Dalai Lama writes to Mamata, Naveen Patnaik; condoles deaths due to Cyclone Amphan

Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama has written to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik condoling loss of life, devastation of property, as well as hardship caused to so many people, in several districts of ir states due to Cyclone Amphan. He has also committed to donating to relief and rebuilding efforts from his trust.

In letter, Dalai Lama wrote: “I appreciate prior preparations that were made to respond to this natural disaster, and efforts that are underway to provide relief and assistance to those affected. As a mark of solidarity with people of West Bengal and Odisha, I am making a donation from Dalai Lama Trust to relief and rebuilding efforts. I would like to convey my condolences to you, to families who have lost loved ones, and to all those affected by Cyclone Amphan.”

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Special regard for Bengal

To Mamata Banerjee he remarked, “In addition to our profound respect for India as a sacred land, which has also been home to many Tibetans over last 61 years, we have a special regard for Bengal. This is because Shantarakshita, great philosopher and dialectician who established Samyé, first Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Tibet in 8th century CE, and Dipankara Atisha, who revived practice of Buddhism in 11th century, both hailed from Bengal.”

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Cyclone Amphan

Cyclone Amphan, which reported winds up to 190 kmph made landfall at Digha coast of West Bengal on Wednesday and hit Kolkata a few hours later. re were widespread power cuts in large parts of Kolkata, rth 24 Paraganas and South Paraganas. Mobile, internet services, and electricity were also down in parts as cyclone had damd several communication towers and electrical grid. At least 80 people have been killed in calamity, while thousands are displaced.

On or hand, nearly 45 lakh people in Odisha have been affected by extremely severe cyclonic storm, which fiercely rolled past state's coast and made landfall on Wednesday, uprooting trees and flattening fragile dwellings. power infrastructure and farm sector have also suffered considerable dam, while telecommunication infrastructure is largely intact with minimal impact, he said.

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