Angels in Disguise

Kerela referred to as “God’s own country” has always been a place attracting not only tourists but saints and pilgrims also,from various places, but this time it seemed to have invoked the wrath of rain God. On 16th October 2021, Kerela saw unprecedented rains and flooding. It started raining at 5 in the morning and by afternoon, utensils, cattle, beddings all such household things, had become astray. Roads were gone and transportation was not possible. Land had become slimy due to muddy puddles, where even walking was dangerous, and driving vehicles was out of question. People were hassled and trying to figure out what to do next. Government was also trying to find out the ways, to help people stranded in flood. Worst affected areas were Iddukki, Kottayan and Thanabitta. But some angels came to rescue in the form of Karyakartas of Kerela Sewa Bharati.

600 Karyakartas came to the worst affected areas of flood, and started to sort things out. The list of things to be done was long, but Karyakartas were ready to execute swiftly and judiciously.First they cleared up wells,houses and roads of debris, and then distributed food packets and beddings. They also made temporary bridges. All this required lots of hard work, and coordination on account of Karyakartas.

On 17th October, those 16 families whose houses were in one piece, returned to their houses, but were dismayed to see the condition inside the houses. They were filled with debris and all household items had become useless. Tears welled up their eyes, as they did not know how and where to start and Karyakartasturned up to help them. Owners of houses and Karyakartas cleaned the houses together. It was not an easy feat, as the mud was as high as 5 feet, but they were made livable again in a short span of time. Kottikkal, Kokkayar, Manimal and 5 other panchayats were worked upon, to restart the life. Jidin Ramesh, Sewa Bharati’skaryakarta (Volunteer) elaborates that a total of 450 houses, 310 wells, many small factories and roads were cleared up of fallen trees and slime.Karyakartasworkedon a war footing along with villagers and in Kokkayar things started to take shape. Gram Panchayat member NichurTarangan was amazed that the Karyakartas arrived, dressed in their customary Khaki shorts, and immediately went on to work, to erect the collapsed bridge. This bridge was very important for the village, as it connects the village to outside world. A temporary bridge of 12 meter length was erected by Karyakartas, and villagers, with wooden pillars and other local resources. As per Mr. Nichur, “Bridge was constructed not by the resources provided by villagers, but by hard work of Karyakartas.”

There was a temple in the village whose doors were stuck, due to 4 feet of mud and slime, but Sewa Bharati Karyakartas assisted to open it.  Disciples of Narayan DharmYogAshram were overwhelmed by this endeavor. Karyakarta snot only cleaned the temple, but nearby well, as well. Seeing this, one of the prominent villagers, Shri Pallikkabuddha provided labourer and pump to help accomplish this.

Sewa Bharati Karyakartas did not stop at cleaning, but provided food to around 250 families daily. Necessary items like utensils, beddings, Gas cylinders and stove and mosquito nets, were also distributed.Seeing this selfless acts that too without distinguishing in religion and creed, inspired Ms. Shelly Thomas, a Christian woman, to provide her home to serve as Sewa Bharati office.

Meanwhile, roads were still to be cleared and transportation was stranded, because of fallen trees and boulders, on the road. Sewa Bharati Karyakartas made sure that 12 of the roads were clear, and life returns back to normal, as soon as possible in theses villages.