The memory of Cyclone Winston remains vivid and harrowing for many, especially for Kamal Kishore, a former teacher from Penang High School now living in Wairuku, Rakiraki. Together with his late wife, they weathered the full brunt of the cyclone in their family home near Naqoro, built through years of hard work by his father.
On that fateful day, the couple found themselves alone as the cyclone unleashed its fury, with walls shaking, roofing iron screaming in the wind, and debris crashing around them. Most of their workers were away, leaving them to face the terrifying possibility of being trapped or swept away in the chaos. Even the slightest gust of wind felt like a precursor to calamity, with Mr. Kishore reflecting on how nobody would hear their cries for help if disaster struck.
“The house is our family home. I did not want to lose it,” Mr. Kishore expressed, underscoring the emotional weight attached to their property. Hours dragged on, each moment stretching into what felt like a lifetime as outside, the storm wreaked havoc on their neighbors. Many lost roofs, homes were demolished, and families were left homeless in the torment’s wake. The wind’s roar was occasionally overshadowed by the sound of metal and timber being torn apart, leaving the community desperately clinging to hope.
As dawn broke, the Kishores emerged to find that while they had survived, their town was left bearing the scars of extensive destruction. “We survived, but we will always remember that day when we almost lost everything,” Mr. Kishore remarked, highlighting the indelible impact of that traumatic event on their lives.
The survival and resilience shown by the Kishores and their community serve as a testament to human strength in the face of natural disasters. Their experience not only reminds us of the vulnerabilities enduring such powerful storms but also underscores the importance of community support and resilience in rebuilding after such devastating events.
Leave a comment