Report No. 19 - By Muhsin Dharamsi
Kutch - Temporary Housing.
Construction of Temporary Houses is in progress. Many will be occupied by the end of April.
Kera
|
|
|
Nagalpur
|
|
|
Bhuj
|
|
|
Earthquake in Gujarat - Update 27
Report No. 18 - By Muhsin Dharamsi
Kutch - Muharram 1422, March/April 2001
After the earthquake of January 2001, the first period of Azadari was observed in Kutch in makeshift Imambaras. The mumineen worked very hard placing banners and sabeel stands in different parts of the town, cleaning debris off the roads where the Julus was to pass, putting up the temporary Imambaras etc.
Nagalpur - 3 Muharram
|
| Majalis were held in the street under the open skies. Mumineen sacrificed their comfort by taking down their temporary shelters and slept in the open after the Majalis every night. |
Nagalpur - 4 Muharram
|
| Sunnis throughout Kutch held Majalis in Kutchi every night. This one is in Nagalpur whose most houses and all Religious Centres are damaged very badly. In the Julus on Roz-e-Ashura Shias, Sunnis and Hindus walked in the procession and did Matam together. |
Mundra - 5 Muharram
|
| The youths put up this temporary Imambara complete with lights, fans and public address system. |
Mundra - 5 Muharram
|
| Majlis in the damaged Husseini Madressa. The Madressa in which Mulla Muhammad Khaki (father of Mulla Fidahussein Khaki) taught recitation of Quran to many students including Mulyani Kulsumbai Khimji of Dar-es-Salaam. |
Kera - 7 Muharram
|
| Majalis were held in the new Imambara which is still under construction. Many came from other towns in Kutch to listen to Maulana Shiraz Hussain from Calcutta. |
Bhuj - 9 Muharram
|
| Majalis were held in the temporary corrugated steel hut. |
Earthquake in Gujarat - Update 26
Report No. 17 - By Muhsin Dharamsi
Mariya - Homes
|
|
|
Mariya - Religious Centres
|
| The Mosque is badly cracked and damaged. The first floor wall of the Madressa collapsed and fell on the Imambada roof, thus destroying it. The remaining portion of the first floor of the Madressa has now been taken down for safety. |
Mariya - A month later
|
| Inspite of the devastation of 90 percent of the town, the resourceful people of Mariya soon started building their lives. These photographs were taken within a month of the Earthquake. There is no shortage of fresh fruits and vegetables |
Earthquake in Gujarat - Update 25
Report No. 16 - By Muhsin Dharamsi
Kera, Tuesday 3 April 2001
I arrived safely in Kera before Maghrib on Sunday 1 March.
As the earthquake had not done much damage to businesses and earning power in Kera, hardly anybody here is taking income support.
The first floor walls and roofs of houses which were badly damaged are being systematically taken down. The cracked ground floor walls are being repaired. In my opinion, this solution is adequate for temporary occupation. All the houses need to be pulled down at some stage and earthquake resistant houses need to be put up. For the present, the first floor slabs need to be protected with tarpaulin or corrugated sheets to protect the mud walls from damage during the rainy season.
Construction of the 16 temporary homes required for the homeless families has started. They are being built on Jamaat's land adjacent to the Mosque.
Design and Construction of permanent homes can not start yet as the Government guidelines, design criteria and permissions are not out yet.
The old Imambara building and Aalim's flat is badly damaged and is being repaired.
Mosque walls are badly cracked. Repairwork will start soon.
A new Imambara is under construction. The structure of the ground floor is complete and so was used for Muharram Majalis.
I visited the massive complex of the Dargah of Pir Gulamali Shah in Kera. Just over 2 centuries ago, he converted our forefathers from Hindus to Khoja Shia Ithna-asheries. I gave the trustees schemes for structural repairs of the Mousoleum.
I visited the Bank in Baladiya with whom we are setting up an interest free business loan scheme for all the earthquake affected families of Kutch. I progressed the work started by Dr Hasnain Walji and Dr Sibtain Panjwani during their visit on 20 March 2001. With Rajabalibhai Gulamhussein,
I finalised the mechanics of the scheme and have presented it to the Bank for final approval.
