Gonu-newsfeeds-fifth day, June 10, 2007

Report 1
MUSCAT – Did an Indian fortune-teller predict the advent of the recent cyclone Gonu in Oman? Apparently, a soothsayer had predicted that the posh Qurum area was going to be under lot of water much before Gonu hit Oman.The identity of the astrologer is not known, but early last month, the story doing the rounds was that a soothsayer had made a prediction that Qurum was going to be under water. Additionally, reports also noted that a tsunami was to hit Qurum last month. The news spread like wildfire and gained momentum when reports of unstable weather added fuel to this rumour ‘storm’. There were even several postings in a popular local, English website, Oman Forum, on this issue. However, scientists rubbished the rumours and called it a figment of someone’s imagination.Dr Barry Jupp, Oman’s senior marine scientist, had then told an English daily in the Gulf that the rumour was not only “rubbish”, there was no scientific evidence to support it.Although the weather did become unstable, nothing much happened after that and Qurum did not face any problems.But, then, Gonu happened and the soothsayer’s quasi-disaster prophecy suddenly seemed to come true, although it was a prediction that was way off the mark.
We spoke to a popular, Muscat-based Malayali astrologer, Mangatu Sashidharan Pillai, who noted that he had heard only rumours of the astrologer, but had no idea who that was, or whether the incident even occurred. “I have heard of this rumour. But nothing concrete. Indeed, good astrologers can predict such impending events. As per the astrological calculations, planetary changes do cause such events to arise. Based on the current planetary positions, we do see that there are and will be water-related problems around the world. “I do not want to make any specific comments on anything. But such changes are seen everywhere. It has been happening and it will continue to happen. Look at the situation in Kerala, where there are lot of health problems posed by water-borne diseases. It is all due to the change in the planetary positions.” According to Mangatuji, as he is fondly known, Saturn is a planet, which among other things, is a harbinger of unhappiness, sorrow, causing losses, disasters, etc. “Currently, Saturn is regressing, like a powerful vehicle reversing. It is now in the Karkataka, meaning in water. Karkataka rasi is owned by the moon. The moon (in the astrological sense) is again associated with water, the body and the mind. So, Saturn in the moon can create lot of natural calamities. And if we look at it objectively, we will find that there have been such happenings around the world, including earthquakes, water-borne illnesses and the like.”


Report 2
MUSCAT – The largest bank in Oman yesterday donated a large sum of money as financial aid to the cause of relief and other rehabilitation efforts in Oman, still reeling under the brunt of the cyclone Gonu attack. BankMuscat (SAOG), with assets worth over USD 8.5 billion, yesterday announced that they were donating a sum of RO3million for this cause. “One third of the amount would go to the Oman Charitable Organisation (OCO). Two thirds of the amount would be donated to the ministry of social development,” a top official of the bank told the media yesterday morning.Sheikh Abdul Malik Abdullah al Khalili, chairman of BankMuscat yesterday added that the funds would be donated in 12 installments.Other banks in Oman are also planning to donate. In fact, the Gonu tragedy has evoked the spirit of charity among many people. Volunteers of all shapes, sizes and nationalities have risen to the cause and were coming to the fore to help those affected.