Flood 2013 in North India
Heavy rains and the flooding in North India permanently
switched off the lives of hundreds of people. Rough weather is constant companion of
the people of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarkhand and Delhi. Safety for them is mere illusion during rainy
season. Nobody knows when one will be
evacuated from one’s life without further existence. Monsoon rains in the third
week of June 2013 wreaked havoc in the state of Uttarkhand. It is a regular
survivor of nature’s multitude calamities.
Rivers Ganga, Yamuna, Sarada, Khagra, Rapti are mercilessly
out flowing. Roads are invisible. Flash
floods, cloudbursts and land slips claimed lives of hundreds of people in
Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarkhand. Nearly 80 thousand people are missing. 60
villages are completely washed out. Thousands of pilgrims and tourists are
stranded in pilgrim centres without food, clothing, shelter, electricity and
safe drinking water. They cannot communicate to their people as there is no
communication system. Several buildings including hotels swept away in the
swirling waters of rivers. Toll will be much more than the official calculation
as several are missing and rescue operations have yet to reach the required
fast rhythm.
I cancelled the Chardham (visiting the temples in 4 places –
Gangotri, Yamunothri, Kedarnath and Badri Nath) pilgrim trip to Himalayas in
this year because I was not healthy enough to walk the 14 kilometre stretch in
the Himalayan Mountain to reach the famous temple of Kedarnath. My professor
friend in Uttarkhand Dr. Latha Gairola was
all set to take me to these pilgrim centers in this year. I was longing to go. But I cancelled my trip in the last minute. But
today, I was so shocked to read the news of unexpected and gross calamities
that wiped off thousands of lives of people, animals and the nature itself.
Lanslides left
thousands stranded in Kedaranath and Badrinath, the most famous Hindu temples.
The temple of Kedarinath stands 3584 up above the sea level, in Himalayas. River Mandakini has squeezed Kedarinath so
severely that the idol of Shiva alone remains undestroyed.
The pilgrims live in
Dharmasalas in Kedarinath. They provide cost free accommodation to all. All the 90 Dharmasalas have completely wiped
off. Nearly hundred poojaris who conduct
religious rituals, 20 security personnel, and other employees of Kedarinath
temple were swept away with in no time. Bad weather obstructs helicopters to
rescue the stranded ones. Damtha, a place 70 kilometres away from Yamunothri itself
has nearly 25000 people, not knowing what to do. The fury of rivers swapped so
many lives.
I stood still, praying for all of them.
The India govt. has declared the situation as national
disaster. Quick actions are executed. All are waiting to get instructions for
participation in the rebuilding process.
