In spite of the fact that the media attention was more towards the area of greater damage in Pakistan, our initial assessment brought up a picture of large scale damage in Kashmir. We had already sent a field team to New Delhi in the Sampark Kranti Express. As the field team proceeded to New Delhi, on this morning they were planning further work that had to be done in New Delhi. They were planning to go to the Red Cross and Union Home Ministry to find out if blood was required. The initial picture that came up after talks with the District Magistrates on Uri and other disaster hit districts had clearly shown damage was widespread. But newspapers were still not reflecting this fact. There was a certain doubt about miss-assessment of damage. But since, now they were already on train, the only thing they could do is wait and watch till they reached New Delhi. All this time, the Bangalore team was continuously looking for more clues. They had figured out which exact districts had suffered damage. They were also setting up channels for the Field team to enable quick and effective meetings at New Delhi. The identification papers and other requirements of the field teams were taken care of. Strategising for fund collection was in the air. As every minute passed, more adrenaline pumped in..

It was on this day that the field team reached New Delhi. The news papers were beginning to show the images of the damage that was caused. The field team reached New Delhi at 1:00 PM. Our friends in ND were prepared to assist us there. The field team went to the Headquarters of the Indian Army for the North Command. We approached the army to help us get some sort of identity proof that we were relief workers so that our movement in the valley would be easy. We were also looking towards exploring the relief operation that the army had undertaken to determine if we could join in. Five hours of talks with the army failed as they told us that we should just leave the stuff we want to take for the victims and leave for home. At the same time the Indian Red Cross refused any help in transporting blood to the victims here in India or to pakistan. The Home Ministry's Crisis management cell was disappointing too. The message from the BIG men was clear. They did not want a group of youngsters who in the rush of blood had come to New Delhi to move forward, face the reality and run back home. As we proceeded to the New Delhi Railway station without leads into what next, we were fully aware of the immense response the people in bangalore had given to the Call for Help. Our home team was struggling without gap to ensure maximum funds were raised. The adrenaline was pumping. Long deliberation outside teh New Delhi railway station finally led to the moment of decision. we decided we will move to Ludhiana on our own!! Vande Mataram.

The Murmuring of the crowds, the chanting of the Believers, the Calls of the peddlers, nothing could wake the field team sleeping on the platform of Ludhiana on the morning of 11th October. They had traveled in the General Compartment all crammed into a small space. The news from Bangalore was that The MSRIT, MSRIM, MSRSAS, MSRDC and few other colleges had contributes generously. The funds in hand were around 21000 by donors and 17000 by Volunteers. We were all set to buy the Blankets. We went on a rickshaw ride through the crammed streets of a typical North India Town (Ludhiana) until finally we reached Prabhu Ji Kambal Walay. This was a huge shop. People told us that he was the largest whole seller of Blankets. And there we stood outside his shop, waiting for him to come. The shopkeeper came at 10:00 AM. Within seconds of meeting him, we got a feeling that his heart could sense our purpose, He was very polite and offered us drinks and some snacks before we started talks about the Blankets. There we came to know that the Govt. Of India was also purchasing blankets for the quake victims from him. In the hours to come we chose the finer quality of blanket. This was because we wanted to take a blanket that could protect a person from the cold of the Kashmir valley. Numbers was not in our mind. So, by afternoon, five parcels, each weighing more than a 100kgs were packed and ready to go. It was clear that we could not take them in the train with us. So we shipped the 300 blankets through the transporter for Jammu. The way to Jammu was not as easy. In the afternoon there was no train from Ludhiana so we mounted a bus for Jullendhar. On reaching Jullendhar, we called the Bangalore team for updates. To our pleasant surprise they told us that they were there in IISc collecting funds and about Rs.10000/- were expected. We rejoiced! Immediately we planned to send a couple of people back to Ludhiana to purchase more blankets. But, when we called up Mr Kamal Kawatra, who now we call Kambal Uncle, he gave us a pleasant offer. He assured us that we must keep moving to Jammu and that he will arrange for the blankets to be shipped. He said that we could make the payment later. In today's world, finding support like this was so unexpected that it cannot be explained in words. So, when we boarded the general compartment for Jammu, we knew that 120 more blankets were on their way. God was smiling at us!

At 5:00 AM the field team reached Jammu. The day was not at all busy as we had to wait for the arrival of the blankets. This was due only on the next morning. Jammu was the first place that offered us any comfort after we left Bangalore. We stayed at a friend's place. They kept us so warmly that memories of it will not be gone soon. As the day started, we first approached the division commissioner of Jammu. The next officer was the Commissioner of Police. Both these gentlemen were as disappointing as the officers earlier. They only said that if we anted, we could go to Srinagar. They said that nothing was being done from Jammu. But one of them gave us a contact number of the Commissioner of Police at Srinagar. He was monitoring the relief supplies from there. he warmly welcomed us to come to Srinagar. This was good enough for us. Again the moment of truth came. WE DECIDED TO VENTURE INTO THE VALLEY. We arranged a van to hold the blankets and also a mobile sim. The mobile service provider went out of the way in helping us by giving us a sim on his registration details. Aside: Kashmir has security issues.. By evening we had to make a decision. There was lot of danger involved in proceeding ahead. So we did not want the entire team to be risking themselves. At the same time, no member was ready to stay back. It was extremely courageous and bold on the part of those volunteers who agreed to stay back even after having traveled 3500 kms for the cause. The night was sleepless. After all the next day was one of the biggest days in our lives.. Vande Mataram

