limit to the exploitation of Mother Nature. The images of destruction from around the world also highlight the need for global unity and leadership to come together in times of calamity to save lives and resources. The initiative of Environment Friendly Lifestyle as part of the Panch-Parivartan programme of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in the centenary year should be seen in this light.
Practice what you preach is the age old wisdom. RSS Swayamsevaks, along with various activities under Paryavaran Gatividhi, also swung in action with a sense of selfless service for the flood affected people. They also set the example for the whole world, by showing that along with the government agencies like NDRF and armed forces, enlightened and trained societal strength has a role to play during national crises. Many visuals and photos of Swayamsevaks rescuing people and providing them with food and supplies are an inspiration for all the people of Bharat and the world, teaching us the Bharatiya wisdom of ‘Sewa Parmo Dharma’
Punjab is reeling under the devastation of floods. It is experiencing one of the worst floods in the last five decades. Continuous heavy rainfall and overflowing rivers have worsened the situation in the State. In 23 districts of the State, around 1,900 villages have been submerged. Nearly 3.8 lakh people have been directly affected, and thousands have taken shelter in relief camps. NDRF teams, Army, and BSF are actively engaged in rescue operations. So far, about 22,000 people have been safely evacuated. In this hour of calamity, the entire nation stands firmly with Punjab.
And, once again in this hour of crisis, Swayamsevaks of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Sewa Bharti, and other RSS-inspired organisations, along with several local groups, came forward with tireless service. Through food distribution, medical relief, shelter, and care for both people and livestock, Swayamsevaks are providing extraordinary service in thousands of villages across state.
Spirit of Sewa
- Gurdaspur: 174 villages are affected. Sewa Bharti, Bharti Vikas Parishad, Vidya Bharati, and Sahakar Bharati mobilised 470 Swayamsevaks, reaching 1,800 families. Relief included cooked and raw food, drinking water, tarpaulins, shelter homes, fodder for animals, clothes, and medicines. Nine medical camps are organised in the district, ration was distributed at 62 places, fodder at 98 locations, 150 tarpaulins and 1,000 blankets were given, while medicines were provided to 350 people.
- Jalandhar: At Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, 25 volunteers of Sewa Bharti are engaged in 9 flood-hit villages. Around 150 families were served with food and drinking water. Six medical camps are organised.
- Ferozpur: 47 villages affected. 60 volunteers of Sewa Bharti, RSS, and ABVP assisted 550 families with milk for children, medicines, relief camps, cooked food, ration, and fodder. Relief distribution included fodder in 10 places, 150 tarpaulins, 500 blankets, and medicines to 50 individuals.
- Moga: 15 villages submerged. Sewa Bharti, along with 10 NGOs, 50 volunteers of Sewa Bharti have till now served 350 families. Relief included water, medicines, sugar, tea, rice, and pulses. Ration was distributed at 15 places, fodder at 10 places, with 250 tarpaulins, 50 blankets, and medicines to 150 people.
- Fazilka: 29 villages impacted. 50 volunteers of Sewa Bharti have till now served 350 families. The assistance includes water, medicines, sugar, tea, rice, and pulses. Ration was distributed at 15 places, fodder at 10 places, 250 tarpaulins, 50 blankets, and medicines to 150 people.
- Amritsar: 90 villages faced floods. 300 volunteers of Sewa Bharti, Sarhadi Lok Sewa Samiti, BJP, Bharat Vikas Parishad, and Madhav Ram Trust provided relief to 1,210 families. The relief included dry ration, cooked meals, biscuits, rusks, jam, milk, sanitary pads, diapers, children’s milk, tarpaulins, clothes, and fodder. Eight medical camps are organised in the region and, ration was distributed at 37 places, 16 trolleys of fodder were provided at 18 locations, 256 tarpaulins and 130 blankets were distributed, and medicines were provided to 1,500 people at 8 medical camps.
- Batala: 175 villages affected. 40 volunteers of Sarhadi Lok Seva and Sewa Bharti provided their service to 6,000 families with dry ration, tarpaulins, cooked meals, and drinking water. 3 medical camps are organised, ration was distributed at 50 places, fodder in 15 villages, and 120 tarpaulins were also distributed.
From Gurdaspur to Batala, RSS has demonstrated the spirit of selfless service (seva), ensuring that no affected families left alone in these tough times. This selfless-service serves as a reminder of the Sangh’s living tradition to stand with society in every crisis, with dedication, discipline, and compassion.
