June 3, 2020: A big storm called Cyclone Nisarga hit parts of the Konkan coast, especially in the Dapoli area of Ratnagiri District. This storm came in fast, with winds blowing at 130 km per hour and covered a wide area of about 60 km. It lasted for three hours. The damage was huge: many houses got damaged, lots of coconut and betel nut trees were knocked down. Even mango and jackfruit trees didn't stand a chance. The storm also broke electricity poles and wires, leaving villages without power for more than a week.
The timing was really bad because the rainy season was about to start. Many people found their homes damaged, with the roofs gone, making it hard to stay dry in the rain. The storm also filled wells with dirt and broken trees, which made it hard to get clean drinking water. The damage to trees was a big problem because most people in Konkan make money from trees like mango, jackfruit, coconut, and betel nut. With 80-90% of these trees destroyed, people were facing a tough time.
I made a video when I visited Kelshi, one of the hardest-hit villages, where about 80% of the trees were gone. The video is in Marathi, the local language, but it has English subtitles. It shows how much damage the cyclone caused and how strong the people are, trying to rebuild their lives.
Cyclone Nisarga showed us how powerful nature can be, but it also showed us how strong people are, working together to overcome big challenges.
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