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Devastation And Support: Indian American Community Confronts LA Wildfire

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Devastation And Support: Indian American Community Confronts LA Wildfire

Photo: Amit Shiwalkar and his wife Mukta were among those who lost their home to the Pacific Palisades fire. The charred remains of their condominium complex.

By REENA RATHORE

With inputs from Bhartti Kumar

LOS ANGELES, CA — As the infernos ravage Los Angeles and its surrounding areas, leaving neighborhoods in ruins and displacing thousands, the Indian American community is both mourning profound losses and rallying together to support those affected. Among those living through the carnage and grappling with unimaginable losses is Amit Shiwalkar, whose entire life has been reduced to just two suitcases.

For Shiwalkar, a resident of Pacific Palisades, January 7, 2025, will forever be etched in his memory. What began as a seemingly normal day quickly spiraled into a nightmare.

“I was working from home and could see the smoke going up. It was 10:30 am. At 11 am, there were alerts from the city.  At noon, we had to leave,” he told India-West.

Shiwalkar and his wife hastily packed two bags, grabbing marriage photos, old pictures, and sacred deities – their “life’s belongings” and the only possessions they could carry. “We thought we’d come back, just like after the 2019 fires,” he said. “We never imagined this would be different.”

As they drove along Sunset Boulevard with their dog, the magnitude of the disaster became apparent. “On the road, people were walking with suitcases, some without cars. Everything looked surreal all along Sunset Blvd…We drove like crazy,” he said describing their harrowing escape from the Palisades Fire. The couple’s frantic escape led them to a pet-friendly hotel in Westlake Village but their ordeal was far from over.

“Phone lines were jammed. What should I say?” Shiwalkar told India-West, his voice heavy with emotion. “You must have seen the movie ‘Waqt.’ Like that, we lost everything. Due to the 2019 fires, our insurance company dropped wildfire coverage. We can get only land value now. The bank burned down and the safety deposit vaults have been levelled, so whatever jewelry we had is also gone. We are looking at signing a year’s lease for a place. We don’t know where to start.”

Consuming everything in their path, the wildfires are leaving behind a staggering trail of devastation. Entire neighborhoods have been reduced to ash and rubble. Schools, grocery stores, libraries, and fire stations – places that formed the fabric of the community – vanished in hours. It was not just a fire; it was a firestorm of unprecedented scale, wiping out hundreds of homes and altering countless lives forever, said Amar Shokeen, president and CEO of Welcome Group.

Photo: Amar Shokeen’s home in Pacific Palisades survived in a neighborhood that looked apocalyptic after the fires died down.

“We woke up to clear blue skies. There was no inclination. By 4 p.m., the evacuation order came. We weren’t even in the house. My son was home, and we called him desperately to grab what he could and leave,” he told India-West. “We had not taken anything from the house as we assumed that we would just come back the next day. There were literally 200 homes between our house and the houses that were being affected. The first 24 hours is very hard and 48 is a little less.”

The Pacific Palisades resident’s home – which he bought from pop star Rihanna – was one of the few that survived, but it now stands as a haunting reminder of what was lost.

For families like Shokeen’s, the immediate aftermath has been disorienting. “We walked through our neighborhood, and it was unrecognizable…Ralphs, Gelson’s, even the elementary, middle, and high schools were gone. You see these visuals on television but when you see them in real life, it is just heart-wrenching. Our neighbor had just moved in from New York with his young children. Their $10 million home is now rubble. Even the aluminum rims of cars melted into the pavement,” he shared with India-West.

Even for those whose homes survived, the road to recovery is fraught with challenges. Toxic ashes, destroyed infrastructure, and uncertainty about rebuilding timelines hang over survivors. “Even if the house is standing, what’s next? Are we going to stay here and move on? The utility poles are gone. There is no water. And it’s a private street. And how long will it take to clean up? Who cleans it up? And how does it go back? It could be months. It could be a year. We have no idea,” Shokeen remarked. “The only things standing in most homes are brick chimneys. It feels like walking through a post-apocalyptic movie, except its real life.”

Beyond the charred landscapes lies another crisis: the emotional and financial toll on survivors. “All our neighbors are writing to get emotional support…I had to stop watching TV, just not do anything for like 12 hours. It was so, so disconcerting,” said Shokeen, who learnt their house remained largely unscathed two days ago.

Compounding the loss is California’s insurance crisis. “Our home insurance was canceled and we had to settle for the state’s Fair Plan, which covers a small portion. Rebuilding will cost millions, and the property taxes and insurance costs will make it unaffordable for many. There’s price gouging. Even renting is impossible – a three-bedroom apartment in Santa Monica is going for $30,000 a month. People are asking for $70,000 a month for a house. It’s crazy,” he said.

The wildfires didn’t just displace “Wealthy homeowners.” The human toll is evident in every corner of the devastated neighborhoods, he noted. “Our housekeeper, gardener, and so many others who relied on the community for their livelihoods have lost everything. Many are older residents who have lived here for decades. This isn’t just about the wealthy –it’s about everyone,” he emphasized.

Anandi Law and her husband, who live in Glendale, faced a tense few days as their home – located above the Rose Garden – offered a clear view of the encroaching wildfire. “We could see the wildfire from our backyard. At 4:10 a.m., the warnings turned into evacuation orders,” Law recalled to India-West, adding that their community was in constant contact with each other.

Packing essentials – clothes, passports, and medicines – they sought refuge at a friend’s home near the airport. Fortunately, their house survived, and Law expressed deep gratitude for the outpouring of support from friends and neighbors. Now Law is channeling her gratitude into action, distributing food at Pasadena Temple and supporting small businesses and neighbors whose lives have been upended.

