As a token of respect and gratitude, locals of Shirgur village near Raibag in Karnataka asked Army personnel who rescued them from flash floods, to join in for the Eid-ul-Adha celebrations.
In what was a heart-warming gesture, the residents invited the Maratha Light Infantry Regiment Centre (MLIRC) officers and jawans for the festival prayers and lunch in the village mosque.
The Maratha Light Infantry Unit chaired by Major Rathore has been carrying out extensive relief operations in and around the Belgavi district.
As per the Hindu report, the Muslim community in Shirgur village cooked Kheer and Biriyani for the special occasion and as many as 150 residents, including 40 soldiers, feasted together on Eid.
The Hindu quoted leader of the community Mia Nizam Mulla’s vote of thanks for the Indian army, “They rescued us from our flooded homes and fields. They showed exemplary courage. They used boats and ropes to reach stranded persons and bring them back. If not for the Army, all of us would have been washed away in the river waters.”
“There is no other way for us to thank them except through prayers on the festival day and by sharing a simple meal. We are very happy that Id was celebrated in such a meaningful manner.”
“The residents were happy and wanted to express gratitude to the soldiers. The soldiers were doing their duty, but could not refuse such an affectionate invitation. It was a warm gesture from them,” a MLIRC officer told the Hindu.
Former PM HD Deve Gowda on Monday requested PM Narendra Modi to release a sum of Rs 5,000 crore as interim relief to flood-hit Karnataka and to inform it as “national calamity.”
As many as 2,694 villages in eighty-six taluks of 17 districts in Karnataka have been severely affected due to floods and rains.
As per the information available from the state government, the death toll so far was around 42, while 12 were found to be missing.
“I have not seen such unprecedented destruction to both human lives and properties in my six decades of a political career. Therefore, I request you to notify this natural disaster as a national calamity,” HD Deve Gowda said.