Long and cold nights under the twinkling sky

Children and women were crying while the men were rushing with buckets filled with water to douse the fire which was razing down their dear homes. The cries were louder than the bursting sound of bamboo though the tears were thicker than the smoke of the fire. As the smoke get thicker, the children and women began to asphyxiate whereas as the men relentlessly struggle to control the devastating fire.
The kitchens where they cook are ravaged to ground, the plates where they eat are gone, the beds where they sleep are razed down to dust and the education materials of their children are nowhere to be found putting the future of the children at risk. This is the present scenario of the people and their children affected by the sudden inferno that took place in the early hours of 7th of February at Naharbari village in Dimapur district.
The cries of help to the almighty could not restrain the ruthless fire that raced through the entire area with narrow lanes that separate the numerous houses of migrant workers, especially the daily wage earners. The inferno was so quick that it tried to trap many residents in their sleep but the residents managed to save their lives, however, they were hardly able to secure their belongings to safe places.
As the houses are gone, these affected people are spending the long and cold nights under the twinkling sky and the watchful eyes of Almighty. With few cloths to warm them during night, children and women are given the bliss of resting while the men folk somehow manage to spend the night. As most of them lack knowledge on money management or savings, they would face the tough task of rebuilding their houses.
With limited availability of food, majority of them look malnourished since three days, they struggle to cook as they are short of food and money and their utensils are gone as well. The faces of the malnourished children still depicts the horrific situation they went through, still undergoing and would continue if nobody comes to bring about smile in their faces. The adults can somehow overcome the shock but what about the physical and psychological trauma of the children.
For Khusi (name changed) who wants to go to school looks for her books in the debris left by the tragic inferno but the books are razed to ashes. This little girl of about 8 years is absent from her school since three days as her house was completely burnt down. There are many children like Khusi who lost their books and other educational materials during the disastrous fire.
Same pair of cloths still hangs in their bodies as fire burnt down the extra cloths they had. Unfortunately, the children along with the books also lost their school uniforms during the ravaging inferno. With poor economic condition of their families, it would not be possible to buy new books and uniforms, and also other stationary materials.
Now, these families face the challenge of food, clothing, rebuilding houses, utensils, and most significantly the challenge of buying new books and uniforms for their children to continue education.
An estimated 255 houses were burnt down, about 700 people and around 50 school going children were affected by the fire, according to the relief committee.
Those who wish to help these people and children can visit the relief committee stationed at the place of the incident at Naharbari village or can contact the in-charge of the relief committee, Mukibur Rahman of Naharbari village at 9436207393.