17 Moments Of Incredible Humanity During The Kerala Floods
2018 August has seen Kerala being hit by its heaviest downpours in almost a century, resulting in the deaths of over 350 people and the displacement of millions more. Even with the rains subsiding, people are struggling to piece their lives back together in the aftermath. Heavy flooding has made rescue and relief efforts a major challenge for everyone involved.
Despite the tough conditions, citizens from across the state, country, and the world have offered to help those affected. Here’s a reminder that, even in these bleak and divisive times, people can unite to display the best of humanity:
1. When this girl donated money that she had been saving for a new cycle, and when Hero Cycles offered to reward her selflessness.
2. When this guava-seller donated five baskets of fruit – his entire stock for the day – to a collection drive in Bengaluru.
3. When prisoners in jails across Kerala prepared food for tens of thousands of victims, and also donated ₹12 lakhs from their collective wages.
4. When a temple in Thrissur opened its doors to let Muslims offer prayers on Eid.
5. When this man put his body on the line to help strangers climb safely into rescue boats.
6. When Kerala’s own army – its fishermen – saved hundreds of thousands of people, getting to locations that official rescue forces wouldn’t have been able to in time.
7. And when their dedication was rewarded by the state they were putting their lives at risk for.
8. When people from all walks of life stepped up to do their bit.
9. When money was not a consideration for a hospital that opened its doors to injured victims free of cost.
10. When people joined hands online and made a difference by taking charge of donations, organising collection drives, transporting supplies, and much more.
11. When the Indian Navy rescued a pregnant woman from her flood-hit home in the nick of time, as she gave birth to a healthy baby boy soon after.
12. When officers from across India stepped up and made sacrifices of all magnitudes to answer the call of duty.
13. When Khalsa Aid went beyond state and religious boundaries to contribute to relief efforts.
14. When religion was not a consideration for a landowner who offered some solace to those grieving.
15. When it wasn’t just humans that people looked out for.
16. When kids at a relief camp refused to get bogged down and staged a performance to “Jimmiki Kamal” to spread some cheer.
17. And when these citizens expressed their gratitude for all the help and support Kerala was receiving.
© Sahil Rizwan, www.buzzfeed.com.
