-Nurungukal….
On the eighth
of August 2018 it was pouring down ever since morning in cats and dogs. I
thought the furry of south west monsoon is in its peak this season. By noon it
gathered intensity and made me apprehensive of an impending threat. Still a
wish full thinking made me to rule out a danger. By evening the rain became
scattered and by night fall I ensured that the water which was stagnating in my
courtyard has lowered , almost drained out. There was no warning about any
untoward happenings from any corner and we after finishing our usual T.V
programme called it a day and went to sleep.
I was jerked
out of sleep by the incessant ringing of my mobile. It was my neighbour. There
was a heavy sound of water gushing from the roof and I knew that the rain has
intensified. It was an alarm call to tell me that water is raising all around
and it has entered the lower portion of his house. The tone and frenzy in his
voice pulled me out of bed. When I came out to see what is happening , water
has already reached our front door step and it was flooding all around. I
rushed back to wake up my wife who was in deep slumber. Some of my property documents which I had left on the
table last night were collected and
deposited them on the top of an almira. After collecting my mobile and money
purse, grabbed my wife and was virtually ran out of the house after locking the
front door. Some of the neighbourhood youngsters had already gathered in front
of the house and were ready to help us escape from the situation. They even
volunteered to carry us through the water, which by that time had risen knee
high. In the melee we even forgot to take out our car which eventually was
drowned and damaged. But the youngsters managed to to take our cows to a safer
place, and rescued them.
I remember
that in our childhood we had enjoyed playing in the rising flood water which very
often reached to embrace the last steps of our gate in every season. Those days
it was a fun for us to enjoy the frothy muddy water flowing to find its level
in the distant sea at great speed. Lot of
youngsters used to play boats made out of banana stalks and some even ventured
to try big cauldrons.
My wife was
having problems to negotiate through the gushing water to reach the house of my
brother-in-law which was fortunately on an elevated hillock. Even today I
shudder to think of the episode which we had to encounter in our life that day and often wonder now, was it the same
house which we had to leave seeking a shelter else where. I remember my mother narrating a similar
incident in her childhood, when many of our distant relatives had to take
refuge in our Tharavad house in Ponnani for days. I presume it might have
happened in 1924 when a similar situation occurred throughout in Kerala.
My
house from which I had to escape was built two feet higher than the water level
of the flood which devoured many parts of Wayanad in 1961. This time the level
was four feet above that. Till next day morning the rain continued, although
the intensity was reduced gradually.
Next dayby evening I
ventured to visit my abandoned House, by then the water slowly started
receding. The unprecedented rain has engulfed the whole area .Many discouraged
me from the attempt. Still I was curious about my house and the safety of the
things inside. As I waded through the murky water I felt the enormity of the
damage caused with in a matter of few hours.
All the
youngsters in the locality were ready to extend a helping hand to any one.
Almost all the houses were inundated and many were marooned. A unit of the
fire force was plying hither tither to collect the isolated souls. Old, sick,
handicapped, and even a pregnant lady was rescued by them. Later I heard that
the lady delivered immediately after reaching the hospital. The land slide and a huge rock which
descended from the nearby hill demolished four houses in a row. Two small
children were extricated from the debris miraculously and another family
escaped sure death seconds before the earth covered their house. If the huge
piece of rock which rolled down along with the soil had not fell flat on the
road, it would have been a greater calamity.
It was with
great anxiety I opened my front door as I was sure the damage was certain
inside. The water level was about my hip level.Nothing was in its place. It was
total chaos. Fridge was floating, even the double coat was lying tilted in a
corner. T.V., Computer, book shelf, nothing was left. Water has entered every almira. It was difficult to walk as the sticky silt has settled all over.I could
not stand any more and left the house carrying an image which will never fade
away. I stood there for a while or two, slowly walked back,trying to chalk out
a retrieval plan and consoling that our loss would be much less significant
when compared to what has happened to those who are lesfortunate………..and many a miles to go before I sleep.....
