Banta is helping Santa secure a loose tarpaulin on his roof. It’s been raining on and off, and the river, though not yet overflowing, is high and grey.
Suddenly, carried by the wind, a distinct, low rumbling sound, like continuous thunder, seems to come from upstream.
The sound grows steadily louder.
Santa pauses. “What’s that sound, Banta?”
“Another big truck on the highway across the valley?”
Banta listens intently, his expression becoming serious. He looks towards the river.
“Santa, that’s no truck.”
“That sounds like a flash flood approaching.”
“And look! The birds near the riverbank are suddenly taking flight in panic!”
“A flash flood?”
“But it’s only been drizzling here!” Santa exclaims, looking alarmed.
“It doesn’t matter what the weather is like right here, Santa!” Banta urges, already starting to move.
“A cloudburst or very heavy rain could have happened miles upstream in the mountains.”
“That sound, like a roaring train, and the unusual behaviour of animals are critical warning signs!”
Banta continues, “We need to move to higher ground now!”
“Grab your survival kit!”
“Alert your family!”
“We have very little time!”
“My survival kit! Yes!”
“But… my new wrist watch!”
“I just bought it!”
“It’s on the table inside!” He makes a move towards his door.
Banta pulls him back gently but firmly.
“Santa! The wrist watch can be replaced.”
“Your life cannot!”
“There’s no time for belongings now.”
“Only lives matter.”
“Your family, your safety, then help alert neighbours!”
The roaring sound is definitely closer now.
Banta is already shouting to other nearby houses, “Flash flood coming!”
“Move to high ground! Jaldi! Jaldi!”
Santa, shaken by Banta’s urgency and the terrifying sound, finally snaps out of it, grabs his wife and child’s hands, and they scramble up the known evacuation path to the designated safe assembly point on a nearby hillock, following Banta.
Other villagers, hearing the commotion and the increasing roar, are also moving.
Minutes later, a terrifying wall of muddy water, carrying logs and debris, thunders down the river channel, inundating the lower banks where their homes were situated.
From the safety of the hill, a pale Banta watches the destructive power.
“Banta… my wrist watch … it’s gone.”
“But… we are safe.”
“You were right.”
“That sound… I’ll never forget it.”
Banta puts a comforting hand on his shoulder.
“Material things come and go, Santa.”
“But the wisdom to heed nature‘s warnings and act decisively – that’s what keeps us alive.”
“And that’s why having that survival kit ready beforehand with essentials like a small radio is important, so you don’t think about individual items when you need to evacuate.”
संता – बंता की इस जुगलबन्दी से आज हमने क्या सीखा:-
- नदी के ऊपरी क्षेत्र से आ रहा तेज या अटपटा सा शोर, नदी के जल स्तर में अचानक वृद्धि, पानी का गंधला होना या पालतू जानवरो का अस्वाभाविक व्यवहार – इन सभी को त्वरित बाढ़ की चेतावनी समझे।
- इन संकेतो का आभास होते ही तुरन्त ऊपरी क्षेत्र की ओर पलायन करें।
- खतरे के संकेतो के स्पष्ट दिखायी देने पर घर छोड़ने के लिये सरकारी सूचना या औपचारिक चेतावनी का इंतजार न करें।
- आपके क्षेत्र में वर्षा न होने पर भी जलागम क्षेत्र में मीलों ऊपर हुयी भारी वर्षा के कारण आपका क्षेत्र सहज ही त्वरित बाढ़ से प्रभावित हो सकता हैं।
- जीवन अनमोल हैं। अतः बहुमूल्य वास्तुओं का लोभ छोड़, खतरे का आभास होते ही सुरक्षित क्षेत्र की ओर पलायन करें।
- पलायन करते समय हर पल बहुमूल्य हैं। अतः समय बचाने के लिये अपना आपातकालीन किट हमेशा तैयार रखें और पलायन करते समय उसे साथ ले जाना न भूलें।
संता – बंता की यह जुगलबन्दी आपको कैसी लगी, कृपया हमें जरुर बताये
व
इस जुगलबन्दी को बेहतर बनाने के लिये अपने सुझाव अवश्य दें।
हमें हमेशा की तरह आपके सुझावों, प्रतिक्रियाओं व कटाक्षो का बेसब्री से इंतजार रहता हैं और सच मानिये इसी के आधार पर हम अपने आप में, अपनी सोच व रचनात्मकता में सुधार करने को प्रेरित होते हैं।
सो अच्छा – बुरा जैसा आपको महसूस हुवा हो, कमेंट जरुर करते रहें।
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