Indian Premier League (IPL) team Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Wednesday (May 27) has announced a relief package along with some notable initiatives to help the adversely affected people and places by the Super Cyclone Amphan in the Indian state of West Bengal last week.
A powerful and deadly tropical cyclone that was the strongest storm ever recorded in the Bay of Bengal in decades caused widespread damage in the eastern state on May 20, affecting lakhs of people and claiming 86 lives, besides devastating various coastal cities and towns in Kolkata and Odisha.
Following the damage, the two-time IPL champions KKR has extended its support to its home base, as the franchise pledged to donate an undisclosed amount to West Bengal Chief Ministers Relief Fund, as well as, committed to planting 5,000 trees in the ravaged eastern state.
The KKR and its co-owner Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan, who is a brand ambassador of the state have also launched another initiative named KKR Sahayta Vahan to help the needy in the affected regions.
Under this scheme, the KKR volunteers will distribute the essential items like ration and hygiene products to the needy in the four most severely damaged districts in West Bengal – Kolkata, North, and South Parganas and Purba Medinipur.
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The franchise announced the same in a statement while insisting that the social distancing will be followed by the volunteers and masks and sanitizers will be used by them during the process.
A statement from KKR reads: “KKR, along with Meer Foundation, announced several initiatives to support the ongoing efforts of the government to battle the aftermath of Amphan.”
The statement further reads: “KKR has committed to contribute to the cause. Under KKR’s Plant A 6 initiative, we pledge to work with the authorities and plant 5000 trees in the Kolkata. Ration and essential hygiene items to be distributed to the needy across four most-affected regions — Kolkata, North, and South 24 Parganas and East Medinipur.”
Meanwhile, Venky Mysore, CEO & Managing Director of KKR said: “The state of West Bengal and the City of Joy have been special to us in many ways. The people of Kolkata and WB have embraced KKR and extended their love and unconditional support over the years. This is a small effort on our part to provide some relief to those affected.”
After the cyclone hit the state, SRK had shown his condolences on Twitter by saying, “My prayers, thoughts & love to those affected by the devastation caused by cyclone Amphan in Bengal & Odisha. The news has left me feeling hollow. Each & every one of them is my own.”
(With PTI Inputs)
