PROJEKT-INDIENHILFE e.V.

Oktober 2000

REPORT ON FLOODS IN WEST BENGAL

This is a brief report on the recent floods in certain areas of West Bengal that I had visited. These floods were the worst ever that occurred in West Bengal as far as people can recall. So people are speaking of these floods as the "millennium floods". From October 5th to October 11th I visited some of the flood affected districts of West Bengal and so I would like to give a brief report of what I have seen.

THE CAUSE OF THE FLOODS

From 16th September heavy rains began falling over the districts of Birbhum, Murshidabad, and Nadia in West Bengal. The rains were more concentrated in North Birbhum and as the rains intensified the dams began to get filled soon and after four days of continuous rains, the gates of the dams were opened suddenly and the water burst forth at a great speed. The force of the water was so strong that it broke through several embankments and flooded Birbhum, Murshidabad and Nadia and later on also the North 24 Parganas District. All this happened so suddenly that people had no time to escape to safety with their possessions and cattle. Some climbed on a few concrete buildings that were in nearby towns and others pulled themselves and their relatives on to treetops. The flood destroyed everything on the way, rail links, roads and uprooted mighty trees and caused landslides and even changed the course of rivers. All the mud houses collapsed instantly and other concrete buildings got submerged in some places up to the first floor. From the reports we have heard, 15 million people are left homeless and about 1200 people have died of the flood. The loss of cattle and crops is estimated to be about 12000 million Rupees.

RELIEF WORKS

The Churches and convents immediately opened their doors to the distressed people and their cattle and began to feed them generously. Due to incessant rains immediately help could not reach the people. The government administration and military personnel did a great deal to reach relief materials to many towns and villages. But there was slow response from the civil authorities in certain areas. Wherever there were Christian churches, the relief works were organized under the leadership of the priests in-charge of the parishes. Political parties and local government administration were happy to cooperate with the Church authorities. I visited and saw for myself the flood affected districts of Birbhum, Murshidabad, Nadia and North 24 Parganas. Now, as immediate relief, food and clothes are being distributed and the sick are being attended to. I spent some time in the parishes of Joypur, Barapahari, Polsonda More, Azimganj and Berhampore and I found relief work well organized. I also gave them assistance by way of clothes and money. Relief materials could not reach some villages because there were also people who were looting and robbing the supplies. In some parishes, the priests, Sisters, people and cattle and even pigs were in the same building. I had reached the two centres, Monshada and Bongaon, in 24 Parganas North district after a day of journey by train, by tractor, by boat and finally by a hand-pulled Rikshaw. There I heard from the Sisters of Mother Teresa that they were on the roof of their little house under a plastic cover for four days together with all the orphans. Whenever the army helicopter passed over their house the plastic cover would be blown away. Also for these two centres I had taken some money and they were all very grateful for the help. The people reported to me that dead bodies were seen floating occasionally. Some young men saw also a little baby alive in a basket floating along and they rescued it and found also some money in the basket. It seems the mother could not escape with all her children and so she had to leave one in a basket to be saved by God's providence. In this district of North 24 Parganas, that is, near the Bangladesh border, I traveled mostly by small boats that passed through banana gardens and paddy fields and sometimes over the road that was submerged. The journey lasted a whole day which used to be done before in two hours. Even now, people in the two centres of Monshada and Bongaon (in North 24 Parganas District) are living on roof tops of little houses and very many are still in the buildings of our mission centres.

PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

Before winter, we have a plan to buy up blankets, bed sheets and shawls and distribute to many centres. There is a plan also for supplying some building materials to reconstruct houses. The Church leaders in the various centres that I had visited would like to provide at least concrete foundations and pillars with tin roofs at a cost of Rupees 50000 (2500 DM) per house. This plan can be realized only if the necessary help is available.

After my visit, I was very much impressed by the good spirit among the people, the priests, sisters and their team of helpers. In suffering they are united and they are able to laugh and work together and understand each other well. The Christian institutions have won great respect and esteem from people of all religions and from the civil authorities. So we feel happy that our service is sing of our Christian faith.

Report by Fr. Joseph Aymanathil, s.d.b   (October 12, 2000).