Mahtab Alam for TwoCircles.net from flood zone,
Paterwa (Supaul): This village, now virtually turned into an island, was preparing for Eid celebrated at the end of Ramazan. The village of 3,500 population collected Rs 50,000 and spent it on the repair work of the village Idgah. The Kosi River has now deleted any trace of the Idgah. There is just water and water everywhere. The village is now one of the many islands in the Supaul districts, thanks to the worst flood in the history of India.
Contrary to the government claims about rescue and relief in Bihar’s flood affected northeastern districts, there are a number of villages still trapped in water and still untouched by the government agencies. Paterwa in Birpur subdivision in Supaul district is one of them.
Flood victims in relief camp
Kosi River just overran the subdivision on August 19. Many villages simply vanished from the map, many others though withstood but now stand devastated as several homes demolished. In Paterwa people saved their life by moving to higher places or two-story buildings as the flood water on day one was 10-15 ft high, enough to drown one-story houses. Many homes in the low-lying part of the village are still half-drowned.
On Tuesday we spent almost 2 hours in water to reach the Paterwa village. I was with a central team of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind that included its Vice President Siddque Hasan, Secretary Ejaz Aslam and Bihar JIH president Qamrul Huda.
JIH relief team visiting the flood hit area
After three hours drive from Araria we reached Ghurna in Supaul. From there we had to walk two kilometers and then began a very risky journey on boat to eyewitness the devastation caused by the Kosi River flood.
Our boat was sailing exactly above the road now submerged. It seemed we were in ocean with some islands. Villages on our way like Dolamari, Phulka Tola, Shankarpur and Bhagwanpur, all are now islands surrounded by water. And all have the same saga of sorrow and devastation.
We were shocked to know that even 20 days after the flood hit the area no rescue or relief team has reached any of the villages. Not a single food packet has been dropped there from air.
We lost our crops, our home caved in, we are completely devastated but there is no relief from the government, said Taranand Jha, 54, when we reached Ghurna. Same was true with Paterwa and other villages we stayed for a while on our way to Paterwa.
It took us one and half hours to reach Paterwa from Ghurna on boat. The 100% Muslim populated village has several demolished homes now, several others still in water. Most of the villagers have shifted to the relief camps. About 20-30% of the villagers have left behind. Of 3,500, just 1,000 are there.
Children lying on the floor in relief camp
Since the day one only private boats and a JIH boat have been taking the villagers to relief camps. The nearest relief camp from this village is full four hours away.
There was a Milli Model School with 350 children in the village. The school building and a hostel are completely destroyed by the flood water. Many homes have been washed away, many others still in water.
With no relief from government or NGOs, they so far survived on their stocks. Now they are running out of their stocks. No relief has reached yet to the village. They may face starvation if relief could not reach in a day or two.
The village has not lost any human life to the flood but now some may be lost to the epidemic. Diarrhea is spreading fast. Two doctors in our team examined 45 people, 35 of them were suffering from diarrhea. They need medical assistance immediately.
Is anyone listening?