The story of Charanamat Singh, an Indian taxi driver turned millionaire in Northern Australia, has all the trappings of a rags-to-riches Bollywood thriller. However, the gritty farmer turned into a pauper overnight after the recent bush fires in Victoria destroyed his 150-acre farm, buildings and equipment worth about millions of dollars.

"Every thing was gutted in front our eyes in the last week of February. Over 200 people died in the area due to fires that left no time for anyone to flee. Thanks to the almighty, all of us -- my wife, children, brother and father -- managed to stay alive, said Singh.