Chapter 6 Weathering the Storm in Ersama

The cyclone brought very heavy and strong winds with it. Due to this, majority of the houses were blown away and only the ones were spared which were made with the strong cement material. The land was covered by dirty water which could be seem from a distance. A numerable people lost their lives. The place was filled with numerable floating human bodies and bloated animal carcasses. Even the strongest of the trees were not spared from the havoc. Many people lost their close relatives and many children become orphans due to the cyclone. There was shortage of food and with no supplies. Everyone was very sad and helpless.

Prashant was initially bewildered on witnessing the destruction that caused by after effects of the cyclone. Later, he got to hold himself and helped the people of his village and then he decided to take over as the leader of his village. He united a group of young and old people to come together and then pressurize the merchant to give rice for the people living in the shelter. And cure the wounds of the people which happens because of the cyclone. Prashant also helped the orphaned children together by constructing a polythene shelter for them. While women had the duty to look after them and the man did arrangements of food and other essentials for the shelter.

The people of the community united and helped each other under a young leader prashant. together they pressurized the merchant to give rice for the people in the shelter. They gathered branches from fallen trees and lit a fire on which they cooked rice for everyone to eat. When the military helicopter dropped some food parcels but did not return, the implemented a unique way to communicate with the passing helicopters . children lied in the sand with the utensils on their stomach on indicate they were hungry. The message went through and the helicopter made regular rounds of the shelter airdropping food and other basic needs. Women were given the responsibility to look after the orphans, while the men arranged food and materials for the shelter.

The plan of setting up the institutions for orphans and widows was repelled because they thought in such institutions the children won’t get the necessary love and affection and the widows would suffer from stigma and loneliness. Instead of that, Prashant and his group wanted them to be resettled in their own community and get homely environment. They also suggested setting up of foster families with childless widows and children without a guardian to be taken care.

Yes, Prashant is a very good leader. Though at one point he got shocked after the destruction caused by the cyclone but soon enough he recovered himself and decided to step in as the leader of the village. He carried out his role efficiently and helped the other people of his village in every possible manner. Yes, young people with a little help of elders can definitely get together to help each other during the natural calamities and otherwise they can also use their strength to rebuild what is lost in the cyclone.