Earthquake in Sagaing Hill damages water pipes, leading to water shortages
263
Htet Nadi (NP News) - April 5
The earthquake in the Sagaing Hills damaged some of the water pipes at the Sitagu, causing water shortages for monasteries and nunneries. Efforts are underway to restore water supply as soon as possible.
On the morning of April 3, the 89-year-old chief abbot of the Sitagu Monastery, Dr. Ashin Nyanissara, visited the Sayambu Pagoda on Sagaing Hill, Sun U Ponnyashin Pagoda, the Htuparyon Pagoda, the Sinmyarshin Pagoda, the Mingalar Maha Pagoda, and the See Kon Gyi Pagoda in Sagaing City, which were damaged by the earthquake.
In addition, Sayadaw urged the Sitagu Water Donation Project to be carried out as soon as possible to facilitate the water supply to the schools and nunneries in the Sagaing Hills due to the damage to some water pipes caused by the earthquake.
Some of the water pipelines at the Sitagu Water Donation Temple have been damaged, affecting the monasteries below. As a result, operations have been slightly delayed. However, the Sitagu water staff are working tirelessly to restore the water pipelines to normal functioning as soon as possible.
Similarly, as a health care initiative, two orthopedic surgeons, two general surgeons, two doctors from Sitagu Ayudana Hospital, and nurses from Sitagu Hospital are providing free medical check-ups and surgeries to monks, nuns, and laypeople in Sagaing City and the Sagaing Hills affected by the earthquake.
The Venerable Abbot of Sitagu was in Yangon on March 28, the day the earthquake struck. After the 11th free Sitagu Eye Specialist Program in Yangon that day was temporarily halted, he directed 16 doctors and nurses to return to the earthquake-affected area in the Sagaing Hills. At the Sitagu Ayudana Hospital, they provided medical care for the injured monks, novices, and lay practitioners. On March 31, the Abbot returned to Sagaing by car and continued coordinating earthquake relief efforts at the Sitagu Vipassana Academy.
After the earthquake in Sagaing, the abbot was unable to immediately descend to the ground due to his physical condition, but his disciples, the abbots of the Sitagu Buddha University, are reportedly working with Sayadaw Ashin Chekinda on the Sagaing Hill range to carry out search and rescue operations.
The Sitagu Missionary Group has donated 5 million to the Moekya Mosque in Sagaing, where 69 Muslims died, and 300 bags of rice, oil, salt, and vegetables donated by a donor family from Mandalay to earthquake-affected schools and displaced people near Sitagu. Drinking water from the Sitagu water purifier is being donated to those in need of clean water in Sagaing. Food donations have been made for the nuns who are staying at the Sitagu Vipassana Academy. Furthermore, donations have been made to the patients at the Sagaing General Hospital who are receiving medical treatment for severe injuries, including the loss of limbs, caused by the earthquake.