I am due to leave for Bhuj before Maghrib today.
Kera - Homes
|
|
|
Earthquake in Gujarat - Update 24
Report No. 15 - By Muhsin Dharamsi
Mundra, Sunday 1 April 2001
I arrived safely in Mundra before Maghrib on Friday 30 March. The President of Nagalpur Jamaat, Riyazbahai drove me here. Mohsinbhai, The Hon Sec of Nagalpur Jamaat accompanied us.
As the earthquake had not done much damage to businesses and earning power, hardly anybody here is taking income support.
The first floor walls and roofs of houses which were badly damaged are being systematically taken down. The cracked ground floor walls are being repaired. In my opinion, this solution is adequate for temporary occupation. All the houses need to be pulled down at some stage and earthquake resistant houses need to be put up. For the present, the first floor slabs need to be protected with tarpaulin or corrugated sheets to protect the mud walls from damage during the rainy season.
Construction of the 16 temporary homes required for the homeless will be starting soon after the 12 days of Muharram.
Design and Construction of permanent homes can not start yet as the Government guidelines, design criteria and permissions are not out yet.
The first floor and roof of The Hussaini Madressa building has already been demolished and the ground floor is being used for Majalis. This is a famous building where the father of Mulla Fidahussein Khaki taught religious studies to many pupils. Mulyani Kulsumbai Khimji had also learnt to recite the Qur'an in this madressa.
The old Mosque has already been demolished. Construction of the New Mosque will start as soon as the design has been checked for earthquake resistance and compliance with any Government regulations which may be issued.
A corrugated steel temporary hall has been put up on the Mosque land for use as the venue for the main majlis every night.
The youth of Mundra have worked very hard to put up the temporary Imambara Hall, to put up Sabil Stands at different locations in the town and to put up black message banners in different streets.
I am due to leave for Kera before Maghrib today.
Mundra - Homes
|
|
|
Mundra - Religious Centres
|
|
|
Earthquake in Gujarat - Update 23
Report No. 14 - By Muhsin Dharamsi
Nagalpur Friday 30 March 2001
I arrived safely in Nagalpur from Bhuj on Wednesday night. Shabbirbhai Dhebar, the Hon Sec of Bhuj Jamaat, had accompanied me on this journey. I have spent the last two days here, carrying out the tasks set by the World Federation Office Bearers, as per the accord of Kera of 13 February 2001.
The Jamaat has worked very hard to make sure Azadari of Imam Hussain a.s. carries on unhindered. They cleaned debris off all the streets through which the Julus passes. All the roads were completely blocked by falling houses.
In Nagalpur, the Sunnis and Shia work in co-operation and both communities hold majalis. This year, majalis are held under the open skies for lack of facilities.
Income support funds are being distributed to Jamaat members on a regular basis.
Construction of temporary houses have started and are well advanced. The Jamaat cleared two plots of land - one next to the Mosque and the other one a hundred yards down the road. They have hired labour, machinery, carpenters and masons. The Jamaat members provide labour and supervision in rota. A few of the temporary houses will be ready in a few days time.
I interviewed almost all the families regarding their debts. This is to get an idea of the enormity of the problem so a solution can be agreed upon.
I discussed with the Jamaat Office Bearers about the necessity of obtaining land for them selves for permanent houses and if necessary to include a few shops so our community members can restart to build their lives. I believe this item needs to be progressed with urgency.
The Jamaat is considering settling down all together in New Anjar, Gandhi Dham or Nagalpur.
I will Inshallah leave for Mundra this afternoon.
Nagalpur - Homes
|
| There are 31 households in Nagalpur consisting of 32 Male Adults, 36 Female Adults, 26 Male Children, 25 Female Children, 3 Male University Students, 1 Female University Student - a Total of 123 Persons. |
|
| |
Nagalpur - Religious Centres
|
| The Mosque Imambara Complex of Nagalpur was extensively and beautifully renovated in 1996. |
Earthquake in Gujarat - Update 22
Introduction
After his Trip to the earthquake zone 24 February to 7 March 2001, Muhsinbhai Dharamsi has gone back as a follow up with the following brief:
- To set up the mechanics and finalise the Bank Loan Scheme. Most of our community have requested for Loans to help them restart and expand their businesses. With this scheme, they should be able to borrow from a local bank, interest free.
