Kerala Stands United as it Reels under the Aftermath of Devastating Floods

Floods, one of the most natural phenomenon’s that has resulted in different geographic areas, leading to allot of physical damage, misery and a number of disasters such as the powerful rush of water demolishing and carrying away houses, animals, people, etc. Public services get wrecked and life becomes absolutely a tragedy then.

Outline of Kerala State

On August 8^th, 2018, Kerala received a heavy amount of rainfall, which quickly filled the dams to their capacity. Was it just rain to flood Kerala in neck-deep water for massive landslides to lay waste to homes and roads and for hundreds of people to lose their lives?

 Never before has a flood devastated the entire state.

That was that! In just a fortnight, over 373 people died, at least 280, 679 evacuated – mainly from the districts of Pandalam, Chengannur, Aluva, Kuttanad, Pandanad, Aranmula and Chalakudy and all 14 districts of Kerala were put on high alert! A tragedy declared to be a Level 3 calamity by the Union Government; it has also been called a ‘Calamity of a severe nature’.

 

This particular flooding has been so terribly bad not because of the fact of the rain, but due to the opening of shutters of 44 dams at the same time without giving prior warning.  The flooding has been so bad that it has affected not one but hundreds of villages; destroying roads and thousands of homes.

Idukki Dam releases water when Kerala is in Floods: Could this have been avoided?

As Kerala is struggling to stay strong, a controversy has erupted on the causal factors for the flooding.  While the opposition leader call it a man made disaster the LDF (Left Democratic Front) government rubbishes these claims.

As Kerala begins to reel from the aftermath of the devastating floods, many significant people, organisations and nations have agreed to contribute to help rebuild Kerala (Kerala flood relief).

As hundreds have died and more than one million people left displaced, one of the biggest animal rescue operations during a natural calamity in India is also prevalent.  Hundreds of animal rescue workers and volunteers have travelled to flood affected areas to save these animals. 

Social media is awash with all of these dramatic rescue videos – drenched dogs being taken out of flooded homes and kennels, a rescuer removing his jacket and putting it on a Labrador to help it swim to a higher ground; and inflatable rafts and country boats being used to carry cats, ducks, goats and dogs to safety.

Sally Varma of Humane Society International has already prepared to rescue and transport animals to different shelters that house affected animals. According to a staggering government record over 8,000 calves, buffaloes and cattle; 47 dogs and 3297 goats have died.

 Recently. Apple and Bill and Melinda Gates foundation have announced contributions for the Kerala relief efforts; 4 and 7 crores respectively. The vulnerable lot, such animals have no one to save them but humans. The Chief of Police of Malappuram and the District Collector of Malappuram have instructed the police force to rescue any such animal that they encounter during such operations. 

Who else is helping?

·         Facebook, Google and many e-commerce websites such as Flipkart, Amazon, Paytm, Airtel Payments, BigBasket and Tex have provided an option (on their home page) to provide donation for relief efforts.

·         The Reliance Foundation chairperson, Nita Ambani made a donation of INR 21 Crores to the Kerala Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund, besides providing relief materials worth INR 50 crore

·         Many different oil companies of India such as HPCL, BPCL and IOCL have collectively donated INR 25 Crores     to the Kerala Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund, besides providing relief materials and helping in rescue operations

·       21^st Century Fox and Star India and all their employees have collectively donated INR 5 Crores.

·        Many Bollywood actors such as Rishi Kapoor, Vidya Balan, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Siddharth Roy Kapoor, Abhishek Bachchan, Alia Bhatt Siddharth Suryanarayan, Resul Pookutty and Sushant Singh Rajput have contributed to the Kerala Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.  

·        Virat Kohli, the Indian cricket team captain has dedicated his team’s win over England at Trent Bridge to the flood victims of Kerala. Besides this, the Indian team is also planning to donate all the match fees for the Kerala flood victims.

·       The Government of Maldives has donated $50, 000 approximately 35 lakh towards the floods relief in Kerala

·       The UAE donates INR 700 Crore in aid to help rebuild the flood-ravaged state.

·        Doctor, entrepreneur and philanthropist Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil will donate ₹50 crore (US$7.3 million) for the relief of flood victims by setting up a project to fight education, housing, and healthcare issues

·        Dr. K. P. Hussain, owner and chairman of Fathima Healthcare Group, has donated ₹1 crore (US$150,000) to the Kerala Chief Minister's relief fund, and another ₹4 crore (US$580,000) for medical relief aid.^[

·         Adani Foundation -a tribute to the ideals of the Late Shri Shantilal and Shrimati Shantaba has committed to provide ₹25 crore (US$3.6 million) for immediate relief and another ₹25 crore (US$3.6 million) is earmarked for rehabilitation and resettlement.

·        Every single chief minister of almost all states and union territories have pledged to make monetary aid as a relief from their respective state funds and despatch different relief materials such as blankets, packed food, potable water, daily use and health care products and water purifying machines.  

What makes this FLOOD different ?

The last flood that was so severe in scale and severity in Kerala was in 1924 when the monsoons left the hapless state with 3368 mm of rain? At that time, it was said that 1000 people lost their lives, although there was an enormous toll on livestock. 

Were there early signs that could have been avoided?

According to many unauthorised constructions on riverbeds this flooding has certainly brought to light the fact that there were illegal stone quarries; suggesting that it is a man-made calamity where human intervention and intense rainfall have made it a serious disaster.

How are the Monsoons predicted in India?

http://bit.ly/2wttufS

A Seasoned climate scientist and academician Raghu Murtugudde explains how South West Monsoon winds bring rain to the Indian subcontinent and how technology is helping monsoon forecasting.

Cities such as Kolkata, Mumbai, Dhaka and Karachi – home to nearly 50 million – are at a substantial risk of flood-related damage in the century to follow, the World Bank report warns. This southwestern state on the southwestern Malabar Coast of India is home to 2.76% of India’s population. 

However, at the same time a debate has been conducted since the news of Kerala floods has broken out- not through words but through actions. Diversified ideas, the first one deals with countless heroes who have stepped in Kerala to help the countless victims.  As houses were submerged, water levels increased and livelihoods destroyed fishermen from across the state turned their boats inward to help. 

One of the most enduring images has been of Jaisal KP – a fisherman from Mallapuram who can be seen offering and bending his back to rescue people jus get on a boat!

It is astonishing how united thousands of volunteers gather together to volunteer at relief camps. Even a young, innocent eight year old girl who have painstakingly saved for four years to buy a bicycle donated every single rupee towards the relief! As the world mushrooms into divisive units, there will always be a stronger unit holding us together and that is out caste, religion, language, cuisine, state or even ideology.   

 However, what if it were YOU - stuck in a flood torn city, wouldn't you want somebody, in fact anybody reaching out to help you in any possible way? Give it a thought!!