📌 Chapter 6 – Weathering the Storm in Ersama
This chapter describes the devastation caused by the 1999 super cyclone in Orissa and how a young boy Prashant becomes a hero by helping his village.
Prashant was visiting a friend in Ersama when the cyclone hit. The storm was extremely violent—trees were uprooted, houses collapsed, animals and people were swept away. Prashant and his friend’s family survived for two days on the roof, eating tender coconuts from fallen trees.
When the rain stopped, Prashant returned to his village walking through waist-deep floodwater. He saw dead bodies everywhere and destroyed houses. He feared his family was dead, but he found them alive in a Red Cross camp.
At the shelter, 2500 people were starving. Prashant organised youth and elders to get rotting rice from a merchant and cook it. He formed teams to clean the shelter, bury dead bodies, treat wounded people, secure food, and take care of orphans.
He tricked helicopters into dropping food by making children lie with utensils on their stomachs. He set up a shelter for orphans and motivated women to join food-for-work programs. He arranged sports activities for children and supported widows emotionally.
Prashant’s leadership brought the community together and restored hope.
📌Hindi
यह अध्याय ओडिशा में 1999 के भयानक सुपर साइकलोन और एक युवा लड़के प्रशांत के साहस और नेतृत्व की कहानी है।
साइक्लोन के समय प्रशांत अपने दोस्त के घर रुका हुआ था। तूफान इतना तेज़ था कि पेड़, घर, जानवर और लोग सब बह गए। प्रशांत और दोस्त का परिवार दो दिन तक छत पर बैठा रहा, और गिरे हुए नारियलों से अपना पेट भरता रहा।
बारिश रुकते ही प्रशांत अपने गाँव की ओर चल पड़ा। कमर-तक पानी, तैरती लाशें, टूटे घर—यह सब देखकर वह टूट गया। लेकिन रेड क्रॉस कैंप में उसे अपना परिवार ज़िंदा मिला।
शिविर में 2500 लोग भूखे थे। प्रशांत ने युवाओं और बुजुर्गों की मदद से व्यापारी से चावल निकलवाया और सबके लिए खाना बनवाया। उसने सफ़ाई, घायलों की देखभाल, अनाथ बच्चों की व्यवस्था और महिला समूह भी संगठित किए।
उसने हेलिकॉप्टर को संदेश देने के लिए बच्चों को पेट पर बर्तन रखकर बाहर लेटने को कहा, जिससे खाना गिराना शुरू हुआ।
अनाथ बच्चों के लिए टेंट बनाया, महिलाओं को काम-के-बदले-अनाज योजना में शामिल कराया, और बच्चों के लिए खेलों का आयोजन किया।
प्रशांत के नेतृत्व ने गाँव को फिर से खड़ा किया और सबको उम्मीद दी।
📌 Word Meanings
| Word | Hindi Meaning |
|---|---|
| menacing | डरावना, ख़तरनाक |
| incessant | लगातार, बिना रुके |
| swirled | घूमता हुआ बहना |
| carcasses | जानवरों/लोगों की लाशें |
| bereaved | जिसे किसी प्रियजन की मृत्यु का दुख हो |
| remnants | बचे हुए टुकड़े |
| macabre | बेहद डरावना, मौत से जुड़ा |
| mangled | टूटे-फूटे, बुरी तरह फंसे हुए |
| tumult | शोर-शराबा, भीड़ की अफरा-तफरी |
| mobilised | संगठित किया |
| recede | पानी का कम होना |
| expedition | कठिन यात्रा |
| orphaned | अनाथ बना हुआ |
📌 4. NCERT Questions with Easy Answers
Q1. What havoc has the super cyclone wreaked in the life of the people of Orissa?
Answer:
The cyclone destroyed houses, killed people and animals, uprooted trees, flooded villages, and left thousands homeless, hungry, and grieving. Entire villages were washed away.
Q2. How has Prashant, a teenager, helped the people of his village?
Answer:
- Brought food for everyone
- Organised youths for cleaning and medical help
- Helped orphans and widows
- Arranged food supplies and airdrops
- Provided emotional support
- Created activities for children
He became the leader of the community.
Q3. How have the people helped one another? What role did the women play?
Answer:
People helped each other by:
- Sharing food
- Cleaning the shelter
- Taking care of orphans
- Working together to survive
Women played an important role:
- Looked after orphaned children
- Joined food-for-work programs
- Supported widows and families emotionally
Q4. Why do Prashant and volunteers resist setting up institutions for orphans and widows? What is the alternative?
Answer:
They resisted because:
- Children would grow up without love
- Widows would feel lonely and face stigma
Alternative:
Children should be raised within the community in foster families formed by widows and orphaned children together.
Q5. Do you think Prashant is a good leader? Can young people help during natural disasters?
Answer:
Yes, Prashant is a strong and caring leader.
Young people can definitely help—they are energetic, quick, and can organise relief, rescue, cleaning, food distribution, and emotional support activities.