Raging Forest Fire Mars Art Workshop at Balika Ashram Tutikandi
5 min read
Shimla, May 1 – It has been more than a week since the queen of hills is burning all over. The intolerable Shimla summer heat and raging forest fires have burnt prime forestland in the city, totally losses into crores with respect to green cover and life.
Unfortunately today, we had a first-hand experience with such a devastating fire. Team Keekli and members from HP Kaushal Vikas Nigam were present on the campus of Balika Ashram, Tutikandi, Shimla to conduct an Art Workshop under the skills development program, with the permission of the Child & Welfare Department.
After the first half of the day right at the lunch break around 1:00 p.m., the entire campus got filled with cries for help as the forest fire reached one of the ashram’s buildings and the playground area.
Quick action was taken by us and the KVN official to call the fire department and apprise the department heads including SDM, CWD Program Officer, Fire Dept to take immediate action and send fire brigades. Taking note of the situation children were gathered in the open hall, those near the playground were also gathered by us while KVN officials took it upon themselves to vacate the sishu greh and get the young children out into the open area, away from all the smoke, as they too had just sat down for their lunch. As the wind turned the fire changed directions and was seen heading towards the left side of the campus touching as close to the side walls.
In all this chaos and uncertainty, showing bravery and to save their home, the girls climbed the water tanks and started throwing water from the buckets toward the retaining walls, in an effort to douse the fire or halt its reach.
The Superintended Narmada Sharma collapsed due to shock and was brought back to her senses by girls after giving her water post which she again took charge of the situation. Our teams helped the girls, but as the fire got intense, we had to pull them back to safety. With the fire spreading and smoke increasing we asked them to dip their masks or dupattas in water and cover their mouths.
The fire brigades failed to reach the spot due to inaccessibility; as the road is too narrow; and were stuck near the Tutikandi bus stand wasting each minute that counted for the lives of little ones. Finally, almost after an hour pipes were laid near the closest hydrant. It took more than an hour for any department head to reach the premises.
THE SDM & WCD members took gauge of the situation and took measures to relocate the children as it was almost impossible to house them on the premises due to heavy smoke and active fire in the vicinity, which was still spreading and being fuelled by the winds.
The young kids aged between 0 to 6 years, around 15, were sent to US Club Ashram and the seniors, 73 in number, were being transported to Baldeyan Ashram until it was safe to come back. Our teams left only after ensuring the safety of the children and with all the administration heads present there.
Many important questions have to be raised after today’s scary and life-threatening event, to name a few after careful observation:
1. The management and caretakers need a crash course in danger management or handling crisis. The Superintended collapsed and the girls lost hope and were crying inconsolably. In such cases, a protocol should be put into place. At one time when the fire was almost raging towards the campus, they were not ready to take the girls out of the gates, fearing that they might run away or who will be held accountable.
2. The cylinders were removed from the danger areas, but sadly enough they were kept in the middle, and girls were made to sit around them. Despite arguing with them that it was still dangerous, they did not heed our requests.
3. Another notable thing that we learned was that the Hydrant Water Line has been used to provide water supply to the Civil areas and residential areas. A serious issue since areas where the fire brigades cannot reach due to hilly terrain or narrow roads these Hydrants serve an important purpose. This goes for the entire City Development Plan.
Event Report
Children and creative arts go hand in hand, an effort to promote skill development among young girls and teach them a new art form, a collaborative effort was undertaken by HP Kaushal Vikas Nigam and Keekli Charitable Trust to hold a Two-Day Art Workshop at Balika Ashram Tutikandi on 1st May and 3rd May, 2022. The Resource Person for the day was Kanishka Oberoi, a student of Jawaharlal Nehru Government Degree College of Fine Arts, Shimla and was assisted by her friend Ms Ravneet Kaur. Ms Oberoi has specialized in resin art, decoupage work and paintings and has held an exhibition recently at Gaiety Exhibition Hall, Shimla where she received an amazing response for her work and was much appreciated.
On day one, 1st May, children were being taught Mandala Art. The group was divided in two approximately 35 plus girls so that focus could be laid on individual learning. The second half of the day would cover the second batch of girls. The other half continued with the session on Story Telling and Writing in continuation to our previous workshop held. But this was just the morning session before all went haywire with the raging fire.
Day two, that is, 3rd May, a Canvas Painting workshop was planned for the girls.
This is a joint effort of HP Kaushal Vikas Nigam and Women and Child Welfare Department along with Keekli Charitable Trust. Representing HPKVN were Radhika and Sumati Bhaskar and members present from Keekli Charitable Trust were Vandana Bhagra, Ritanjali Hastir, and Isha Kumra. Keekli is a journey that was embarked on to bring about new hope in education, health, and social welfare. We are a non-profit organization established with the aim of committed work in the field of children’s education, health, environment, women empowerment, hygiene, and other social welfare schemes.
