Summary of Weathering the Storm in Ersama Class 9 English Moments with Hindi Summary
Harsh Mander's narrative "Weathering the Storm in Ersama" is based on a true incident that happened in Odisha on October 27, 1999. The story's protagonist is Prashant. On October 27, 1999, Prashant paid a visit to Ersama's block headquarters to see his friend.
Unfortunately, he was trapped in a super cyclone on that day, which was followed by a flood over the next two days. After two days, when the rain stopped, he decided to return to his village, fearing for his family's safety during the super cyclone.
Despite the advice of his friend's family not to return, he started his journey through the floodwaters and returned to his village. However, his entire village was submerged in waist-deep water, and he observed that their family belongings were strewn about in the floodwater. Prashant was taken aback, and his concern for his family's safety increased. He then went to the Red Cross shelter to look for members of his family.
There were 2500 people at the Red Cross shelter, and he was relieved to find that all of his family members were still alive. Though relieved, he felt compelled to aid the cyclone survivors at the Red Cross shelter because of people's cries and the horrific scenes he had witnessed while crossing the floodwaters.
Prashant and his volunteer group were successful in gathering enough food and resources for the entire crowd. The women at the shelter were in charge of the children, while the men took care of the meals. Children's cricket matches were organised. Also, his volunteer group planned to place orphaned children and widows in foster families in their own community, where they would be loved and protected. People, on the other side, see him as a rescuer due to his selfless love, which helped him forget about his worries.
The Story is written by Harsh Mander.
Weathering the Storm in Ersama Summary
On 27th October, 1999, Prashant had gone to Ersama (a small town in coastal Orissa) to spend the day with his friend. This place was about eighteen kilometres from his village. Towards evening, the town was hit by a devastating cyclone. Rain waters had entered his friend's cemented house. So they all took refuge on the roof. Thousands of people were killed. Human corpses and animal carcasses could be seen floating in the waters. Two coconut trees had fallen on the roof of the house. This saved the family from starvation.
Prashant was worried about his family. After four days, the rain stopped and the water receded. Prashant took a long sturdy stick and waded through the waters to reach his village. He could see only a part of the roof where his house stood. Some of the family's belongings could be seen caught in the branches of trees. Prashant went to the Red Cross shelter to look for his family. He found the whole family there. They hugged one another in relief.
By the next day, Prashant decided to take up some relief work. He took over as the leader of the village. He organised a group of people who pressurised the merchant to give them some rice. Next, he organised a team of volunteers to clear the shelter of filth and dead bodies. The volunteers also tended the wounds and fractures of injured people. A military helicopter airdropped food and other basic necessities for them. Prashant set up a shelter for orphaned children. Women were urged to do social work and sports events were organised for children. Prashant, along with the other volunteers, helped the widows and children to look afresh towards the future. Though a period of time has passed after the cyclone, the widows and orphaned children still seek out Prashant in times of trouble.
Weathering the Storm in Ersama Summary in Hindi
27 अक्तूबर, 1999 को प्रशान्त अपने मित्र के साथ एक पूरा दिन बिताने के लिए अरसामा (उड़ीसा के तटवर्ती क्षेत्र में एक छोटा नगर ) गया था। वह स्थान उसके गाँव से लगभग अठारह किलोमीटर की दूरी पर था। शाम होते-होते नगर में एक विनाशकारी समुद्री तूफान आ गया। वर्षा का पानी उसके मित्र के सीमेन्ट के बने मकान के अन्दर प्रवेश कर गया था। इसलिए उन सभी ने छत पर शरण ले ली। हजारों लोग मर गए । इन्सानों और जानवरों के शव पानी में बहते हुए देखे जा सकते थे। दो नारियल के पेड़ मकान की छत पर गिर गए थे। इसने परिवार को भूखों मरने से बचा लिया।
प्रशान्त को अपने परिवार की चिन्ता थी । चार दिनों के बाद वर्षा रुक गई और पानी घट गया। प्रशान्त ने एक लम्बी मज़बूत छड़ी ली और अपने गाँव पहुंचने के लिए पानी में से होता हुआ चल पड़ा। जहाँ पर उसका घर स्थित था वहाँ पर उसने छत का केवल एक हिस्सा देखा। परिवार का कुछ सामान पेड़ों की शाखाओं में अटका हुआ देखा जा सकता था। प्रशान्त अपने परिवार को ढूंढने के लिए रेडक्रास शिविर को गया । उसने अपने पूरे परिवार को वहाँ पाया । उन्होंने राहत की साँस ली और एक-दूसरे को गले लगाया ।
दूसरे दिन तक प्रशान्त ने कुछ सहायता कार्य करने का निश्चय कर लिया। वह गाँव का नेता बन गया। उसने कुछ लोगों का संगठन बनाया जिन्होंने व्यापारी पर उन्हें थोड़ा चावल देने के लिए दबाव डाला। फिर उसने शिविर में गन्दगी और शवों को हटाने के लिए स्वयंसेवकों का एक दल संगठित किया। स्वयंसेवक घायल लोगों के घावों और उनकी टूटी हुई हड्डियों की देख-रेख भी करते थे। एक फौजी हैलीकॉप्टर उनके लिए भोजन और अन्य आवश्यक चीजें ऊपर से गिराता था। प्रशान्त ने अनाथ बच्चों के लिए एक शिविर बनाया। स्त्रियों को सामाजिक कार्य करने के लिए प्रेरित किया गया और बच्चों के लिए खेलों का आयोजन किया गया। प्रशान्त ने अन्य स्वयंसेवकों के साथ विधवाओं और बच्चों के भविष्य की तरफ नए सिरे से देखने में सहायता की। यद्यपि समुद्री तूफान के बाद समय की कुछ अवधि बीत चुकी है, फिर भी विधवाएँ और अनाथ हुए बच्चे अभी भी संकट के समय प्रशान्त को ढूंढते हैं।
