NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Moments Chapter 6 Weathering the Storm in Ersama

Class 9 English Moments  Chapter 6 Weathering the Storm in Ersama

1. What havoc has the super cyclone wreaked in the life of the people of Orissa?
See AnswerThe cyclone brought heavy rains and strong winds with it. Due to this, majority of the houses were blown away and only the ones with strong cement grip were spared. The land was covered by dirty water and could be seen from a distance. A large number of people lost their lives. The place was filled with floating human bodies and bloated animal carcasses all around. Even the strongest of the trees were not spared from the havoc. Many people lost their close relatives and many children become orphans. There was acute shortage of food and supplies were nil. Everyone was sad and helpless.

2. How has Prashant, a teenager, been able to help the people of his village?
See AnswerPrashant was initially bewildered on witnessing the destruction caused by after effects of the cyclone. Later he got a grip over himself and helped the people of his village. He decided to take over as the leader of his village. He united a group of young and old people to come together and pressurize the merchant to given rice for the people living in the shelter. He was successful in this task. His next course of action was to organize a team to clean up the shelter and cure the wounds of the people injured because of the cyclone. Prashant also helped the orphaned children together by constructing a polythene shelter for them. While women had the duty to look after them, the men made arrangement of food and other essentials for the shelter.

3. How have the people of the community helped one another? What role do the women of Kalikuda play during these days?
See Answer The people of the community united and helped each other under a young leader Prashant. Together they pressurised the merchant to give rice for the people in the shelter. They gathered branches from fallen trees and lit a fire, on which they cooked rice for everyone to eat. When the military helicopter dropped some food parcels but did not return, they implemented a unique way to communicate with the passing helicopters. Children lied in the sand with the utensils on their stomachs to indicate they were hungry. The message went through and the helicopter made regular rounds of the shelter, airdropping food and other basic needs. Women were given the responsibility to look after the orphans, while the men arranged food and materials for the shelter.

4. Why do Prashant and other volunteers resist the plan to set up institutions for orphans and widows? What alternatives do they consider?
See AnswerThe plan of setting up institutions for orphans and widows was resisted because they thought in such institutions the children won’t get the necessary love and affection and the widows would suffer from stigma and loneliness. Instead, Prashant and his group wanted them to be resettled in their own community to get a homely environment. They also suggested setting up of foster families with childless widows and children without a guardian to take care.

5. Do you think Prashant is a good leader? Do you think young people can get together to help people during natural calamities?
See AnswerYes, Prashant is a very good leader. Though at one point he was shocked after the destruction caused by cyclone but soon enough he recovered himself and decided to step in as the leader of the village. He carried out his role efficiently and helped the people of his village in every possible manner. Yes. Young people with a little help of elders can definitely get together to help people each other during natural calamities and otherwise. They can use their strength to rebuild what is lost.

Prashant never knew that when he visited his friend’s house. On Oct 27, 1999, He will witness the most sudden change in the weather and the speed of wind clashes the house wall so fiercely. A dark dark cloud covered the sky with rain that pulled out the old trees from the ground, and it was dark outside now. Fortunately, the home was made of bricks and concrete that withstand the speed of 350 km/h. One of the trees fell on the roof damaged the walls and roof. But the home could face the destruction bought by the cyclroof. The next thirty-six hours were crucial. As the coastal area was affected by the cyclone and even in the sea, it was bad weather.

Prashant and his family shifted to the terrace of the strong house to save themselves from the rising water. In the morning when it was not dark anymore, they could witness the havoc that the cyclone created in the area. It was dirty water everywhere and the house fell down. They could see the floated dead animals and some dead humans too. Trees fell in the water-filled area. And two of the coconut trees fell on the roof that worked as a blessing. Because coconut saved the trapped family for two days. In these two days, the super cyclone washed them many times. But the only thing that is more than the troublesome, rain was affecting him. He was the worry of his own family. That is also affected by the super cyclone as he is stuck with his friend’s family.

After two days when the rain stopped Prashant made himself ready to go to his home to see his family. He found the sturdy stick. His friend’s family asked him to stay for more. As it was not a safe situation to walk in the flooded street. But Prashant was determined to go back to the village. He used the stick to locate the street submerged in water at some point. Where the water was deep. He had to swim, but he was happy to meet his friend’s father. Who is returning village, so they decided to go together. The way home was 18 kilometres on a flooded road it was difficult to even find the right path.

The devastation they saw was kept getting worse. They saw the dead bodies of women, children, Dogs, goats some of them swept them, and they had to find the way through. They could barely see any proper buildings standing. This was burdening Prashant’s heart. He started to cry out loud missing his parents and worried if they even survive the catastrophe.

Prashant’s heart fell cold as now he is witnessing the destruction of his village Kalikuda. Prashant’s home was no longer standing it was only some bricks and a fallen tree. He saw some of his belongings floating there, so he decided to go to Shelter named red cross. He met his maternal granny there who embraced him as soon as she saw him. Soon he everyone from his family met him and hugged him in relief they were also worried. Prashant checked everyone their uncle, aunty cousins they all survived.

In Shelter next morning he was the shelter was occupied with 2500 people in there and 85 lives were lost in the cyclone. The deathly grief covered the room. Houses were washed away and Prashant gathered all the 19-year-old. Young people and adults stood as the leader of them and formed the relief group. Coconuts were about to finish and people need sustenance to survive.

The youth group went to the merchant and pressured him. To help them with the rice and the merchant helped them. But because of water rice started to decay. But they cooked it in the fire using the coconut tree. After so long, the people finally filled their stomach with it. The next work for them is to clean the shelter for humans to rest. Mud, dead bodies and other filth were clean and people started to take care of their wounds and fractures.

On the fifth day, the army relief helicopter dropped the food parcels. That help the shelter but after that, they didn’t come back. So, Prashant asked the children to lie down. With the empty dishes on their stomachs to send the message to authority. That they need help, and it worked. The message was through and then the military relief helicopter came every time bought the parcels of food and necessities.

So many children lost their parents and guardians. Prashant took them together and asked the ladies to take care of them. While men are working for the food, but he also saw them depressed. Started to Food-for-work campaign for ladies and sports events for children to keep them busy. Several other programs were started to help orphaned children and widows. To gather their broken lives and live with care. Come out of the emotional devastation that cyclone bought to their lives.