Bashi: Devastated by flood, ignored by administration

Bashi: Thirty kilometres north east of the district headquarters of Begusarai the small village, Bashi,witnessed a catastrophic change in its fortune in the wee hours of August 2. The swollen Budhi Gandak river breached the embankment and in no time wreaked havoc not only in that village but in the entire district.

The swirling waters swept away a large number of human beings, cattle as well as many houses. Besides 600 houses of Bashi Panchayat were badly affected by the flood. In all 128 houses in ward number five of the village were completely washed away by the flood.Though the flood claimed 23 lives 17 people are still missing. Around 8,000 acres of land lost its fertility due to accumulation of sand. Even a month later water refuses to drain out from the farmland.

It is not yet clear as to how the embankment was breached. However, it is said that the administration and nature, perhaps collaborated to cause this disaster. Local people complain that in the last ten years nothing had been done by the administration to strengthen the embankment. It is believed that Sahis(Indian Porcupine), a fossorial animal, furrowed the wall of embankment. The local villagers noticed the presence and activities of Sahis and complained to the administration but their plea fell on the deafears. No effort was made to plug the holes. This may be one of the reasons for the collapse of the embankment.

However, the officials are of the view that it was virtually impossible to hold back the fury of river, which changed its course, and thus the embankment was bound to give in. Bashi needs food and other relief materials, but it is still being ignored.

It is very unfortunate for the people of Bashi and more for those hailing from the economically and socially backward classes. A month after the calamity,relief is still to reach the real needy. Flood victims are finding it extremely difficult to restart their life. They say that the government has only distributed 50 kilograms of wheat and Rs 200 per head.“With water all around what will we do with wheat,”one of them asked with anger writ large on the face.They also complained that most of the relief materials were corned by the people belonging to a particular caste. They said that Pasis, Mallahs, Manjhi and Ansaris are yet to receive relief.

A young woman asked as to how could they restart their life and built their houses with the meagre amount of Rs 200. Instead of the government it is some non-government organizations which appeared more sensitive to the plight of the victims. They distributed relief packets of instant use such as candles, match boxes, biscuits, and sattu.

As in many other flood-hit villages people in Bashi have made relief camps of their own on the embankment of the river. The government has not made a single relief camp for them. Very few hand pumps in the vicinity are working. Life has come to a standstill in the village. There is no agriculture or business activities. Yet people of Bashi are still hoping against hope of the government help.