By Fr Bento D’Souza SDB & Fr George D’Abreo SDB for BIS Mumbai

Kedgaon, September 29, 2025: Maharashtra has witnessed severe monsoon rains this season, leading to flash floods in several districts including Ahmednagar, Osmanabad, Solapur, Latur, and Sangli. The heavy downpour has resulted in widespread damage to crops, livestock, homes, and village infrastructure. Thousands of families have been displaced, left without food, clean drinking water, or basic household provisions. Farmers, already reeling under drought conditions in the past few years, now face the double burden of destroyed fields and food insecurity.

In response to this crisis, Bosco Gramin Vikas Kendra (BGVK) in collaboration with Tata Power Community Development Trust (TPCDT) carried out a large-scale relief operation in Osmanabad district on September 28, 2025. Grocery kits were distributed to 1,000 flood-affected families across 18 villages in Dharashiv and Kalamb blocks.

The operation began a day earlier when trucks carrying provisions reached BGVK’s campus at Kedgaon. Staff members, volunteers, and college students worked tirelessly through the night, packing and sealing food kits to ensure timely dispatch. Each kit contained essential food items aimed at providing immediate relief to distressed families.

Early morning on September 28, the relief team set out with the materials. Partnering with the donor organization, TPCDT, and local volunteers, the distribution drive was carried out smoothly despite the logistical challenges of reaching remote villages cut off due to flooding.

The relief materials were distributed directly to families, ensuring transparency and dignity in the process. The villagers extended their appreciation to TPCDT and BGVK for stepping in at a time of dire need.

The relief drive was not just about distributing food—it was a coordinated effort of compassion, teamwork, and commitment. From procurement to packaging, loading, transportation, and distribution, every step was marked by dedication to serve the marginalized.

This initiative highlights the importance of partnerships between NGOs, corporate social responsibility (CSR) arms, and local communities in responding effectively to natural calamities. While the immediate needs of food and essentials have been met, long-term rehabilitation of flood-affected families remains a pressing challenge.