Looking at the severe floods affecting Kerala this year, Anita Pradeep reminisces how she and the family, along with her 25 year old son, Sachu, got marooned in the floods last year and how they managed to keep Sachu calm and brave in the face of adversity.
Today is 15th August 2019, a day that brings back to mind three days that seemed like three months last year in 2018. Memories come flooding back just like the floods that are lashing out at certain parts of the state. The only difference being, this year people are relatively more prepared and equipped to deal with crisis situations with helplines and volunteers are working round the clock to reach out to all in need.
Flashback to 2018
When the rains lashed down continuously and there was no stopping them, we sat in the comforts of our home in Kochi. Anxious and feeling helpless we watched the news in anguish seeing the north of Kerala being flooded and the floods and rains moving at breakneck speed towards Trichur, Angamaly and Aluva. Friends and relatives kept calling and asking how we were and we marked ourselves safe during that time. My elder son, Rohit, who had a three-week vacation in India arrived in Kochi on August 13. Although continuous rains had stopped, it still drizzled in the morning and sometimes poured heavily during nights.
On August 15, we decided to go to Thiruvanvandoor- my husband’s house - to visit family. We hopped onto Vanchinad Express early morning and reached Thiruvalla at 7.30 and onward to our home at Thiruvanvandoor at 8.30. We reached home and were happily catching up with everyone. Being Aug 15, the Anganwadi nearby had their flag hoisting for Independence Day and soon after which it started raining heavily. Since the previous night, power supply had been turned off due to the rains. Thank God for the power inverter, we were all able to keep our phones charged. However, water could not be pumped into the overhead tank and I could hear my co-sister alert everyone about water shortage as we were unaware of when power supply would resume.
Rains wreak havoc
What happened after a few hours is something that I had never ever imagined even in my wildest dreams. Lunch was made quickly and we all had our meal together, continuing our chat and cracking jokes. While my mother-in-law, Rohit and Sachu relaxed at home, my brother-in-law, his wife and I went to visit a church nearby. But when we stepped out of the church, there was ankle deep water on the roads. Somehow we got back home. It was really scary to see how fast places were getting flooded. Fortunately, till late night we didn’t see any water rising inside our compound. Sachu and I went off to sleep. At around 11.30, I was suddenly woken up by noises coming from downstairs. I tiptoed to the stairs and what do I see! There is knee deep water in the living room. Mummy was sitting on a chair, Rohit, Pratap and Jessy reorganizing and moving things.
There was a lot of noise outside as all the neighbouring houses were also beginning to flood and everyone was out there helping each other to raise their belongings up to a higher level. It was pitch dark. There was no light - all the shifting was done with candles and phone torches. Mummy was taken upstairs, the mattresses were taken upstairs and the sofa sets were lifted onto the beds and the dining table. The fridge was lifted onto the pantry counter. Important documents were all taken safely. Basic food like bananas, rice, dal and some masalas, a packet of Maggi noodles, biscuits, the remaining drinking water and milk were all brought upstairs. The stove and gas cylinders were brought to the terrace were we sat the following days. The doors and windows were all closed in spite of which water continued to seep in.
Sachu wakes up to floods
All this while Sachu was fast asleep, oblivious of what was happening. By 5.30 he woke up to go the toilet and after that I told him very calmly - “Sachu, it has been raining heavily and the dam shutters have been opened and all houses are flooded”. Water has come into our house too and we stood at the top of the stairs as he looked all around and then looked at me and said. “Floods- dirty water- Sachu no downstairs”. And he went and sat on the sofa that was kept on the terrace. I told him - “Sachu don’t worry - Floods will go - it will be fine. Sachu pray to God to stop floods”. He sat there and kept on praying “Jesus - Please stop floods. Jesus please stop rains”.
We made tea and there was some leftover dosa batter with which we made dosas. We could not waste water, so the bare minimum was made to keep us going. Sachu who usually needs so much of water for brushing, toilet and taking bath learnt to use water wisely. We filled buckets with rainwater and used that for brushing, washing our face and basic needs. I would take a mug of water and pour little by little into Sachu’s hands and he would use it so carefully. After everything again he would go and sit and say- “Jesus please stop floods -please stop rains”.
Marooned in our house
But the water level kept rising. By afternoon, we had neck-deep water in the ground floor. Eventually the well got completely submerged and the compound wall with a small portion of the gate was only visible. We were all marooned in our houses with water all around. We also spotted small snakes in the water. Inspite of all this, what I could see all around was people still smiling and helping each other. The young boys in the neighbourhood made small rafts and helped shifting people whose houses were completely submerged and transported them to relief centres close by like the YMCA hall, the church and also to other nearby houses.
After a day, choppers were flying above scanning the area. We took red dupattas, tied it to a stick and waved it screaming for help. My husband, Pradeep, and his brother, Pramod, who is in the army, kept trying to get help for us. My friend, Vidya, shared our location with many rescue teams, our friend, Ramachandran, who had contacts at Asianet got our place Thiruvanvandoor flashed on their channel many times. Pradeep’s younger brother, Praveen, also was trying to get help for us.