Relief operations amidst landslides in Himachal
In Himachal Pradesh, 72 cloudbursts occurred within 40 days. A total of 317 villages across 9 districts were completely affected. The State witnessed 33 major landslides, 2,812 houses were washed away, and 366 people lost their lives. Additionally, 1,124 animals and livestock perished. Since the very first night of the disaster in Himachal Pradesh, Swayamsevaks of the Sangh and Sewa Bharti volunteers have been continuously involved in relief work, serving day and night in flood-hit and landslide-affected areas. Notably, many people have lost their farmlands, homes, and lifelong savings. They are actively providing relief material, transporting stranded people and tourists to safer places, and arranging meals for them. RSS and Sewa Bharti have set up community kitchens and medical services at multiple locations. Over Seven hundred volunteers of RSS and Sewa Bharti are engaged in relief work across the state, and 68 service centers are currently being operated by Sewa Bharti.
Rescue operations in Mandi
In Mandi, Sewa Bharti volunteers have provided food, rations, and other essential items to displaced families who had taken shelter at Bara. A relief base camp has also been established at Thunag (Seraj, Mandi). Volunteers are providing rations, medicines, bedding, and other essentials to the affected villages. In Thalout’s Fagu village (Mandi), five families severely affected by landslides received essential materials.
Sewa Bharti volunteers of Karsog served displaced people at Chatri, providing utensils, bedding, food, and other necessities. Similarly, in 13 panchayats of Thunag and surrounding areas, more than 600 families have received rations and essential relief material. In Gadhyani village of Bakarta (Sarkaghat sub-division, Mandi district), a family whose mud house was completely destroyed received assistance from Sewa Bharti. Relief materials including rations and basic supplies were handed over to them.
350 families received medicines
In Kangra’s Nurpur, Swayamsevaks and Sewa Bharti volunteers not only rescued families and moved them to safer locations but also provided food, medicines, and other necessities. In the Mand area of Nurpur, many families were safely evacuated to relief camps. Relief efforts are not confined to Nurpur alone, Sewa Bharti and RSS Swayamsevaks are continuously serving in Mandi, Chamba, Kullu, Rampur, Shimla, and Lahaul. In the Indora region of Kangra, medicines were distributed to 350 families and health check-ups were conducted on the spot.
Relief Efforts in Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand too, has received floods and cloudbursts which have caused loss of life and property in three districts. The devastation has been severe: 40 hotels were washed away in landslides, 200 cows perished, and 21 houses were destroyed in Gangotri. Massive floods also struck Kheerganga. After the roads were submerged, Swayamsevaks were the first to reach the disaster-affected areas through difficult trails, distributing rations, warm clothes, utensils, medicines, plastic sheets, and other essential materials. A relief camp has also been set up in Maneri. Here also, Swayamsevaks are also assisting help to stranded pilgrims in reconnecting with their families. Swami Vivekananda Health Mission Society, Seemant Foundation and Uttaranchal Devi Aapda Pidit Samiti are also working along with Sangh Swayamsevaks.
In Tharali town of Chamoli district, affected people who had been rendered homeless were provided with 100 ration kits, 300 blankets, and 60 utensil sets. Here, 80 families lost their homes due to the disaster.
In Rudraprayag district, in the disaster-affected villages of Doongar, Bathed Pathika Jila, Bhaurgaon, Tal Jamma Kamad, Uddila, Spur, Baugar, Bakila, Chenagad, volunteers reached all the villages carrying ration kits, gas cylinders, torches, clothes, slippers, and other supplies through 15–20 km of difficult mountainous footpaths. A total of 400 families were provided with relief material.
Swayamsevaks extend relief in flood-hit J&K
In Jammu & Kashmir, on August 14, 2025, a flash flood triggered by a cloudburst struck Chositi village in Kishtwar district. Floods and landslides in the region caused 142 deaths, left 166 injured, and affected 5,760 people, while 1,779 houses were submerged. The flash floods and landslides in Kishtwar, Kathua, Reasi, and Ramban districts have severely damaged infrastructure in low-lying areas of Jammu and adjoining plains. A landslide also occurred on August 26 en route to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine. There also, sangh Swayamsevaks provided relief to victims, including a cleanliness drive in Jammu’s Shastri Nagar after the floods. More than 20,000 food packets have been distributed, and aid is also being provided to stranded pilgrims at Jammu Railway Station.
At a time when floods and cloudbursts washed away homes, fields, and livelihoods in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, J&K and Uttarakhand the Swayamsevaks of the Sangh and the volunteers of Sewa Bharti stood firmly with the victims of the floods. From rescuing families to feeding the stranded, from distributing medicines to running relief camps, their dedication reflects the true spirit of Seva.
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