These students went out of their way to help the flood-affected in Bihar

Volunteers from Mithila Student Union risked their lives and visited areas that were completely cut off to distribute food packets, medicines and clothes among stranded people who had lost everything

Mithilesh DharMithilesh Dhar   30 July 2019 1:08 PM GMT

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After a natural calamity hits any region, it takes months, at times years, for people to pick up the pieces and rebuild their lives. Many stories emerge from such disaster-hit regions -- of pain, suffering, courage, bravery and loss. And then there are those stories that are feel good.

During the recent floods in Bihar, when people were cut off and were struggling to survive, there were these boys in yellow t-shirts who put their lives on their hold to help stranded people.

They were volunteers from the Mithila Student Union who were helping people out in four flood-affected districts in Bihar. They were distributing food, water and medicines.

When we reached Bisfi block in Bihar's Muzzarfurpur district, we had to go to Janipur village, which was then completely cut off. There were no boats and even the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team was missing in action. It was here that we spotted these boys in yellow t-shirts who were rowing boats full of food packets and medicines to be delivered to stranded villagers living in Janipur.

"The motto of our organisation is to help those in need. We collect funds through crowd funding. We work in affected area and ask those who can to afford to, to give us food, clothes and medicines so that we could distribute that relief material among the needy. People voluntarily join us. We don't pay them anything," said Aditya, a volunteer.

Pic: Abhishek Verma

The organisation's secretary, Aditya Mohan Jha, said: "Our organisation is dedicated to work for betterment of Mithila region. We work for students and the region. When needed, we even organise protest marches for students."

More than one crore people are affected in the state due to floods and more than 100 people have died so far. More than 13 districts and lakhs of people are still affected.

People are still cut off and their have lost everything -- their homes have got washed away and they have lost their belongings. Volunteers from Mithila Students Organisation are helping these people.

"Our team ensures that help reaches even those who live in the in the most remote corners. We deliver dry food items like biscuits, flattened rice and jaggery to such places. Those areas where there is waist-deep water, we are trying to provide them with food packets," said Priya Ranjan Pandey, secretary, Mithila Student Union.

Pic: Abhishek Verma

Murari Vats, who is studying in Delhi, has been associated with this organisation since past two months. First, he went to Muzaffarpur and helped those whose children were suffering from acute encephalitis syndrome. Thereafter he joined the team in Madhubani and is helping the flood-affected now.

"The situation is so bad that we don't even know how many people have died and how many homes have got washed away. People don't have food to eat or clothes to wear. Our organisation is helping these people out," he said.

He added: "We divide our teams in two. One team goes to different cities and asks for help, other team goes to the affected areas."


     

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