National

Snapped electric wire was their lifeline

Supaul: They clung to the snapped electric wire as if it was their only hope.

For four seemingly endless hours the wire was the only remaining link with life for a man and his sons who waged a grim battle for survival amidst the violent waters of the Kosi which has wrought havoc in seven districts of north eastern Bihar.

Radhakant Jha and his sons Ashish and Dinesh had set sail in quest of a safe shelter from Birpur in one of the worst-hit districts after their family had fled the catastrophe, but were caught in the vortex of the furious Kosi.

They shouted and cried to be rescued whenever they saw boats, chock-a-block with people, struggling through choppy waters to relief camps.

Their hope faded as did their voice, drowned in the gurgle of the rapids until one of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) finally heard their cries for help.

“Thank you....thank the God above that we are safe. It is as if we are reborn,” said Dinesh voice choking in emotion.

The three may have lived on to tell their story, but the link to life in the worst-hit districts of Supaul, Madhepura, Araria and Saharsa remains tenuous with nearly two million people in the grip of the swollen Kosi that has unleashed havoc in the region.

“Our hope for survival is receding fast. I don’t know if I will be able to speak to you again,” Babloo Singh told PTI before the cellphone line got disconnected in the middle of a conversation.

Babloo and his family are perched atop the roof of their double-storeyed house at Chhatapur in Supaul district for the past one week.

He had been charging his cellphone by starting his motorcycle and linking his mobile to its battery. His bike has now run out of fuel as he has run out of patience.

“We shout from the rooftop at the sight of every boat that passes from a distance but nobody listens. There is no relief, only the sight of airforce helicopters flying about. We are doomed,” he said.

Vikas Kumar Jha, a teacher posted at Hridaynagar in Birpur sub-division, who was lucky to have made it to the relief camp at Simraha with his family is an angry man.

“I had to pay Rs. 4,000 to a local boatman for ferrying myself and family hardly a couple of kilometres. The local strongmen, who own boats are fleecing the already miserable flood victims,” a livid Jha said.

R.S. Sharma, a lawyer, has 150 of his neighbours residing at his place. “We are fast running out of supplies and have received no relief from the government....in a couple of days we may begin to starve,” he said looking skywards, hoping some IAF chopper would drop the much-needed ration.

The temple at Chhatapur, serving as a relief shelter, is packed with about 2,000 people and turns into a battle ground everytime relief packets are airdropped.

“There is a mad rush as relief distribution is not properly organised. The young and the strong grab more than what they can eat leaving the old, sick, women and children to starve,” says Madhusudan, who has made the temple home ever since the floods drove him out of his house more than a week ago. — PTI

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu