TEXAS: A month after Hurricane Harvey hit the Gulf Coast of USA on August 25, it has left South Texas with a massive burden of devastation worth over $180 billion. Damage caused to public and private properties in and around the region includes complete devastation of about 200,000 homes. The Governor of Texas said it may take about five years to rebuild.
An Indian American couple donated $250,000 to Houston Mayor's Hurricane Relief Fund. Amit Bhandari and wife Arpita Brahmbhatt Bhandari contributed the donation to the fund set up by Mayor Sylvester Turner, on behalf of the Greater Houston Community Foundation. Bhandari, a Houston-based entrepreneur, is the CEO and Chairman of BioUrja Group which trades in energy and agricultural commodities across the globe. Arpita is the vice-president of Human Resources in the company. They were thanked for their contributions by Sylvester and prominent members of the Houston Indian community.
The Mayor said, “Indian Americans have golden hearts. They always come up with voluntary aid during hard times like Hurricane Harvey. Their contributions are not limited to the Harvey relief and rehabilitation fund. They have been making great efforts for the welfare of Houston for a long time. The Indian community is vital to Houston and will help make the city what it was before prior to Hurricane Harvey 2017.” Bhandari said volunteers of the Greater Houston Community Foundation helped rescue 700 victims of Hurricane Harvey in Houston. The community has also donated $1.5 million to several charitable organisations involved in Hurricane Harvey relief and rehabilitation.
Consul General of India in Houston, Dr Anupam Ray lauded the Indian American community for their humanitarian efforts and generous contributions. Thanking Bhandari and Arpita, he said, “Your generosity makes India proud. A community is great if it rises above its suffering. You have demonstrated that by contributing toward Hurricane Harvey relief.”
