THE UNFORGETTABLE MEMORIES: Cyclone aftermaths

The 'shadow of death' in form of Super Cyclone turned its face towards the humble villages of Orissa effacing everything corporal and incorporeal coming on its way. It left behind copious cires, tears empty lands(with only cadaver) and Unforgettable Memory and History:

1. Ramanath of Nendra village of Kushpur Gram-Panchayat was troubled deeplt by the strong wind blowing across his mud house Suddenly his eyes caught glimpls of bulky water ascending towards his dainty abode . : Geeta,Sudhir, Vinod," he cried loudly to his three young children sitting numbly inside thier small room. No sooner did they came out he caught hold of them, tied them to the dry coconut's shell collected in the verandah. He then took a strong long rope and connected the new raft with strongest coconut tree in his beautiful garden. The sea debouched into the land and sweeped away everything-even Ramanath's house. But children and Ramanath were were left floating on the water atop coconut's shell . for three days he remained like that with his crying and groaning children without eating(but drinking the floodwater). Today, after being saved , Ramanath repents of having saved his children. He says," My house is completely destroyed....there is no place to lay head ...the garden has become a wet desert ..no source for livelihood is there...relief material will last for a week or so.....then with what shall I feel my tiny children .....O GOD why did save thir life?"

2. On the other side in a village of Balikuda, two small girls Meenaskhi & Pushpa tells their fatefull story of survival. They recall 29th October, 3 P.M they were 'ten' members in their family. But within few hours thereafter they were reduced to 'two' . That night when nature opened its arm to embrace the human race of Orissa's coastal villages forever , chaos arose in their big family. By the time they could decide and take some action, they were found submerged under heavy salty water. Mother , father. Sister's, uncle's, aunt's all got separated and lost. They were in tears-crying, calling and dabbling their hands and feet to reach one another. But the wrenching sea had no mercy to let the family members meet one another before the eternal departure. Luckily, Meenakshi and Pushpa were together and they found one' tyre' which they caught hold of, and thus managed to escape the trap of death with many injuries in their legs, arms, and chest. But the irony of life is that today they are all alone with blank future . To whom shall they cling to?

3. In another incident some fourteen fishermen went for fishing unaware of the 'Cyclone' . On the way they fell victim to the oozing passion of Bay of Bengal. Only six strong men managed to escape 'it' by the help of the bamboo bush somewhere near the shore .

4. The unity of one family at Tentuli-Belary is more than all this; The five members when they saw the roof of their house being blown away by the 325 k.m. speedy wind , they tied themselves to one another with the view that together they will be heaviour to be blown away by the wind and that if they'll die they shall die TOGETHER ! UP came the death , took them to the sky and threw their body with a big thrash; some died instantly and some after and some after heavy agony and pain lasting up to five-six hours.

5. And at one place the 'dark cloud' witnessed the love of a mother towards her two-years old milk sucking baby girl her only 'world'. When she saw herself caught in the jaws of life and death she exclaimed to God on utter agony: God you take my life but spare this child BUT don't keep me alive after taking her away from me." God granted her second wish! Immediately He called both of them- the mother and the child to rest in His heavenly abode happily forever and ever! When member of the Relief Team reached that village, they saw the most excellent and emotional scene of LIFE : the mother had tightly wreathed her arm round her' dream' near her bosom.....and ......the child was peacefully resting there. Even the force of nature was not able to separate both of them.

6. Four years ago Red Cross constructed a " CYCLONE TOWER" at Astarang area. It had a hall and a couple of rooms , constructed on the top of a dozen high columns which stood on a strong concrete platform. Seeing the funny structure people laughed and said, " What a waste of money!" This funny structure saved the life of 1,500 peoples during the Super-Cyclone of November 1999. When tidal waves invaded the land people rushed to this funny structure . Some could hardly reach the place. Then those who were in the shelter threw ropes down which was held by those who were struggling to reach the shelter. Today the people of Astarang, does not call the shelter a funny structure, but "life Saver".

7. A family with two children was struggling to get from the encroaching tidal wave in Puri Sadar village. Father of the family took his wife and the youngest child to a safer place and returned to get the other child. The tidal wave grew stronger and higher and began to drown the father and the second child. The helpless mother could only watch with consternation her husband and child vanishing from her sight , but not the frightening memories from her minds.

8. And then is faith of a humble lady , which saved her: Saraswati , a Hindu lady, is the sweeper in Archbishop's house at Bhubaneswar. She lived in a slum area, but had a small strong house The Cyclone began to blow off the roofs of the mud houses in the slum. People began to leave the slum, to Saraswati, " Come away and save your life." Saraswati said, " I will not go; Mother Mary should save me; I am cleaning her statue everyday in Bishop's chapel, so she should save me" While saying this she took out her rosary and threw it on the tree which was about to fall. Believe it or not the wind blew stronger and the tree bent over house as if it would fall at any moment but by the Grace of her faith the tree was commanded by the Supreme Power to remain was and not to touch her house at all. Not only this , hers was the only house left untouched by the disastrous twister whereas the other houses in that area had fully vanished. Today, Saraswati is exuberant and tells every one" Mother Mary has saved me and my house ; I will pray every day to MARY!"

YES! There are many more stories to be told and hard….The stories of people tying themselves(& their children ) to the trees or climbing the trees and terraces or coming together in hundreds in one small room or climbing on buffaloes' back and swim up to 30 km just to preserve the precious life. But these are not just stories. They are lesson for you and for me-A time to learn that life is very precious yet uncertain. So use 'It in a better way and be prepared to loose it anytime.