Dehradun: Dehradun, the capital of Uttarakhand, is called the gateway to Mussoorie. Lush green valleys, waterfalls and peaceful atmosphere make it a favorite place for tourists. Shikhar Fall is also included in these beautiful places, where there was once a crowd of tourists and local traders used to earn employment. But the terrible monsoon disaster that occurred on September 16 changed the picture of this entire area. There was such a flood of water that the shops, the hard work of the shopkeepers and the hopes of many families were all washed away. Where once there was excitement, today fear and silence have settled there.
Small traders on the banks of Shikhar Fall were making their living by selling Maggi, Chow Mein and tea for the last 20 years. His shops were the only capital of his family. But in front of the disaster, they scattered like straw. Now traders are sitting at the same places making small tents out of foil and bamboo. These tents are not just temporary shops, but a symbol of their helplessness and broken hopes, where they are sitting and trying to support their families again.
20 years old employment ends in a moment
Ashish tells that his father started this shop 20 years ago. He himself left his studies and got engaged in this work so that he could take this business forward. Everything was going well, but the disaster that occurred on the night of 16 September swallowed his entire earnings and future.
Ashish says, “When we saw the water level rising, we ran to save our lives. Many people could not come out. Our neighbors’ husbands and wives were washed away in the water. We returned 20 years back. Today we are standing there again the way we started. We are selling goods by putting foil on them. This is a compulsion to survive.”
The biggest problem after the disaster…no job, no capital
Deep disappointment is clearly visible on the faces of Ashish and other traders. He says that his 20 years of hard work ended in one night. Now they neither have enough capital to set up a shop again nor are they old enough to find a job somewhere. Therefore, their biggest demand is that the government should provide them employment. They say that if they get a job, they do not need any compensation.
These shops not only sold goods, but also housed the hopes of families, the future of children and the safety of the elderly. Now the disaster has shaken both their livelihood and mental peace. This situation shows that when disaster strikes, those people who are already weak and live with limited resources are hit the hardest.
The condition of Shikhar Fall has not changed even today
The disaster has thrown the entire area into disarray. Many people were swept away by the deluge, while many lost their livelihoods. The shops of many traders who were running their families by selling Maggi and Chow Mein were completely destroyed. Today they are trying to light the stove again at the same place by pitching a tent.
He says, “Today we are back to where we started 20 years ago. The only difference is that there was more hope then, now there is more helplessness.”
