By Manzar Bilal, TwoCircles.net,
Patna: Once again, true to their history of work post-calamities, Muslim socio-religious organizations have launched relief and rehabilitation work at war footing in the cyclone-hit eastern Bihar districts of Araria, Purnia, Katihar and Kishanganj. Without discrimination of caste and creed, they are distributing relief materials among the families affected by the devastating cyclone last week.
It was midnight of 13th April and people were sleeping when a destructive cyclone struck eastern India states of Assam, West Bengal and Bihar, leaving hundreds of people dead, thousands injured and several hundreds homeless. In Bihar the worst affected districts were Araria, Purnia, Katihar and Kishanganj – all Muslim concentrated districts. These districts were also among those that were badly affected by Kosi flood in 2008.
According to official figures, the death toll in the cyclone is about one hundred. But unofficially the number of deaths could be higher and it is rising due to lack of relief and rescue work. Though the government has announced Rs.1.5 lakh compensation to family of each killed in the storm, it is yet to make any sufficient arrangement for the injured and affected families. Hundreds of people have lost their belongings and properties. They are hungry and waiting for help outside their collapsed homes.
Given the gravity of the devastation, Muslim organizations lost no time in launching the relief and rehabilitation work. They are distributing relief material among the affected people. They are also trying to reach with necessary items the areas still inaccessible even one week after the calamity.
Mr. Muzaffar Imam of Aman Foundation which is working for the rehabilitation of the affected people in Purnia district told TwoCircles.net that the situation is very critical there as the cyclone has taken many lives and affected thousands of people, mostly the poor ones.
“Everywhere is a scene of disaster in the area. Many people lost everything and are now forced to live under the open sky. Aman Foundation and Mohammadia Foundation, another NGO, are trying to reach the people with relief packages. Currently, we are distributing food packets as people are hungry and later we will provide financial assistance to the people to build their homes” he said.
A team of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind (JUH) under the leadership of Mr. Hassan Ahmad Qadri, general secretary of Bihar unit of JUH, visited the cyclone-hit districts.
“We have visited all four cyclone-hit districts. Some areas are badly affected. Though the state government has announced to give Rs. 1.5 lakh compensation to the family of killed people, there is no relief work for victims and also no compensation has been announced for injured and affected families” said Hassan Qadri.
“The most urgent need now is to provide food and necessary things. We are preparing a list of those poor people who based on daily wages and do not have capacity to rebuild their homes and buy lost things. We will give all kinds of help and will build as many homes as we can” he told TCN.
He also appealed to the state as well as central government to take appropriate step as soon as possible for rehabilitation of the victims otherwise many people will lose life because of hunger and being under no shelter.
A delegation of Jamaat-e-Islami Bihar has also visited the affected areas in Katihar, Purnia, Kishanganj and Araria. They have already started relief work and appealed to people to come forward to help the victims.