As millions across Pakistan marooned and displaced by the catastrophic floods desperately await assistance, a Hindu temple in a tiny village of Balochistan is providing food and shelter to about 200 to 300 flood-hit flood-hit people, mostly Muslims.
Perched on high ground, the Baba Madhodas Mandir in Jalal Khan village in the Kachhi district has remained relatively safe from the floodwaters and serves as a sanctuary to the flood-affected people in their bleakest hours.
The village was cut off from the rest of the province due to inundation in the Nari, Bolan, and Lehri rivers, leaving the residents of the remote area to fend for themselves. The local Hindu community opened the doors of the Baba Madhodas Mandir to the flood-hit people and their livestock, the Dawn newspaper reported.
According to locals, Baba Madhodas was a pre-partition Hindu saint equally cherished by Muslims and Hindus of the area.
“He used to travel on a camel,” says Iltaf Buzdar, a frequent visitor to the village from Bhag Nari tehsil.
Buzdar says as per the stories narrated by his parents, the saint transcended religious boundaries.
“He would think of people through the prism of humanity instead of their caste and creed,” he said his parents told him.
The worship place – frequented by Hindu worshippers from across Balochistan – is made of concrete and covers a large area. Since it is located on high ground, it remained relatively safe from the floodwaters.
Most members of the Hindu community in Jalal Khan have migrated to other cities of Kachhi for employment and other opportunities, but a couple of families remain on the temple premises to look after it, the report said.
Rattan Kumar, 55, a shopkeeper in the Bhag Nari tehsil, is in charge of the temple at present.
“There are over one hundred rooms in the temple as a large number of people from all over Balochistan and Sindh come here for pilgrimage every year,” the report quoted him as saying.
Sawan Kumar, Rattan’s son, said a few rooms were damaged by floods, but, overall, the structure remained safe.
At least 200-300 people, most Muslims, and their livestock were given protection in that place and guarded by Hindu families, the report said.
Initially, the area was completely cut off from all districts. The refugees said they were given a ration through Sorti Helicopter, but after they moved into the temple, they were fed by the Hindu community.
“In addition to local residents, Hindus have also accommodated goats and sheep together with other animals,” said Israr Mugheri, a doctor in Jalal Khan who has established a medical camp inside the temple.
“There was an announcement about loudspeakers by local Hindus, calling for Muslims to rush to the temple to take shelter,” he added.
Those who take refuge there say they are indebted to the local community because they come to help them and give them food and places to live during these difficult hours.
For locals, opening temples for flood survivors is a sign of humanitarian and religious harmony, which has been their tradition for centuries, the report said.
Nearly 1,400 people were killed in floods that had flooded one third of the country, eliminated plants and replaced more than 33 million.
United Nations Head Antonio Guterres on Saturday urged the international community to increase efforts to help tough communities and infrastructure that were rebuilt by floods to fight disaster in the future.
Last week, the United Nations launched an appeal for AID 160 million USD for Pakistan. Separately, the US has also announced an additional USD 20 million as financial assistance for flood assistance.