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Journalism of Courage
There seems no respite in sight for people in Joshiyara. They had just started to put back their flood-wrecked lives when the ominous rain-laden clouds floated over,threatening more destruction.
Now,they can only hope they are spared the natures wrath this time.
Joshiyara is located across the Bhagirathi from Uttarkashi,which is expected to get 30-60 mm rainfall over the next 48 hours. Joshiyara lost many houses to the floods and most of those standing are damaged and filled with sand,slit and slush. Bhagirathi has receded but streams branching off it still flow dangerously close to their houses,so most residents have taken shelter in hotels or with relatives at safer places. And now,dark clouds are hanging low over them.
I had just shifted some household articles such as TV,sofa and beds so my family could spend the day at our house. But the forecast about rain in Uttarkashi has added salt to our injuries, Manoj Rangar,who had just brought his family to Joshiyara after a week,told The Indian Express. Rangar said he never feared the river that flows by his house. But,this tragedy has badly hit our confidence.
Sarita Bhandari has seen many a disaster in her life but none,she insisted,like the latest one. I never imagined that the water level would not recede for 72 hours after the flood. This is not in the nature of Bhagirathiji, she explained. She is so traumatised that she rushes out every time a helicopter flies over,fearing a cloudburst.
I heard from my son that there is chance of rain so I remain alert, she said. She hasnt even let her husband go back to work in Tehri.
Vijendra Nautiyal has hired labourers to build a wall of boulders around his Ganga Sagar hotel,which survived the floods.
It is shocking news,the forecast of rain in Uttarkashi, he said. If the level of water in the river rises,it would certainly damage my hotel. I am trying to provide support to the foundation walls by erecting a temporary wall of rocks bound by wire, Nautiyal said.
Joshiyara was declared area of submergence by the government after the Maneri Bhali Barrage and a hydro-power project were built,said Balwant Singh,who lost his hotel to the floods. We all are waiting to get shifted to new places. But the government has so far not paid compensation, Singh said.
