Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab Governor and President of the Punjab State Red Cross, Gulab Chand Kataria, flagged off a convoy of seven heavy trucks transporting essential relief supplies worth over 1.40 crore rupees to assist flood-ravaged communities in Nepal on Friday. Departing from Punjab Lok Bhavan in Chandigarh, the shipment marks the third and most substantial humanitarian consignment organized by the state’s Red Cross branch since severe flash floods devastated parts of the neighbouring nation earlier this month.
The 52-tonne consignment consists of high-priority emergency equipment, including generator sets, heavy-duty tarpaulins, warm blankets, and solar lighting units. Officials confirmed that every item was procured in direct alignment with priority inventory requirements provided by the Nepal Red Cross Society to ensure the aid effectively addresses the ground-level needs of displaced residents. The relief goods were contributed through a partnership with Amazon and the Donatekart Foundation, with logistical coordination handled alongside Punjab State Red Cross Secretary Shivdular Singh Dhillon.
This latest operation significantly expands Punjab’s ongoing cross-border relief mission. The initial dispatch on September 1 delivered three truckloads of ready-to-eat meals, clothing, and daily provisions valued at 10 lakh rupees, followed by a second consignment on September 18 worth 38 lakh rupees routed through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). For the previous dispatch, a dedicated Punjab Red Cross escort team accompanied the supplies to the Nepalgunj border checkpoint to oversee a direct handover to Nepalese authorities.
Commending the corporate and non-profit partners for their support, Kataria highlighted that the relief goods were sourced directly from regional suppliers across Punjab and Chandigarh, generating local economic benefits while delivering humanitarian assistance. Reaffirming the region’s commitment to international relief, the Governor stated that the people of Punjab remain united with the Nepal Red Cross and flood-affected families, embodying the foundational Red Cross principles of universal service and compassion.