Lost touch with everyone
A lot of concerned friends kept calling us. We had to request them to stop contacting us as our phone charge was nearly running out. Finally, only one phone remained with a little charge and eventually we lost touch with everyone. We sat together held hands and prayed that some help comes. We heard rescue boats were being sent all over but nothing came to our area. One more night and we were getting panicky as drinking water was getting over. Rains had also stopped so we could not harness rainwater. The water all around and inside the house was all murky and discoloured. We still didn’t lose hope. All of us took turns to sleep and kept watch of the water level. If it rose again then we would have to shift to the terrace. Rohit’s presence was a great support and relief for us as he cheered us all with his jokes and boosted Sachu’s confidence and kept telling him how brave he is.
During the day we involved Sachu also in helping shift things to the room upstairs. The phone, the pictures, TV, medicines, documents etc. Sachu and I would stand at the top of the flight of stairs and Rohit and Pratap would take the things from the ground floor and give it to us. I don’t know if he realized the seriousness of the situation but he was amazingly cool, calm and did his part in helping. When we screamed when helicopters hovered above, he would scream too - “Cooooooooooooiiiiii” at the top of his voice. Finally, he added three more sentences to his prayer. “Jesus please send boat. Please send helicopter. Please save us”.
Rescue arrives
We told Sachu and Mummy to sleep while we sat and watched the water level. There were other worries also bothering me. Rohit had to travel back after vacation, Mummy has a few ailments and was worried about how long she could hold up, about Sachu when drinking water finishes and about how much he can withstand. With the remaining water, we made half cup each of black tea for everyone. Asked Sachu and he said yes- he would drink. Yay! That was one happy moment as he was actually never fond of black tea. One packet of Maggi we made for him and the rest of us ate steamed bananas. I don’t even think we ate it because as soon as we took it on a plate we heard the sound of a boat and rushed to see if it was coming towards our side. Like a godsend we see this motor boat with about six men in them! They had three buoys to rescue people from the homes and take them to the boat. We asked them- “will you take us too?” And the reply was - “we have come to take you all”.
It was then a mad rush to just pick up our bags and waited for our turn to get into the boat. We had a ladder which we put down from the first floor. They first took mummy into the buoy, followed by Sachu who first refused to jump. Rohit then said- “Sachu brave boy! Achacha is holding you- You can do it.” He then let himself loose and was lowered to the buoy safe. It was my turn next. At crisis situations like this I have no idea from where all the strength and courage comes from.
The boat was from Arthunkel - a place in Alleppey district. While the boat tilted on and off, Sachu would sing ‘Aisa Jaadoo daala re’ which was his way of getting over his anxiety. A game that we have been doing right from his younger days. He would sing and rattle off all peppy numbers one after the other. That day it was just Aisa Jaadoo.
So first we travelled in that boat till we covered a certain distance. Then we were transferred to another boat. We came across various roads which had totally submerged in water with fierce current. The sight was frightening. Finally, we were helped onto a truck which took us to a place called Kuttoor. Beyond this point, no small vehicles were allowed as it was above waist level water. Boys with a self-made raft readily offered to keep Mummy on that and take her across while the rest of us waded through the water till a place called Thirumoolapuram. Our friends were waiting to take us to their house at Changanacherry from there. We reached and cleaned ourselves and had lunch. We rested for a while and drove to Kochi the same day and reached Kochi at around 9.30 pm. I am so thankful to God for keeping us together and safe. What’s lost doesn’t matter here- what’s more important was the power of being together and supporting each other.
Reflections and Learning
Sachu was very brave and dealt with the situation last year in a very calm and mature way. It still baffles me when I think of a Sachu, who is usually anxious and would repeatedly want reassurance when he is unprepared, put up a brave front on all those three days. When I look back and do a rewind, I feel he was calm and composed because
- Firstly, his brother Rohit was with him and constantly assuring him that “Sachu is a brave boy and Achacha is here with you”. He felt very secure and safe.
- As soon as he woke up, I prepared him about the situation downstairs before he could actually see it (a fully submerged ground floor)
- None of us panicked. We were all in good cheer and put up a brave front ready to face any crisis situation.
- We involved him with the little jobs that were to be done like shifting things upstairs, praying together, shouting for help when the helicopters hovered above at a distance.
- Regarding food- for example-, I would first tell him, “Sachu there is no milk. Will you drink black tea? He would readily say” yes. So, I think actually appraising about the situation like scarcity of basic essentials, etc. helped him adjust with whatever was available.
This Year
When the monsoons started and when Sachu saw the heavy rains, the first question he asked me was “Mama, rains? Floods?" That is when it struck me that he has associated rains with floods. He was apprehensive about a repeat of last year’s events. He would be anxious when it rained and when we travel, he would ask if there are floods in Thiruvalla. He would pray and say. "Jesus. Please stop rains, No floods, No boat." Almost like he doesn’t want to experience that again.
So, we had to explain to him that last year the dams were full and they had to open all the shutters because of heavy rains. But this year precautions were taken and the dam shutters were opened only gradually. Spoke to him about the importance of trees and conservation of forests. That’s when he remembered his social studies lessons and said Vanamahotsav. He remembers that very well as he was one of the trees at a small skit put up at Choice school where he studied till 8 th grade.
Sometimes we underestimate our children thinking they won’t understand. Incidents like these and the efforts they make to adjust and deal with it speaks volumes of their inner strength.
