Gadchiroli July 20 (District Correspondent) Village Rajoli, around 20 kilometres from here was badly inundated under flood waters for two days causing thereby severe difficulties to the villagers. The entire village was surrounded by flood water and the villagers had to pass two days on the tops of some houses with innumerable agonies as no any government help could reach the village on time.
The angry villagers today reached Gadchiroli and narrated their woes before the media persons before meeting the District Collector demanding early help and rehabilitation of the village to a safer place.
The flood started in the night of July 17 and continued till July 19. All the household belongings, clothes, grains, animals got washed away in the flood waters and they could not save anything. The houses of some people collapsed. Many of the people somehow rushed to the higher place amidst rains and spent the time. Some of the people took shelter of the top of the houses, told the villagers.
As the grains were washed away, we had to arrange the food somehow. However, no any government help reached us despite informing the officials repeatedly. The officials could reach only after receding the flood, they told. The Gram Sevak and Talathi were also not present in the village. Had they remained in the village, we would have got the help in time, told the villagers. What is the use of the boats and other material used for disaster management during flood situation, they asked. The elected representatives also ignored us, they alleged.
We should be given grains and clothing urgently as all our belongings have been swept away, demanded the villagers. Financial assistance, seeds and fertilizers should be given as the crops have been destroyed. The village be rehabilitated and the village officials be asked to live in the village itself, they also demanded.
Present at the press conference were Ms. Kanta Halami, Sarpancha, Pankesh Kannake, Dy. Sarpanch, Waman Bambode, Police Patil, Ganpat Kulmethe, chairman of Dispute Free Village Committee, Dhanraj Damle, Vinod Madavi, Sanjay Tunkalwar, Yamina Raysidam and other villagers were present at the press conference.
Photo A view of the village inundated under flood water. The villagers assembled at the Press Club to narrate their woes.