9th October 2005. It was on this day that the strategies were made for the things to come.. The field team had left for New Delhi n now it was the job of the team staying back in Bangalore to provide support to them.. Firstly we started gathering all the information regarding earthquake and ways to find out "How to reach the victims?", since the area affected was the most sensitive region in the country with respect to security and cross border terrorism.Also 9th oct 2005, was a sunday so nothing much could have done in terms of generating resources by going for a fund collection drive. It kind of helped us in strategizing well. Thoughts were given on "How to generate resources?", after all the discussions we had it was decided that we will go for fund collection drive, firstly in MSRIT and then in other MSR Instituitions.Targets were set for the next day and ground work to achieve those targets was done the rest of the day. At the same time, continuous assessment of situation in Kashmir was done round the clock. So we were ready to go for targets we had set.It was the time to put strategies to work. 10th October, 2005 Monday. In the process to go for fund colections, the first and foremost thing was the permission to do so from the Honorary principal Mr. Rajnikantha, who had been great support for us through out our campaign.All the volunteers were asked to meet before going for a drive. Instructions were given to them, on what should be conveyed to the people. Stalls were set up in different parts of the college, explaining things to the donors and telling them about our approach for the project. Sankalp has been a familiar name to most of the students and they donated generously. After an overwhelming response(For us) in monetary terms, it was the time for us to maintain the cash generated. In the meantime, field volunteers have reached delhi and through different contacts were trying to contact president. The sum generated were then transferred to them. It was decided that we are going to provide the victims with blankets. After the days work, it was time for the team in Bangalore to assess there day's work and think about next day.

11th October, Tuesday. It was a day to move out of MSRIT, we approached other colleges. The first on our list was MSR Degree college.Then to MSRSAS, MSRCL,MSRDC,MSRMC.With some sweet and sour experiences we kept on doing our work to find out by evening that we are well short of our targets. On thinking about other options we decided to move to IISc, Bangalore. But the biggest hurdle was getting permission there. Since we had approached them sometime back for enrolling blood donors in IISc campus, so we got permission but only for One and a half hours, that too on certain locations, under their supervision. We agreed on to that and we were approaching ppl there.Many ppl who had registered with us as donors came up along with others and at the end we got an overwhelming response.After money collection, we were moving out just to know that there was a controversy waiting for us. While coming out of the campus, we were stopped by guards and asked for written permission which we didn't had. After the intervention of student's council, we came out of it only to know that we were late to get into college hostel.

Morning of this day brought with it a lot of enthusiasm. there was a little pain of parting with friends. But more than that, there was a long journey ahead. Aunty had packed food for us. The love that we got that morning from that family, was something that touched deep within. Aunty said that we were like her sons. She asked us to be very careful. We could see that little tear in her eyes as we left. One of the members of the field team had gone into the valley before, so things were not totally unexpencted. We took a Maxi-Cab from Jammu to Srinagar as it could accomodate our bundles. The driver was a man of small built who called himself JP. That was initials for JasPreet. The discussion as we drove out of Jammu was on modernising our approach to tackle future disasters. We were talking about emergency response teams and high tech information centers. In this entire process, that one man inside us which makes us Sankalp Volunteers was blooming and getting nourished. As we lokked outside the window, the song-"Yunhie Chala Chala" from Swades was ringing. The hills were so beautiful taht one would want to stop after every second turn just to gaze at them and probably take A snap or two. But, as is the protocol for Sankalp,there was no sign of a music player or a camera on us. In no time we were some 40kms off Jammu. Here we stopped for a cup od tea. Praji( thats what we prefered to called JP) ordered Pakodas for himself. Although the taste buds were tickling, but we resisted. We were on a mission. No comforts, could be sought before the goal was achieved. Very soon... Praji walked towards us and offered Pakodas. When we tried to refuse, he requested us to have them strongly. Certain amout of irritation developed as we thaought that this person is forcing us to pay for Pakodas even when we did not order. But when it came to payment, he pushed us back. he said we were like his younger brothers. he paid. We smiled. We knew we had a good man talking us to Srinagar. It was not a matter of Rs. 15. It was a matter of care. Baglihar HEP was facinating. Chenab flowing through its deep gorges was mind blowing. the story of Heer Ranjha took place here. Then came the "Killer Gorge" that people call "Khuni naala". Stons roll down the hill here. Earlier this had led to hundreds of vehicles loosing control and falling into the deep gorge, hence the name.Thanks to BRO, now the situation was a lot better. Bro, by the way is Border Road Organization. these people have a strange nag of putting us very very interesting text on the roadside for travellers to see. At times it was informative, at times funny, at times inspiring. But always -"Readable". The peak outside the woindow had yet another subject. Ramban was the place where we stopped for lunch. By three we were entering the Jawahar Tunnel. This tunnel through the Mighty Pir Panjal, connects the valley to the mainland. 2.4 kms of travelling in that tunnel is immemorable. But better than that is the site that you see on the other side. As the Kashmir valley unfolds itself, one is left speechless praising it and admitting that the Moughals were right in saying that if tehre was a heaven on earth it was here. Fast transit though the valley brought us to Srinagar by 6. Here we went straight to the Police Control Room.. ...........Continued...

Oh My God!!! May The Souls Of All The People Who Died Rest in Peace....! Oh My God!!! One year.... I Hope The Hope Is Back Into Their Lives... Cheers To Sankalp Family..... Sankalp Did It... Sankalp Was There When Our Fellow People needed Help....