25th April 2020, Over 200 shanties were gutted in a major fire that broke out at a slum in Bhadrakali area of Nashik in Maharashtra on Saturday, police said. The fire erupted around 9.30 am in Bheemwadi slum area. There was no report of any loss of life in the incident, police said. Over 200 shanties were gutted in the blaze. The fire spread quickly after some LPG cylinders exploded. The entire area was enveloped in thick black smoke for some time. (Source: https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/200-shanties-gutted-in-major-fire-in-nashik-slum-no-casualty-120042500547_1.html)
Police said that the affected families from the slum have been shifted to a civic-run school. According to our registered Covid19 Volunteer from Nashik Santosh Inamdar (Council member of NNBY and GFR member of Triratna Bauddha Mahasangha), the only thing that was left was the clothes people were wearing. All the belongings, including documents, cash, clothes, etc were burnt to ashes.
(Santosh Inamdar is already involved in the relief work initiated by Nagaloka for the migrant workers in Nashik. Click here to read the report.)
A ground level survey was also done with help of friend Mr Satish Salve, who is also working with the government official for the relief work in that area. According to his report, there are 106 families who are shifted to 2 different government schools. The authorities along with some NGO’s are providing 3 times meals to these families. However it’s impossible for them to cook their own food or store as they have no facilities like the basic utensils needed. During our discussion with Santosh, we decided to work on their requirements and prepare a budget to raise the funds for them. Santosh was also trying to find some other resources to support them. This was when he posted this news on 2nd May 2020 in one of the Whatsapp group where many NGO’s where connected for supporting the relief work. Reading this message, representative of Withaarya Foundation, Mumbai, contacted Santosh regarding the requirement. Then Santosh and team prepared a list of essential household items and submitted the list. The very next morning all the items were arranged, packed and transported to Nashik for distribution. All the items were then shifted to Ratan Jadhav’s residency at Samata nagar. Then with help of our other volunteers, Vijay Ahire, Nivrutti Gangurde, Dhanu Lokhande, Chandrashekhar Dani, Pratik Chandramore, Santosh Sonavane, Sanjay Jadhav, Nitin Bhalerao, Kunal Pagre, Yogesh Ahire, Priyanka, Madhura, Anup, Pravin, Swapnali and others the kits were prepared according to 106 families for distribution.
On 4th May 2020, with the assistance of Badrakali Police Station and Nashik Municipal Corporation authorities, the 106 kits were distributed at B. D. Bhalekar School, Shalimar where the affected families were shifted. We are much thankful for all present officers and staff of Nashik Municipal Corporation and valuable Cooperation of Police Officer Sajan Sonavane sir and Sandeep Varade sir of Bhadrakli Police Station Nashik.
We could not cover the loss incurred by distributing these kits but hope this would bring some relief to get over their basic needs. With this generous help, families who have lost everything in the fire will find some support and strength to rebuild their world in some sense.
We wholeheartedly thanks Shital Bhatkar Madam, Founder of “WithAARYA” Organization and their whole team for trusting us and responding so quickly. We Nagarjuna Training Institute (Nagaloka, Nagpur), NNBY Nashik team and Triratna Buddhist Order, India (Nashik) will always be indebted to you for extending such a helping hand in just one phone call.
And also special thanks to Raju Kendre, founder of Eklavya Organization for great help to initiate the Whatsapp group where many NGO’s representatives are members. Without which we couldn’t have being connected with Withaarya organization
