BAPS Launches Emergency Covid Appeal for India

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Sanstha in the UK, headquartered at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London – popularly known as ‘Neasden Temple’ – has launched an emergency appeal to support the BAPS Covid-19 relief efforts across India.

India is experiencing an unrelenting surge in infections and deaths from the coronavirus pandemic, with its hospitals coming under extreme pressure with shortages of oxygen and critical care beds.

With the guidance and blessings of His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, BAPS in India has responded to this escalating health emergency by expanding its existing provision of hospital and medical centres with a new 500-bed facility in Atladara (in the district of Vadodara), equipped with emergency care facilities, including life-saving oxygen.

In addition, BAPS has provided all non-medical infrastructure such as beds, kitchen units, water supply, electricity, fans, air cooling units, mobile toilet and bathroom units, and parking facilities, as well as currently providing 2,500 meals daily to patients and their families.

Neasden Temple’s holistic ‘Connect & Care’ outreach programme continues to support the vulnerable in local communities across the UK. In addition, through its network of temples in India, it has been active in providing essential relief work, food provisions and medical supplies since the beginning of the Covid pandemic.

However, as the devastating second wave in India intensifies, and with the expected peak projected to be weeks from today, BAPS in the UK has launched an international emergency appeal campaign to support the BAPS relief efforts across India. Donations can be made by visiting neasdentemple.org/donate or emailing donate@uk.baps.org.

Yogvivekdas Swami, head of Neasden Temple, said, “The situation in India is dire and critical. Thousands are dying daily, so please do donate generously to help support the BAPS relief work and save lives. Pramukh Swami Maharaj left a legacy with his ethos, ‘In the joy of others lies our own.’ There has perhaps never been a more critical and opportune moment to embody this noble principle.”