As the news of the landslide in Wayanad spread across devastated Kerala, residents in Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and other districts sprung into action. Many have organized collection points during the floods in 2018, so they know how to do it.
On July 30, Wayanad was hit by three landslides that caused extensive damage in areas such as Chooralmala and Mundakkai. In a press conference held on August 1, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that more than 9,300 people are staying in 91 relief camps in the district.
Collection of relief materials for Wayanad in Thiruvananthapuram | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Radio Jockey Firoz A Azeez, aka Kidilam Firoz of BIG FM, took to social media and announced that he is setting up an independent collection point at Pattom Junction without the support of any political party or corporate entity.
“On Wednesday (July 31), a friend arranged a table and chairs for me and before I knew it, people started dropping off water bottles, napkins, biscuits and more. About 100 people gathered to volunteer at our collection center and they organized everything with precision. We have sent five trucks of materials to Wayanad,” said Firoz.
He shared that every Keralite is suffering in Wayanad and wants to help in any way possible.
The same sense of purpose motivates those associated with the Academy of Mountain and Adventure Sports (AMAS) in Neyyattinkara. On hearing the news, many wanted to go to Wayanad to participate in the rescue operation. “But then we were told by the government that more people at this time will only make it difficult. So, we decided to collect materials for those affected by the disaster,” said Tomy John, director of AMAS.
The relief material from Thiruvananthapuram was collected at the office of MP Shashi Tharoor | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Again, people came with water, biscuits, chappals and more. Meanwhile, a volunteer group from Varkala told AMAS that they will collect medicines for the disaster-affected people.
Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor, who represents Thiruvananthapuram, has opened a collection point at his office on Press Road, Statue. Akil Huzain who coordinates the work at the collection center, two trucks have left for Wayanad carrying clothes, towels, food, underwear, water and more.
Seva Bharathi volunteers have opened collection points at various places. Throughout the night of Wednesday (July 31), people came with bottled water, biscuits, sanitary napkins and more.
Relief materials being loaded onto trucks to be taken to the disaster-hit areas of Wayanad in Kozhikode Collectorate. | Photo Credit: K Ragesh
Vijayan D, state vice-president of Seva Bharathi, said the essential items would be collected from the district center in Kerala and sent to the office in Kozhikode from where they would be distributed to the camps. “A counter for the collection of materials has been opened at Neyyattinkara, Attingal, near the Pazhavangadi Ganapathi temple in the city and near the SP Fort Hospital. We hope to work with the affected once the rehabilitation of the camp dwellers begins. Our plan is to help them set up their homes in a safer place,” he said.
Volunteer at the collection center in Thiruvananthapuram | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The NCC office at Government College for Women is another place for collection. Shabana Habeeb of the Hindi Department, officer-in-charge of the college’s NCC wing, said they got water bottles, sanitary napkins and dry food. He works with the district NCC unit in Thiruvananthapuram.
Make it official
The collection work intensified when Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced that instead of materials, it would be better to donate to the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund.
Many points of collection appeared in the leadership of different organizations closed the counter and decided to enter the official line. A senior official in the government pointed out that since there is no shortage of stocks to feed the people living in the camps, the materials collected could help when people start moving out of the camps.
Indian Air Force personnel in Dhruv helicopter (ALH) distribute relief materials in Pothukal village near Chooralmala. | Photo Credit: PTI
However, Firoz stated that he has not yet decided how to achieve the collected material. “We plan to approach the Collectorate in Wayanad or Malappuram and decide. During the floods in 2018, we have sent 45 trucks of goods to Wayanad. We are still in touch with them and the same with some places in Kozhikode,” he said.
Firoz said he has been contacted by a group of residents in Kozhikode who are asking for dry clothes, chappals, etc. .
Meanwhile, in Kochi, College of Social Sciences Rajagiri, Kalamassery, launched a campaign, Wayanad Landslide Relief, on July 31 and plans to continue the collection till August 7. other affected areas are in Thrissur and Palakkad districts,” said Gigi George, one of the National Service Scheme (NSS) program officers at the campus.
Although the collection drive is open to students and faculty, those who wish to donate can do so in two collection boxes placed in the College. The college works in association with NGO Goonj and Nehru Yuva Kendra. In addition to clothes (new), napkins, diapers, soap, baby food and packaged food such as rice, lentils and other provisions.
“We continue the drive for a week because, what usually happens, in the initial days there are more than enough relief materials. But then, they also need certain things during the rehabilitation process,” said Britto Raj, assistant professor and NSS program officer.
Care and Share International Foundation headed by actor Mammootty along with CP Trust, founded by businessman CP Salih, joined forces to send relief materials to Wayanad. From ambulance services to clothing, equipment, packaged drinking water and water tankers were sent, the spokesperson said.
Ernakulam district government along with Anbodu Kochi and Inter Agency Group have opened a collection center at Regional Sports Centre, Kadavanthra. Relief materials were sent to Wayanad on August 1. Ernakulam Karayogam conducted a two-day collection of relief materials which ended on August 1 and was delivered the same day.
