Raging Forest Fire Mars Art Workshop at Balika Ashram Tutikandi — Safety First

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. And today, we were witness to one such devastating fire. Team Keekli and members from HP Kaushal Vikas Nigam were present in the campus of Balika Ashram, Tutikandi, Shimla to conduct an Art Workshop under the skills development programme, with the permission of the Child & Welfare Department. Post morning session, just as we took a break for lunch around 1:00 p.m., shouts and screams were heard about the fire spreading from the backside of the building and the playground area.

Quick action was taken by our team and the KVN officials to call the fire department and apprise the department heads including SDM Manjit Sharma, CWD Program Officer, Fire Department to take immediate action and send fire brigades. Taking note of the situation, children were gathered in the atrium, those near the playground who were colleting clothes were immediately rushed by us towards safety, KVN officials Radhika and Sumati took it upon them self 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 buckets towards the retaining walls, in an effort to douse the fire or halting its reach. The Superintended Narmada Sharma was in a state of shock and collapsed. She was then given water by the girls and as she gained consciousness, she again took charge.

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. We waited for almost and hour or so before any department head reached the Ashram. The fire brigades were stuck near Tutikandi bus stand as due to narrow roads they could not reach, finally pipes were laid near the closest hydrant, after hours of efforts.

The SDM & WCD Officials took gauge of the situation and took measures to relocate the children as it was impossible to house them in 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, and would stay there until it will be safe for them come back. Our teams left only after ensuring the safety of the children and with all the administration heads present.

Many important questions have to be raised after today’s scary and life-threatening event, to name a few after careful observations:

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, for the only home they might lose. 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 a dangerous step taken by them, they did not heed to our requests.
3. Another notable thing that we learnt was that the Hydrant Water Lines have been used to provide water supply to civil areas or residential homes. 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.

Call it Destiny or Fate, we were meant to be there today.

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 which was embarked on to bring about a 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.