Updates

Yesterday, woolen & regular clothes, medicines, water purification tablets,veterinary vaccines (HS & BQ),Deworming suspension, Cerelac, packaged food were sent to Jadia & Lakshminia panchayat in Murligunj.

We have procured woolen caps,woolen mufflers and ear covers for 1500 children, apart from woolen clothes collected at Patna and from the clothes sent to us from our donors. The ground situation out here was difficult for about 10 days due to statewide agitations in retaliation to some unwanted political brinkmanship

Hopefully, good sense prevails and things become normal soon.

Thanks a lot to Anubha Ji who has funded the purchase of woolen clothes for small children; most of these clothes will be sent to Raahata and harijan tola in kumarkhand.

We plan to provide woolen clothes for small children to all the infants & small children up to 8-10 years of age to all the 2300 families who are residing at Harijan tola- Rahata cluster of villages.

Motor boat service had been disrupted for some time and we hope that they start soon. At places, one has to carry relief material for up to 10 km. Local villagers and paid porters are helping us.. but its taking more time.

We had a tough time coming back from Nepal after roads In Bihar were blocked due to agitation. But that gave us a chance to spend time near Nepal border (Inarwa) and we saw the Himalayan mountain range early morning. It was one beautiful experience...we were about 150KM south of Himalayan range and quite surprised that we could see the mountain range.

It was white capped horizon much above the cloud line...and it turned to orange glow just before sunrise.

Sometimes I wonder at this irony...beautiful, pure sky almost angelic sunrise...at the start of the day....and pain, suffering and choked feelings at sundown. Heaven and hell in span of a day..same place..same people..but so much change.

I would like to thank all of you for sustained help for such a long period, its amazing how humanity transcends time and tribe. Heartfelt thanks to the wonderful people of Maharastra, who have helped us right through this effort. Your help has been exemplary. God bless you all.

I hope and pray that in these trying times, people who celebrate 'Chath' festival are allowed to do so, where ever they are India.

Preparations are on for 'Chath' festival in and around the troubled waters of Kosi, and for a change, things look festive and positive... that feels great.

Would also like to thank AMURT volunteers who have been helping us in
really difficult terrain and conditions.
In the last week, we have received -

*Babyfood & Cloriwat tablets from Sri. Raj Sachdev, Geekay Enterprises, Mumbai.

*INR 25000 from Anubha Ji, Delhi, for purchase of woolen clothes for children.

`chandan

+919931763070



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We took help from ITBP men to carry relief material to Rahatha village,Kumarkhand, as this embankment was the last motorable point. We left Parwa embankment with relief materials for rahata village, Kumarkhand .The distance was around 15 KM & has to be covered by motor boats. ITBP were kind enough to help us with two motor boats & crew.. Also traveling with us were two Doctors who were headed for Kumarkhand.

~chandan
+919931763070

Kumarkhand;Flood relief

Kumarkhand;flood relief

Kumarkhand block flood relief

Boat sent to help us by Ms.Kiran Devi (Sarpanch) & her husband Amarnath Ji (AMURT). We had requested help from them(cellphone) after we got stuck in shallow water and the other ITBP motorboat with Doctors & relief material were lost somewhere near the 8KM mark.

We are very greatful to them for all the help they provided. It is very difficult to manage panic striken, hungry and angry population if you are cut off from mainland by 15-20 km of water for more than two months. 

To their credit, they have managed the emergencies and the sustained flood conditions very nicely.

~chandan

+919931763070

Near Rahatha village, Kumarkhand block.

Kumarkhand -updates

Leaving Parwa embankment with relief materials for rahata village, Kumarkhand .The distance is around 15 KM & has to be covered by boats. We have two ITBP motorboats with us. Also traveling with us are two Doctors who will get down at Kumarkhand.

As one moves away towards north, becomes apparent that navigation is a real problem . There are no landmarks, no route, no predefined

corridor. As it happened, we lost one motorboat as we moved on. We waited for them some 10 km upstream, hoping that they were safe. Later, we found each other.

It is very easy to get lost. This place is no river having a defined way and underlying river bed. This is the new Kosi route flowing over farmlands. The surface water current is very high, and dangerously deceptive at places where the ground below is uneven.

Where's my share ?

We distributed cerelac first, they wanted clothes; we distributed clothes; they wanted biscuits, we distributed that..and just before we reached this lady, we ran out of stock. We will make up for it if we meet her again :)

What was heartening was festive clothing and smiles all around.

Jadia- Darafga embankment stretch

Dussera,2008

Updates

Dear friends,

In the last five days, we have received 9 cartons of chlorine tablets ( one carton apparently misplaced, but railways have acknowledged that on paper, & if they find/receive it, we can have it), &


25 carton of clothes from Capegemini, Hyderabad.