- To collect more details from the community regarding their debts. On his last trip, Muhsinbhai had noted that many of the community members were in debt and were no longer able to repay as they had lost their capital, belongings, houses etc. Once, more details are collected, a decision can be made as to a solution.
- Help progress temporary housing construction
- Help collect data from the Government Bodies as to the design criteria, guide lines and decisions where to build.
Report No. 13 - By Muhsin Dharamsi
Bhuj, Wednesday 28 March 2001
I arrived at Bhuj Airport from London via Mumbai on Sunday Morning 25 March 2001. Elders and Office Bearers of the Jamaat were at the airport to receive me. On the way Al Mahdi Colony
(where the community is temporarily based in Tents), we discussed the tasks I had come for.
We got started on the projects immediately.
Half the community has left Bhuj to spend the 12 days of Muharram in other towns. Over the last 4 days I talked to heads of households who were still around. They had all filled survey forms on my last visit. Going through the forms, I was able to collect more data regarding the debts they had.
We spent three days going around the Al Mahdi Colony looking for suitable land for temporary housing. We looked within a radius of 2 miles. In the end we inspected and discussed the suitability of 10 pieces of land. Elders of the community were very co-operative and also helped search for land.
We finally decided on the suitability of 3000 sq yds of land a few hundred yards from Al Mahdi Colony. We thought the price was reasonable, the land had planning permission, it was in a block so we could easily house the whole community on it, it had spare land for Mosque, Imambara and Madressa, it was
adjoining a main road into Bhuj. The land owner had also earmarked 9600 sq yds of land adjacent to our plot for communal projects. He agreed to hand it over free for our use for a nursery school, a medical centre, and any other communal project we come up with.
We had also spent the last 4 days looking at several options for temporary housing. We finally went for prefabricated homes, made to our design, giving each family a self contained home of 200 sq ft consisting of a large room, toilet, bathroom and kitchen. The dwellings are in clusters of 4 homes.
Construction will be in three phases according to requirement, all to be finished within two months:
Phase 1: 48 dwellings, Gents Imambara, Jamaat Office, Ladies Imambara.
Phase 2: 8 dwellings, 12 shops.
Phase 3: dwellings as required, a maximum of 28.
With the process in place for temporary housing, I shall Inshallah leave for Nagalpur this evening within an hour.
Bhuj - Homes
|
| 77 households of Bhuj completed the survey forms. They make up a total of 80 men, 87 women, 55 boys, 57 girls, 3 male university students, 1 female university student - a total of 283 persons. |
Bhuj - Religious Centres
|
| This collection of photographs show the extent of damage suffered by our religious centres. |
|
| |
Bhuj - Tawheed Hostel
|
| All the ground floor columns of this beautiful Hostel Building have crushed and buckled so that the building is now in a dangerous situations. All the 17 boarders came out safely and are now safely settled in other towns in Gujarat. The upper floors have suffered superficial damage. |
Earthquake in Gujarat - Update 21
Itinerary:
Sunday 25 March, arrive at BHUJ airport at 10.40am by 9W 347 from Mumbai
Wednesday 28 March at 4pm leave Bhuj for Nagalpur
Friday 30 March at 4pm leave Nagalpur for Mundra
Sunday 1 April at 4pm leave Mundra for Kera
Tuesday 3 April at 4pm leave Kera for Bhuj
Wednesday 4 April at 4pm leave Bhuj for Nagalpur
Thursday 5 April at 4pm leave Nagalpur for Mariya
Friday 6 April at 10 am leave Mariya for Morbi
Friday 6 April at 4pm leave Morbi for Chotila
Saturday 7 April at 2pm leave Chotila for Bhavnagar
Sunday 8 April at 11.15am, fly from Bhavnagar Airport by IC 636 to Mumbai
and on to London