When the Mountains Trembled — The Morning of July 26
On July 26, 2023, at around 9:00 AM, a devastating cloudburst struck Kot village in Bhilangana block, nestled in the hills of Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand.
The rainfall was sudden and severe. Homes collapsed. Personal belongings—food grains, clothes, school books—were buried under mud and debris. Even livestock was lost in the downpour.
With 31 families affected, the community was forced to take shelter with neighbours, navigating crowded spaces and uncertainty with quiet strength.
Roads Blocked, But Not Hope
In the days that followed, landslides and roadblocks cut off access to Kot village, delaying any possibility of immediate relief. For weeks, families endured without proper shelter or supplies.
When the roads were finally cleared, the Goonj team was ready—not with charity, but with materials that could trigger recovery rooted in dignity.
Road to Kot village cleared post-cloudburst
Material as a Tool for Recovery
On August 18, Goonj reached out to 31 affected families with the kit. The kits included:
- Tarpaulin sheets for immediate shelter
- Ration kits for food access
- Clothing kits for everyday dignity
- School kits to enable children return to learning
These weren’t handouts. They were building blocks—each kit initiating a nudge toward normalcy without reducing people to victims.
Reaching out with Goonj relief kits in Tehri Garhwal
Walking Alongside, Not Ahead
Disaster response isn’t just about speed. It’s about presence, listening, and respecting people’s ability to rebuild—when given the right tools.
At Goonj, we don’t just distribute materials. We walk with people as they reclaim agency—through cloth, kits, conversations, and shared action.
“You came, and it felt like someone was standing with us,” said one community member.
From Relief to Resilience
What began as an emergency response became a story of shared effort and survival. Families began re-stitching routines—cooking again under tarpaulin roofs, sending children back to school, and making space in their lives for recovery.
Kot’s story is not just about what was lost in the cloudburst—it’s about what was restored: connection, courage, and collective strength.
Be a Part of Change
Our invitation to you is, start from where you are.. From a small change of starting a Goonj kee Gullak or Team 5000, joining a long and deep change process, or things in between- organising a collection drive, a volunteering journey, an internship, or simply walking with us signing for a Goonj monthly newsletter subscription.. More on www.goonj.org or write to [email protected].
Many options, but the choice is always one; Taking Action..
