Kerala: The God`s Own Country Shattered

God’s Own Country- This is what Kerala is called for its divine natural beauty that attracts millions of tourists across the globe. But in the beginning of July 2018, world witnessed the besieging of this land of God by a terrible Demon of flood. It was the worst flooding in Kerala in nearly a century. According to government records over 483 people died. No one can claim with surety that how many are exactly missing.  According to the Kerala government, one-sixth of the total population of the state has been directly affected by the floods and related incidents.

 In this ongoing battle with this dreadful disaster thousands of Swayamsevaks of RSS holding the ground against the  ‘Demon of Flood’ like Vasuki, who according to Hindu mythology was appointed as protector and guardian of this land  by the God Vishnu’s sixth avatar Parasurama, hence, Kerala is also called Parasurama Kshetram. During the massive rescue operation work in the state many Swayamsevaks embraced to martyrdom. Vishal Nair, whose story we are going to share with you, is one of them. This 24 years Swayamsevak of Sangha Jilla Chengannur in Mathilbaagam, Thiruvalla was the only son to his old parents Shri. Venugopal Nair Ji and Jayshree Ji.  “We all were living happily until floods hit our area  Thiruvalla”, tells Vishal’s sister Athira Nair, adding that her brother quickly shifted to the entire family to a safe location and without any delay joined the rescue work launched by RSS. 

 “On the morning of August 16th, around 4 am Vishal was in the frontline of rescue team struggling to save fifty families trapped in the flood water”, shared S.Jayakrishnan Trivendram zonal organisation secretary Sevabharthi. Meanwhile Vishal spotted a man, across the road near Muriyappa Bridge, stuck in flood. He rushed to save the man but as he move forward a steep wave of flood made him its prey. Villagers saved that man but couldn’t rescue Vishal. On the third day, the Vishal’s corpse was found at 100 meters away under the water from the unfortunate incident, added Prant Sewa Pramukh Shri. A.Vinod. “Our family has 

lost its only son, I have lost my only beloved brother and RSS lost its one of dedicated Swayamsevak but his memories will always remain alive in ours as well as his fellow Swayamsevaks heart forever”, says Vishal’s sister Athira Nair with a tinge of pride on her face. 

While filing this story at least a million people were evacuated, mainly from Chengannur, Pandanad, Edanad, Aranmula, Kozhencherry, Ayiroor, Ranni, Pandalam, Kuttanad, Aluva, and Chalakudy. Indian government had declared it a Level 3 Calamity, or "calamity of a severe nature". It is the worst flood in Kerala after the great flood that happened in 1924. Heavy rains in Wayanad and Idukki have caused severe landslides and have left the hilly districts isolated. Amid this one of the biggest rescue and relief operations in Indian history as usual RSS Swayamsevaks are at the forefront to save the lives of common people. 

Under the aegis of Deseeya Seva Bharathi, affiliated to Rastriya Sevabharathi, more than 8,5000 volunteers are engaged in restoring the normalcy across the state of Kerala. In Alapuzha district of Kuttalanadu region,one of the most worst flood affected area, 25 medical camps and 150 relief camps in different areas with food, shelter and medical services have been set up by Deseeya Seva Bharathi. More than 150 boats and 70 ambulances are being used by Swayamsevaks day and night to rescue the flood victims. So far 70 thousand lives directly rescued by volunteers of Sevabharathi. A State level centralized level help desk also set up in Thrissur district by Sevabharathi.