AILA – The ravaging storm

1. AILA – The ravaging storm Moments of Relief Designed By Destiny Bidhan Nagar Sandeepan

2. A Beginning • On June 5, 2009, friends of Sandeepan decided to do something for some AILA victims. • We were searching for places which were in urgent need for relief. • Our friend Parimal helped us in identifying some places in Gosaba where relief had not yet reached. • On June 6, we decided on the extent of the goods to be distributed based on the number of people and their needs. • In a haste, we arranged to load a truck with 10.5 tons of material in less than six hours. Bidhan Nagar Sandeepan

3. Adventurous Planning [1/2] • Our destination • 5500 people in 4 Villages: Ranipur, Rajapur, Bakbagan, Uttardanga in an island in Rangabelia • Police Station: Gosaba • Our materials: Bidhan Nagar Sandeepan

4. Adventurous Planning [2/2] • The team • Debanjan, Debarshi, Parimal, Samiran • Schedule of events • Truck starts at 9:00 p.m on June 06, 2009 from Arambagh with relief materials • Boarding the truck at 0:00 hours on June 07 at Science City • Reaching Gandkhali ghat at 4:00 a.m • Loading material onto a boat. • Departing for an island at 6:00 a.m Bidhan Nagar Sandeepan

5. Starting at midnight on June 07, 2009 Late Start Bidhan Nagar Sandeepan

6. People waiting on a boat greets us after a sleepless night Unloading from truck to boat It dawns at gandkhalighat Click on the video Bidhan Nagar Sandeepan

7. Unloading Continues… Click on the video Bidhan Nagar Sandeepan

8. Crossing the river Peeping through utter devastation during the 2 hours of journey along Vidyadhari river Click on the videos Bidhan Nagar Sandeepan

9. The Devastation Re-visited Bidhan Nagar Sandeepan

10. The Fragile Dam Bidhan Nagar Sandeepan

11. Dam Dwellers The Fragile Dam Bidhan Nagar Sandeepan

12. Where to Live! Bidhan Nagar Sandeepan

13. … Bidhan Nagar Sandeepan

14. School Teacher: Reminiscing the horrors Click on the video Bidhan Nagar Sandeepan

15. The Hungry Tide The dam no longer protects Bidhan Nagar Sandeepan

16. Untroubled Distribution Bidhan Nagar Sandeepan

17. People waiting in eager expectation The only speech Our First Descent Click on the video Click on the video Bidhan Nagar Sandeepan

18. Disciplined Dismantling Bidhan Nagar Sandeepan

19. Distribution starts • Coupons were provided to every family of the 4 panchayats from 4 booths. • Materials were distributed from 2 counters against the coupons. Click on the video Bidhan Nagar Sandeepan

20. Patient Queue: Quiet Expectations Bidhan Nagar Sandeepan

21. At Afternoon • People arriving from across the river Bidhan Nagar Sandeepan

22. The Crowd Click on the video Bidhan Nagar Sandeepan

23. Bidhan Nagar Sandeepan