Most Keralites have seen natural disasters only on television news channels as it happens elsewhere in the world. The last major natural disaster in the State on this scale was the flood that happened almost a hundred years ago.

But in the past two weeks, TV images turned into actual experiences for almost two million people, when a major flood devastated Kerala, destroying life and property and displacing people from their homes.

The record rains that the State received when the sky opened up led to overflowing dams and a sharp rise in the water level of the rivers. The flooding rivers have led to a loss of around 400 lives and rendered thousands homeless. As per estimates, nearly 13.5 lakh people are in the relief camps.

Breaking barriers

But there is a silver lining in the rain clouds. The huge tragedy seems to have brought together the people in the State as never before. Along with other things, the flood has also swept away religious, social and even ideological barriers. Take, for instance, the case of a temple in Malappuram. It was a group of young men from the Muslim community that cleaned up the flood-ravaged temple. Cleaning up the compound of Lord Ayyappa Temple on the banks of the river Nellipuza in Mannarkadu was also work that they whole-heartedly undertook.

A group of 20 young members of the Samastha Kerala Sunni Students Federation (SKSSF) worked for four to five hours to clean the temple in Koleppadam, Mannarkad in Malappuram district. “We sought the help of relief workers to clean the temple premises. They came forward to help us to clean the temple after the flood”, said Gopalakrishnan, secretary of the temple managing committee. “A group of students from the Students Federation of India (SFI) also joined the SKSSF members for a short while in the work.”

Speaking to this correspondent, Shafi Faizy, district committee member of SKSSF, said that relief work was undertaken by their voluntary service unit called Viqaya. “The temple is near my residence. When they sought help to clean it, we offered our service,” he said.

In an incident of similar nature, a group of Muslim men have reportedly cleaned up a Vishnu temple in Wayanad. After the flood, the premises of Venniyodu Sree Maha Vishnu temple was covered with mud and dirt. Responding to the call for help, a group of Muslim men came forward to do the cleaning up operations.

There have been many instances of churches and masjids being turned into relief camps for flood victims, irrespective of caste or religion. Akampadam Malappuram district has been turned into a relief camp. About 17 Hindu families are staying here and being fed with the food prepared at the canteen here.

Novel initiative

A temple in Muvattupuzha in Ernakulam district has taken an initiative for flood relief which others can follow. It has set apart a new box for collecting the offerings to God, which will be used for relief operations. The Bhagavathy temple at Paipra has already started collecting the offerings from the people. “We will open it after the Onam festival. The entire collection will be paid to the flood relief fund”, said temple management committee secretary Raja Mohan K M. Though the flood waters rose in the area, the temple was not affected much.

The Christian church has allowed its schools and parish halls to be converted into relief camps in many places. But in Ernakulam, a church hall itself has been thrown open to the flood victims who have lost everything that they had. The St Joseph church at Alangad, Neerikkode, is today a camp for flood victims representing all religions. Many places in Ernakulam, one of the worst-affected districts, have been flooded by the rising waters of Periyar and Chalakudy river.

The church authorities first opened up the parish hall and the classrooms of the school that they run. When the flood of people continued, they finally decided to open up the church hall for them. The church has been offering food and shelter to all victims, irrespective of religious faith. “About 3,000 people affected by the floods are camping here at present. We have opened the parish hall, classroom, the church and other buildings owned by the church for the flood affected,” said Fr Patrick Elevungal. “Presently they are busy cleaning up their houses. Of course, we are helping them in this difficult job. We are also planning to give them a kit with a few essential items when they go back to their homes as they have lost almost everything,” he added.

The Ockhi cyclone that hit Kerala coast last year led to the death of many fishermen who had ventured out to sea. But the destruction to life and property has been much more this time due to the floods. During the flood, a part of the St Xavier’s Church at Kuthiyathodu collapsed due to the continuous rain. The death of six flood victims who had taken refuge in the building is another heart-wrenching incident in the tragedy. But amidst such tales of suffering there, the communal amity and togetherness that the people showed hold out a hope for tomorrow for the rain-ravaged State and its people.

The writer is a senior journalist based in Kochi

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