MAHEN Chand, a farmer from Tova in Nakorotubu, Ra, experiences a surge of emotions when he reflects on the catastrophic impact of Cyclone Winston. The memories of watching friends, family, and neighbours struggle to recover from the devastation remain vivid and painful for him.
“I lost my house, my brother lost his house, and my neighbours lost their homes too,” Chand lamented. Nevertheless, he expressed a profound sense of gratitude for survival. “But we are still alive. Others did not make it, and their family will always remember that,” he added.
Nakorotubu is recognized as one of the areas hardest hit by Cyclone Winston, with extensive damage affecting not only infrastructure but also the spirit of the community. “We had people coming through our road for months, years still trying to fix the damage,” Chand recalled, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by residents.
Looking back to the night the Category 5 cyclone surged through, Chand described a harrowing ordeal where eight individuals were trapped in his wooden house, praying fervently for safety. “Everybody was crying—even me. I did not care if I lost everything. All I cared about was that everybody was safe and alive,” he reminisced wistfully.
The experiences of Chand and his community illustrate the resilience and enduring spirit of those affected by natural disasters, serving as a reminder of the strength found in unity amidst adversity. While the scars of Cyclone Winston remain, the ongoing recovery efforts reflect a hopeful journey towards rebuilding and healing for the people of Nakorotubu.
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