The solar lights distributed in Binodpur Village turned out to be a saving grace as the village was hit by the super cyclone “Remal” on May 26, 2024. For three days, the village was in complete darkness as electricity poles and lines were destroyed by the cyclone. The 17 families, mostly Transformational Community Development (TCD) committee members, who had received the solar-powered emergency multipurpose light were not only lighting their houses but also helping villagers charge mobile phones and get around in the dark. Though work has been going on to restore the power supply, it will take at least one more week to restore it completely.

After the cyclone and heavy rain, stagnant water with a foul smell has accumulated, raising concerns about mosquito breeding. This may result in the transmission of illnesses such as dengue and malaria, prompting preventative measures to be devised. Our local motivator, Bharat, is helping and guiding the villagers in combating this situation. Though the village has been severely hit by the cyclone, the villagers are not demoralized and are hoping for a bright future.