Page 64 - Gujar Mal Modi

Modinagar registered a record 20 inches of rainfall. The township of Modinagar

was nearly 4 ft. under water. The rain water entered the premises of the cotton
mill and the silk mill and damaged costly machinery and finished piece-goods.

Dye stuffs and other materials used in the mills got mixed with the rain-water
and were washed away. Similarly, huge quantities of the finished product of the

sugar mill were lost in the rain water. There was panic all around and it looked
as if it would be impossible to save the town. The railway line also gave way

at several places and thus communication between Delhi and Modinagar was
dislocated. Inside the town army motor boats had to be pressed into service to

rush rations and other supplies to the marooned people. Experts advised that
a five feet high protective bund should be built around the cotton textile mills.

This was done and a road was also constructed in order to strengthen the bund.
Later, residential quarters were also constructed on the outskirts of the factory.

It took two full days to clear out accumulated rain water. On the third day the

weather was clear and there was no sign of reflooding. Yet suddenly the flood
waters flowed into the town once again. Enquiries revealed that there had been

excessive rainfall in Haridwar and its adjoining area which had raised the water
level of the Ganga. Water level in the Ganga Canal also became high and it was

feared that areas in Bulandshahar might get submerged in the rain waters. In or-
der to save these areas, the irrigation canal near Niwari Village, about 5 Kms from

Modinagar, was opened to stop entry of rain water into the canal. All this water
accumulated in the Kadarabad Nullah. The railway under-bridges in the areas

were not wide enough to permit a smooth flow of the flood waters and caused
heavy damages. It became imperative that the two railway under-bridges and

three road under-bridges along the Hapur Modinagar road should be widened
sufficiently to allow the smooth flow of flood-water. The government allowed

these projects to be undertaken.

In spite of all these nature-calamities Mr. Modi did not lose courage. He faced

these odds bravely. While he helped and cooperated with the governmental
machinery in its long and short term protective measures, he was seen helping

the poor and misery-stricken people. In the knee-deep flood waters he moved
from door to door distributing rations to the hungry, clothes to the needy and

medicines to the indisposed. His name had become synonymous with hope and

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