Help Danda fishermen raise funds to get back on their feet in the aftermath of Cyclone Tauktae

The coast of Mumbai was capsized due to the convulse outbreak of Cyclone Tauktae. With a wind speed ranging between 100 km/hour to 130 km/hour, Tauktae oscillated the lives of Mumbaikars, especially fishermen. More than 600 trees were uprooted, houses were collapsed, and almost every lane in the city of dreams was waterlogged.

Although the hurricane was 180 km from the coast of Mumbai, its massive impact was stirred on the coast of Danda Koliwada. As per reports, in Danda, over 15-20 boats were affected, out of which, many were dreadfully destroyed, and 9 others are still missing. Fishermen from the Danda Koli Community claim that after the instructions from India Meteorological Department they rushed in and parked all the boats safely, however, nature had other plans.

10-15 large boats, parked on the jetty, were colliding with each other due to the cyclonic pressure, within no time each boat was torn in two and in the blink of an eye, a whole boat sank in the giant sea swell. Other small fibre boats plunged under the influence of air. The tidal waves not only damaged the boats brutally but many small boats also disappeared. The picture after dawn was even more horrible. Few boats were found in dismal condition near Juhu and Versova jetty, the other day. The owners of these lost boats are still in extreme shock and fear. Koli fisherwomen and wives of fishermen were seen moaning loudly. The sight of the fisherman family’s means of subsistence being completely wrecked was truly grim.

Ratnadeep Chimbaikar, one of the fishermen whose boat shattered into pieces, said that ‘the loss has brought an utter shock for me. I had taken a loan up to Rs 10 lakh, and now it’s all drowned. After listening to many things and news, I have no faith left in the government, nor god. After seeing my boat in this condition, I couldn’t swallow a piece of food. Now, I am just praying that such a natural disaster won’t happen again’

Another fisherman and resident of the Danda Koliwada, Manoj Koli, expressed his grief saying that Cyclone Tauktae is a kind of black day for the people of our Koliwada. This cyclone has engulfed Mumbai. I saw this threatening picture for the first time myself. I was trying to save my fishing brothers from the boat but the effect of Cyclone Tauktae was so domineering that all the hard work was in vain. He continued saying that ‘Each family has suffered a loss of Rs 20-25 lakh. The whole house depends on fishing. This boat is built with a lot of hard work. The price of a boat is usually around Rs. 20-25 lakhs and some even more.

The family is now worried about what will happen to them. How much financial help will the government provide and when?’.

The fisherman community considers the sea as the father and the boat as the mother because both of these feed the fishermen community and run its world. A boat accident, in such a disastrous manner, is like the death of a senior member of the family. Only they who have been there can perceive the gloom. After the cyclonic outbreak calmed down, the damaged boats were lifted by cranes and taken to a safer place for repair work.

Cyclone Tauktae has marred the livelihood of these fishermen along with their hopes and dreams. Let us help them revive their lives!

Transfer directly to the bank account of Danda Koli Masemari Vyavsaik Sahakari Sanstha Limited (founded in 1980) which is affiliated with the Department of Fisheries Maharashtra.
A/C Name: Danda Koli Masemari Vyavsaik Sahakari Sanstha Ltd.
A/C Number.: 005620110000343
Bank: Bank of India
Branch: Danda (Khar)
IFSC code: BKID0000056

For more details contact:
Ashok Kutewala – 8082600811
Prasad Chavri – 9967212855

Please contribute and share this with your friends and family.