VISIT TO KALIMPONG FOR DAMAGE ASSESSMENT & INTERACTION WITH VICTIMS OF EARTHQUAKE

CASA has decided to provide relief to 200 families  from Kalimpong, a district sub-division of Darjeeling district, as the impact of the earthquake of 18th which devastated Sikkim, also created havoc in some parts of Kalimpong.  After our initial damage assessment of Kalimpong by CASA and its partners within the first week after the earthquake, we decided to interact with the victims and start the process of enumeration which will lead to finalization of beneficiaries.

We, (a 4 member team of CASA including the CZO Mumbai, Mr. KV Thomas,  left from  Sikkim, where we have made our  base since 20th September, for Kalimpong  in the early morning.  By around 10 am, we reached Kalimpong  and met the staff of DISHA (Diocesan Integrated Society  for Holistic Action) and DBSS (Diocesan Board of Social Service) , under the Diocese of Eastern Himalaya.  Dr. Foning , Coordinator of DISHA and Mr. Pradhan, Principal of Scottish Universities Mission Institution under the same diocese provided us the government’s damage assessment report  and compensation promised by the government.

Then we wanted to see ourselves some of the affected areas.  First we went to see a Church which is built on the top of a mountain and is situated at the Leprosy Colony, where some of the leprosy patients have been living .  The Church building has suffered extensive damage due to the impact of the earthquake and has developed large cracks on the wall.  The entire building has moved about 6 inches away from the foundation  and plinth area.  When we went to see the church, the government had already undertaken demolishing certain portion of the church as it stood precariously, partly damaged !

(The Church at the Leprosy Colony, badly damaged and is being demolished partly)
However, the most shocking sight was not just the Church but the surrounding areas of the church.  As mentioned earlier that the church stood on top of a mountain and down below, running to 1000s of feet there are at least 40 houses.  The land behind the church measuring up to more than 100 meters have developed large craters and cracks due to the impact of the earthquake, just on the cliff of the mountain !  The next 2-3 days of the earthquake there was torrential rain pouring into the craters and water sipped through the cracks, and thereby has made all the people living below very vulnerable !  These People fearing of a massive landslide have fled their houses and are living in a relief camp run by the government.  Their fears are not ungrounded !  The entire areas, the edge of the mountain measuring at least 200 meters could just come off like a slice of cake and might come crushing on the houses below, should there be a mild tremor or  heavy rain water seepage into the cracks.

(The CASA team survey the huge cracks on the cliff of mountain, covered with tarpaulin sheets to prvent sippage)

We then went to meet the victims, who are placed in the relief camps.  In a hall, provided by one of the NGOs for the children, the victims are being temporarily sheltered.  There are about 34 families living there since 19th September , the 2nd day of the earthquake.   They have brought along with them some bare essentials including a couple of cloths and have kept their belongings in safe places on rent ! There is a common kitchen for the inmates .  The victims do not have adequate blankets, with the onset of winter and have to depend of the community kitchen. It’s been more than 2 weeks now and things have not changed.  They are quite demoralized , worrying about their bleak future, as the government has so far not come forward with a relocation plan for the victims.  One of the  victims, Ms. Bahadur was  asking us, “how long are we going to be in this relief camp?  We have our own land with patta (entitlements) and we don’t want to be homeless. The government must help us with resettlement in a safe area.” .

(The commuinity kitchen at the relief camp)
With the media and central government’s attention focused in Sikkim, which has no doubt bore the brunt of the earthquake,  some pockets of Kalimpong has been equally devastated.  It’s time that the government or any other NGOs intervened !  CASA was the only NGO to have intervened there so far.  CASA’s relief  kits containing essential non-food items, including blankets, tarpaulin sheets, utensils & hygiene kits  will  be distributed  as soon as it arrives there.  These relief kits are already on its way and will reach there next week.

(Victims interacting with CASA staff at the Relief camp)

- Reported by Dinesh Suna and the CASA team

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