A tragic accident that happened to the Delhi-bound Kalka Mail on 10 July morning is tragic.
Two general compartments were very badly mangled. We got the information
that at least 60 people have died and hundreds injured. What appalled
us was that till 4 pm the Railway Accident Relief train had not reached
the site of the accident although it was just a 4-hour normal train run
time away at Allahabad.
The RSS Swayamsevaks were already at the site of the accident for
several hours helping the railwaymen and other security personnel. They
were there at the railway station near the dead bodies. They were there
in hospitals where the injured have been transported. They were there
even in Kanpur attending to the seriously injured. The Swayamsevaks were at the site, the hospitals helping the victims and their relatives. They were even gathering blood donor lists need for blood and other help. The local volunteers were organising relief at the site along with more than hundred Swayamsevaks.
the local head of the organisation, a doctor by profession. He told us
that he was busy attending to the injured people in his own hospital as
dozens of them had arrived.
most importantly the RSS has a network that can handle all the needs
in such situations - doctors, blood donars, helpers, transport, food,
security. You name it and you have people in the organisation who can be
immediately put to work.
This network of inspired individuals is what
the RSS has created as an asset for the country.
They will be there wherever and whenever required. I am reminded of
the day after the police crackdown on Baba Ramdev's Satyagraha camp at
the Ramlila Maidan in Delhi. At 5 in the morning on 5 June I saw more
than 200 Swayamsevaks at the Jhandewala HQ of the organisation in Delhi.
They were to disperse in various directions - to railway stations,
hospitals, public parks - to extend help to the victims of the Police
brutality. While all the leaders were busy making statements here was a
band of young men which was silently scouting the streets of Delhi and
helping the victims.
