Rotary District 3070 unites as ‘Team Hum’ for ‘Hum 4 Himachal’
Munish Sood
MANDI: Rotary District 3070 has launched one of the most inspiring humanitarian responses the region has ever witnessed for the rain devastation-hit Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh that was hit by catastrophic 15 cloudbursts in a span of a few hours on June 30.
Under the banner ‘HUM 4 HIMACHAL’, an emotional yet powerfully coordinated relief movement was initiated. It was powered by Team HUM, a united force of over 129 Rotary Clubs spanning Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir.
“This wasn’t just a disaster relief mission, but a call to our conscience,” said district governor Rohit Oberoi, the visionary behind Hum 4 Himachal. “We named it ‘Hum 4 Himachal’ because this was not about individual clubs or districts, but about all of us as one, rising for Himachal.”
First relief supply was provided on July 7
Oberoi had personally flagged off the first relief convoy — three jeep-loads of essentials to Seraj Valley — on July 7, just days after the catastrophe. Since then, the mission has turned into a dynamic and compassionate operation, reaching families devastated by landslides, washed-away homes and inaccessible roads.
“Rotary does not wait for the headlines to fade,” Oberoi emphasised. “We act before others even begin assessing. That’s why Team HUM is different — we do what others are yet to even think of.”
Leading the on-ground operations are:
• Rotary Club Sundernagar president Sarla Gautam
• Rotary Club Suket charter president Tilak Nayak
• Rotary Club Mandi senior member Surinder Mohan
• Rotary Club Ner Chowk senior member Amrit Pal
• Rotary Club Chhoti Kashi’s Dr Hemlata
These clubs have not only been distributing relief but also working hand-in-hand with SDMs of Thunag and Gohar, ensuring the most remote and most affected families get the help they need.
Families living miles from the nearest roads were brought to Sundernagar in batches, where they received jeep-loads of home essentials, including blankets, mattresses, tarpaulins, sas stoves, pressure cookers, utensil kits, cold and cough medicines, maggi packets, hygiene kits, gum boots, children’s clothing and solar lights.
Even survival kits packed in Rotary shelter boxes, provided by Rotary Club Shimla, reached families who had lost absolutely everything.
Outpouring of support: From Punjab to Palampur, Manali to Jammu
Clubs across the region contributed generously:
• Rotary Club Palampur: 500 blankets, 120 tarpaulins, 100 gumboots
• Rotary Club Jalandhar East: 100 ration kits, 50 tarpaulins, 100 blankets
• Rotary Club Hoshiarpur: 20 gas stoves, 50 tarpaulins, 40 pressure cookers
• Rotary Club Una Greater: 100 blankets, 50 ration kits, 30 utensil kits
• Rotary Club Shimla: 54 bags of Basmati rice, shelter kits
• Rotary Club Manali: Supplied woollen clothing and medicines despite challenging weather
• Rotary Club Amritsar North & Amritsar West: Sent multiple consignments of relief items
• Rotary Club Jammu Helping Hands: Provided emergency kits and coordinated transport logistics
Several individual Rotarians stood out for their exceptional personal commitment:
• Dr. Anil, stationed in Dharampur, ensured real-time demand communication from the field
• Sarabjeet ‘Bobby’ from Rotary Club Shimla instantly organised rice bags
• Kapil Sood, District Disaster Chair, efficiently coordinated logistics, managed demands, and connected donors to destinations
• GS Bawa, PDG from Hoshiarpur, played a pivotal role in mobilizing cross-district support
• Teams from Kangra, Una, and Amritsar self-organised pick-up teams and drove through dangerous routes to reach Mandi
“It’s amazing how strangers became brothers in service. Our WhatsApp groups became command centers. Our hearts became highways,” said Oberoi.