Law, who serves as president and associate dean for assessment in the College of Pharmacy at Western University of Health Sciences, said the experience reminded her of what truly matters. “At the end of the day, it’s just material possessions,” she said.

For Redondo Beach resident Smita Bagla, the wildfires brought a wave of emotions. Her former home in Malibu Hills, which she sold to avoid the threat of fires and subsequent evacuations, is now reduced to ashes. She expressed both relief for her family’s safety and compassion for the current occupants.

Seema Kapur Bhatia from Calabasas recounted the drill she has grown accustomed to after previous wildfires. “I packed passports, medicines, laptops, iphone, all the basics, a back scratcher and two bananas that would get spoilt,” she said, injecting a touch of humor into the otherwise grim reality. Now that she is back to the undamaged house, all she has to worry about is thawing the food from the freezer.

These are just a few of those who talked to the media. Several others in the San Gabriel and Pasadena areas were packed and ready to evacuate. Others experienced lack of power and water. While they explained their pain and anguish to India-West they were nevertheless reluctant to be quoted saying their emotions were too raw.

Help And Support

Amid the chaos, Indian American community organizations and temples have stepped up and become sanctuaries for those in need.

The Jain Center of Southern California has mobilized its members and the broader community in a monumental relief effort. The center’s donation drive has touched over 8,000 lives, providing essentials like warm clothing, vegetarian meals, bedding, personal hygiene products and over-the-counter medicines. “Jainism teaches us the importance of compassion and selfless service. These values are at the core of our mission, and they came alive in the most profound way during this relief drive,” said JCSC president Sameer Shah to India West.

The center’s efforts were amplified through partnerships with several like-minded organizations, including JAINA, Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care, Anekant Community Center, TCCOP, Sanatan Dharma Temple, SAHARA, and Shreeji Mandir Bellflower. Additionally, MSI Inc provided logistical support, ensuring that the donated goods were efficiently transported through their trucks from JCSC’s collection center directly to shelters housing those displaced by the fires.

Shah added that the success of their robust relief effort has highlighted the power of collaboration and the profound impact that faith-based and community organizations can have when working together. The organization is looking ahead to further opportunities to support the community through fundraising. Plans for additional relief efforts, ongoing aid, and collaborative projects are already in motion.

As Los Angeles continues to battle the flames, Pundit Chandra Sekhara Sharma Samavedula, founder and head priest of Sri Siva Kameswari Temple in Costa Mesa, emphasized their open-door policy and how they’ve become a hub for support.

Photo: A collection of essential supplies at Sri Siva Kameswari Temple.

“We’ve turned the temple into a shelter for anyone who needs it, regardless of their background. Last night, I got a call from a UCLA student who wanted shelter…Doors can be opened even after hours if needed. This isn’t about one culture or community; it’s about humanity,” he told India-West. “We’re collecting essential supplies, including non-perishable vegetarian food items, bottled water, clothes, blankets, and toiletries, and volunteers are delivering these supplies to those in need. On January 13 at 5:30 p.m., we are hosting a mass prayer for all the victims and to ask for divine intervention to calm the fires.”

Pandit Jagdish Rajgor of Pasadena Hindu Temple shared they are supporting their neighbors in any way they can. “Most of the people who have been affected have moved to their friends or relatives’ homes. But as there is no power in Altadena and Eaton Ranch, many people come here to charge their laptops and do some work,” he said, adding that they’ve also offered manpower to the city’s relief efforts.

The widespread devastation has drawn reactions from Bollywood stars living in Los Angeles, who have used their social media platforms to draw attention to the crisis.

Actor/producer Priyanka Chopra Jonas, who witnessed the unprecedented wildfires from her home, shared visuals on social media, captioning the post: “My thoughts are with everyone affected. I hope we all stay safe tonight.” She also expressed her gratitude to those on the frontlines.

Actor Preity Zinta shared that she is grateful to God for keeping her family safe but is “heartbroken” over the tragedy, writing, “I never thought I would live to see a day where fires would ravage neighborhoods around us in LA. Friends and families either evacuated or put on high alert, ash descending from smoggy skies like snow and fear and uncertainty about what will happen if the wind does not calm down with toddlers and grandparents with us…”

Earlier, actor and dancer Nora Fatehi revealed on Instagram that she and her team were forced to evacuate as the crisis escalated.

Detailing the chaotic situation, she wrote: “I am in LA, and the wildfires are crazy. I have never seen anything like this. This is insane. We just got an evacuation order five minutes ago. I quickly packed my stuff and evacuated. I’m heading near the airport to wait since I have a flight today. I really hope I can catch it…I hope people are safe; I’ve never seen anything like this before.”

Late “Friends” actor Matthew Perry’s home, which was recently purchased by Indian American producer and real estate developer Anita Verma-Lallian, survived the raging wildfires.

“We want to express our deepest gratitude to the brave firefighters, our amazing neighbors, and the entire Palisades community for their help, strength, and support during this heartbreaking time,” Verma-Lallian, who purchased Perry’s estate in October 2024 for $8.5 million in an off-market deal, wrote in part.

Resources for those in need:

Jain Center for Southern California: 714-742-2304

Sri Siva Kameswari Temple: 512-633-7999

Pasadena Hindu Temple: 626-679-8777 (WhatsApp Only)

Other organizations that have launched relief efforts across the Los Angeles area include BAPS Charities and Sewa International USA.

Also Read: Click Here For Information On Southern California Wildfires

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  • What a catastrophe! We all knew about the Santa Ana winds, even the American Indians knew before the settlers came. It seems the authorities are telling when the wind force that strong forget about “saving”! Could there have been a better management over these years?

    Also, just a thought if you believe in Karma! Our “armaments” are causing havoc all over the World!

    January 13, 2025

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