2,500 in 38 camps; enough food but no facilities

Sardarwala/Mundi Chohlian, August 22

With over 38 camps in Jalandhar and Kapurthala districts sheltering nearly 2,500 persons, the camps which have one doctor on an average face lack of tarpaulins and mattresses with displaced people sleeping on floors — in classrooms or in open — at night.

Though langar is aplenty, they face lack of medicines and other amenities such as soap, oil, brushes, clothes etc.

In Jalandhar, 1,025 persons have been housed at eight camps in Shahkot, of which one closed today after being flooded, 751 have been housed in 18 camps at Phillaur and in Kapurthala 600 were housed in six camps (all of which will be shut tomorrow onwards).

The Kapurthala administration said it would now send special relief teams. At least two camps in Kapurthala and one primary camp in Jalandhar at the Nahal village were shut after being flooded. Many people are putting up at gurdwaras and homes of do-gooders.

Nearly 500 persons displaced in Lohian have been housed at the relief camp at Lohian Khas alone. The camp has people from 10 villages. With the Nahal village camp shut today, all have been shifted to Government Senior Secondary School in Lohian Khas, which is now overcrowded. SDO Khushman Preet Singh, who is the camp incharge, said: “We have 468 persons of whom 28 joined today. We have enough food but other amenities are not sufficient. We have asked volunteers and NGOs to provide more.” — TNS