Thanks again to Capegemini group, who have been sending us relief material throughout our effort.


Govt camps, which were being run in schools, have more or less been shifted to main camps, and many people have also returned back to the villages where water had receded.


Most of these villages are still not disinfected, and with a harsh winter just around, it will be tough for these people.


There are accumulated debris, carcass(in some villages in Jediah and murligunj where we are working),dead and rotting vegetation and stagnant pools of water, which probably will stay through the winter.


Due to reduction in water level,It is also getting difficult to get in these villages. You can reach some distance by boat, then you got to trek to the villages as water level is too low for boats.The problem is in carrying supplies. Last trip we borrowed a banana stump raft, and could carry supplies to some distance before it disintegrated. These rafts are to be pushed and not pulled (which we did).


One walks on the semi-metalled or brick-soled roads, which although are under ankle to knee deep water, are firm and safe. To push a raft one has to get down from the road..& that's dicey.


This trip (tomorrow night), we are taking truck tubes. Its a new area we are going to ( Madhepura-Murligunj) and dont know what to expect. ,are taking precautions.


In winter, life is going to be very difficult for the flood victims.


Cold,inadequate nutrition,poor sanitary conditions and stress will expose the flood victims to diseases like influenza,cold&cough, isnofelia,pneumonia et al., in addition to what they are/have already suffered from.



They will need warm clothes, specially for women and children. Woolen or cots-wool inner garments for children ( upto 6-8 years) are very important. Woolen clothes,woolen caps (monkey caps),socks, gloves.. anything that will help the children keep warm in dark damp conditions are needed out here.


NGO's are doing good service to affected people out here. Duplicity of efforts are very less and different pockets of flood area are taken up by different units of NGO's and self help groups.


Government Mega camps are functioning well, in an organized way and will be helpful to the people taking refuge there even in future, as doctors stationed there are also following up serious cases treated earlier at the camps.


But as you go north, towards Nepal, the flood conditions still apply. We are talking about places which are in route of the new kosi. Water current at the core flow area is still very strong.


Most of these places are north and north-east of madhepura. Many villages are still cut off as the roads joining then have been washed off and are still under water.


AMURT volunteers are in some of these villages doing yeoman's service. They are disposing carcass, starting basic camps, medical service and making semi-permanent camps for human and animal care.


They need medical supplies,doctors, veterinary doctors or student volunteers, veterinary medicines.
I hope people will come forward and help them.

We are helping them with all that we can, specially in camps which are operating in difficult interior regions.


You can contact Acharya Kisen Sood  for any information regarding help and relief.

Thanks a lot to all who have been helping us provide some relief to flood victims.


thanks & regards,

 

`chandan

+919931763070

Volunteers needed

Its more than 2 months, we are working incessantly in flood affected areas. We are in real dearth of people who can work at ground zero level. Apart from Chandan ji, there are only 3-4 persons(Srikant Bhaiya, Sipahi Chacha, Kishori ji and Santosh bhai) who are continuosly working at ground zero level. To sustain and excel further this work for long time, we need more man power at ground zero level.

So if you are intersted in working at ground zero level, then plaese come forward. For further details you can contact Chandan ji (09931763070) .

इस दिपावली में अगर आप बाढ़ पीड़ित लोगों के जीवन में लाना चाहते हैं खुशियों के रंग
तो उठा कर झोला आ जाईए हमारे संग
आप और हम मिलकर लायेंगे उन सबके जीवन में नया रंग

श्रमदान महादान

PS: Wait for my next post to know more about the Srikant Bhaiya, Sipahi Chacha, Kishori ji and Santosh bhai.

Thank's to Capegemini,Chennai & Indus International School, Bangalore

We received 32 cartons of relief material( GATI D# 439426341) today afternoon.

Thanks a lot to Capegemini,Chennai for their help. Most of the clothes that we have distributed have come from Capegemini network.

Convey my heartfelt gratitude to the management and students of Indus International School, Sarjapur, Bangalore-25.
Thank you Mr.Kumar (Manoj Kumar,Leadership Curriculum Coordinator Indus International ) for all the help.

The 31 cartons of baby food/milk-lactogen/medicines etc. were really picked and packed very thoughtfully. Students from different classes and sections have sent individual packets of carefully selected material. It feels great to see this kind of understanding and generosity from the young generation, specially school children. Hats off to them.

This consignment is being taken to Muraligunj (ramgunj camp) tomorrow. Ramganj is still cut off and is in the path of new Kosi. Supplies are sent there by ITBP motorboats. The approach bridge is being erected by the army at a fast pace . A new camp is started their by AMURT, whom we are working with...and tomorrow our first supplies will be sent to the ppl at Ramgunj ....with lots of love from students of Indus International school, Bangalore.