18 August,2021 07:41 AM IST | Mumbai | Vinod Kumar Menon
Naveed Duste with his elderly parents, wife and son at a relative’s place in Purar village in Konkan region
There seems to be no end to the suffering of Naveed Duste, who was amputated after he injured his leg saving 30 residents when the Tarique Garden building in Mahad collapsed on August 24 last year. His house, located adjacent to the damaged building, was declared dilapidated soon after, and the 35-year-old and his family of elderly parents, wife and a child lost their home.
Naveed and his family were staying at his uncle's house at another location in Mahad, but the July damage filled it with muck and floodwater destroyed everything, leaving it uninhabitable. Now, he, along with his family, is staying at another relative's place at Purar village in Goregaon town of Konkan region.
"Without a roof [of my own], I feel quite helpless at this moment. Instead of taking care of my elderly parents, my wife and son, I am now dependent on my relatives for shelter. How long can I stay with them? I have no job or shelter today," Naveed told mid-day.
Parvez Konchalat
Hundreds of families in Mahad city were forced to vacate their ancestral homes, and even flats, after the flood in July this year. Most families have been living apart, as they had to take shelter at their relatives' houses in Mumbai, Mumbra and other parts of Konkan.
Naveed has also been missing his physiotherapy sessions for the past one month and is concerned. "Since I have come here [to Mahad], I could not do my physiotherapy and have also got an infection in the wound. I still wear the prosthetic limb and walk for a few minutes, but it's painful. My doctor at Apollo hospital had advised me to continue my physiotherapy for at least six months, and said that I would gradually get used to the artificial limb. I hope I am able to stand on my feet again, start earning a living and have a house of my own. It has been a testing time for me." He got a silicone prosthetic leg in June this year.
Not just Naved and his uncle, but even his brother-in-law, Parvez Konchalat, 45, has also been rendered homeless. Parvez even lost his book shop, his source of livelihood, in the flood.
Parvez and his family of 15, including six children, lived at their 100-year-old house at a village located at Kondivate Konchali Mohalla in Mahad. "The floodwater current and muck damaged all furniture, fixtures and our clothes at home. It needs severe repairs, as water seeped into mud walls, making it weak. Another heavy rainfall would lead to its collapse," said Parvez.
Naveed's brother-in-law, who also lost his house and shop in the July flood
At his shop, too, everything was destroyed. "I have lost everything and have no money to even think of starting my business afresh. I spend sleepless nights worrying about our future. We are still waiting for aid from the state government. The damage details were recorded by a few local government employees, but haven't got any compensation yet. The situation is the same for many families," he added.
Parvez and his family praised the good Samaritans who came with cleaning materials from places like Alibaugh, Shrivardhan, Karjat, Murud, etc, and helped the affected locals clear the muck.
"They were god sent. They came, cleaned up the entire muck, cleared the roads and helped to at least make way for people to enter their houses and collect their valuables. The houses are not habitable anymore, hence most villagers have shifted to their relative's houses," said Parvez.
His village has 22 houses, with a population of over 150 people, and approximately 70 per cent of these houses are old and made of mud.
Many volunteers from various NGOs came to support us with food packets, utensils, bed sheets and clothes. Some even provided financial support. Moreover, many doctors, who came from all over the place, gave free medical aid and medicines, and tetanus injection and fungal cream with antibiotics, explained Parvez.
District Collector Nidhi Choudhary said, "As per our estimate, around 66 houses in Taliye village and few houses from neighbouring areas have been completely damaged, along with other houses in neighbouring Wadi. However, hundreds of other houses from various neighbouring villages and at Wadi, too, have taken the direct brunt of the landslide and residents from these affected areas are scared to return to their houses and they are in need of a proper rehabilitation."
