I was looking for jobs in Bangalore while I was at my parents’ place in Kochi.
I usually get confirmed tickets even when I book just couple of days prior to the journey. Many suggested me to check on the tickets and leave Kochi. Well, escape is the best solution one can suggest during such a crisis!
When I checked for trains first which I use always prefer. To my surprise, there were no trains and then I checked for buses and there were no buses as well. I realized the intensity of the flood that was happening in Kerala.
I took my scooter and reached Kakkanad after trying three routes. The first two were blocked due to water. I went to my ex-colleague, Vishnu’s place to check how is their condition. Fortunately their place was not touched by water then. All this while it hadn’t stopped raining. He was going to Edapally to his brother, Ajith’s friend’s office which distributes organic organic rice to the market from farmers all over Kerala.
As I reached and went in, the whole office seemed to be like a kitchen. The food was being prepared and I joined in making Sambar. We had rice, vegetable thoran and sambar to pack. We packed around 100 packets of lunch. We took those in a car and went towards Aluva. We were stopped by some volunteers warning us not to go further as we reached Companypady due to flood. Since we had a reason, they allowed us to go further with the trucks which were able to pass the flooded highway. Ajith was waiting with his friends at the metro station as we reached with food. While thinking and wondering on how to reach Aluva or some camp, we asked a volunteer if there were any people who haven’t had food. The expression on his face was as if he received something for which he had dreamed for a longtime. He got excited and called his fellow volunteers and asked if they wanted to eat. As soon as they were asked, they said they would eat and took the count of the group. They took around 15 packs and left to eat. Some were from homes that were drowned in flood and to move into a camp. And some commuters who stopped and decided to help. Moreover, no shops or restaurants were open. We gave the rest of the packets to a truck asking them to give it to some volunteers on the other side.
Riding back to the office, we were discussing the needs and requirements and things to do for the relief. We went back and started preparing for next set of food supply. Meanwhile we got requirements for dresses and napkins. By next morning, after just few hours of sleep volunteers started pouring in as the demand rose. I saw humans humanity stand for humanity. There were departments like kitchen which was set upon car shed, bedroom turned into stationary store, balcony and rest area became store for snacks and other eatables. Kitchen was used for cleaning vegetables and chopping purposes. The hall was also turned into chopping area and also packing area. Each volunteer was doing around four tasks. Everything was out of control and yet surviving. It was chaos in and out. Two days went by and I was curious what was happening outside.
The fourth day we went out to deliver food to few other volunteers who came from relief camps. Stories of struggle and managing they told us was horrifying for me as even during these calamities, there were humans who were not ready to stay with people of other religions. There were quarrels and fights for supplies and food. The rain hadn’t stopped yet and when it did at times for sometime, it brought hope in everyone’s face. And when it starts raining again, it never stopped anyone of us from working. But gradually as the flood water went down, the relief works became a bit smooth and we could finally have a proper sleep.
With all the chaos that was happening, it was difficult for me to go through. Hence the next day I decided to go along with medicine supply team to Mala. But on way to Mala, the route was blocked due to water. There was no way we could go further. And after a long wait for some heavy vehicle to take the medicines to the other side, so some volunteers can pick it up, we were informed that there’s another group of volunteers that can take a longer route to pick the medicines. Hence we moved towards Chalakudi where the other vehicle was coming. As soon as we started off from there, an old man along with two kids asked us for lift. On way to Chalakudi, we spoke to them and came to know that the kids had went to their mom’s parents house for holiday and got stranded due to the floods. The kids were happy to go home to their parents. Reaching Chalakudi, we handed over medicines and few stationary. We also asked them if they could take the kids to the bus stop as few buses had started to run. And we bid them goodbye and good luck!
Days passed by and I came to a realization that no matter how hard nature or challenge hit humans, the human race survives to live on!
ego feels..! 