Project RISHI Flood Relief Fund

Project RISHI (Rural India Social and Health Improvement) is a student-led initiative dedicated to promoting sustainable development in rural Indian communities. At UC Berkeley, our chapter has been partnering with the village of Bharog Baneri for over a decade, implementing projects in health, education, water sanitation, and women’s empowerment. From building rainwater harvesting systems and supporting schools to running health workshops and sanitation drives, we design and deliver community-centered solutions in close collaboration with local leaders.

Help Rebuild After Devastating Monsoon Flooding in Bharog Baneri & Surrounding Areas

The 2025 monsoon season has hit Himachal Pradesh and our home region near Bharog Baneri harder than any in recent memory. Devastating rains, flash floods, cloudbursts, and landslides have destroyed houses, roads, water systems, and critical infrastructure, leaving many families homeless and without basic services.

The Situation on the Ground

• More than 1,500 homes have been totally destroyed, with thousands more partially damaged across the state. (Millennium Post)
  
• Hundreds of roads are blocked by landslides and floods, cutting off many villages, delaying relief efforts, and preventing access to aid. (Rediff)
• Drinking water schemes and power supplies are disrupted. Many people currently lack safe water, electricity, and shelter. (The New Indian Express)
• Losses are massive — from homes to agriculture, public works to essential services — in the order of thousands of crores of rupees. (The Tribune)

How Project RISHI is Responding
Having seen this suffering firsthand in Bharog Baneri and nearby areas, Project RISHI is launching a Flood Relief Fund to support immediate and medium-term recovery. Here’s where your support will go:

• Emergency shelter & safe housing repairs. Materials and labor for rebuilding walls, roofs, and foundations so families can return home safely.
  
• Restoring access to clean water. Fixing broken water supply schemes, providing purification tablets or equipment, and helping to rebuild wells or temporary systems.
  
• Basic infrastructure repair. Roads, bridges, and footpaths that connect villages need quick repair to allow aid, goods, and people to move safely.
  
• Health support & resources. Distributing hygiene kits, medical supplies; organizing health camps for waterborne illness and trauma.
  
• Livelihood support. Helping farming families recover: personal belongings, agricultural tools, animal shelters.
  
  

Why Your Help Matters Now

• The rains may be easing, but recovery has barely begun. Without intervention, families will suffer through unsafe homes, waterborne disease risks, and lost income.
  
• Government relief is stretched thin; many remote communities remain unreachable or under-supported. Local groups like Project RISHI can act quickly, and funds go directly to affected households.
  
• Rapid support now helps reduce long-term costs — preventing disease, reducing displacement, and ensuring children can safely continue schooling.
  

How the Funds Will Be Used
 Every dollar will be directed to flood relief and rebuilding efforts. We plan to allocate funds approximately as follows:

• 40% Shelter & Housing Repair
• 25% Water, Sanitation & Hygiene
• 20% Infrastructure Restoration (roads, public access, etc.)
• 15% Health, Livelihood & Emergency Support
  

If we exceed our target, we will expand relief to more affected villages and provide more durable infrastructure. If we fall short, we’ll still distribute resources according to this plan—with priority to the most urgent needs.

Thank you for considering a donation. Together, we can help families in Bharog Baneri and nearby communities rebuild their homes, restore normalcy, and emerge stronger. If you have questions or want to see stories from specific families, please reach out to rhythm_goyal@berkeley.edu