Close X
Sunday, January 12, 2025
ADVT 
International

Indian-American Couple In Houston Donates US$ 2,50,000 For Harvey Relief

Darpan News Desk IANS, 25 Sep, 2017 10:45 AM
    An Indian-American couple here donated US$ 2,50,000 to the Houston mayor's fund for Harvey relief, set up in the aftermath of the tropical storm that wreaked havoc in the US state of Texas early this month.
     
     
    Houston residents Amit Bhandari and his wife Arpita Brahmbhatt Bhandari donated the amount to Mayor Sylvester Turner, on behalf of the Greater Houston Community Foundation for #HurricaneHarvey relief at a private event yesterday.
     
     
    Bhandari is the owner and CEO of the BioUrja Group, an energy and agricultural commodity trading company based out of Houston with offices around the world.
     
     
    The Indian-American community has united in its fund raising efforts to carryout relief and rehabilitation after the catastrophic damage caused by hurricane Harvey.
     
     
    In a four-day period, many areas received more than 40 inches (100 cm) of rain as the system meandered over eastern Texas and adjacent waters, causing catastrophic flooding. With peak accumulations of 64.58 in (164.0 cm), Harvey is the wettest tropical cyclone on record in the United States. 
     
     
    The resulting floods inundated hundreds of thousands of homes, displaced more than 30,000 people, and prompted more than 17,000 rescues and killed over 70.
     
     
    Leading members of the community congregated at the event to thank the Bhandaris and pledge more funds. The community is well on its way to raising US$ 1 million for the governors and the mayor's funds.
     
     
     
     
    At the privately held event on Sunday, Turner appreciated the Indian-Americans for their generosity and voluntary aid toward Hurricane Harvey relief.
     
     
    "The contributions of the Indian-American community did not just start with Hurricane Harvey. They have been contributing to this city for a long, long time. 
     
    The Indian community is vital to the city and helps make Houston the great city that it is," he said.
     
     
    "I want to thank the Indian-Americans for what you have done prior to Hurricane Harvey. I want to thank you for what you are doing now, and I want thank you for what you will be doing to help rebuild this great city. We will rebuild, we will be stronger, more resilient, and better prepared for next time around," the mayor added.
     
     
    Bhandari said volunteers from the community helped rescue 700 people through various means.
     
     
    The community in Houston has also contributed US$1.5 million to various charitable organisations associated with Hurricane Harvey relief, he said.
     
     
    Consul General of India in Houston Dr Anupam Ray also thanked the Indian-American community for their efforts.
     
     
    "Your generosity makes India proud. A community is great if it rises above its suffering. Through your contributions toward Hurricane Harvey relief, you've demonstrated that as a community, you've risen above your sufferings." he said.
     
     
    Another presentation made to Mayor Turner was a newly developed mobile app titled 'DisasterConnect' which will help victims and donors make direct contact with each other to streamline relief efforts. The app was created under the direction of Gaurav Khandelwal, CEO of ChaiOne, a Houston- based developer of mobile apps.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Male In Custody After He Barricaded Himself In Hospital Emergency Room: Police

    Male In Custody After He Barricaded Himself In Hospital Emergency Room: Police
    KAMLOOPS, B.C. — RCMP say a male has been taken into custody after an incident today at the emergency department of the Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops, B.C.

    Male In Custody After He Barricaded Himself In Hospital Emergency Room: Police

    Want To Have Deeper Relations With India: White House

    Want To Have Deeper Relations With India: White House
    The Trump administration wants to build a deeper relationship with India, the White House has said, expressing confidence that the two countries will continue to grow their ties.

    Want To Have Deeper Relations With India: White House

    Search-And-Rescue Technician Died After Parachute Drop Malfunction: Military

    Search-And-Rescue Technician Died After Parachute Drop Malfunction: Military
    Master Cpl. Alfred Barr was a member of 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron at 17 Wing in Winnipeg.

    Search-And-Rescue Technician Died After Parachute Drop Malfunction: Military

    ISIS Reportedly Using Telegram Messenger App to Avoid Detection in Pakistan

    ISIS Reportedly Using Telegram Messenger App to Avoid Detection in Pakistan
    The Islamic State militants in Pakistan are dodging authorities by using a messenger app to communicate instead of calling each other to avoid detection, media reported on Friday.

    ISIS Reportedly Using Telegram Messenger App to Avoid Detection in Pakistan

    Canadian Dentist Accused Of Masturbating In Front Of Schoolgirls In Florida

    Canadian Dentist Accused Of Masturbating In Front Of Schoolgirls In Florida
    LAKE WORTH, Fla. — A Canadian dentist is in a Florida jail accused of exposing himself and masturbating in front of girls at a Lake Worth, Fla., school.

    Canadian Dentist Accused Of Masturbating In Front Of Schoolgirls In Florida

    Man, 28, Charged With Breaking Woman's Arms In Road Rage Incident In Edmonton

    Man, 28, Charged With Breaking Woman's Arms In Road Rage Incident In Edmonton
    Police say a 34-year-old woman honked her horn as she was passing a car that was stopped on a residential street where she was trying to make a turn early Tuesday morning.

    Man, 28, Charged With Breaking Woman's Arms In Road Rage Incident In Edmonton