Flash flood plays havoc in Senapati

Orphanage properties worth Rs. 25 lakh swept away by rising Barak torrents

From Our Correspondent

KANGPOKPI |Aug 26 

An unexpected and sudden burst of wrath of the Barak river rendered 120 orphans homeless early this morning. The river, suddenly swollen by a cloudburst, flooded the campus of Compassionate Children Ministries, one of the biggest orphan care home, at Kathikho Karong in Senapati district.

The heavy downpour last night caused the Barak river  to rise unprecedentedly flooding the entire campus of Compassionate Children Ministries Caring Home and Compassion Residential Academy carrying away properties worth around Rs. 25 lakhs.

The river torrent which rampaged through the heart of the orphanage campus washed away all the properties including utensils, furniture, keyboard, PA system at the chapel hall, livestock raised to fund the orphanage, books, notebooks, clothing of the children, other personal belongings and even a Swift car parked inside the campus belonging to the Home proprietor. Four classrooms were also completely destroyed.

The devastating flood ravaged everything that stood on its path and left the children without a home, food, spare cloths and other basic amenities leaving them to battle the bad weather and water contamination exposing them to danger of illnesses.

At Veiwland colony, more than one kilometer village road was destroyed by torrents rushing down from numerous streams. The mud washed down by the water entered more than twenty houses and destroyed furnitures and food items worth Rs. 30 Lakhs. It was also reported that at Yapao Colony, Senapati road and vehicles were left half buried in mud. 

Speaking to media persons, Robin Raomai Heni, care giver of Compassionate Children Ministry lamented that the sound of water tanks and other utensils falling woke him up at around 2 am. “When I got up from the bed the water level reached almost my knee and I immediately rushed towards the children and rescued them”, he said.

However, within a short span of 15 minute the water level reached almost neck level and we could not save anything from the wrath of the catastrophic flood, he added while conveying the tremendous hardships faced by the children and the Ministries.

Visibly disheartened Robin said that Compassionate Children Ministries Caring Home and Residential Academy is the same Ministry under the banner of Compassionate Children Ministries while adding that they have been working voluntarily for the past one decade and as of now they have 120 children giving them free education till seven standards and from VIII to till XII.  The home sends the children to other school but sheltered here in the campus, he said.

He continued that the school is mainly for drop out children, orphaned, abandoned, surrendered and living under below poverty line children.  “We accept all kind of children those even disowned by the society. Our mission is to nurture them and make them a responsible member of the society”, he said.

Further Robin said, “They come to us without knowing a word of English but they create history of our orphanage by scaling the tough competitive HSLC and HSSLC examination with flying colour”.

Responding quickly with the crisis situation, the Youth Act and Herald Today, a daily newspaper published in Senapati DHQs has collectively set up a dedicated relief material collection center at the Herald Today’s Head office in Senapati DHQs while immediate relief has been provided by the District Administration and others individuals.

The relief material collection center is accepting donations towards providing relief to the victims of the CCM flood.  Relief materials that are of immediate requirements are dry ration (rice, vegetables, biscuits etc), basic medicine, water, cloths, plastic sheets, sanitary napkins, blankets, books, notebooks and stationeries for the students along with cash for meeting the daily needs of the orphans and also help rebuild the orphanage.

While conveying his heartfelt gratitude to all those who addressed their grievances immediately, Robin urge the state government and authority concerned to help the poor and helpless children.