Mayapur Flood Report - 2006

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Flood Report 2006

 

In Chronological Sequence

 

 

 

24 Sept 06

 

 

 

Floods in Mayapur are usually caused by release of water from various Dams

which are about 100km upstream. Around noon, the local government officials

informed ISKCON management that they were releasing water down stream

gradually. ISKCON Mayapur management immediately swung into action and

convened a meeting of the Department heads at 4:00pm to discuss preventive

measures and relief action.

 

 

 

The strategy evolved at this meeting was to inform all devotees who are

staying at the ground level to shift into one of the guest houses as soon as

the Ganges water begins to trickle into the campus. At the guest houses,

these devotees would also be provided with prasadam.

 

 

 

ISKCON Mayapur is separated from Ganga by the Bhaktisiddanta Thakur road.

However our campus is below the road level. When the Ganges water reaches

this road level, the threat of flood is imminent. ISKCON Mayapur management

precisely pre-empted this and engaged the services about 100 Brahmacharis

who worked tirelessly throughout the night in placing sand bags at the edge

of the road to prevent water from flowing into the campus. Such an attempt

had successfully prevented our campus from flooding in 2004 when a similar

situation arose.

 

 

 

25 Sept06

 

 

 

5:00am - There appeared to be no threat of a major flood. Things were well

under control.

 

 

 

6:30am - Brahmacaris had by now placed 2 more layers of sand bags (making a

total of 3) at the edge of the road.

 

 

 

9:30am - Water began to rise above the sand bags near the service gate and

started at first trickling and then gushing into the campus.

 

 

 

10:00am - It became evident that there was no chance to prevent the flood.

 

 

 

10:00am - 5:00pm - Water was continuously gushing into the campus.

 

 

 

5:00pm - Mother Ganga made her entry into the temple courtyard

 

 

 

7:15pm The evening Sandhya Arati was special. As soon as the tumultuous

Gaura Arati kirtan concluded and bramacharis began to circumambulate the

temple headed by HH Bhaktisidantha Maharaja, Mother Ganga made her way into

the temple to have darshan of Sri Sri Radhamadava, Sri Sri Panchatattva &

Sri Narasimhadeva.

 

 

 

 

 

The devotees offered puja to Mother Ganga with flowers and incenses. The

kirtan had reached new ecstatic levels. It was a unique experience for many

devotees in the temple hall.

 

 

 

9:00 pm - Ganges water was at knee level in the campus and the inflow was

continuing.

 

 

 

Children - Under the care of the parents / guardians the children were

playing happily and wading and splashing in the water.

 

 

 

Seva puja for the Deities - Pankajanghri Pr informed us that the sevas were

going on steadily and would continue in the same way until water reaches the

altar level, if at all!!

 

 

 

Health - The ISKCON Pharmacy has been moved to Chakra building room # 142 to

cater to the needs of the community.

 

 

 

Educational Institutions - Bhaktivedanta National School authorities have

moved official documents and furniture to the next higher floor of their

school building. The school will remain closed for 2 weeks. Sri Mayapur

International School's vacation for their students and staff this year began

just before the onset of the floods. It was a timely coincidence. Sri

Rupanuga Paramarthika Vidyapith has declared a holiday for its students.

 

 

 

Goshala - Gaurahari Pr has confirmed that the cows are safe and are well

above the water level .

 

 

 

Transport to/from Mayapur - Buses and Vehicles are plying from Baman Pukur

Bazaar - near Chand Kazi Samadhi. This is about 3 km from our campus.

 

 

 

Security - Jagadartiha Prabhu has informed us that the security situation is

under control and no untoward incidents have happened.

 

 

Electricity / water - Presently the electric power supply, phone lines and

Broadband internet access are not disrupted.

 

 

 

For some of the Flood pictures, please click here www.Mayapur.com and visit

Photo Gallery. We'll keep updating you about the flood situation if we

continue to have Internet access.

 

 

 

Written by Sankarshan Nitai Das