With the assistance of the Association for Conservation and Tourism (ACT), former Indian football captain Bhaichung Bhutia arranged a charity football match in Siliguri to raise money for the people of Sikkim impacted by the floods. The contest included former Indian hockey team captain Dhanraj Pillay and five-time world champion and 2012 Olympic bronze medallist boxer Mary Kom.
Numerous Siligurin entrepreneurs and non-profit organizations stepped up to support the cause, contributing thousands of rupees to help the impacted population. To enjoy the match, a sizable crowd also assembled.
Sikkim suffered significant disruptions due to the flash floods that inflicted damage on footbridges, roads, and other crucial infrastructure.
Bhaichung thanked both athletes for featuring in the match and revealed that Mary came to play despite suffering from an injury. “It was very good I would like to thank Mary and Dhanraj. Mary is recovering from a serious ligament injury. Still, she came to play. We have generated revenue and we will donate it. We want to spread awareness about people building houses near the river natural disasters can occur anytime so we want to educate them about it,” he said.
