Almora: In a remarkable gesture of compassion and humanitarian service, the Red Cross Society has come forward to assist a family affected by a devastating fire in Dol village under Lamgara block. Society officials reached the remote village and distributed essential relief materials to the distressed family, including a month’s supply of food grains, four blankets, two kitchen sets, and a tarpaulin sheet.
The incident occurred late at night on Tuesday, May 13, when a fierce fire broke out in the home of Neema Devi, wife of the late Tarendra Singh. At the time of the incident, Neema Devi, her mother-in-law Anandi Devi, and son Harshit were asleep inside the house. Her daughter Divya was not at home. According to reports, the fire quickly engulfed the structure, and before any action could be taken, a nearby gas cylinder exploded, causing severe damage to the roof and walls of the house.
Demonstrating remarkable presence of mind and courage, Neema Devi managed to rescue her family members and safely evacuate the cattle from the burning house. Fortunately, there were no casualties, but the family was left without a home or basic resources.
Responding promptly to the situation, the Red Cross Society provided much-needed assistance and assured continued support to families affected by natural or accidental disasters. The relief distribution was appreciated widely by the local residents, who lauded the timely intervention by the society.
In another display of selfless service, the Red Cross also arranged the last rites of a 72-year-old man, Pan Singh, a resident of Dhungadhara in Almora town. Pan Singh had been hospitalized recently by Red Cross volunteers due to his poor health and lack of family support. Sadly, he passed away, and with no family members to perform his final rites, the Red Cross took the responsibility and organized his cremation at the local Vishwanath Ghat.
The community praised the efforts of the Red Cross Society, highlighting the significance of their humanitarian work in times of need. Leading the initiatives were Chairman Ashish Verma and volunteers Manoj Sanwal, Shankar Datt Bhatt, Vineet Bisht, Manoj Bhandari, Amit Sah Monu, Arjun Bisht, Abhishek Joshi, Krishan Bahadur, and Govind Matela.
The Red Cross Society continues to demonstrate that in times of crisis, compassion and service are powerful forces that bring hope and healing to the affected.