A violent clash occurred during a Durga idol immersion procession in Bahraich, leading to the death of one individual and injuries to many on October 13, earlier this year. Soon the clash turned into a massive nightmare for residents, with torched properties, charred vehicles, and melting trees adding horror to it.
The residents of Bahraich and its neighboring areas found themselves grappling with a tragedy that unfolded without a warning. With news making big headlines and booking prime time slots, the chilling environment gave shudders to the entire nation. But who suffered the most were the innocent people.
While the clash became a hot topic for the country, Miles2Smile traveled to get the exclusive reports. On our way towards Bahraich and its neighboring areas, we could not help but hear people discussing the wave of destruction but what struck us the most was that no one discussed initiating a wave of construction for the survivors.
On entering the city we were welcomed by the smell of charred properties with an ocean of police spread across the areas like ants. We crossed barricades, security checkpoints and encountered some fully and some semi burned properties, vehicles and shops.
After a while, we reached the threshold of Wasim (Nankau), 40 , Mauja Chandpur. Standing inside his semi-burnt kutcha house, he told Miels2Smile how he learnt about the clashes.
“At 1 o’clock, people started running from the market, and there were around 200-250 of them. They came and stood near my house and started chasing us to kill us,” Nankau said.
He further claimed that he got scared and fled, leaving his house behind. “We got scared and fled, leaving our house behind. As soon as we left the house, they set it on fire,” he added.
He revealed that his mother was inside his house when the mob set it ablaze but fortunately, Nankau could rescue her.
“Our mother was lying at home when the fire broke out, and we rescued her from the flames,” Nankau said
With a worrisome expression on his face, Nankau told Miles2Smile the mob did not spare his business either; looted and burned his ration shop, his only source of income.Thick air, black smoke, and fierce flames consumed everything in their path, taking away the happiness from his life.
“They also set the shop on fire. All my items, including rice, wheat, everything, got burned,” Nankau said.
Nankau has lost his hard-earned home in a single day, along with his sole source of happiness in just a few minutes.
A Wave of Construction
While listening to the ordeal of Nankau, the discussion of a wave of destruction that we heard on our way loomed in our minds. How can we just listen and not help Nankau? blanketed our minds.
Moved by the natural love for humanity, Miles2Smile decided to provide respite to Nankau. Constructing his house and rebuilding his shop were the first we aimed for and fortunately could do them.
Each Brick Tells a Story
A month after the incident, the team of Miles2Smile went back to Bahraich to help Nankau construct his house. We helped him purchase the raw materials—cement, bricks, gravel, and more—to construct his house.
“I am very happy, my house is being rebuilt, it feels like life is coming back,” Nankau said, seeing the construction of his new house.
“Life is becoming normal again because of Miles2Smile, no matter how much I thank them, it’s never enough,” he added.
At Miles2Smile, our goal is to ease the burden of the underprivileged and survivors of dehumanization, providing them with the lives they truly deserve. Naukau’s happiness following the construction of his house motivates us to work tirelessly, inspiring us to create positive change in the world.
